VAS Services in Logistics: More Control Over Your Supply Chain

VAS services, or Value Added Services, are additional logistics services that go beyond transport alone. They include procurement support, consolidation, quality control, packaging, labeling, rework, kitting, assembly and inventory management. For importers and exporters, these services create more control, fewer handovers and a more efficient flow of goods from supplier to final destination.

What Are VAS Services?

VAS services are logistics activities that add value before, during or after transport. They help companies not only move goods, but also prepare them for sale, storage, distribution or further processing.

For companies sourcing internationally, for example from China, Vietnam or India, this can make a significant difference. When products are only checked, labeled or repacked after arrival in Europe, errors are often more expensive and harder to correct. By carrying out these activities earlier in the supply chain, you gain more control over quality, planning and costs.

Which VAS Services Are Relevant for Importers?

In international logistics, VAS services can be used at different stages of the supply chain. Berkman Forwarding supports customers with:

Procurement support

Identifying, assessing and selecting reliable suppliers based on your specific criteria. This helps detect supply chain risks earlier.

Consolidation

Smart bundling of LCL and FCL shipments. LCL stands for Less than Container Load, where container space is shared. FCL stands for Full Container Load, where a full container is used for one shipment. By combining orders efficiently, transport costs can be reduced and container space can be used more effectively.

Quality control

Inspections and compliance checks before shipment. This helps prevent issues from only becoming visible at the end of the supply chain.

Packaging and shipment preparation

Order-based handling, repacking and preparation for transport, storage or delivery.

Labeling, rework, kitting and assembly

Preparing products for retail or distribution through customer-specific labeling, product bundling or light assembly.

Inventory management

Real-time visibility of stock levels, allowing you to plan more accurately and respond faster to changes in demand or supply.

 Why Organise VAS Services Earlier in the Chain?

Many companies arrange additional logistics activities only after goods arrive in Europe. That can be practical, but it is not always the most efficient option. If products come from multiple factories, labels are missing or packaging does not meet requirements, delays occur at a stage where the goods are already close to the customer.

By organising VAS services closer to the source, for example through local offices in Asia, you can check, correct and consolidate goods earlier. This helps avoid unnecessary rework costs, duplicate handling and delays in distribution.

A practical example: an importer sources products from three suppliers in Vietnam. Instead of shipping three separate consignments to the Netherlands, the goods can be collected locally, checked, repacked and combined into one more efficient shipment. This creates more visibility and can reduce both transport costs and operational pressure.

What Should You Pay Attention To?

VAS services add the most value when agreements are clear. Think of product specifications, packaging instructions, labeling requirements, quality standards and reporting. It should also be clear who is responsible in case of deviations and at what point goods are released for transport.

The practical setup may differ per product, country, supplier and destination. Especially when customs, compliance and product-specific requirements are involved, careful coordination is essential. A good logistics partner therefore looks beyond the individual service and considers the full supply chain around it.

VAS services make international logistics more transparent, efficient and manageable. By organising activities such as consolidation, quality control, labeling and inventory management in the right way, you can avoid unnecessary costs and delays later in the supply chain.

Berkman Forwarding supports customers with own offices in Vietnam, China, India and the Netherlands, a global presence with 11 offices and dedicated points of contact. As a family-owned company, we combine personal involvement with practical expertise, including support for complex customs matters and digital assistance through our internally developed customs portal.