This week on ArtEvolve we were joined by David Turchin and Gus Dangremond of YSDS Art. We discussed the effects of current events on fine art shipping processes.
5 ways to future-proof shipping processes
Make a conscious decision to assess your operations – though world events overall are unpredictable, there’s no better time than now for organizations to evaluate processes to determine what contingency options are available should setbacks happen. Knowing your options in advance is better than trying to react to challenges on the spot.
Get to know your shipper – use your logistics provider as a resource and ask them about how they resolved challenges or crises in the past. Use their experience to help inform your decisions. Developing a meaningful relationship means coordinating a response in future will run smoother.
Consolidate shipments – consider widening your processes to include the possibility of consolidating pickups, deliveries, and shipments. It requires flexibility and forward planning to ensure your objects get to where they need to go.
Support sustainable initiatives – as we’ve seen in our Virtual Courier case studies, when organizations save carbon, they save money. Mitigating budgetary concerns is vital for art organizations and can take the form of remotely overseeing shipments to save on staff travel, reusing crates and packaging, shipping via sea freight, green warehousing, and more. Making sustainable choices needs to become the norm, not the exception.
Condition reporting – Future-proofing your processes means knowing your collection. If a shipment gets stuck, how will you know your artworks are not damaged when they do eventually return? Having documentation compiled in advance means you have accurate records of how condition has changed over time, which is crucial for insurance purposes and for informing decisions about restoration.
Thank you to our guests – David Turchin and Gus Dangremond of YSDS Art – for joining us.
