In our July 23 update, transit times from China to the U.S. were still averaging 6 days, but carriers were hoping to see improved transit times by August. We continue to work with our carriers to further improve transit times, and we’re happy to report that we’ve seen some significant improvements in lead time reliability (more on that below).

Fictiv Updates

The number of flights available between China and the U.S. is still low, and COVID-19 is still with us, but despite a still-congested supply chain, our focus is on our customers, and we have been able to reduce the transit times for our orders. 

Fictiv is focusing on improving what we can control, and one step we’ve taken is to add information to our shipping documentation to make it easier for the U.S. Customs agents to process the information, including an end use certification with each shipment, so that agents can process your shipments more efficiently.

In order to align the transit times we surface on our platform (which were previously aligned with freight carriers’ SLAs) with reality, as of September 3, Fictiv is changing our shipping lead times on the platform from “3 business days” to “3 to 5 business days”, as we’ve been closely tracking our international shipments, and over 80% of our international shipments are currently delivered within 5 days. This change will ensure that our customers have a clear understanding of when goods will arrive, based on actual carrier lead times. It will also allow you to properly determine whether an overseas fulfillment option meets your development or production schedule. 

New Shipment Upgrade Program

Additionally, in an effort to further streamline ordering through Fictiv for overseas orders, starting September 3, we are launching a free Shipment Upgrade beta program for overseas prototype orders over $800. If your order qualifies for the upgrade, Fictiv will become the Importer of Record, mitigating the risk of shipment delays and reducing the amount of customs information you need to provide. For more details on how it works, check out this help article.

Guidance for Fictiv Customers

Although transit times are stable right now, they may increase again in the next few months, as Chinese exporters start sending goods to the U.S. for Thanksgiving & Christmas. We want to make sure our customers know that, so you can plan ahead and place their orders through our platform ahead of time. The Logistics team at Fictiv is committed to finding supply chain solutions that allow our customers to receive their goods with the shortest transit times possible. We’re also determined to ensure that the lead time we promise on our platform is what you can expect, with high confidence.