International – What does it mean to you?
When you say your company is “international or global”, are you selling internationally or are you an international company?
Selling internationally is very different to having an international presence. If you are selling internationally, you could take on agents, distributors and resellers as synonyms.
Agents are people or companies that have expressed (oral or written) or implied authority to act for their principal and bring them into contractual relationships with other parties. They are like the company’s employees or ambassadors.
Distributors are entities that buy non-competing products or product lines and then resell them to retailers or direct to end users. They can make some changes to the product but they act more like your customers.
Resellers simply buy goods from a manufacturer and resell them to customers unchanged.
The common denominator of all these roles? They all help your company to sell. To do that efficiently on an international level, you need to work together with local businesspeople who have a better knowledge both of the market and of the culture. You also need to have your website and your marketing material both translated and localised: ask SanTranslate, your translation service provider.
Innovation flies high with Boeing 787 Dreamliner
|
It’s lighter, it can fly further and it consumes less fuel: it’s the Boeing 787 Dreamliner of All Nippon Airways, deemed by some analysts as a landmark in aviation history. On 28 September the US plane maker Boeing officially delivered its first 787 Dreamliner to Japan‘s All Nippon Airways. One game-changing aspect of the aircraft is its ability to fly nonstop for about 15,000 kilometers – the same as a jumbo jet and 30% further than similarly sized aircraft. |
The extensive teamwork and collaboration between ANA and Boeing resulted in the world’s most advanced and innovative aircraft. It is also the world’s first commercial plane to use composite materials for most of its structure. Thanks to its newly designed engines, aerodynamic improvements, increased use of lightweight composite materials and advanced computer systems, the 787 consumes 20% less fuel than its predecessor, making it Boeing’s most fuel-efficient airline in its class. This significant drop in fuel consumption means a similar 20% increase in range, enabling ANA to significantly lower operating costs. The Dreamliner also generates 20% less CO2 and 15% less NOx, making it truly eco-friendly. The special design of the aircraft and its engines reduces its noise pollution by up to 60 per cent.
All Nippon Airways provides passenger services through 936 domestic and 638 international passenger flights, as well as cargo services through 9 cargo freighters. Since 31 2010, it has operated with a fleet of 210 aircraft. ANA projects its aviation fuel costs will be cut by 10 billion yen a year after its 55 Dreamliners are introduced to service.