Trust is a big thing in business. 

It’s not that long ago that a deal was done on a handshake and your good word. Times may have changed, and contracts, laws and regulations have been introduced, but when it comes to deciding where to spend your hard-earned cash, trust still plays a big part. 

But how do you build trust in business? Social proof is a biggie. Recent stats show that 91% of people read online reviews before making a purchase and 74% turn to social media for recommendations. 

What else? Consistency, communication and transparency. People like to know what to expect. Being consistent, communicating clearly and being open, honest and upfront about everything helps create a feeling of predictability, and creates trust. Trust is important in any industry, but when it comes to freight, it’s critical. 

Why? Because you’re handing your goods, cargo or precious, irreplaceable item over to us. Over the past 29 years, we’ve moved everything from pallets of noodle sauce, t-shirts and teapots, to one-of-a-kind, antique jukeboxes and classic cars. You need to know that they’re in safe hands and they will get to where they have to go. 

That’s why I decided recently to eat the frog and get Millennium Cargo ISO9001 accredited once again. I’ll be honest: The paperwork and application process are a bit of a ball ache. It’s not my idea of a fun project. But it’s a great way to demonstrate that we really are as reliable, trustworthy and reputable as we say we are. In case you’re not aware, ISO9001 is a global standard that helps businesses ensure they meet customer needs and improve quality through effective management systems. In other words, being ISO9001 accredited means that we’ve got rock-solid systems that deliver consistent and quality service, time and time again. So whatever you need to move around the world, you know you can trust us to deliver. 

But how about you? What does your business do to build trust? I’d love to hear your ideas…