Large organisations and companies often ship-in their requirements of raw materials and ship-out the finished goods. For this, they deal directly with the shipping lines or get it done through Freight Forwarders who offer service at the point of loading as well as unloading. They may hire containers for this purpose or ship as consolidated cargo, the costs of which they will recover easily.
However, small business units or individuals may find it difficult to deal directly with large shipping lines and freight forwarders as they might not need an entire container to ship their goods in or out. Such small business units and individuals may also not find it cost-effective to deal with such large companies.
This is where special agencies known as Non-Vessel Operating Common Carriers (abbreviated to NVOCC) step in. NVOCCs make the entire process of importing or exporting cargo hassle-free and cost-effective by being the single point of contact for the customer. This arrangement is found to suit small and medium-sized organizations rather well.