UFO Membership Benefits

MARKETING TOOLS

UFO provides Brochure Websites, customised for each of our Members and based on a company specific URL. Members may also request a copy of our Marketing Brochure, which will be edited with their company details and emailed in PDF format ready for printing. Our customised World Maps are often used as a sales tool when at meetings, on websites, etc.

Plus! A short well-made video in an easy-to-digest format gives our eyes a rest from reading text and explains why the world watches a billion hours of YouTube videos every day! Customers are more likely to use you when they understand what you do and how it will help them. So … we have created a video for Members to use in their marketing and sales efforts - watch it here.

SMARTPHONE SERVICE

The UFO Head Office acknowledges the tremendous growth in the use of smartphones and tablets. However, connection speeds can often be frustrating.

We want UFO Members to have a great experience with our website, whether on a large PC screen or on their mobile devices. Therefore, we provide a Smartphone Service, where the contact details of fellow UFO partners can be found quickly by searching in alphabetical order by country or company name.

The News Feed feature our latest articles and not only provides excellent promotion but also enables users to keep up-to-date with their overseas partners.

The micro site m.ufofreight.com is for use by UFO Members only and details are provided upon joining.

eMAZAGINE

The UFO Head Office distributes a quarterly eMagazine to all Members. Each issue includes articles on Member’s projects, staff changes, reminders of membership tools, official updates, etc. Combined with the Latest News section of our website, we offer our Members pro-active management and up-to-date information.

INCLUSION IN UFO WORLD MAPS

The UFO Location Map has been designed for Members to take to sales meetings to show their existing and potential customers where their fellow UFO overseas offices are located. The map shows the exceptional global reach of our organisation.

ONLINE TRAINING

One of the main challenges in our industry is the lack of training and staff development, especially with new and young staff members. Practical ‘on the job’ experience needs to be paired with theoretical knowledge, as this leads to a deeper understanding. However, training courses and workshops are often expensive and involve travel and time away from the office.

We are delighted to provide our own eLearning Platform. The first 5 module online training program is "Heavy Transport". Besides the benefits of not having to travel, there are additional advantages to eLearning - such as being able to stop the training at your convenience and start again when ready.

When the training is completed the user will understand the practical, operational and engineering aspects of heavy transport, heavy lift and project cargo. View online brochure.

PAYMENT MONITORING SYSTEM

It is important to encourage healthy cash flow within our network and to prevent late payments. The UFO Head Office consulted both specialist lawyers and insurance companies to investigate the best options in which to financially protect our Members, including bond systems and group liability insurance programs. The outcome is that they can in fact be highly illegal, have complicated tax implications but more importantly, be open to fraud.

Therefore, we provide an Online Payment Monitoring System. Once logged in each Member can add, view and edit details of open invoices. The system automatically sends a fortnightly statement to every Member detailing any open invoices and highlighting their due date. We are proud to say that we have an excellent payment record within our network. Our Members understand that paying on time and operating in a professional manner results in repeat business and excellent relations with their overseas offices. Please click here to watch a short video on the system.

WEEKLY MEET SCHEME

Using our Meeting Hub, a representative from each company is encouraged to hold a virtual meeting with a UFO partner once a week that they have not yet worked with. Similar to the 1-2-1 sessions at our events, it is an excellent opportunity to introduce your company and highlight specialist areas. We find that making time for a quick 1-2-1 video call and ‘seeing’ UFO partners makes all the difference.

You will be much better remembered, even if no business is ready just yet, it might be in a week or a month – it helps to be in the forefront of people’s minds.

HOW TO APPLY

Please complete all questions on our Application Form and supply contact details for 2 trade references. If your application is successful, you will be invoiced a one-off Joining Fee (GBP £200) and the Annual Membership Fee (GBP £420-£990 depending on your location). Upon receipt of your fee, you will receive exclusive representation of your country with full membership benefits.

"UFO's diversity cuts across all ethnic and other imaginable boundaries. I feel at home in any part of the world as long as there is another UFO member there!" Willard Mushove, Vision Freight Services (Zimbabwe)