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5 Ways Supply Chain Solutions Can Reduce Costs

Companies without an effective and cost-efficient supply chain system in place are likely overspending significant on a yearly basis. It’s important for supply chains to be agile and flexible, and companies with an overly broad system are often investing resources ineffectively.

How Supply Chain Solutions Can Reduce Costs

By harnessing their supply chain solutions with precision, companies can now significantly reduce their expenditures while ensuring optimal service for their customers. In this post, our team looks at five ways supply chain solutions can reduce costs.

    1. Determination of Optimal Delivery Routes

Companies are overspending on millions each year within their transit budgets. The leading supply chain solutions can now determine the best delivery routes for trucks, helping companies allocate their resources more effectively. This advantage has the added bonus of helping companies deliver their products within a faster timeframe, thereby improving customer service over the long-term.

    1. Consolidating Invoicing Costs

The leading supply chain solutions are now making invoicing management more effective and precise. Many older systems still ask drivers to report their hours directly within the system. But leading models are now taking this job away from drivers and logging hours directly through their vehicle via an automated system. Not only is this improving the accuracy of invoicing but it’s also allowing drivers to focus more on their core working role, enhance their on-the-job performance.

    1. Streamlined Shipping Processes

The shipping process can add significant time and expense within the supply chain. Companies must optimize their shipping for border control issues and other transit challenges. This means they must complete comprehensive documentation for each order sent to a customer. Now, the latest supply chain solutions are helping firms mitigate costs by automatically completing documentation based on set freight parameters.

    1. Budgeting Optimization

In planning their supply chain processes, companies now depend upon the latest solutions for analyzing their budgets and determining the best method for delivery to a specific customer. Budgets can be analyzed and optimized incrementally over a set period of time so that decision makers have actionable reporting data to refine their working processes.

    1. Minimizing Costly Errors

Errors in the supply chain management process cost companies millions of dollars each year. Whether it’s incorrectly writing a purchase order or sending the wrong documentation with freight, these errors can now be avoided through streamlined supply chain solutions. Companies can automate many of the administrative tasks that are often the source of errors by office teams.

Supply chain solutions are bringing flexibility and cost-efficiency to the entire logistics process. To discover more on the benefits these solutions can bring to the modern business, call our team today.

Why Choose a 3PL for LTL shipments

third party logistics managementLTL shipping, also known as Less Than Truckload, refers to shipments that do not require a full trailer for transport. Many growing businesses rely on this service to deliver their goods to customers in all industries across North America. Choosing the right 3PL company can be very crucial to a small business’ livelihood because it can provide cost savings and personalized service to the needs of the end client.

1) Cost savings

Third party logistics companies specialize in growing their partnerships with small, medium and large sized LTL carriers (You may ship 2 skids per week, but a 3PL may have 100 clients like to meaning they will have deeper discount because they spend more). This gives them buying power to negotiate better rates/service for their clients. Many LTL carriers use rating systems that are based on pallet size dimensions and weight. A 3PL company has the advantage of being able to negotiate lower rates due to their higher volumes of business with different LTL carriers that specialize in different lanes industry verticals and markets.

2) Customer service

A 3PL company can offer personalized customer service by being flexible in order to meet each customer’s needs, a good 3PL will realize every client is different and tailor solutions to your needs, instead of giving you rates and fitting you into the box that is easiest for them. The different partnerships of a 3PL are an extension of their business and when it comes to servicing a client, challenges are always viewed as opportunities for growth.

3) Industry knowledge

Your 3PL partner is always up to date with the latest changes in the industry. There is no better option than to have your 3PL professionals guide you through your business and your Supply Chain challenges. The expertize from the right team as well as attention to detail can help guarantee success for any business in terms of service and their bottom line profitability.

4) Value added Service

The value that a 3PL company provides is having a team of industry professionals at your disposal, together with technology to provide visibility of your shipments and personalized attention to your business. 3PL companies can provide options and costs savings according to your customer’s needs.

Overall, a 3PL company is the best option when it comes to shipping LTL freight. Especially when shipments have special requirements like handle with care or time sensitive deadlines. 3PL companies provide an advantage for businesses looking to find the most competitive rates in the market, along with service that they can count on.

Maintaining long term customer relationships in a cost driven industry through customer service levels

shutterstock_90147424In a recent article compiled through marketing surveys and statistics, columnist Steve Olenski outlined three tips to improving your overall customer service. (Customer Service 101, Marketingland.com, March 14th 2016) Can these tips be applied to any industry? I believe so. They are basic fundamental principles of integrity, genuineness, honesty and appreciation that if applied and portrayed correctly can have major impacts on customer retention and business development.

A recent survey found that nearly $41 billion dollars in revenue is lost in the U.S alone each year by companies not putting “their customers first”. Another interesting study showed that 97 percent of North American business’s list customer service as the foremost critical factor in deciding which company/service provider to choose and stay loyal to, the same study also noted that expectations in North America are increasing drastically about what define “GREAT” customer service. (Customer Service 101, Marketingland.com, March 14th 2016) I think we can all agree to that statement no matter what industry we are in.

With this in mind here are Steve Olenski’s three tips you can start doing today to win over your customers; whether meeting in person, speaking on the phone or engaging online. (Customer Service 101, Marketingland.com, March 14th 2016)

1 – Show your customers you value their time.

In an age of instantaneous information time is money so don’t waste your customers, value it.
This may mean implementing online user friendly web based services, customers want to click a button and receiver the information they need, not wait on hold or in a queue to talk live to someone.

2 – Be Responsive.

The biggest let down with customer service experiences is poor response time. Respond to customers right away, even if its just acknowledgement letting them know you received and are working on what they have requested. Don’t let hours go by without reaching out.

Rapid Response times mean customers can get their questions answered, needs fulfilled or problems solved so they can move on with their to-do list. Helping them cross something off that list goes along way, and when a response comes on a weekend or evening you have the opportunity to “wow” the customer unexpectedly.

3 – Be Friendly, personable and most importantly Genuine and Authentic.

Simple but truly affective! Surveys show that even when not getting the answers they want customers provide positive feedback toward customer service when the person they speak to is pleasant, helpful and genuine in their care and concern. This authentic approach builds trust to maintain long term relationships.

While these techniques’ may seem small, they really do make a big impression when applied genuinely. Along with addressing clients by name, sending a personal thank you and remembering and relaying small details about them personally will win them over and keep them as loyal long term customers. (Customer Service 101, Marketingland.com, March 14th 2016)

Why using a 3PL, is an advantage

third party logisticsAs companies look to the future, more and more of them are realizing the benefits to be gained by outsourcing their supply chain management. The integration of a third party logistics provider or 3PL allows companies to leverage a large network of resources to develop an all in one solution for assembly, packaging, warehousing, and distribution.

3PLs allow for each step in the supply chain can be executed in the most efficient, cost effective way. 3PLs can leverage relationships and volume discounts, resulting in lower overhead and the fastest possible service, all things unavailable with an in-house logistics team.

Today companies are always chasing to keep up with the 30 second attention span, rapidly-evolving, customer-centric environment in which they operate in. Even knowing what technology is needed can be challenging for supply chain leaders; with much of the industry blind to the future ROI. Moving forward with the expectations that what has worked for a business in the past, will keep working in the future, has paved the road to the future with the ashes of obsolete companies… don’t see many people rent a movie from Blockbuster.

The old regime is being replaced by a new level of demands on cost, service, and quality. A benefit of using a 3PL provider is the ability to scale space, labor, and transportation according to inventory needs. Businesses with seasonal periods can enjoy stress free transitions between industry ups and downs, having the ability to utilize more space and resources when needed.

To keep your company on the right track the integration of a 3PLs knowledge of industry best practices, will create fortified lines of communication keeping you up to date with the latest developments in technology. 3PL software is capable of advanced reporting, inventory management, and provides visibility to monitor the entire process. 3PL experts employ Just in Time practices to ensure the correct amount of inventory is shipped when and where you need it.

In my personal experience I have seen the 3PL ecosystem comprised of a mixture of both senior experience and youthful innovation, leveraging each other’s skill sets and knowledge. This all culminating in a progressive platform to help maximize profits, reduce wait times, and improve customer service. Allowing your business to grow for years to come, by providing the resources to streamline your supply chain, reduce inefficiency, and the technology that ensures your goods arrive when and where you need them.

Utilize a Logistics Management Specialist to Increase Your Profits

Your company’s primary business goal is to increase your profits. To this end, you take many steps every quarter to create a positive impact on your bottom line. Many profit increasing measures are fleeting, only benefiting you for a few weeks or months. Short-term actions are great for getting your business productivity moving in the right direction. However, you must focus on long-term strategies order to achieve sustained business growth for your company. To this end, building a relationship with a logistic management specialist is a step that you must take. Continue Reading

The Importance of Supply Chain Compliance

Supply chain complianceAn efficient and effective supply chain can become a powerful competitive advantage in a marketplace saturated with demanding customers and innovative competitors. Many companies struggle with the daunting task of reducing freight costs every year, when their vendors are already struggling to provide the service at such low costs. An alternative to beating down your vendors on price to reduce supply chain spend, is to focus on compliance. Holding your vendors accountable for falling short on service levels and billing expectations can save your company time and money, as well as improve relationships with your customers. Vendor’s should be compliant in two distinct areas; billing and performance. Continue Reading

The Importance of Supply Chain Efficiency in the Electronics Industry

Supply chain efficiencyIn order to thrive in the competitive electronics industry, you have to be constantly looking for ways to stand head and shoulders above your competition. This can sometimes feel like an indomitable task, but there are several tactics you can use to enhance your ability to succeed. One of the most important steps that you can take is to enhance your supply chain efficiency.

Continue Reading

The Best Small Business Logistics Solutions for Increased Growth

Small Business LogisticsManaging your small business logistics is a complicated process. In addition to making your team feel overwhelmed, these complications will hinder your company’s overall efficiency. In other words, it is costing you money and ultimately obstructing your company’s ability to grow.

Fortunately, you can overcome the challenges of logistics with the right solutions. To help you improve, let’s take a look at the best small business logistics solutions to invest in. Continue Reading

6 Signs You Need a Supply Chain Analysis

41873630_mA supply chain analysis involves quantitative analyses of inputs and outputs, in terms of cost and value added through a chain of supply agents. Value may be expressed in terms of monetary value from the point of entry up to the time they are put out into the market. If you have used the same analysis process and it does not tally with analysis from other quarters such as financial reports, then it is time to take a second look at your analysis method. Continue Reading

How a 3PL Company Can Revitalize Your Cross Border Shipping to Mexico

Cross border shipCross border shippingping solutions can be difficult to find, especially as the trade imbalance between Canada, the United States, and Mexico increases. Last year trade tension between Mexico and the United States increased further as storage capacity issues forced products moving between the two countries to sit at a standstill. But as demand for exports in Mexico keeps growing, it is important to revitalize your cross border shipping process. Without a proper method of shipping products within the continent, business may slow down or even come to a halt. By outsourcing your logistics services, you can feel confident in knowing that you have effective shipping solutions and can dedicate your time elsewhere. Continue Reading

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