When done correctly, logistics is a wonderful ballet of moving parts and products. There are no mistakes, nothing is ever lost, and nothing damaged. Things don’t always go right, unfortunately. An uncoordinated and poorly planned logistic operation is a nightmare that never ends. A disorganized supply chain can lead to headaches, unhappy customers, and even the closure of your business. Logistics tips for small businesses are applicable to all industries and will help you keep your customers happy.
Set Targets for Deliveries
Look at what you are shipping on a daily basis and set some expectations. Figure out how much you are shipping daily and what’s the best way to do it. Do you want to be faster than your competitors? Are you more concerned with breakage? Try to strike the right balance of speed, safety, and on-time arrivals with your logistics. Keep the customer in mind all times and consider what their expectations will be as well.
Find a Reliable Partner
Once you know what kind of service you will offer, you will need to start looking around for a reliable logistics partner. There are hundreds of delivery services available; you just need to find the right one for your business. If you are offering mainly smaller packages, UPS and FedEx are always reliable. Larger palletized shipments might require a freight company or
third party logistics partner. Do some online research before making phone calls and getting rates. Trucking companies and delivery services love volume, so the more you ship, the lower the cost.
Watch the Costs
It behooves all business owners to watch their dollars and cents. Shipping costs will fluctuate based on who you are using, the price of fuel, and how far you are shipping. Watching your monthly expenses on shipping is good for getting the most bang for your buck. You must know how much it costs to get your products from point A to B so that you can price it accordingly.
Leverage Technology
The most important logistics tip for a small business is to use technology. The internet is a wonderful tool that should be used often. The Internet of Things (IoT) makes it possible to track a wide variety of events affecting your transportation costs and concerns. You and your customer should be able to track shipments at any point in time. By giving customers direct access to tracking information, you eliminate the burden of having to update them constantly.
