Logistics have become one of the most vital components for businesses in today’s digital world. It’s never been more important to ensure your logistics processes are working smoothly, efficiently and quickly as consumer demand increases.
At a recent logistics event in Telford, issues within the industry were discussed, providing an insight on how businesses can improve their logistical issues and why they need to make it a priority.
Worry over skill gap in the fast-growing industry
On the one hand, it’s great that the logistics sector is growing at a staggering rate. However, at the rate it is growing, experts have predicted an additional 588,000 workers will be needed over the next six years to meet the demand.
This means UK businesses need to be encouraging training, ensuring their staff have the right skills and focusing on career progression opportunities. Speaking at the recent Talent in Logistics 2017 event, Jobcentre Plus also revealed work is underway within the industry to recruit, as well as retrain, disabled workers.
Helping to boost efficiency and cut costs
So, why should your business focus on improving its logistics? As well as boosting efficiency, it can also help you to cut costs.
Using automated systems for example, can cut the time it takes to complete certain tasks, speeding up the process and reducing overheads. High-tech software solutions can be used to ensure purchase orders are processed within seconds, and the right warehouse location can help you to ensure goods are shipped out quickly.
There are so many tools available to businesses these days to help boost logistics and reduce costs. By boosting efficiency, it’s going to ultimately improve customer satisfaction. So, if your business isn’t currently utilising these tools, now is the time to change that.
It is so important for so many different industries, with many 3rd party logistics companies like Ask Absolutely being a good example of adopting technology to improve services.
Developing relationships with suppliers
Of course, your suppliers play a huge part in how successful your logistics process is. Therefore, it’s vital you partner with reliable suppliers to ensure you’re providing the best possible service to your customers. This includes both suppliers and shipping services.
The suppliers you choose need to be able to meet your product demands, while also offering reasonable, low prices. If supplies are late, you’re not going to be able to get them shipped to the customer quickly. If the quality of the goods is poor, it’s also going to have a major impact on your reputation. So, it’s important to choose your suppliers wisely.
Similarly, a lot of care should be taken when choosing the right courier. Long gone are the days when Royal Mail were the only parcel delivery service available. These days, there’s literally hundreds of different couriers to choose from in the UK. However, it’s still recommended you choose a well-known, reliable courier such as TNT UK Ltd.
The delivery service a business provides has become increasingly important in recent years. The boom in online shopping has led to a significant change in consumer demand. They expect their goods to turn up quickly, in excellent condition and in a professional and friendly manner. If your delivery service falls short, you can be sure you’re going to receive negative reviews.
Overall, logistics is a vital part of any modern business and there are issues within the sector which need to be addressed. If your business is looking to improve its logistics processes, the above tips and advice can help. Training your employees, rewarding and recognising your existing talent and ensuring you’re working with the right suppliers, is important for your company’s success in today’s fast-paced, rapidly growing logistics industry.
