Tag: network design

Strategic Supply Chain Planning 2021 | Beyond COVID

Posted on | by John Richardson

Companies are looking at diversifying their supply sources. Whether this means on-shoring, near-shoring or simply adding alternative regions to the existing base. This is not a quick proposition. Suppliers have to be located, certified and tested. Order patterns have to be established and inventory policies implemented. All of this takes data, analysts and time. Perhaps the most difficult part, managing change in your supply chain planning.

Whether you are a manufacturer, distributor or retailer you have to be able to support more direct consumer channels than you may have traditionally. This will involve better collaboration, inventory management and alternative fulfillment and transportation options. Again, this requires data, analysts and change management.

The companies that will lead the pack are the ones that recognize the permanency of the COVID changes on the horizon and establish long-term supply chain strategies to mitigate risk and guarantee products and service to the end customer.

Planning for Supply Chain Flex is Paramount

An exponential boom in e-commerce sales rapidly created significant congestion for last mile deliveries. The effect spilled across the entire supply chain. At distribution and fulfillment centers some shippers saw their small packages go unshipped due to volume caps implemented by parcel carriers. Elsewhere, LTL carriers facing heightened shipment volumes at their terminals delivered fluctuating service levels.

As a result, many companies examined how they complete final deliveries to their clients, a process that retail giants like Amazon have nearly mastered. More and more companies are shifting toward expedited service from either existing brick-and-mortar facilities or an adjusted network of distribution centers. Smaller, urban fulfillment centers added in certain areas can help skirt site-specific volume limits. More options make you less susceptible to geography-based capacity constraints.

But you must understand how those changes in network design affect cost and service performance. 

Through its ability to evolve a massive local network, Amazon proved to be among the most reliable carriers during the disruptions of 2020. Not everyone has the deep pockets to establish an Amazon-like network with large distribution centers and cross-dock strategies. 

However, you can determine where you can compete with that sprawling service network – and where you cannot. SKU rationalization, margin analysis of different channels and overall network design analysis can help businesses of any size understand where growth is occurring and where it is not. From there you can align your supply chain planning based on the demand patterns your business is experiencing.

Look Upstream to Determine Opportunity

With everything happening in the supply chain environment, it is important to get outside of your business and examine your network upstream to your suppliers. This provides insight in several important areas. 

Over the past 20 years companies have worked to reduce and remove inventory where possible, achieving the absolute least cost in the process. Today, you must balance inventory, determine which inventory is right, and even decide the right customers to serve. Understanding your processes, as well as those of your partners is integral to transportation cost management.

When your retail partner asks you to drop ship product to their customers, can you segment your inventory into the different physical channels to both serve those individual orders and continue filling regular store-level inventory needs?

How should your inventory model change as you move toward insourcing or reshoring? With longer lead times and growing landed costs emerging from foreign vendors, local suppliers allow you to manage a smaller inventory or direct ship to customers and, ultimately lower overall cost. Do you have the contingencies in place across your network of vendor partners to deploy local or regional sourcing in the event of ongoing disruption in Asia?

By stepping outside your own walls and understanding processes upstream and downstream – as well as their alternatives – you become a stronger partner, especially if you can offer your suppliers visibility into your own demand. Ultimately, that level of collaboration helps your partners plan better, improving efficiency and service to you in the process.

By helping customers understand their total value stream and deploying a lean-minded supply chain strategy consultation, we help them visualize how changes to their network can improve cost and service across their transportation environment.

Capacity for Change can Limit Improvement

Achieving flexibility in your supply chain requires both an ability to recognize when processes are not performing and a willingness to apply change. If you don’t change, nothing changes, and it became especially clear in 2020 that a lot of companies don’t know how to implement that change. 

Leadership has to want to change and improve, and it is important to understand that if you are not constantly problem-solving then you are going backwards. Smaller companies understand this especially well, but larger companies are often separated into silos and metrics conflict with day-to-day activity.

Are you willing to let your partners save you from yourself? If leadership is not willing to accept analysis and insight that supports change, then activity rarely changes until crisis occurs. And when that crisis occurs, without analysis to support process improvement, you may not be able to determine the right practices to change.

Performing that analysis is no easy task. A lot of smaller companies don’t have the skillsets or capacity to complete that data-driven look. Likewise, medium and large companies may dedicate people to monitor performance in different supply chain areas. They may not have the groups of people capable of not only understanding how to complete the analysis, but also problem solve. 

That is where Transportation Insight helps. We not only have the capacity to complete analysis of SKU-level performance, network design and alternative, contingency supply chain strategies. Importantly, we also teach your teams how problem solve, a skill that you can then pass along to others in the organization.   

Once we deploy a problem-solving mindset alongside analysis of your supply chain data, we can create a map of the transportation activities across your network and determine options for alleviating problem points that drive up your cost. By pairing those continuous improvement efforts with renewed network flexibility that eliminates the risk of disruption, Transportation Insight positions you for improved cost control and enhanced opportunities for growth. 

For more insight that will help support your supply chain strategy in 2021, download our latest industry forecast. Read the First Quarter ChainLink 2021 for a multi-modal look at the transportation trends that will affect your business in the year ahead.

Buy Online Pickup In Store: Retail in Evolution

Posted on | by Carl Fowler

Yet, the store remains a core focus of the buying experience. That’s how it should be. The in-store customer is typically more loyal and tends to buy more than the online shopper.

A robust strategy for “Buy Online, Pick Up In Store,” or BOPIS, can offer the best of both worlds. BOPIS expands a retailer’s online exposure while preserving and deepening the in-store experience. In fact, retailers find that is common for shoppers to buy more product once they arrive at the store to retrieve their online orders. 

A well-designed BOPIS retail program also helps reduce delivery costs because the customer is going to the product, not vice-versa. Consumers prize the ease and convenience of the transaction, especially when the COVID-19 pandemic has made contactless interactions more of the rule than the exception.

Responding to a New Retail Landscape

For retailers with limited resources and insufficient time spent mastering alternate fulfillment methods, the real world suddenly became a very different place in 2020. Many have been challenged to adjust to an unfamiliar “fractured fulfillment” model where products are ordered, fulfilled, and distributed from anywhere to anywhere. It is difficult for retailers to strike the right balance of inventory levels that satisfy in-store shoppers and ensure product availability to support online channel growth.

Retailers often over-order store inventory to avoid the risk of stock-outs. This raises carrying costs, and shrinks inventory  available to allocate to online channels. 

Moving ahead with an ill-vetted BOPIS strategy can make things worse. Customers assured of a product’s in-stock status on a retailer’s website will be displeased if they take time to visit the store only to find the item isn’t available. This could damage a brand’s reputation, especially if word spreads quickly on social media.

Visibility is the pain point. Many retailers lack proper visibility into the inventory flow from their partners to effectively plan and execute an error-proof BOPIS strategy. Without visibility, retailers will continue to prioritize avoidance in-store stock-out scenarios, and will continue to absorb excess and costly inventory.

A strong 3PL provider arms retailers with superior, actionable data that improves inventory visibility without forcing them to increase levels of safety stock. The endgame is to manage appropriate safety stock thresholds for both in-store and BOPIS experiences so the customer is satisfied in either scenario. 

Personalized Solutions Require Visibility

Each retailer is unique, and each shipper-retailer partnership is unique. Working with good data, an experienced 3PL partner creates customized plans to achieve optimal results. Progress and outcomes are constantly measured and refined so fill rates achieve acceptable thresholds. Changes to the plan can be implemented quickly should circumstances change – and they often do. 

For example, a plan could require the partners to issue electronic order acknowledgements indicating changes to item quantities and arrival dates within a specified time of receiving an order. It could call for transmission of advance ship notices within two hours of a shipment’s departure so visibility is optimized. Fully leveraging distribution center connections to stores optimizes shipping flexibility to react quickly to customer behavior. 

It is still most profitable for stores when customers pick up their orders in-store, but the busy holiday season could make it difficult for consumers to get to the store. Data generated by zip codes can identify areas of strong online ordering and in-store activity. This offers retailers insight into how to best position inventory for timely and accurate distribution.

For example, a retailer wants to offer one- to two-day deliveries but its transportation providers are challenged to consistently hit those targets. It may be more feasible to ship that order out from a store versus a fulfillment center. This could require shippers to invest in a drop-shipping strategy to support an e-commerce strategy where goods are brought directly to the store level. All this strategy is grounded in visibility.

This holiday season will be like no other. In-store buying will still be prevalent. However, more consumers have adopted online ordering after being required to do so in the early days of the pandemic. BOPIS utilization will be strong this holiday, but it will continue long after peak season and even after the virus passes. Consumers want options. It is critical for retailers to comply, but to do so efficiently.

Master Your BOPIS Revolution

The last mile is the most complex part of e-commerce fulfillment. It is also the most important. The last mile makes or breaks everything that came before it. That final delivery is the moment your customer will remember your brand most. How well do you finish?

A BOPIS strategy is just one of several last-mile offerings that shippers and retailers are expected to deliver. Done right, it reaps brand loyalty, lower costs and profitable opportunities for new market share. However, it requires a specialized level of resources and knowledge. It also requires skills and vigilance to ensure flawless execution.

We created The BOPIS Revolution: Navigating the New Never Normal to highlight some of the things you need to keep in mind when approaching – or modifying – your BOPIS strategy. Watch our SME Roundtable for a deeper dive into the ways we drive top line revenue results through personalized solutions driven by technology and expertise.

To continue the conversation, reach out to one of our supply chain experts. Let’s talk about how we can help you evolve solutions that support final delivery strategies to control cost and consistently wow your customers.

BOPIS: What Does It Mean for Shippers?

Posted on | by John Richardson

Linearity is on the way out. So is the shipper’s control of the supply chain. E-commerce has spawned the “omni-channel fulfillment” model where orders, distribution and deliveries occur from anywhere, anyone, and at any time. The traditional supply-push scenario with shippers calling the shots is giving way to a demand-pull approach with consumers in control of the transaction.

The “Buy Online, Pick Up In Store” (BOPIS) concept has become a key part of the asymmetrical, demand-pull world we live and work in. Who ever imagined a consumer ordering an item on an electronic device, having a retailer immediately pick and pack the product at one of multiple locations, and having it ready for the consumer’s arrival at a pre-arranged time, typically within a few hours and sometimes under an hour? 

Experience Depends on BOPIS Excellence

The COVID-19 pandemic is driving BOPIS toward mainstream adoption. Contactless interactions remain the order of the day – especially during the holiday season as health-conscious consumers continue to minimize time spent shopping in confined spaces. But BOPIS and other alternate fulfillment practices will outlast the pandemic. They will become permanent additions to the logistics landscape.

To execute an effective BOPIS strategy, shippers must understand retailers’ two overarching objectives: 

  • Ensure a seamless customer experience regardless of the order touchpoint.
  • Maintain adequate in-store inventory while expanding digital buying opportunities.

It is essential for retailers to have the right goods always available, and at the right place at the right time for the consumer. The “right time” could involve shipping to a residence or to another physical location. It could mean an in-person brick-and-mortar sale. It could mean BOPIS, or its first cousin, “Buy Online Pick Up at Curbside” (BOPAC). It could be a drop-shipping model where the shipper delivers directly to the store, thus minimizing the need to hold inventory in a space-constrained facility.

Striking the correct balance between in-store and digital inventory is just as critical. In-store customers are typically more loyal and buy more per visit than online customers. Retailers are loath to broaden their digital channels if doing so threatens to siphon off in-store activity.

Allowing both scenarios to thrive requires elevating visibility and analytics tools to new heights. A clear line of sight across the ecosystem allows shippers to align production with the retailer’s current replenishment needs. Analytics like Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence also provide shippers with vital clues about consumers’ future buying habits so they and their retailer partners can stay a step ahead.

Technology is only as productive as the knowledge of the people managing it. Seasoned third-party logistics specialists understand how to design and implement a consistently successful BOPIS program that leverages cost-effective automation. They have worked extensively with all stakeholders, and can quickly adjust the go-to-market processes to optimize outcomes and avoid costly missteps.

Final Delivery Drives Loyalty or Brand Damage

Online fulfillment is a fast-paced, often-unforgiving business. You are only as good as your last delivery. The margin for error narrows still further in a BOPIS transaction. Failing to execute an order after the consumer was assured the product was in stock and went out of their way to retrieve it is a breach of the “trust covenant” between the stakeholders. A BOPIS-related stock-out can seriously damage both brands, especially if a negative review spreads on social media.

The good news for shippers is that mastering this intense pivot point should result in enduring brand loyalty from consumer and retailer alike. Consumers prize convenience, and will favor retailers who make the BOPIS experience as easy as “pulling up and popping the trunk.” This goodwill extends to the products they pick up and take home.

Retailers, meanwhile, know how complicated it is to make life easy for today’s consumer.  Shippers who consistently execute will become sticky to the retailer. Product quality is obviously important. However, consumers often cannot discern between the nuances of multiple products of similar craftsmanship. What they do know, and will remember, is how, when and where they received their product. Or why they didn’t. That is how your brand will be remembered. In today’s world, logistics, more than any part of a shipper’s business, is becoming the competitive differentiator.

Navigate the New “Never Normal”

Planned properly, the BOPIS fulfillment model is a valuable tool in the highly competitive e-commerce space. 

The devil is in the execution.

Transportation Insight specializes in designing and executing supply chain strategy adjustments that empower you to provide the final mile delivery options required to wow end customers.

We created “The BOPIS Revolution: Navigating the New Never Normal” to offer insight into the many variables involved in meeting consumers’ evolving demands for service. Read it today to understand the strategies that we can help you leverage to enhance customer service, grow market share and increase competitive advantage.

You Ramped Up E-Commerce Shipping for COVID…Now What?

Posted on | by Todd Benge

The effort didn’t go unnoticed. 

Comparing year-over-year e-commerce sales, DigitalCommerce360 says volume was up 76% in June. And while that increase leveled off at 55% for July 2020, e-commerce sales are still up 55% year-over-year for the first seven months of the year. 

Retailers are driving much of that growth as many completely changed their distribution models (either permanently or temporarily) away from brick-and-mortar and over to alternative online fulfillment strategies. Already underway pre-pandemic, the movement to sell more online accelerated rapidly once B2B and B2C customers started placing more orders from their laptops and mobile devices. 

Reacting quickly to an event that hit fast, hard and unexpectedly, companies made e-commerce shipping decisions based on a desperate need to stay in business. As a result, those decisions do not always include a complete analysis of the true cost of shipping those goods to customers. As added costs emerge, including peak parcel surcharges from UPS and FedEx, the true cost picture becomes blurry. 

It’s time for a thorough assessment of exactly what your COVID-related e-commerce strategy is costing your company.

Take a Step Back, Assess E-Commerce Costs

As you continue to hone your business model to accommodate e-commerce growth and changing customer demands, it is time to take a step back and truly assess the costs associated with these models. 

Many of these companies will continue handling more e-commerce volume than they did pre-COVID (even with their physical stores opening again). Managing both sides of the equation profitably requires a thorough investigation of the true cost of shipping and a strategy that factors in customers’ needs with organizational profitability. 

Companies should also weed out their “losing” SKUs, assess shipping costs right down to the package level, practice good margin management across the entire organization, utilize data for good decision-making, and work with a reputable logistics partner. 

Master E-Commerce Shipping, Master Order Profitability

Continue shipping products without closely examining the time, effort and money that goes into sending out each package and you will soon find yourself underwater. As pandemic pushed e-commerce sales and residential orders to new heights, was your organization among those that raced into reactive mode?

Do you know the true cost of your e-commerce shipping decisions? You can not afford to ignore this problem.

To help you master your response to online demand, our Supply Chain Masters created “You Shipped It, but … Did It Make Money?” Read today and access strategies to protect profitability for every order and every customer.

Lean Supply Chain Perspective Required for New Normal

Posted on | by Mark Heckenliable

Meanwhile, the pressure is on lean-focused supply chain experts expected to examine internal processes and accommodate supply chain shortfalls. Their perspective is integral not just to the continuous improvement of in-house activities, but, importantly, to the network adjustments that come with the re-shoring of supply production.

Unfortunately, just as COVID-19 disrupted manufacturing networks, it also created new challenges for keeping lean supply chain teams engaged. Workforce reductions and remote operating environments create hurdles for maintaining the close awareness required to identify wasteful activity and efficiency improvement opportunities.

As manufacturers focus on a new normal, a lean perspective supports supply chain corrections, and the timeline for turnaround does not need to be limited by social distancing and remote environments. An expert partner can help you identify and execute the most effective supply network strategy, so you can keep focus on advancing your business.

New Manufacturing Normal Begins to Emerge

Midway through a year of disruption, we are hearing common refrains among manufacturers across diverse industries. It seems that, regardless of the supply chain network, the comments are very similar:

  • Manufacturing is moving toward reshoring to reduce supply chain disruption and distance.
  • Constant supply chain focus is needed to eliminate current and future supply chain disruptions.
  • Supply chain failure is the No. 1 reason a company is having issues in start-up or restart activities.
  • Adjusting product mix and production set-up is a struggle.
  • Lean training and learning is difficult outside the facility “Gemba”

Focused on cost, some companies furloughed or laid off their lean teams. This leads to significant impact across the organization, often requiring executive attention to resolve emerging network problems. Losing the process visibility provided by these experts can lead to costly misalignment across your existing network and in any future supply chain adjustments.

Problem Solving for Inventory Management, Network Changes 

Looking deeper at these trends, some of the specific emerging problems can be resolved through the total supply network awareness your lean expert maintains. 

Inventory management drives the biggest questions manufacturers encounter as they reset to serve a new normal. Common inventory problems in our assessments of  manufacturers include:

  • Too much of it, not balanced or not accurate.
  • Too much of the wrong inventory for the manufacturing product family mix.
  • Not enough of the correct inventory to manufacture replacement parts and service clients.
  • Never adjusted parts inventories for major equipment repairs.
  • Single sourcing from Asia, Europe, etc.

Losing the visibility of your supply chain expert can quickly impact your transportation cost, especially in a volatile environment following a significant disruption.

Organizations that scaled back their lean team during COVID-19 experienced common outcomes:

  • Quickly lost awareness to inbound ocean transportation and ensuing TL freight moves
  • Unprepared for spike in air freight costs for productions and parts inventory
  • Increased costs such as detention fees resulting from misaligned lead times and production planning
  • Reduced capacity for problem solving 

In the “old” normal environment, while your lean resources maintained process awareness required to exert continuous improvement, ongoing training also offered perspective for global practices that are applicable within your organization. Losing access to those resources – usually provided on-site – impedes your ability to evolve your processes.

Leverage a Master Partner to Evolve Processes

There is no doubt that a loss of process monitoring inside the operational environment leads to reduced visibility. Lean operators need to be in the Gemba to be most effective.

In a quarantine or remote environment, it is not always possible to have that consistent on-site presence – but, you don’t always need it. Some organizations have achieved success with lean supply chain teams of two that maintain social distance and COVID-19 protocols. While this has slowed Kaizen work, there has been success, it just takes longer than planned. As a positive outcome, lean leaders have executed administrative items for each Kaizen, a process that can be carried forward.

A problem solver’s mentality supports these types of in-the-trenches adjustments, and they are vital not only to your disruption response, but to the ongoing evolution of your supply chain. We offer our clients access to that mentality on an ongoing basis, using supply chain data analysis to provide awareness of emerging improvement opportunities.

At the same time, we offer organizations the ability to develop their own internal lean expertise. While protocols of a contact-conscious environment can limit on-site activity, the power of modern technology not only supports classroom-like digital learning, it also grants virtual visibility on par with physical presence.

For more information about invigorating your organization’s supply chain capabilities to support reshoring or other new practices for a new normal, schedule your lean supply chain consultation today. Whether you want to bolster the expertise of your internal resources or plan and design a supply chain network suitable for serving your customers tomorrow, we apply our mastery to help you establish efficient processes that control cost and improve service.

Disruption – Not Necessity – Is the Mother of Supply Chain Improvement

Posted on | by John Richardson

However, the novel Coronavirus outbreak created major supply chain disruption which affects all companies and industries. In the interest of safety, a whole new set of rules govern how we do business. Some of those trends coming out of this include:

  • Rules on social distancing, mandating how many people can be in a space at a given time.
  • Truck and delivery driver safety suggestions for transporting goods from the warehouse to the end customer.
  • A spike in e-commerce orders and home deliveries across industries, including grocery and consumer packaged goods.

These changes have one thing in common: They all rely on a strong and resilient supply chain. Without a constant flow of inbound components and finished goods, they can’t go from origin to the warehouse, and then outbound to the end customer.

This is why it’s critical to master your supply chain now. Understanding where components come in, measuring key performance indicators, and cutting out waste is the only way companies can get the insight they need to drive future invention from supply chain disruption.

Excelling During a Period of Infrastructure-Led Disruption

When the novel Coronavirus began spreading in the United States, we saw a lot of supply chain disruption. The truth is we may not be done. A recent Gartner analysis suggests we could see three different scenarios play out as the country re-opens for business: a short-term disruption leading to a quick recovery, a long-term disruption leading to protracted recovery, or a resurgence of COVID-19 cases leading to one of the two other scenarios.

Because we don’t know which recovery to expect, your supply chain leaders need to understand infrastructure and operations weaknesses and opportunities now. There are many different ways to do this, including supply chain mapping and modeling, identifying new supply partners closer to your facility, and identifying the best transportation networks to achieve your customer service goals.

So why invest in technology and analytics today? Historically speaking, companies who invest in their processes and people during disruption experience a faster recovery than those who don’t. More importantly, a disruption allows you to view your operational plans candidly and determine how the combination of leadership and talent, technology, business mission and values, and process framework can improve your supply chain.

As we see from the Gartner figure above, infrastructure-led disruption can directly lead to new innovations within your supply chain and network plans, but only to the extent your talent drives them. Thus, disruption – not necessity – is truly the mother of invention.

Where Do We Start Driving Infrastructure-Led Disruption?

The first step to creating long-lasting change starts inside your company. Now is the perfect time to start having those conversations because leadership teams were talking about making lasting change well before COVID-19 became part of the common vernacular.

A 2019 survey of boards of directors by Gartner revealed those leaders anticipated a complete transformations of their infrastructure and operations by 2025, with the core goals being improving maturity, driving quality and creating more agile supply chains. The current situation gives leadership teams two options: either attempt to improve within the legacy framework, or use infrastructure-led disruption as an impetus to improve operations.

Trying to improve a legacy model may not work for several reasons. If you can’t answer these questions, any attempt to repair a broken system could create more problems:

Going through a supply network analysis will not only answer these three questions, but give you the analytics you need to make better customer-focused decisions. By going through the exercise and continually improving infrastructure and operations through regular analysis, your team can drive true cost savings and customer experience improvement, leading to improved service and earning more orders over time.

Start Your Infrastructure-Led Disruption Today

Your leaders don’t need to approach infrastructure-led disruption on their own. Transportation Insight has the tools and technology your team needs to drive innovation, combined with the insight into thousands of supply chains across industries. With our expertise, our teams can help you understand where your supply chain is falling short, and where you can drive improvement both through disruption and into recovery.

Our team works through the lens of your business perspective, helping you unlock value from your supply chain and creating efficiencies into the future. Contact us today, and let us help you use disruption a tool to drive long-lasting success.

From Micro to Macro: The Effect of Social Distancing on the Supply Chain

Posted on | by John Richardson

In restaurants, they are moving tables and putting a hard maximum on the number of people allowed inside. Although the return of patrons generates badly needed revenue, moving tables apart means less diners, resulting in less money coming in the door. In order to maintain a peak level of performance, those restaurants need to turn tables and customers faster to achieve the same amount of revenue.

A similar concept will be introduced into the supply chain, as factories, warehouses and distribution centers come back online. Employees will need to consistently stay six feet apart, forcing managers to figure out how to keep up productivity while adhering to guidelines. Are you prepared for the change?

The Newest Constraint in the Supply Chain: Social Distancing

There are several supply chain constraints that most companies can plan around. These include capacity, throughput, and on occasion, emissions.

Using an Extended LEAN approach, managers and facilities are encouraged to reduce the amount of time and distance per process. This reduces waste throughout the production line, improving efficiency and ultimately providing more output with the resources already in place.

But due to social distancing, there’s a new constraint supply chain managers must deal with: the maximum amount of physical distance you can remove from production. Some of these situations are easier to plan for: Truck drivers can stay in their cabs, while using e-signatures for receipts.

Other conditions are going to be much more difficult to apply: In the interest of keeping employees healthy, they must consistently stay six feet apart. Companies now have to determine what that means for receiving, production and shipping. If employees have to maintain a safe distance, how does that affect their critical daily operations? Some companies say they are experiencing a 40 percent decrease in capacity due to the social distancing protocols.

Social Distancing Extends From the Facility and into the Network

The physical plant isn’t the only stakeholder affected by social distancing. The impact of lost production and capacity also extends to your logistics network.

If your output is slower due to social distancing, it can have a ripple effect on everything from loading trucks and time-in-transit to service guarantees. Capacity decreases mean it takes more time to load trucks and impedes trucks from moving freight from point-to-point. That cuts into your bottom line.

From there, the issues fall like dominoes. The late truck has more time on the dock, so your freight is arrives at its destination later. When it does, there could be a delivery failure due to a closed dock or a receiver bound by rules prohibiting deliveries outside a set window. Additionally, freight bills could increase because transportation providers are unwilling to wait a long time for freight loading and unloading. Your carrier partners might not be able to meet service times because of your approach to social distancing.

There are ways to approach this that will help your business move forward. Once the impact to individual facilities is determined, it’s possible to reconfigure your logistics network to meet the current capacity needs. Some of the options your team can explore include:

  • Do you need to reduce inbound material shipments until capacity can increase?
  • Should you adjust your outbound schedule to ensure you can maximize transit lanes?
  • Can your team or warehouse be more efficient in managing inbound and outbound freight?

Having a Partner to Help You Adjust for Social Distancing

It’s critically important to have a partner in your corner that not only understands how to configure logistics operations using tried and true techniques, but how to translate them to the broader supply network to balance cost, service and risk. While technology plays a key part into this transformation, these solutions need to be approached with a holistic solution in mind.

As we reopen facilities and plan for the “new normal” for the foreseeable future, it’s important to solve these problems now. Because we have no idea when social distancing practices will ease, the problems you face now won’t go away on their own. Instead, solving them will help you become a “shipper of choice” as activity ramps up. You can also maintain profitability and positively plan for the future.

In this race, Transportation Insight is your complete partner in success. Our technology tools allow you to decide between the best carriers and networking options.We can also help you drive success through supply chain mapping, optimization, and applied Extended LEAN strategies with social distancing in mind. Because we’ve worked through thousands of supply chains with hundreds of companies across industries, we know how to apply the best practices and wisdom around your current and future strategies.

Partnership matters – and Transportation Insight is prepared to help you now and well into the future. Contact us today to get started with a consultation on how your facility can manage productivity despite social distancing.

Serve Customers With a Personalized Supply Chain

Posted on | by John Richardson

Society’s sudden move to a shelter-in-place and work-from-home environment dramatically affected buying behaviors, and, in the process, expectations increased on companies responding to demand.

Organizations equipped with an agile, customer-centric supply chain network are capitalizing by evolving their service to the current environment. Distributors are re-locating inventory to meet emergent demand for products needed to support COVID-19 response in specific geographies. Retailers have kept Americans fed and working by adjusting online fulfillment strategies to utilize brick-and-mortar curbside pick-up or alternate home delivery methods. Manufacturers are drop-shipping products directly to homes to meet newfound interests in exercise.

As customer preferences carry even greater weight in modern supply network planning, the organizations with a holistic network view will deliver the most cost-effective shipping strategies that empower choice-conscious clients.

Customers Take Control

In 2016, parcel and express delivery volume bypassed railroads to become the second-largest transportation sector behind motor freight, according to the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals’ 28th Annual State of Logistics Report. With that leap, consumers seized control of logistics spending and “supply chain as we’ve known it” changed forever.

In the past, traditional retail strategies put the brand in control, using a push-based system with consumers at the end of the supply chain. Throughout the rest of the supply network, past experience drove inventory decisions, and product was pushed to stores based on what consumers “should” like and purchase.

Ongoing expansion of e-commerce has increasingly shifted decision-making for many organizations toward the customer experience. With the outbreak of COVID-19, historical buying behaviors are no longer valid and the consumer is in charge now more than ever. Companies that didn’t have a consumer-centric approach are adapting to survive.

Adopting a consumer-centric approach isn’t automatic, however. It requires thorough understanding of your customers’ preferences from point of purchase to final delivery.

Consumer Behaviors Changing Forever

While society has steadily shifted more buying to online platforms, COVID-19 sent more people online to buy a broader array of products than ever before.

In March, online grocery sales hit an all-time high. And in April, online grocery retailers topped that record by about 37%, according to survey data from grocery consultant Brick Meets Click (BMC) and research firm Symphony RetailAI.

Driving the sales growth was a 33.3% increase in the total number of orders: 62.5 million in April vs. 46.9 million in March. Spending per order grew more modestly, as did the number of online grocery shoppers.

Retailers like Wal-Mart and Target are reporting record online sales growth as well, giving further evidence that more buyers are turning to e-commerce sales channels for everyday needs. As the convenience of online buying appeals to a broader population, the need for diverse delivery options will increase, just as it has since parcel transportation took the No. 2 spot in logistics spend in 2016.

Effectively fulfilling those customer delivery demands requires a transportation strategy supported by multi-modal expertise and technology. Transportation management systems that integrate vital transportation information from freight and parcel service providers, along with historical shipping data, can offer a strong basis for decisions that improve customer service and protect bottom line profitability.

A Case for a Personalized Supply Chain

Organizations that can create a supply chain personalized to the expectations and behaviors of their customers can achieve greater brand loyalty. By allowing customers more control over their delivery experience, brands can create greater loyalty and improve customer retention.

At the same time, the shippers that establish a nimble network can rapidly respond to fluctuations in supply and demand and capitalize on opportunities for growth.

To learn more about creating a truly personalized supply chain that serves your customers’ needs, read Transportation Insight’s Guide to Mastering Your Supply Chain.

In it, we share more data about emerging customer trends as well as strategies and tactics to create a stronger supply chain that ultimately drives growth. Read it today to evolve your supply chain to meet your customers changing fulfillment and delivery needs.

Supply Chain Risk Management Lessons from the Military

Posted on | by John Richardson

When you think about the biggest risk to your company, what comes to mind? A data breach is probably high among concerns, and there’s good reason:this year alone, the Center for Strategic and International Studies identified 16 significant cyberattacks around the world, leaking hundreds of thousands of records.

What about a breach in your supply chain? Natural disasters, factory fires, rising tariffs, geopolitical issues and disease epidemics can all threaten your logistics network. Do you have a plan in place to respond in the event of significant disruption? If so, when was the last time you dusted it off and tested it?

Supply chain risk mitigation is more than sourcing. It requires an understanding of supply and demand. You need to be able to maintain continuity across your networks. If you don’t have backup plans and network strategies in place, one slip could jeopardize your entire business.

Mapping direct risks to your supply chain

Every supply chain has risks, regardless of how well it is planned. In the past five years, we’ve seen multiple threats to the global supply chain, ranging from natural disasters to labor disruptions.

Some of those issues are easier to prepare for than others. When union members across West Coast freight terminals walked off their jobs in 2015, indicators were present. Nine months of contentious negotiations, led to public jabs thrown by both sides, and ultimately, a work stoppage. In this situation, companies had time to make plans and consider alternative ports of entry. Without those preparations, there’s a risk of being affected by the $2 billion in lost productivity a full shutdown can cause daily.

Other situations are impossible to foresee. When Hurricane Harvey made landfall in Houston, widespread flooding damaged homes and threatened lives. Factories were forced to shut down, only opening as part of the massive cleanup efforts. For some businesses, this created two problems: The disaster created a spiked demand for cleaning and construction supplies, but crippled local availability to produce them.

In these situations, do you have alternate network maps available to identify where you need to ramp-up production? Do you have a secondary port identified to support your inbound shipments? Without a smart contingency plan, you not only risk losing inventory – you put in jeopardy your operational success as a whole.

Supply chain lessons learned in the Marine Corps

While serving in the U.S. Marine Corps I learned military logistics strategies that have been integral to global success. Among the supply chain support available to the Marines is the Maritime Pre-Positioning Force. Today, two ship squadrons – one in the Indian Ocean, and one in the South Pacific – stand ready to provide necessary combat support. If a Marine expeditionary brigade is deployed anywhere in the world, these ships can quickly drop all the equipment and supplies they would need for up to 30 days.

The MPF is one of many tools Marines have to ensure operational victory. Logistical strength also comes from the chain of command: Generals communicate goals to senior officers, who create multiple plans and execution strategies. A plan of attack goes to junior officers, who work with the non-commissioned officer brigade to map out an execution path. The NCOs are then empowered to enact the plan with platoons and squads, while changing and adapting to the developing situation.

There should be a direct alignment between your organization’s chain of command and your supply chain. If you have multiple strategies in place and can execute on any given one in the event of disruption, you can set up for operational success.

Using military intelligence in risk mitigation

As illustrated, the military does logistics very well. When thinking about that supply chain, we broke it down to three key needs: beans, bullets and bandages. Those items summarize our critical needs for success. Without food, we would run out of sustenance and the strength to fight. Without ammunition, we would have no means of defense and advance. And without bandages, we wouldn’t be able to self-care and prepare for the next wave.

Because these three items were crucial, the supply chain for each was diversified, so that we could always source them. Think about how that reflects in your logistics network. If you can’t access a key component for your flagship product, what would you do to ensure production doesn’t stop?

We experienced this risk process with a large Consumer Packaged Goods client that was considering a new location on the U.S. Gulf Coast. By incorporating hurricane strike probabilities at different locations, the site identified was 200 miles away from the “optimal cost” solution when risk was considered. In addition, by running sensitivities, we were able to identify the optimal secondary sourcing locations in case of a shut down.

It’s important to know how your supply chain is prepared with the essentials for success. Although your company may not survive on beans, bullets and bandages, there are components and pieces that you can’t live without. As you plan your network design and consider options and scenarios, consider the following questions:

  • Are active contingency plans in place?
    If you don’t have an active plan to circumnavigate crises in your supply chain, you don’t have mastery over it. Before another international disruption takes place, it’s important to take down the binders with contingency plans and simulate alternate sourcing scenarios. If you train for an emergency, you are empowered to execute when it happens.
  • Can you prioritize the most urgent needs at every supply chain node?
    When supply and inventory are threatened, you need the ability to prioritize customers and orders. This requires intelligence at every supply chain node: source, distribution center and end client. By creating a plan for every potential point of failure, you can get in front of the situation and drive customer satisfaction through disruption.
  • Where do I need operational redundancy?
    When you look at the most important items in your supply chain, how are you sourcing them? If you are ordering components from a single lowest-cost supplier, you could be in jeopardy. Although it may cost more in the short term, creating operational redundancy can give you both regional and port independence, ensuring key items don’t get stopped in an emergency.

Any given part of your supply chain may fail not because of stress, but because of the unknown. As we think about all the issues that could occur – from geopolitical conflict, to natural disasters, to labor disputes – your supply chain needs to be optimized regularly for continued mastery.

By utilizing Transportation Insight as a logistics partner, your company can access the software and expertise it takes to keep your network model up to date. Contact us today for a consultation, and learn how we keep your business driving forward.

5 Ways to Build an E-Commerce Engine that Wins

Posted on | by Robyn Meyer

Facing stiff competition from web-based suppliers, e-commerce providers and even traditional companies, retailers must enhance the customer experience by offering variety in delivery options − and all without impacting the cost to the consumer.

In most cases, achieving this balance starts with a modern e-commerce engine that’s supported by a robust transportation and fulfillment approach.

Best Practices Achieve Competitive Advantage

Here are five critical steps for developing an e-commerce transportation and fulfillment plan that goes head-to-head with the e-tailing giants. 

  1. Make your website user friendly. This sounds elemental enough in theory, but in reality, very few companies are doing it. Success in e-commerce starts with a user-friendly interface that doesn’t frustrate customers or send them off to buy from another site. If your online store’s ordering system is cumbersome and difficult to use, no one is going to use it unless they have to. And mobile friendly is vital.
  2. Drive up online checkout rates. The retailer that isn’t boosting online checkout rates will quickly find itself struggling to survive in a sea of companies that have figured out the formula. If you ignore the need to drive down abandonment rates, all of the advertising, marketing and sales efforts in the world won’t help you compete against the likes of Amazon and other large e-tailers. Measure key performance indicators (KPIs) like page views to cart conversions in order to get a gauge on 1) current state, and 2) what you can do to drive those numbers up.
  3. Develop a same-day order fulfillment strategy. Handled improperly, same-day delivery can be a logistical nightmare and major risk for retailers. Although becoming a necessary evil that all retailers must do for at least some of their customers, making that happen requires locations and/or warehouses positioned close to those buyers; a modification of existing fulfillment procedures; and ensuring that the right product is in the right place and at precisely the right minute. Aligning BOPIS strategies with profitability is significantly important when developing same-day order fulfillment.

  1. Factor in parcel, heavy home, and customized deliveries. When it comes to bulky goods that require extra muscle and/or assembly, retailers need to factor in three different scenarios: leaving the box in the entryway of a home or apartment; placing it in the room of choice; or both, plus opening up the box, removing the packaging, and setting up the product(s). Retailers must deliver on some, or all of these, expectations for the end consumer, who is typically willing to pay for those additional services.
  2. Select the best and most economical transportation mode. Retailers don’t always have access to the data that allows them to utilize economical mode selection. Instead, they focus only on getting same-day and next-day shipments out the door as quickly as possible (without worrying about whether or not those are the best and most economical decisions). Retailers should be leveraging carrier contract agreements that align with package characteristics/shipping networks. They should also use technology (i.e., transportation management systems or TMS) to select not only the mode that is most economical and provides tracking visibility, but one that also meets customers’ delivery expectations.

By keeping customers at the center of the conversation, providing visibility to shipments, working to fulfill their needs on every order quickly, and developing a transportation plan that aligns with these goals, smart companies can position themselves as suppliers of choice in today’s competitive e-commerce world. 

Ready to learn more ways retailers can improve e-commerce performance to satisfy customer demands for service and choice? Download Transportation Insight’s e-commerce guide, Managing the Risk of Racing Amazon.