Simplify your logistics with scalable, tech-driven solutions tailored for Indian businesses. From warehousing to last-mile delivery—grow faster, ship smarter.
In recent years, the pace of business has risen dramatically.
As a result, companies must be quick to detect and adapt to changes to succeed in a competitive environment. On the other hand, agility isn’t just about reacting faster than your competitors; it’s also about better preparation and execution.
Companies must gain more expertise in managing a supplier base that can match consumers’ needs since supply chains are complicated. Companies must seek ways to ramp up products fast and launch ahead of their competitors when developing agile supply chain strategies. They should be able to redirect things from one location to another and make modifications to them without affecting inventories.
What is an Agile supply chain and why your business needs it?
An agile eCommerce supply chain, by definition, is a product distribution system that prioritizes speed, cost savings, productivity, and market reactivity and adaptability. The goal of supply chain management (SCM) is to boost a company’s long-term success.
Real-time data, as well as expected data in supply forecasts, are used by agile supply chains to make decisions in day-to-day operations. When used together, it produces a more robust process that saves money for businesses and consumers, removes excess inventory waste, predicts potential shortages, and does it swiftly and efficiently. Flexibility is essential in an agile supply chain.
Agile or agility can be defined as the ability to move rapidly and readily, as well as being nimble or lithe. As a result, an agile supply chain is defined as the ability to adjust to ever-changing supply and demand trends in a way that expedites product delivery to customers.
This is a crucial strategy for firms that are always trying to adapt their internal environment to unforeseen developments in the outside world. It also uses real-time data to measure and estimate demand, resulting in increased efficiency and productivity.
Accurate Data: Shortening response times, expanding accessible options, and improving the quality of information available to make quick, effective decisions are the first steps toward enhancing agility.
Control Across the Board: Agile supply chains attempt to comprehend the entire supply chain, including the critical enablers and inputs required to deliver the best possible customer experience. They invest in new technologies and data-driven processes that allow them to keep a tight grip on the company.
Making Quick Decisions: While no one can forecast all disruptions, having processes and technology in place that allow for swift decision-making is critical to establishing an agile supply chain that can adapt quickly to the unexpected and grab new possibilities despite the inherent volatility in the industry.
There are several benefits of an agile supply chain-
With increased flexibility and demand-driven planning, companies with an agile supply chain can respond to changing customer demand. This allows companies to capitalize from brief profit windows and bring items to market faster than their competitors. Agility benefits the supply chain a lot.
Agile supply chains are more responsive and robust to rapid changes because of this greater flexibility. An agile supply chain can swiftly adjust to and overcome difficulties such as the loss of a major manufacturing partner or a substantial logistical bottleneck, which would create considerable delays in a static supply chain.
The virtual integration required to run an agile supply chain provides improved insight across the whole supply chain, allowing companies to anticipate and eliminate problems before they become a problem.
How to make an agile supply chain for your ecommerce business
Look for ways to improve the efficiency of your processes and systems
There are numerous ways to improve the efficiency of your SCM, lower expenses, and improve customer service levels. Sourcing, incoming and outbound transportation, IT services, and many four-walls tasks are all part of a typical eCommerce supply chain (receiving, storage, order fulfilment, value-added services, and reverse logistics). Here are four important cost-cutting strategies for your supply chain.
Distribute conveniently and flexibly
The customer is in control and can see inventory located at the stores nearest them. BOPIS, ship from store, and ship from an FC are all options. The importance of communicating availability and delivery timeframes from each location cannot be overstated.
3PLs function as intermediaries between the shipper and the carrier. As a result, the 3PL serves as a customer service agent, communicating with the carrier on behalf of the customer throughout the shipment’s life cycle.
iThink Logistics, one of the leading eCommerce shipping businesses, is the finest partner for you. iThink Logistics can give your company wings in one fell swoop, thanks to its low prices and superior shipping services. Whether it’s international or domestic eCommerce shipping, iThink Logistics can handle it all.
We book our tickets in advance for a flight. Like we do for hotel bookings when on a trip. Just like that, there are times when ecommerce platform sellers can offer customers the option of booking a product even before it has officially been listed for sale. This is called pre-ordering – a strategy where the customers can buy a product that hasn’t yet been released.
When it comes to online selling and ecommerce shipping, pre-ordering is a tactic that retailers have followed avidly.
However, before you decide to do so for your upcoming products, it is best to read on about the pros and cons.
Why offer pre-orders?
Besides being a fantastic marketing strategy, preordering has many benefits for retailers on ecommerce platforms.
Creating A Hype
Pre-ordering campaigns help the ecommerce dealers create a sense of FOMO – fear of missing out because they work on the scarcity principle. A pre-order campaign usually offers up to a certain number of limited pro-orders only. And the race to be one of the chosen few on the pre-order list adds to the sense of hype. These products often come across as limited edition products that furthermore make people feel special. It’s a human tendency to show off the things they have and others don’t. In the same way, a user with a successful pre-order delivered to him/her is of great help in generating a buzz online and offline.
Forecast Demand
One of the biggest pros of running a pre-order campaign is the ability to calculate and estimate demand. Depending on the number of pre-orders placed, you can decide to manufacture the actual number of products because by now you will have a fair idea of how coveted the product actually is. For example, if the pre-ordering list is full and enquiries for orders keep coming in, your product is a hit and the production can be more. If the pre-order list has shown a good, not great response, you will know exactly how many products to manufacture/purchase. This automatically cuts costs and best of all, it avoids the pile-up of unsold inventory.
Reduces Risks
Pre-ordering gives you the advantage of charging the customers for the product while they place an order. So that means you have collected the cost and profit for the order even before it is purchased. This gives you a good financial safety net and greatly reduces the risk for the actual number of products you manufacture/purchase.
Create a successful pre-ordering strategy with these tips
Contemplating whether you want to run a pre-ordering campaign or not? Check out these tips!
Pre-launch Marketing
Before the movie, comes the teaser. People see the teaser, get intrigued, show excitement, and book the tickets. This goes to show how important it is to generate buzz on ecommerce platforms even before you launch your pre-ordering campaign. To give you an example, make the most of content marketing, email marketing, and influencer marketing in your phase before you start booking pre-orders.
For eg, for the release of a book written by a celebrity, the process starts with the publishing house and the celebrity taking to social media to announce the book. Then comes the second step of releasing the cover. Then comes the step of gifting the book to influencers and asking them to post a review. Over and above all throughout the campaign, emailers and messages about the pre-ordering date inching closer add to the hype of the product.
Prepare in Advance
A pre-launch campaign is great. But in your pre-ordering phase, ensure that you are completely set for the day the actual launch takes place. To do so, get the product descriptions with SEO friendly keywords already embedded in the content, enough reviews posted from paid partnerships, and PR articles ready to be uploaded once the launch is done. The preparation also involves ensuring that the ecommerce platform with your listing is equipped for heavy traffic.
Create a Scarcity
The principle of scarcity has given birth to the ‘limited edition’ concept – a strategy used by all brands when something ‘new’, ‘special’, and ‘innovative’ is about to hit the market. By adding a ‘limited period offer’ and a ‘limited edition’ in your communication, you can create a hype among the customers about how exclusive your product is and only the coveted few can get it. You can also offer your product only for a limited period of time to increase the hype further.
Fulfilment
As mentioned earlier, staying prepared for doing all the work once the pre-orders have been booked and locked is crucial. And here is where shipping comes into play. Shipping software in India has developed a lot over the years because of which it is considered foolish to try and do the entire fulfilment all by oneself when fast and favourable options are available. One such option is choosing a third party logistics partner. And with ithinklogistics, you’ve found the perfect partner. With our AI-based dashboard and process, we are one of the best fulfilment and shipping software providers in India. From real-time step by step updates to finding out the reasons for non-delivery to attempting delivery again, ithinklogistics covers it all.
From listing the products online to ecommerce shipping, if you’re in the business of online retail, pre-order is something you definitely try. It is preferable to do so on a product that is backed by a popular brand/celebrity or its predecessors have good brand value in the market. From phones to smart watches to books, every industry has room for a pre-ordering campaign. All you need is the right product and the right shipping partner. Choose your ideal shipping partner by contacting us at ithinklogistics.
Online sales are expected to increase dramatically ever since the COVID19 pandemic struck us. As a result, new eCommerce enterprises are constantly sprouting up. However, how do you stay ahead of the competition and position your organization for success in this more competitive environment? One of the most crucial things you’ll need to do is work on increasing traffic to your online store along with supreme eCommerce shipping solutions.
Getting eCommerce traffic to come and buy from your online store can be difficult, especially if you’re just getting started. Even with great eCommerce packaging and excellent eCommerce shipping you need to make sure more new traffic comes your way.
We’ve prepared a collection of excellent suggestions for attracting clients to your internet business in this article.
Here is how you can increase the traffic to your eCommerce store
Make Your Website Sales-Friendly
Everyone is looking for strategies to improve eCommerce traffic and ultimately attract people to buy their products, whether they’ve recently debuted or have been around for a long. However, each potential visitor is different, and there are a variety of ways to contact them. These tried-and-true methods will undoubtedly generate traffic to your online store, from social media to SEO, engaging with influencers, and more.
Run ad campaigns on social media
You must be able to bring your business in front of your ideal customers to improve internet traffic for your online store. Taking advantage of social media advertisements you can easily create highly targeted campaigns that will show customized ads to interested customers who are more likely to click and buy them.
Make blog posts about well-known products.
More traffic to your store can be driven by publishing consistent, valuable, and all-around engaging content. The majority of customers are looking for a brand with which they can connect and interact.
Take a look at your most popular products if you’re wondering what themes you should cover on your website. Write blog entries on these products.
Make Your Store More SEO (Search Engine Optimization) Friendly
If you’re going to incorporate content production into your overall marketing strategy to improve eCommerce traffic, it’s critical that you grasp the impact SEO plays in driving visitors to your site.
E-mail marketing campaign
Building an appealing email list is one of the most effective ways to drive visitors to your online store, which should come as no surprise.
It’s a big mistake if you focus all your energy on gaining new customers and overlook your existing customers.
You can send email campaigns to new customers who have never bought from you before, existing customers who have bought from you previously, and even lost customers who abandoned their cart during the checkout process.
Run a Giveaway That Goes Viral
Viral giveaways are an excellent strategy to get new users to your website. Giveaways can help you gain social media followers, brand exposure, lead generation, and email list growth.
Users will be more likely to frequent your store and engage in competitions if you offer giveaways. Also, if they share your post on social media, ask more people to participate, or provide an email address, you can give them multiple reward points.
Make Your Online Store Mobile-Friendly
Many websites are solely focused on desktop computers, completely ignoring the mobile users. As a result of the terrible user experience on mobile devices, your visitors will abandon your site.
You need to make your online store mobile-friendly if you want more customers to come.
Google has already switched to the mobile-first index which means the website that works well on mobile devices will automatically be ranked higher than those that don’t
Grow your eCommerce business with iThink Logistics
Executing all company tasks in-house may not be the ideal formula for success in today’s highly competitive market when specialization is critical for growth. Having a 3PL can provide your business with a competitive advantage while also allowing you to concentrate on its core capabilities.
3PLs act as go-betweens for the shipper and the carrier. As a result, the 3PL acts as a customer service representative, contacting the carrier on the customer’s behalf and maintaining communication throughout the shipment’s life cycle.
Through customer service and TMS software, 3PLs provide you with ongoing visibility of your shipment throughout its life cycle. It’s a headache to lose track of a shipment, but working with a 3PL ensures you’ll have eyes on it from the time it leaves the dock until it arrives.
iThink Logistics is the best partner for you and is counted among the leading eCommerce shipping companies. With affordable pricing and excellent shipping services, iThink Logistics can add wings to your business in one go. Be it eCommerce shipping internationally or locally, iThink Logistics can take care of everything.
An ecommerce shipping solution is a key to your online store’s success.
Along with thorough market research and perfect advertising your brand online, it is also essential to focus on shipping.
In recent years, we’ve noticed a massive increase in eCommerce sales. This isn’t just because of the pandemic that the consumers depend on online buying more than before; there are various reasons. Before the pandemic crippled the world, people would buy what they wanted. The market came up with new facilities to cater for the need of people stuck in lockdowns.
Online shopping came along with the convenience of digital transactions and a wide range of selections. Naturally, people were attracted to the better of the two. There is no doubt that the global pandemic has resulted in one of the most significant changes in global commerce.
It has become more convenient for people to order things from the comfort of their own homes and have them delivered to their front doors. That is why developing a clear shipping strategy in eCommerce is critical. We’ve put up a quick guide to everything you’ll need to know to make the best selection for your company because the world of shipping and fulfilment can be confusing to those inexperienced with it.
Stock in physical stores is limited, and they only keep the items that are popular and sell mainly. There are a variety of factors that influence the availability of other products. In addition, the local merchant seeks to market their limited inventory.
On the other hand, online shopping displays a wide range of products from multiple businesses. 70% of shoppers shop online because they can choose and explore more according to their needs and trends. You can even purchase second-hand products through online shopping.
The Benefits of Not Having to Go to Stores
Shopping on the internet is straightforward. You don’t have to get dressed and go to the local market, and you go to a lot of stores to find the thing you want. When you shop online, you can do so from anywhere and at any time. You don’t have to be concerned about the working hours of the store anymore. And you can, of course, shop from the comfort of your home and also avail the accessible shipping facility.
There is no sales pressure when you shop online
When you go to a physical store, the salespeople persuade you to buy more things. Internet buying aims to relieve the customer of this stress and simplify shopping.
No Crowd
Who likes crowds? Shopping becomes a problematic effort in a busy place. During busy hours, car parking may become a challenge. This drives people to turn toward online shopping, and it helps avoid crowds and find the best deals without much hassle.
Easy Replacement and refund of products
Product replacement and refunds are simple and require no additional charges or effort. A product that does not match your size or material quality expectations may need to be replaced. Online purchasing products come with a replacement warranty for a short time, for example- 15 days return policy offered by Amazon. You can order your product, and if you are not satisfied with it, you can easily replace it within the 15 days return window without any hassle.
What are the different types of eCommerce shipping solutions?
Your shipping option will be determined by several things, including your goods, target audience, and budget. Finally, clients desire agility, which should be the primary motivator in the shipping method you use whenever possible.
The delivery times for each shipping method vary, but a crucial element is when the consumer places the initial purchase.
Expedited delivery
Expedited shipping refers to any shipment technique that is faster than regular. It ensures that things are delivered faster than they would be with traditional shipping methods. Products may transfer from warehouse to warehouse or another checkpoint in conventional delivery. In most circumstances, expedited shipments go from pickup to delivery.
Expedited delivery means that the shipment is picked up from the closest inventory to the customer’s delivery address and delivered quickly. Expedited shipment is more expensive than standard delivery. (For example, Amazon Prime)
2-day shipping
Amazon prime, the eCommerce powerhouse, popularised the concept of 2-day shipping, which other competitors quickly replicated. You place an order, and your product is shipped from the warehouse and reaches you within two days. Works like wonder for anything, be it a tiny sewing needle or a complete couch from another state; the 2-day delivery option keeps everything sorted.
Same-day shipping
Same-day shipping is a delivery technique in which things are delivered the same day or within 24 hours of the client placing the order. Grocery and medicines ecommerce provides services with this shipping facility, and Amazon provides same-day shipping facilities for their prime users on select products.
Overnight shipping
When customers choose overnight shipping, they expect their package to arrive the next business day. “Next-day shipment” or “one-day shipping” are terms used to describe this type of delivery.
There is a specific time range within which one must submit an order to have items delivered overnight. It is only at that point that it is eligible for next-day delivery. The goods are then sorted and picked out of inventory based on the order, packed, and loaded onto the carrier. The courier partner then picked up the shipment and delivered it to the customer’s address the next day.
The cutoff time for placing an order is often between 6 and 7 p.m. in most cases. Furthermore, eCommerce such as Amazon has its own logistics system, ensuring that shipments are rapidly packed and placed onto the carrier for delivery.
International Shipping
International shipping refers to delivering a product from one country to another. eCommerce shipping internationally works like a wonder to connect the world! International shipping has been gaining in popularity over the years because it allows sellers to diversify their businesses.
International shipping businesses can usually assist you in navigating the complexities of international shipping, allowing you to expand your business more efficiently. This allows you to reach out to more clients and grow your business internationally. Also, shipping globally is a terrific method to improve your brand’s awareness and presence and reach more individuals.
Freight shipping
The shipment of heavy commodities by air, land, or water is called freight shipping. Freight shipping is typically designated for things that exceed a specific size and weight limit and bulk items. Any shipment over 65KG. is considered freight.
Eco-friendly Shipping
For packaging and delivering items, eco-friendly shipping includes the use of biodegradable materials that can be easily recycled, reused, and require less time to degrade.
It can also apply to combining orders into single shipments, adopting low-emitting modes of transportation, and other strategies for reducing the environmental impact of package delivery.
Omnichannel Shipping
To deliver a smooth shopping experience, omnichannel shipping is one-touch integration between operations and physical product flows across all channels.
To put it another way, omnichannel shipping is a system that allows customers to complete purchases and get products through any channel they choose.
Ecommerce shipping costs and rates
Size, distance, and other characteristics can influence how much it costs for a product to arrive at a specific location.
Determine your product’s dimensions and weight
The amount of space or density that your product occupies has a big impact on transportation costs since it determines how much room or weight a box takes up in a truck or how much weight it adds to an aeroplane, for example.
The DIM (Dimensional Weight) technique of estimating transportation costs is a pricing method. It’s calculated by multiplying the L x W x H (length, width, and height) of the package by a specific rate (generally 5000). The actual weight of the box may also be a factor.
Both volumetric and physical weight are compared, and the higher of the two is used as the product weight.
Consider the final destination
Size and weight are important, but it’s also important to consider where you’re sending from and where you’re shipping to. According to a general rule of thumb, the longer the box must go, the more expensive it will be.
For example, a consumer in San Francisco will pay a different delivery rate than a customer in China at an eCommerce company situated in Dallas, Texas. This is simply because China is further distant, necessitating the use of an aircraft or a ship to get there, all of which incurs additional costs for fuel, the vehicles used, and the handling charges associated with shifting the item from one vehicle to another at docks or airports.
Costs of shipping carriers should be added.
While the shipping cost is affected by package dimensions and the customer’s destination, not all shipping providers charge the same amount.
Company A, for example, may charge $14.40 to collect and deliver a package from Dallas, Texas, to China. On the other hand, Company B may charge $15.90 for the same shipment. It’s worth noting, though, that in some circumstances, such as domestic or local shipment, company B may be a better deal than company A.
Handling fees
Workers in the warehouse move goods around, generate mailing labels and do other tasks associated with a fulfilment centre. A handling fee is the cost of all of these additional stages.
Handling fees, as indicated above, can contribute to the cost of shipping since your shipment is processed at a warehouse, dock, airport, or other similar location.
The charges of handling and administration will be incurred. As a general rule, the greater the distance between the eCommerce company and the consumer, the more likely the shipment will be handled by many people, increasing the shipping charge.
Customers are charged for shipping in various ways by different eCommerce retailers. Here are two commonly used eCommerce shipping rates.
Flat rate shipping
Flat rate shipping refers to charging the same fixed shipping fee for all orders or shipments that fall into a specific weight range, order value, or other categories. The blended average shipping and handling cost across orders in a category should calculate flat rate shipping.
However, some drawbacks businesses face while using flat rate shipping: sometimes some orders’ shipping costs will not be fully covered, while others will be overcharged in contrast.
Real-time carrier rates
At checkout, some eCommerce stores show real-time carrier rates. The exact shipping charges are immediately obtained through automation, from the carriers based on the customer’s location and delivery preferences.
This enables you to bill clients for the precise amount it costs your company to ship their order. This is a feature available in Shopify’s Advanced plan and shipping APIs.
Offering free shipping
Free shipping can help you reduce shopping cart abandonment, boost conversions, and promote customer loyalty. You can offer free shipping while still making a profit in a couple of ways:
Incorporating the cost of shipping into the product price
Shipping at later dates to get cheaper courier service
In exchange for free shipping, a minimum spend is required.
Accepting a recurring cost as part of a loyalty program in exchange for free shipping on all purchases (e.g., Amazon Prime)
Ecommerce packaging
Good eCommerce packaging is essential. Rather than wrapping the goods, putting them in a box, and delivering them, many e-commerce businesses are increasingly investing in corrugated boxes to improve packing and labelling. The fundamental goal of better packaging and labelling is to ensure safe product delivery and successful brand promotion.
Additionally, investing in packing materials and labelling improves the company’s reputation significantly. The customer is satisfied when the delivered product is in excellent condition, and this increases the likelihood of the consumer placing additional orders, resulting in higher ROI and business growth.
Proper packing can drastically reduce a company’s costs. Good packaging guarantees that the product is not damaged during shipment, reducing the likelihood of customers returning it.
Packaging is essential for establishing a link between a company and its customers. If your product is well-packaged, it will make a lasting impression on the customer long after the sale.
Proper packaging aids in giving clients a positive first impression of your product. If a consumer receives a well-packaged product, their view of your company will be positive. Proper packaging also aids in the development of a strong brand identity.
Ecommerce shipping carriers
There are dozens of options to choose from when it comes to carrier services. Shippers require access to an extensive carrier services network to achieve their customers’ delivery expectations, particularly in high-volume international distribution. Businesses can benefit from the most significant features of each carrier’s services.
All carrier options are at the retailers’ fingertips with e-commerce shipping solutions. Advanced platforms, like Amazon, enable users to compare carriers and services in real-time and choose the carrier and service best suited for each shipment based on the retailer’s business guidelines. Retailers can accomplish their delivery objectives at the lowest cost for each shipment by doing so.
While any shipper’s ultimate goal is to deliver products to customers on time, without damage, at the lowest possible cost, and in the most efficient manner possible, the recent surge in e-commerce has increased customers’ ability to customise their shipping options, and businesses must be able to accommodate this personalisation.
E-commerce shipping solutions allow a business to fulfil a customer’s shipping needs within their system. With the help of AI, retailers can choose carrier partners according to their business rules. According to the retailer’s business rules, they can choose the one that can offer the best rates to a specific region. And also ensure that each shipment is labelled and communicated by each carrier’s labelling and communication standards, as well as any applicable trade regulations.
Transform your eCommerce shipping solutions with iThink Logistics
Shipping is unquestionably a complex element of any eCommerce operation. Every company will face its own set of obstacles that must be addressed and conquered to build the best and most effective shipping strategy. It will take time and implementation to figure out what works best, just like so many other parts of your new eCommerce site.
Shipping is unquestionably a barrier for eCommerce merchants. And, given the nature of your firm, these issues are sure to be unique. To overcome these obstacles, you’ll need to put in a lot of effort by implementing new procedures and keeping track of what’s working for your company.
As with many elements of your business, it will take time to construct, modify, and work your way to customer satisfaction through delivery.
iThink Logistics is a game-changer for your business and can simplify the entire process of shipping for you! We have extensive expertise in shipping technologies and have immense experience to help your business reach the stars in a jiffy.
2020 Was the year when the world shut down. But did it?
The digital revolution brought the world online Because supply chain and logistics saw the most extensive boom, And consequently, ‘Your order has been placed’ became popular.
With people indoors, over the top safety protocols, minimal human interaction, and a long list of things to bring home, the logistics and supply chain management industry witnessed incredible growth.
This growth has given rise to many trends owing to technology, faster delivery requirements, AI intervention, etc.
As of 2017, the logistic industry was valued at over 8 trillion dollars – a staggering number for the world but now it is going to be double in nearly 2023. Because treating the customer like a king and providing superfast doorstep delivery has made the ecommerce logistics industry the new coveted market for venture capitalists and innovators.
Ecommerce giants like Amazon and Alibaba group are now adopting a new model of business and using artificial intelligence, blockchain and many others to face the challenges.
And with more money and emerging ideas pouring into the industry to make it a better and more profitable avenue come more rising trends. Let’s take a look at them below.
10 Logistics and Supply chain management trends fueled by the digital revolution
Considering the Environment
Planet health equals our health. The logistics industry hasn’t been kind to the earth. The ecommerce logistics industry is gearing up for a renewed start, A renewed start that involves eco-friendly packing, fuel-efficient delivery, live tracking of sustainable transport methods and energy sources
The rise of ecommerce + logistics combo
Initially, the trend was for a business to make a website, list products online, and get orders; a logistics partner would take care of the product’s journey from the warehouse to the customer.
However, giants like Amazon and Alibaba have developed their logistics and supply chain management. Thereby not requiring the need to outsource their logistics. You may see the term ‘Fulfilled by Amazon’ on many Amazon product listings, which is code for Amazon being that brand logistics partner.
The Evolution of blockchain
Blockchain is like digital books of accounts, a ledger that keeps track of the cash flow and every aspect of shipping, from packaging to delivery. A technology that has worked wonders for traditional logistics suppliers like FedEx, UPS and uber freight can now plug in the gaps of tracking fraud more efficiently. This, in turn, has enhanced their efficiency and provided more transparency. Blockchain is like a digital ledger.
Logistics as a Service model/LaaS
The pandemic is that from a scale of 200 business owners, all 200 now want to be online and provide end-to-end services to get to their customers.
The digital boom also needs quick logistics. It’s costly and time-consuming for every business owner to develop logistics and supply chain management why businesses are looking to outsource.
And when it comes to outsourcing, iThinkLogistics serves as an ideal third-party logistics partner. With the power of AI-based technology, it is the go-to partner for quick delivery, tracking, problem-solving, and cost and time optimisation.
Emerging as unstoppable partners
The pandemic was proof that the world could come to a stop. But it also gave rise to a challenge. A challenge of creating a business model that could survive such an event yet again.
And the current ecommerce logistics industry is proof of the challenges being completed. The world managed to get vaccines delivered from sturdier than ever packaging to faster delivery.
The AI Takeover
Planes have auto-pilot, and cars have auto-driving modes. In ecommerce logistics, artificial intelligence has started to change the way the industry works. With end-to-end robots in charge of packaging and tracking, the industry’s productivity and pockets are enhanced.
With a workforce of AI-powered devices combined with humans, companies are likely to reduce mistakes and save costs, especially as businesses begin deploying custom AI agents tailored to specific logistics tasks like route optimization, inventory tracking, and demand forecasting.
According to the annual industry reports, AI is used by 12% of warehouse businesses, but it is expected to reach more than 60% in the coming years.
The digital twin initiation
We live in a world where the Metaverse is on its way to becoming a whole actual world of its own, existing with our world, yet separately. What exists, in reality, can be made with accuracy in 3D. 3D models of warehouses can help plugin gaps and act as beta testing centres for future technology in shipping, fulfilment, and logistics as a category.
Data-driven Optimization
Every avenue for the logistics industry is a step in the right direction. Making the most of predictive logistic insights is like taking a peek into the future. Predictive insights enable one to know the most fuel-efficient mode of transport, what product will be the easiest to ship, etc.
Real-time Supply Chain Visibility
AI (Artificial Intelligence) and planning are based on predicting close to the most accurate patterns that are likely to occur. However, we live in an uncertain world where the weather and human intervention can change anything at the last minute.
With the help of Supply Chain Visibility firms that provide real-time data and tracking, even these problems can be managed well. From the traffic delay to road closures to weather changes, everything can be mapped, tracked, and alternate solutions can be provided quickly.
New entrants in the business
Even the world of ecommerce logistics and supply chain management that is already so advanced cannot escape the arrival of new technology and, more importantly, new players in the market. The aforementioned trends are proof of innovation taking this industry from being ‘product shippers’ and ‘delivery agents’ to full-fledged AI-driven end-to-end solution providers.
Therefore, the door for ‘new’ and ‘better’ is always open in an ever-growing industry.
In the fast-changing world, eCommerce is becoming more and more important and has become a vital part of any successful business strategy. With the COVID-19 pandemic taking over the world and disrupting lives on the go, eCommerce has become especially important. People are turning to online shopping and this is opening up horizons for cross country, even continent small trades.
Now you can order a pack of Californian almonds while sitting in Belgium! Ecommerce has connected the world. Businesses should turn to eCommerce to make their mark in the growing market. It’s time for you to strike the iron while it’s hot!
Having an online store provides clients with convenience in its purest form. Customers can simply access all of your products through your website, where they can compare prices and purchase items from the comfort of their own homes.
The online store is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, allowing clients to purchase their desired things at any time. Traditional methods of purchasing have become a laborious process and are no longer a favoured manner of shopping as a result of social distance. Shopping, on the other hand, has never been easier thanks to online stores.
When compared to a conventional business, an e-commerce store has lower operational costs, which benefits consumers. One of the most significant advantages of e-commerce is this. Prices on the internet are typically lower than in stores. eCommerce also appeals to customers by dropping in good discount deals and other promo codes.
Scalability
E-commerce websites are extremely effective for understanding which products sell well and raising supply levels for certain products. As a result, you will be able to enhance your company’s revenue, customer base, and profitability. Amazon’s online shopping website has been successful because it continually expands its product selection and assesses what customers want. As a result, they’ve been able to significantly extend their product line across a wide range of industries.
Cost-cutting
Ecommerce attracts businesses because of its brilliant cost-cutting ability. In running a smooth functioning physical store, sellers have to spend a lot of money. They need to pay deposits, rent, repairs store design, and so on. Despite investing in all services and inventory, maintenance and staff, it is not guaranteed they will achieve the expected ROI. While eCommerce platform help cut the cost of all the expenses related to physical stores.
Measurable Advertising & marketing
Advertising via the internet is also less expensive than conventional forms of advertising. You might utilize a Search Engine Optimization strategy to increase your website’s page rankings in search engines. This would be a monthly investment with a predictable return. There are many measurable tools that can increase the customer footfall to your business.
Flexibility for customers
The ability for sellers to provide flexibility to customers is a significant benefit of eCommerce for businesses. The goods and services are available 24 x7 which attracts the customers. This also gives flexibility to the sellers who can now sell their products anytime anywhere.
eCommerce marketplace has an abundance of customers all the time. With the flexibility and advantages that come with it, customers tend to return again and again. Free shipping, expedited order delivery discounts and other advantages are just a few of the benefits that attract customers.
Comparison of products and prices
In ecommerce, sellers can compare products using tools or on their own. This gives them a good idea of the product possibilities available as well as the standard rates in the event that a product requirement isn’t met.
Online comparison saves time and contains more items – Because all of the information is available on the purchase site, it saves time when doing this comparison. Although merchants in physical stores may not have as much information as internet retailers, they do have a greater understanding of their own products.
Open 24×7
You can keep your store open all the time irrespective of whether you are awake or not. Automation can keep your business on track, running it smoothly all the time. A smooth automation process can keep the sales process on track and enable your customers to buy at any time.
Several payment methods
Buyers value personalization, which is also true when it comes to paying for their orders. On ecommerce marketplaces, UPI, cash on delivery, card on delivery, net banking, EMIs on credit or debit cards, and pay-later credit are all alternatives.
Ecommerce has a significant edge in terms of cart recovery. When a buyer reaches the checkout page, he or she may decide to leave the purchase. Customers might be notified by phone or email to finish their transactions.
iThink Logistics, a one-stop solution for all your eCommerce shipping needs
Starting an e-commerce firm, whether or not you currently have a brick-and-mortar store, is often fairly simple, low-risk, and low-cost. There’s plenty of potential for passive income and great ROI over the long run if you choose your products correctly and have a sound business plan.
iThink Logistics can help you set up your perfect business online Our ecom shipping solutions can take care of all your shipping-related work!. Deliver your best products to your customers in a jiffy with us. We are a leading eCommerce shipping provider.
Last-mile delivery is the last stage in the supply chain, when a product is delivered from a warehouse to the customer’s doorstep safely, efficiently, and cost-effectively, finishing its journey.
Last-mile logistics, last-mile distribution, and final mile delivery are the other terms used to describe this process. Last-mile delivery is typically the most expensive phase in the supply chain. Corporations generally compare various eCommerce shipping costs to give their clients speedy and sometimes even free eCommerce shipping choices.
Why is Last mile delivery important?
The last mile is the most significant step, regardless of the type of product, the journey, or the number of stops it takes on its route to your door because it is the mile where consumer expectations are met or shattered.
Nothing destroys a customer’s experience like a botched shipment delivery. Last-mile delivery errors are widespread and frustratingly challenging to forecast and avoid. Worse, any last-mile delivery annoyance might elicit a visceral emotional response from the customer, leading to a negative review and a reputation for poor customer care. As a result, achieving client expectations is the primary reason why last-mile delivery is essential in scaling your organisation.
5 Tips to boost your Last mile delivery
Centralize all logistics data
If it’s not organised, there’s only so much you can do with data coming in from your website, aggregator sites, external carriers, and other sources.
By centralising all of this data, organisations can better understand the details of their last-mile delivery process and make adjustments as needed to improve it continuously. Centralised fulfilment solutions aim to simplify the entire e-commerce fulfilment process (from getting the placed order to finally delivering it) while also ensuring that inventory is constantly available across all channels.
This approach allows customers to have a consistent experience across all channels, including last-mile delivery. It also aids returns, often a significant hurdle for online retailers.
Automate and optimize your route planning
The most successful online merchants use a system that constantly optimises transport schedules of the new orders throughout the day. These systems collect new orders, consider the Pincode serviceability available resources, and determine if additional orders can be delivered within the requested time limit.
E-commerce enterprises can improve their operational efficiency and provide consistent, reliable service to their clients by continuously optimising transportation and home delivery service in the same system. Delivery management software can act wonders for last-mile ecommerce.
Allow customers to choose delivery windows
Allowing consumers to choose their delivery dates is part of a delivery management software strategy that puts the customer in charge of delivery. By providing a variety of delivery time windows on your website, you provide customers with the option of selecting the most convenient time for them, ensuring that someone will be home to accept the item when it arrives.
Provide real time driver tracking
You’ve just discovered a potential problem in your logistics process, i.e. what’s your solution if items are lost or misplaced during last-mile delivery? Before the goods leave the warehouse, set up an effective tracking system. You should be able to follow an order from placement through delivery swiftly and efficiently throughout the supply chain. This will allow you to keep track of how long it takes the package to complete its journey to the customer.
Gathering this information and comparing it to established standard operating procedures provides insight into the supply chain’s performance, particularly in final mile logistics. To ensure customer satisfaction, packages must reach the consumer’s doorstep quickly.
Partner with a third party logistics provider
A third-party logistics vendor, or 3PL, is a company’s order fulfilment partner. The corporation will ship the product in bulk to the vendor, then store it in a warehouse that serves a specific region of clients.
iThink Logistics is one such 3PL that can help improve your final transportation and last-mile delivery. Working with iThink logistics provider has several advantages like –
Reduced the cost of shipping
Lower overhead costs
Client satisfaction
With iThink Logistics, you can utilise the inherent last-mile strengths of a 3PL’s nationwide network of carriers, warehouses, and fulfilment centres by outsourcing last-mile delivery to them.
That means you can distribute various inventory volumes to different warehouses across the country and choose the best, most cost-effective delivery method for your consumer, regardless of their location.
One of the most significant aspects of Ecommerce shipping is the packaging. It is the first step in ensuring that your customer’s stuff arrives securely at their door.
However, as simple as it may appear, packing is a scientific process in and of itself. A lot goes into keeping the parcel safe, from dunnage in eCommerce packing to selecting the primary and tertiary components. That is why, as an online vendor, you must be aware of it.
Many vendors frequently make the error of not properly wrapping their merchandise. As a result, the product is delivered to the consumer in a terrible state. Fragile goods are broken, and beauty products begin to leak from their original packaging. Most importantly, you may be delivering an expensive product that is damaged.
It’s normal to wonder what dunnage in eCommerce packaging is and why it’s necessary at this point. Don’t worry, we’ll answer all of your questions right here! Continue reading to learn everything you need to know about eCommerce shipping, eCommerce packaging, and dunnage.
Dunnage is the cushioning material that you add to your packaging to ensure optimal safety. It is long-lasting and usually constructed of a material that protects and cushions the object.
In cargo ships, the term “dunnage” is more commonly used. They use flooring dunnage to protect the products being shipped over great distances. Dunnage in eCommerce packaging might take the form of plastic films, jute wraps, wood, air pockets, and so on.
Of course, dunnage performs best when it is accompanied by the right box or poly bag. Shippers should neither stuff a little item into a huge box with dunnage, nor should they stuff a fragile item into a bubble mailer and call it a day. Dunnage is commonly used as filler between the product and the packaging material. A package is only successfully packed if it contains the appropriate packaging material as well as adequate dunnage.
Different types of Dunnage
There are numerous types of dunnage materials on the market. Depending on the products you sell, you can use a lightweight material like bubble wrap to cover smaller items, whereas steel can be used to protect pricey and hefty objects. The following are examples of common dunnage materials used for delivering packages:
Plastics
Plastics are commonly utilized in high-value shipping materials such as fragile things or pricey products that require secure transportation and packing. They are often utilized to add secondary packing to the goods in order to keep them safe while in transit.
Bubble Wrap
Bubble wrap is a popular method of shipping glass and other fragile items. It can be reused indefinitely as long as the bubbles do not pop. Bubble wrap is one of the most common types of dunnage and is ideal for preserving fragile objects.
One of the fantastic things about bubble wrap is that you can reuse it as long as the bubbles are in good shape, making it environmentally friendly.
Wood
Wood is used to make minor barriers between items. If you’re shipping things that require more than one key element of assembly, you can use wood to keep them apart. This strengthens the entire product and keeps it from toppling or shifting inside the box.
Foam Nuts
Dunnage materials are frequently made of foam nuts. They are placed in courier bags to increase their capacity. Electronics, sensitive equipment, shop components, and other items are typically packed with foam nuts.
Cardboard Paper
When heavy materials are involved, cardboard or corrugated paper is used. It can carry a significant amount of weight while also protecting against dampness. Due to the fact that cardboard is comprised of paper, it may also be utilized as a sustainable packaging solution for your products.
Craft Paper
Craft paper is one of the most cost-effective and environmentally beneficial solutions for your company. It is often crinkled and then placed in-between the spaces of your package to guard against shock and to provide effective dunnage.
Air Pillows
Air pillows are nothing more than little plastic bags filled with air. They are extensively used for shipping tiny objects and give a cushioning effect on the cargo. They are also widely utilized when there is a requirement to fill space within a box.
Thermocol
Thermocol is not often used dunnage because it is only ideal for shipping large objects such as televisions, refrigerators, and so on. It is typically used in conjunction with foam sheets to offer additional cushioning between the package and the product.
Steel
Steel is one of the most expensive types of dunnage, and it is often utilized for high-value cargo. Steel is a good dunnage option if your products are hefty since it can keep larger products from injuring lighter products.
Corrugated paper
Another typical dunnage material is corrugated paper. Its high-tech structure ensures that the material can withstand a wide range of weights, protects against moisture, and offers environmentally friendly packaging alternatives.
On-Demand Dunnage
Another popular type of dunnage in e-commerce packaging is custom-made dunnage. When shippers have particular requirements, custom dunnage solutions are required. As a result, you can have these personalized. This is a worry when the material is fragile and has specific dimensions. As a result, you can find dunnage providers who can supply you with the type of dunnage required for eCommerce packing.
Why is dunnage important in eCommerce packaging and shipping
While some may perceive dunnage to be a waste of weight, space, and money, it is an essential part of any eCommerce packing. Dunnage has a plethora of advantages.
Your items may be subjected to harsh environmental conditions while in sorting facilities, trucks, ships, and other vehicles throughout transit. Dunnage is beneficial because it keeps goods from moving and absorbs impact. The following are the three primary advantages of using dunnage:
Absorption of Moisture
Moisture absorption is the primary function of dunnage in eCommerce packaging. If your product is readily harmed by moisture, you must include some material to absorb or block the moisture. We are a hygroscopic material that absorbs water quickly and might cause harm if not packaged properly.
The fundamental and most crucial rule of eCommerce dunnage is moisture absorption. If your product is susceptible to moisture damage, you must cushion it with a material that blocks or absorbs moisture. A hygroscopic material is one that absorbs moisture easily.
Shock Resistance
One of the most common worries when transporting products by road is the shocks the product experiences along the way. This is why, when shipping a fragile object, it is critical to include dunnage in the shipment to preserve it and ensure it arrives safely at its destination.
When transporting products by road, the biggest issue is the son blasts and shocks that the product encounters while en route. As a result, if you are shipping a fragile item, even tiny shocks can easily harm it. Dunnage must tolerate such shocks while transporting the product to its final destination.
Tamper-proof Packaging
Dunnage facilitates the protection of the box from harm while also reducing the tension on the packaging. As a result, when the customer receives the finished product, it is properly packed and there is no tampering with the packaging material.
Dunnage balances external and internal forces and absorbs large shocks to protect both the packaging and the product.
Theft protection
Anti-tamper dunnage makes it harder for thieves to open packages and take merchandise fast, effectively discouraging them.
Air-Circulation
When packing certain materials, enough air circulation is required. Otherwise, when opened, they may emit a bad stench. Some textile materials, for example, require adequate air circulation within the box to keep their fresh smell. Dunnage allows you to pack the shipment loosely while keeping it safe and allowing for air movement.
You may quickly pack the package with both safety and air circulation with the help of dunnage.
Packing materials are used by shippers to segregate products in closed compartments such as refrigerated holds and guarantee that cold air circulates freely to reach every hold area.
When shipping items, shippers utilize dunnage to guarantee proper air circulation in large closed compartments such as washing machines or refrigerator holds. It also aids in keeping the packages separate.
Weight Distribution
When the packaging boxes are larger than the product, you may need to add stuffing to the package to evenly distribute the weight; otherwise, the product would continue to topple while being delivered. Dunnage also enables you to segregate and disperse package contents to guarantee an even weight burden, which makes packages stronger and easier to handle.
Inexpensive
Dunnage in eCommerce packing is cheap but can be quite effective in securing fragile and valuable objects that tend to slide around in the shipment.
Heavy Items Can Be Handled With Ease
Items that are heavy, such as a couch or beanbag, can be difficult to travel. Shippers utilize hardwood dunnage to distribute their weight evenly, making them easy to handle.
Dunnage, in a brief, protects your products, protecting your revenue and reputation from the risks of damaged deliveries and product returns.
Packages experience many ups and downs while in transit. These include environmental conditions in trucks, cars, and ships, among other things.
Furthermore, courier agents may be rough with your package. This signifies that there is a good chance your product will be harmed.
Furthermore, if your delivery is left outside due to unforeseen circumstances, environmental factors such as rain or dust can cause harm to your merchandise.
When the order is delivered to your customer’s door by a courier, the entire experience is ruined. It makes no difference whether it was your courier company’s fault. This is due to the fact that the customer purchased the product from your brand. As a result, you are solely responsible for the experience.
Dunnage is critical for shippers and eCommerce sellers to ensure the safety of their items. It is preferable to select dunnage based on the shipped type. There are various forms of dunnage that can be used to ensure that the product reaches the customers securely.
Consider the type of goods, their weight, packing options, and shipment mode when selecting the best dunnage option. If you intend to outsource logistics to a third-party logistics business, make sure to inquire about their dunnage choices.
The proper dunnage can assist you in delivering your products safely and without damage to your clients.
Pack and ship without any worries with iThink Logistics
Dunnage is essential for large freight shippers and eCommerce stores who wrap their packaging in dunnage such as bubble wrap, crinkle paper, air cushions, and recycled paper (aka kraft paper).
Depending on the things you’re delivering, the various dunnage solutions can assist you ship products so they arrive at clients undamaged. You may also avoid consumer returns with the correct dunnage because no one wants damaged goods.
We utilize the best dunnage at iThink Logistics to ensure the safe delivery of your products. We take pleasure in being the best and most dependable fulfilment provider. Our primary goal is to provide best-in-class fulfilment services to make warehousing, packing, and shipping as simple as possible for you.
Ensure that the dunnage you use is of high quality and provides adequate protection for your packages. Use the appropriate packaging material in conjunction with the best dunnage to ensure that your item arrives tamper-free at your customer’s door.
We take pleasure in being the best fulfilment company for eCommerce retailers at iThink Logistics. Your inventory and orders are in excellent hands with our best-in-class technology, integrations with eCommerce platforms, fulfilment services, and fulfilment centres across the world.
To provide additional protection to products, we employ a variety of dunnage methods. In addition, we provide custom packaging and dunnage alternatives to match your needs. Please contact us if you require any other information.
We live in an era where consumers get pleased when an order is delivered without delay while buying goods online.
While shipping carriers will ensure that the parcel should be delivered within the given time frame, you must have heard that some circumstances are not in everyone’s control.
But being an online seller, you should be prepared for such events and make your customers aware of the genuine delay as it builds trust and ensures that even though this shipment is delayed, they will shop from you again.
What exactly is a Delivery exception
A delivery exception is a notice sent to the receiver, informing them that their shipment has experienced a problem while in transit and may cause issues in Order fulfilment. Even with sophisticated systems and shipping carriers, courier services run into problems when your products are in transit.
Regardless of whether the delays were unintentional, customers can become irritated due to the occurrence of delivery exceptions thinking that the shipment might get delayed. However, this isn’t always the case. Even when a delivery exception occurs, some things arrive on time.
When a shipment is momentarily held in transit due to an unforeseen circumstance,
this delivery exception may affect the order fulfilment of the shipment upon arrival.
A delivery exception is one of the reasons carriers like UPS and FedEx will provide you with an eCommerce order tracking number for your product.
For appropriate customer service and consistent supply chain management, eCommerce organizations and merchants often avoid delivery exceptions as consumers are less likely to be drawn to purchase goods from a company that has a bad reputation for delivery exceptions.As a business owner, it’s critical to stay on top of any eCommerce Shipping issues to adequately meet client expectations and guarantee that things reached when they were intended.
Types of Delivery Exceptions
There are different types of delivery exceptions, and each of them affects order fulfilment differently. There are various cargo exceptions, and couriers manage them in different ways.
Damaged label and Incorrect address
Incorrect shipping addresses or broken labels cause delivery management issues.
To avoid this, double-check the address of the receiver before sending.
Even a single incorrect number in a zip code or apartment number can cause complications during the shipment delivery as the shipment is returned to the dispatch station.
After this, a courier aggregator like iThink Logistics reconfirms the order with the buyer and proceeds with the shipment again. This possibility again increases the delivery time and, in turn, results in customer dissatisfaction.
Holidays
Due to the increased volume of shipping over the holidays, delivery exceptions are very commonly observed. Ensure that all shipment information, including package weight, dimensions, and pick-up timings, is correct during the peak season. During these times, being meticulous is the best approach to avoid delivery delays during these times.
Deliveries and pick-ups delays
When the carrier is unable to locate the delivery address or the address for a planned pick-up, a pick-up exception occurs. In this case, you should re-submit the pick-up request and give the carrier a new time.
Delivery management difficulties can arise in a variety of circumstances. For example, the delivery may be unable to be accomplished due to a wrong address, Bad weather or natural disaster, broken labels, or the recipient’s inability to sign for the package.
Tips to avoid Delivery Exceptions for your E-commerce shipping
Decide on a minimum and maximum delivery time
You can choose the quickest delivery time to send your order as soon as possible. In order to avoid being under pressure, delivery times must be realistic.
On the other hand, customers should not be put off by delivery times. Customers want to receive their products on time when they place an order.
iThink Logistics’ automated Order fulfilment software can make your task easy.
Update Inventory
When a customer orders any product that isn’t available, it can be quite frustrating. It is frequently obvious that certain of their products are more popular than others. As a result, inventory needs to be updated on a frequent basis to replace items that are out of stock.
Automated Logistics Software
Automation has a vital role in reducing delivery times. Investing in automated logistics software can be costly, but it can help you minimize delivery delays. Based on order time, automated software chooses which products to ship. iThink Logistics’ automated Order Fulfilment software can take care of everything.
Prepare for the Holidays
During the holidays, businesses often see an increase in orders and sales. Most delivery firms, unfortunately, do not operate on holidays. As a result, you’ll need to make a different arrangement to ensure that items are delivered on time on such occasions. To avoid delivery delays, send your order beforethe festive season begins. iThink Logistics is a shipping software provider that is thorough with its automation and saves your holiday season.
Employ a Fulfillment Service
The most practical strategy to avoid delivery delays is to hire a fulfilment company service. An order fulfilment service is a third-party organization that stores, packages, and delivers orders on behalf of an e-commerce company.
Hiring an Order fulfilment service has numerous advantages like reducing operating costs, increasing business focus, increasing scalability, reducing delivery delays, and many more. iThink Logistics can get all your delivery woes sorted in a jiffy. With our order fulfilment service, make your ecommerce shipping easy!
Anxiously waiting for your package to arrive? Trust me, and the company is excited to deliver your package to you more than you. And why so? Because you happily receiving your order at your doorstep is the last step in their supply chain logistics.
No matter how well planned your logistics network is Running, discovering new approaches to enhance your supply chain is something you must constantly be doing.
Efficient supply chain logistics is a series of steps that begins with the Raw materials being assembled, the products being manufactured, the orders being placed and packed, and finally, the package being successfully shipped to the customer.
And very often, you won’t have to worry about ensuring that every step of the supply chain performance goes as planned, and you can outsource it to trusted third-party logistics providers.
In short, Implementing the Right strategy for an efficient supply chain is as lean and Economical as possible. Here are some suggestions that will help you maximize the overall performance of the delivery chain logistics
5 Ways to Boost your supply chain performance
Better Demand forecast and Inventory optimization
Storing bulk supplies in our kitchen inventories is excellent for the house. But in a business? Not so much. One of the most cost-reducing ways to ensure efficient supply chain performance is not over-manufacture/under-manufacture.
The cost of making will be higher if The inventory is stored for a longer time. Aftermarket observations, it’s crucial to predict demand and manufacture/store just the quantity you need. Demand planning is essential in terms of perishable commodities.
Make the most use of technology
Gone are the days of sole dependency on humans. Machines and software, e.g., tracking software’s are here to expedite the supply chain performance and have little human intervention. Also, Determine the scope where imposing technology could improve the processes.
It gives you more accurate answers and saves you from constantly worrying about your work.
Build a healthy Relation
At the end of the day, you did involve in the business of dealing with people. A supply chain includes many steps where your product exchanges hands. And more hands means more people involved.
People with expectations and emotions who will take one day or another come to your aid when things go wrong. It is best to maintain healthy relationships with your suppliers, delivery personnel, and even third-party logistics suppliers, for that matter.
Partner with third-party logistic providers
From pepper inventory management to packing the order, transferring it to the shipping partner to finally delivering it to the customer. All of these processes makes an efficient supply chain smoothly, And for continued smooth supply chain performance, it is best to leave it to the experts – third-party logistics providers.
They have trusted contacts and have the right resources and an extensive network often across the country to optimize your supply chain performance and save cost.
Conduct Performance reviews Regularly
From plugging stop gaps to finding discrepancies to identifying problem areas, a regular review helps streamline operations and reduce risk.
It also helps you save money in the long run by making your supply chain model prepared for emergencies and minimizing inefficiencies.
iThink Logistics, the best third-party logistics provider for your business
Choosing a third-party logistics provider will save you many hassles, money, time, and most importantly, give you a seamlessly running supply chain performance. And we can give more than one reason to choose iThink Logistics as your partner.
In this business, dependability and reliability is everything. You should need a partner you can trust who can keep you updated at all times and take responsibility when a non-delivery of shipment takes place. In such times iThink Logistics serves as the perfect shipping partner that helps you track your package, identify the reason behind the non-delivery, reattempt the delivery, And manage to deliver the order, all with their AI-based system correctly.
Managing a supply chain is a long process. And when your customers get impatient, your first thing is to call your third party logistics providers for answers. iThink Logistics saves you panic by connecting you with a dedicated team in such a situation. A team that is hands-on and efficient with quick response-giving.
A comprehensive dashboard keeps track of the package no matter what stage of the supply chain and auto-generates real-time reports. From 4-step verification through IVR, Whatsapp, SMS, and manual processes to automated reattempt of delivery in 48 hours, iThink Logistics offers hassle-free and risk-reducing solutions.
