Category: Rock Solid Business Solution

Freight management is a current hot spot within the logistics industry.  Often time businesses have a disadvantage when looking into ways to reduce freight costs.  They think in the box to often looking at the obvious cost saving techniques.  Individuals working within a company have a hard time separating themselves to look at what is and has always been in order to find new and unique ways to change and in turn reduce costs.

This is the exact reason supply chain, logistic consulting companies are hired.  When an outside consultant is able to look at the current freight management of a company they see everything for what it is at the point of analysis.  This makes it easier for them to determine areas that are proficient and those that are not.  Consultants take the not so obvious and suggest putting actions into place within small parcel, ground parcel and international post freight management that will improve service, customer satisfaction and reduce freight costs.

The obvious way to decrease freight costs is by seeking a lower shipping rate with carriers.  This is often an area where businesses are lead to believe they are already receiving steep discounts and the room for negotiation is zero.  This however is often not the case.  Many carriers will lead customers to believe that their steep discount of say 75% is the highest they give anyone.  While this may be the case it is important to realize that their lowest price is not always the industry’s lowest price.  Carrier A may think their 75% discount is incredible but when Carrier B is offering the same service without any discount at all at a lower price that is obviously not the best deal you can be negotiating.  Negotiate with Carrier B for a discount on their already lower price is the answer to cost savings in this situation.

Important Freight Management Money Saving Tips

1)      Discounts verse Actual Rates:  As proven in the above situation a discount is not always leading a client to the lowest actual rate.  Even if a carrier is offering a steep discount look to see how overly inflated the original shipping rate is.  It is important to determine a firm’s typical shipment fees rather than their discount. A typical fee schedule lower than other carriers discounted fees shows how jaded discounts or percentages off can really be.  It is not a deal to buy a twenty-five dollar crate at a 50% discount form Carrier A when the same crate and service from Carrier B is originally only ten dollars.

2)      Fuel Surcharges:  This is another area in which companies often get handed extra fees.  Many firms think that fuel surcharges are fixed at a certain rate.  This is not something that should be assumed.  Unless it is written in your agreement with a shipper the freight fuel surcharge they are charging your company could be double what could have been negotiated.  This is often an area where a lot of money can be saved.

3)      Behind The Scene Daily Operations: When looking at the employee expense involved with freight transportation management you will need to look at the amount of time that is spent daily receiving and reviewing shippers quotes.  Even if the company is receiving a smaller number of quotes per shipment and the average shipment per week are ten that are sixty quotes that need to be looked at and evaluated.

If each quotes analysis takes ten minutes you are looking at six hundred minutes or ten hours each week that the transportation manager is tied up reviewing quotes.  With the technology that logistic consultants are able to implement now-a-days that time can be decreased substantially.  Web based logistic software will help decrease the time spent over the tedious tasks and increase the time spent on money making operations within the firm.

Software implementation helps in other arenas within freight transportation management such as the review and auditing of freight bills.  Inaccurate billing leads to lost revenue within the freight division of a firm.  It is pertinent that software be implemented to check for inaccuracies within the auditing process to save.

4)      Parcel Management:  When hiring a freight management consulting firm they will audit the current backend process thoroughly.  They will then implement a plan that will work within the organization to minimize time spent handling damage claims, lost shipments, reconciled claims, shipment schedules and paperwork prep.  Minimizing the time spent on these aspects with the use of tools and technology specifically designed for the individual operations will increase the profitability of your supply chain. They do this by decreasing human processing errors and employee time wasted finding the problems that need resolved.  When the technology finds an error than it is up to the employees to seek out solutions that cannot be handled through the software.

Business is all about making money unless of course it is a non-profit set out to free the world of injustice.  One thing all business owners for profit or not have in common is that they are always on the lookout for cutting costs.  This is truer now than ever before with the constant shifts in our economic culture.  Business’s are no longer frivolous when it comes to who is offering services to them and at what costs.  It is no longer a given that business owners will stick with old suppliers if new suppliers offer the same services at lower rates.  More businesses turn to consultants to keep their businesses running efficiently.

One business affected by the economic down turn is the shipping industry.  The competition is increasingly high to deliver high speed delivery at reasonable costs locally, nationally and globally.  This in turn affects industries relying on these services for shipment of their products and for their product shipments. Logistic services firms are called in to do a complete supply chain audit for companies.  With this a company can improve their receiving and distribution expenses and maintain or improve upon existing quality.

A supply chain audit starts by doing a freight analysis.  This is done to determine where the business stands as of the moment the logistic service team walks in.  Later on this will help provide a starting point to measure future results.  The analysis will look into two major areas that can increase costs substantially which are the actual freight costs and fuel surcharges.

It is important that a supply chain audit is thorough.  Logistic service firms will audit and evaluate shipment lanes, shipment volumes and discounts, rate and class categories, fuels surcharges and current pricing arrangements.  It is important for the logistic team to get information on where the business is in comparison to industry averages to see how much room is open to negotiate better terms for their client. There are several tools that are used as benchmarks within the supply chain industry such as; air freight, small parcel, ground freight, international/global freight transportation, truckloads, ocean, rail, canal, warehousing or a combination of services.

A supply chain audit provides a logistic team with the information it needs to optimize logistic services within the company.  The next step after knowing where issues exist, after negotiations and answers are given is to implement the plan and make the necessary change to the businesses logistic division to maximize mode optimization.

Implementation of the various levels of supply chain audit can be done with either help from the logistic consultants or without.  That will be dependent upon each individual company. If choosing to implement the changes within the company without help from the logistic service consultants it is wise to at least allow them to reevaluate the changes a few months down the road to make sure everything is working as it should be and that all areas that needed addressing have been and are implemented as desired.

Business is all about things working together.  The collaboration of departments functioning as one helps minimize delays and costs and brings maximization to profits.  This is the goal for all businesses big, small, service or tangible goods.  The truth is that when a company is operating clearly the objective of collaboration has been achieved.  This could not be any truer than within a company’s supply chain.

It has been proven time and time again that when each division of a business is working cooperatively, interacting and exchanging ideas it is reasonable for objectives to be met.  This in turn leads to increased profits, decreased costs, higher customer satisfaction and an overall heightened sense goodwill for the company.  For divisions of a business it is not an option to work alone.  The old adage, “There is no I in team” rings so true in the workplace.

Management teams exist in many different industries that can help improve businesses of all types and sizes.  When it comes to the logistic division within the company it is important to seek out the advice of a supply chain management consulting team.  A supply chain audit will be done to analyze the current strategy and ideas will be evaluated to find the combination that will provide logistic optimization.

When a reconfiguration is done a company will be able to see direct results.  The needs of customers will be met, while obtaining alignment within the sales division, the production group all while becoming cost efficient.  It is important when an evaluation is started that the supply chain consultant that is hired does not look simply at the transportation end of things.  An evaluation will look at all aspect within the company and make recommendations based on the information found and look to provide more efficiency throughout the company helping to expand and sustain business opportunity.

Supply chain audits consist of multiple layers in which consultants are able to provide effective steps that can be taken to achieve big results.  The first step in an audit is to identify areas where simple tweaks and improvements will achieve major results.  Often it is the little things that owners and managers miss because they are too engaged in the everyday transactions and overlook small ways to save that can add up to big savings.  This is super important before company’s waste money on expensive software that will not necessarily help the individual company.

If software is a necessary part of the supply chain audit the consultant will be able to recommend the right package to blend the needs and desires of the company into one software package.  Software is an expensive investment to a company and the options available are abundant.  Supply chain audits lead consultants to know exactly what a firm needs in software so that they are not overspending for a product that will not add value.

A consultant will provide information to the company in the form of comparison to show the pros and cons of each program they are implementing such as; software integration, carrier changes and production changes.  A recommendation will be given and implemented when approval is given. The consulting team works side by side with each of the businesses they are working with to guide them.  Some supply chain companies will continue to support a firm even after initial implementation depending on the firm.

Freight transportation management can make or break a company.  It is important for companies with or without a logistics division to look into hiring consultants to ensure mode optimizing techniques are not being overlooked.  Some companies assume because they own their own fleet of vehicles that they could not be experiencing any logistic issues.  However, this is not always the case.  It necessary that a freight transportation management firm is hired to access, evaluate and make recommendations to improve the transportation, inbound and outbound.  It has been proven that when all of the pieces of the business our working together and movement is fitting together like gears on a wheel business will not only thrive but prosper.

With businesses that own truck fleets of their own it is often difficult to look objectively at the logistic process.  It is standard for people within a situation to find it difficult to see problems that exist. This is not only true within freight management businesses invite consultants in to review many different aspects.  Finance and marketing are other areas that are often of consulting concerns.  When a consulting team is hired they look at aspects with a bird eye view.  This often leads to inexpensive switches which lead to major cost savings for the client.

A freight management solutions expert will come in and begin by providing a thorough analysis of current activities within the company.  This includes a review of current freight activities, service needs, freight fees and current carriers.  A comparison is then done using current industry standards to measure errors within the current system.  Knowing the segments that needs to be dealt with lays a foundation for growth.  Improving the deficiencies in the system using industry standards as a guideline will lead to direct cost cutting and improvements within service.  Whenever a consultant is brought in the goal is to reduce waste and improve procedure, this is true with a team of experts offering freight management solutions.

Freight management solutions are tailored to each individual company.  The task can be broken down depending on the client’s wants and desires.  Some firms believe it is only necessary to have an outside source managing a portion of the freight shipping operations rather than the entire operation.  Consultants can work either on site or off site to continue monitoring and improving upon shipping, track and reduce damage/loss, file claims, expedite shipments and manage the quality of service.  Most companies are in direct communication the minute something is not as it should be and working to resolve the issue.

Mode optimization is one area of the shipping process in which a watchful eye is needed.  With changes in rules, regulations and shippers happening everyday companies often lose track of what is happening in the industry things that will affect their procedures and in turn company profits.  Employing an outside freight management solutions team can allow a company to find industry experts keeping up with to date with the latest software, regulations and carrier changes.

Logistics has been known to make or break a company.  When people think of a company’s logistics division they should not think only of the shipping and receiving elements. Instead it should be thought of as a process involving the entire company, external companies, vendors, carriers and end users.  It is a process that revolves around the movement of products from your suppliers through to the end user.

In order for a company to have a successful logistics division, working successfully for the client and the company there are several key elements involved to ensure that the company is efficient and effective while keeping customers satisfied with the end result.

The first issue and one most widely accepted as a company’s logistics program is the movement of goods.  In order to effectively ship products to end users the shipping strategy used should be one in which is in complete line with the philosophy and strategy.  Yes, many times emphasis is on speed but to be honest that component will come if everything else is in line.  It is important that the pieces work together.  Goods must literally float through the supply chain.  Goods should maneuver to vendors, manufacturers, warehouses and end users flawlessly. In order to be successful hiccups should be minimized throughout the process.

Sharing information is an understated component of logistics management.  It is actually one of the most important pieces of the puzzle.  Communication is an element that needs to be included in every step of business and freight management is not secluded from this.  It is important to know where products are, what levels inventory is kept and exactly when an error has occurred so that immediate action is taken to solve problems.  Getting the information in a time effective manner will alleviate small issues from growing into irreversible problems.  It helps to ensure proper decisions are made in a timely fashion.

Communication throughout the process includes personal on all levels to be working in conjunction with one another to create a flawless system of product movement.  Order takers, production managers, suppliers of materials, distribution, financial means and sales forecasters need to have flawless communication representing the exact need/want for the right number of products to be manufactures and sold without excess which results in a loss.

Time verse service is another area of logistic services.  Freight can only be shipped if the product is available and better yet if it is a desirable product.  This means that you need to be a top producer of fad items before they become fads.  Forecasting is used to see what trends are developing and need to be addressed in order to get shipments where they are wanted in a timely fashion. We see this often in the industry.  If a company cannot keep up with the demands placed on them and backorders exist customers will simply find new suppliers.  If a company needs a certain wood from you to create a product they are selling and the wood is delayed which in turn delays them they will seek alternatives.  It is a simple formula that supply must meet demand and now not days from now.

Financials are involved in every aspect of a firm.  Costs drive businesses all around the world.  Profits high and cost low are a priority of all businesses.  Although costs are important it is worth recognizing that often times low costs relate to subpar service.  However, higher costs don’t always equate to better service.  It is all a matter of balance.  It is important to keep an eye on costs associated with every aspect of the logistics process, eliminating costs that are irrelevant and keeping costs within control of the company.

Many companies find it impossible to manage freight shipping logistic services and in turn look to outsourcing to companies who are capable of handling this aspect of the business with lower costs than the company can manage internally.  Logistics, in order to be done properly, needs to be an integral part of all aspects of the company.  Each individual piece lends to the success and competitive nature of the market place today.

Business models of all sizes have complications. The goal of businesses in terms of logistics basically narrows down to having what the consumer desires, at a price they are willing to pay, in the quantity they wish for when they want it.  That isn’t too much to ask right?  Companies with issues in logistics are continually searching for freight management solutions often times turning to companies that specialize in providing this service for companies big and small.

This is done in one of two different ways; third party logistics or fourth party logistics.  Third party logistics uses outside companies to carry out the various logistic operations that have are accustomed to being done internally.  An example of this is when a company that has its own storage facility decided that it will now use an outside transporter to carry out distribution.  Distribution was previously done by the company but in evaluating it was determined to be more cost effective to bring in a third party for this sector of the supply chain.  This was determined to be an effective freight management solution.

Fourth party logistics is somewhat of a new concept.  This is when a company determines that the freight management solution they desire is one in which the whole logistics procedure is outsourced to another party.  This company has a sole purpose of providing logistic solutions to companies.  They bring together their companies resources and technology and pair it with other organizations to plan out, operate and maintain a fully functioning supply chain.

The main difference between the two; third party logistics and fourth party logistics, is that the third party is specifically targeting one function of the supply chain solution where as with fourth party they manage the entire process from beginning to end.  In general a fourth party logistics provider is a contractor serving the entire logistic needs for a company.

Fourth party logistic providers are the future of freight management solutions.  Consulting companies are now offering so much in the way of cost savings and services to companies that they are becoming hard to live without.  It is easy to see how needed a fourth party logistics company is when examining inbound logistics and outbound logistics.  In smaller companies especially it is important to have support that specializes in all aspects of logistics.  To pay specialized logistic personal to be on staff would not be nearly as cost effective as hiring companies, with a system already in place to help manage that piece of the business puzzle.

Inbound logistics is a basic process in the business equation which includes purchasing, arranging the movement of materials coming in, parts and finished inventory from suppliers to manufacturers, assembly plants and stores.  Outbound logistics is related to storing and moving the end goods and information from the end of production to the end user.

The field of logistics is complex and absolutely integral to a business’s success.  Without the proper logistics in place a company could be losing money with increased shipping costs or improper communication throughout the supply chain.  In order to give the client what they want, when they want it, at an acceptable price and time a highly functioning freight management solution should be maximized.