Logistical concerns are a huge part of running an effective business. It’s not enough to simply create a great product — you also have to get it into your customer’s hands.
This often involves a series of complicated processes that need to work together. Warehousing, order fulfillment, and shipping are just a few of these important processes that are often totally separate from a business’ daily processes.
And that’s why it can be so difficult. Your business isn’t in the logistics industry. But even so, you are expected to become a master at logistics in order to maximize your profits while keeping your customers happy.
However, this can be a lot of work. And many businesses are electing to avoid this aspect of their business altogether. Does that mean they aren’t shipping their products?
No. They are outsourcing transport operations.
This means they are working with a third party logistics (3PL) provider to facilitate the shipment of their product.
Here’s what your business stands to gain from outsourcing transport operations:
- Ability to Focus on Your Business
- Access to Specialized Technology
- Expert Execution
- High ROI
- Better Customer Service
- Reduced Risk
Ability to Focus on Your Business
You’re not in the shipping industry. This means that all of your expertise and knowledge is devoted strictly to your business. Logistical concerns take a high level of attention and knowledge to weave the different parts together.
Packing a truck, Efficiently delivering the goods, and keeping track of all the moving parts isn’t something you can simply hop into. It’s going to take time.
And any time spent organizing your shipments is going to come at the cost of attention to your core business. Outsourcing transport operations lets the professionals take care of this important aspect of your business so you can focus on what you do best.
Access to Specialized Technology
3PL providers are going to equip themselves with the newest technology. This makes it easier for them to keep track of inventory, track shipments, and arrange efficient routes. Each minute saved in the process benefits everybody — from the driver, to the ultimate consumer, to your business.
And if you try to organize your own shipment operations, you aren’t going to have access to this technology. Simply completing these tasks is not the goal. Optimizing the processes will save you time and money. You need to utilize every potential time-saving technique. These operations are going to be repeated numerous times which will inflate the effect of small changes in operations.
Expert Execution
Think of how your services have evolved over time. Chances are that you have gotten better and perfected your approach to your service or products over time. Experience and attention to detail are going to make you better at your service over time.
The same goes for outsourcing transport operations. Working with a professional provider like M&W Logistics in Nashville, TN will get you professional service. Learning how to do it yourself will be like working with a brand new, inexperienced shipping provider.
High ROI
It’s tempting for a business to avoid outsourcing transport operations because they often feel any upfront expenditures should be avoided. However, working with a professional 3PL company can actually save you money over time.
Lost shipments, damaged products, inefficient processes — all of it adds up to lost money. And these processes are going to be repeated a large amount of times which magnifies these losses.
Outsourcing transport operations magnifies the savings. And over time, this will not only account for the upfront costs, but balance them out and save you money in the long run.
Better Customer Service
Your vendors, customers, and partners will benefit from on-time shipments. And the goal of any business is to make these interactions as pleasant as possible for everybody involved. After all, happy customers become repeat customers. And you need to keep your supply chain strong in order to make this happen.
Working with a 3PL provider means there is a smaller likelihood of mistakes, lost time, and damaged materials. This translates to more successfully completed deliveries and happier customers.
Reduced Risk
All of the benefits listed above contribute to this final advantage of outsourcing transport operations. There is a level of risk associated with every delivery that leaves your facility. The products could get lost or damaged, the delivery could be delayed, or the truck itself could experience an accident.
3PL providers are equipped with necessary insurance coverage as well as an infrastructure of support. This extra layer of security balances out much of the risk you will experience as a business attempting to fulfill their own shipments.