What can a freight forwarder bring to a company that they already don’t have? Outlets in the supply chain must recognise that there will be shortcomings with their protocols, whether it pertains to their inventory management to their transportation and shipment of valuables. How do they streamline these processes? How do they drive towards better efficiency rates? This is where a third party should enter the fray.
Expert Tracking & Documentation
Supply chain members understand that they cannot send or hope to receive valuable cargo in the hope of reaching its destination. If there are any obstacles or delays, contingency measures might have to be put into place. The good news about hiring these practitioners is utilising a real time tracking and coherent documentation platform. Every shipment at every location is logged, placed within the program and communicated to various stakeholders. Nothing is ever overlooked or missed with this framework.
Immediate Operational Gain
It can take an enterprise years before they achieve the type of infrastructure and expertise that a freight forwarder can demonstrate for their members. They already have the contacts. They already have the analytic and software tools. They already have the experience and industry insights. Instead of encountering the growing pains over the long-term, participants can enjoy an immediate boost in performance before taking on their intellectual property (IP).
Flexibility & Scalable Working Model
From ownership down to management level, they will see that these forwarders are not directly handling shipments. However, they are the intermediary who ensures that the right couriers, partners and routes are leveraged. This affords them incredible flexibility and a chance to scale the model to meet the expectations of the business. If they need to alter the route or increase or decrease their footprint, they have the capability to switch at the client’s convenience.
Stronger Security Framework
One of the greatest fears that companies have with any type of shipment transaction or sensitive digital communication will be security breaches. This would undermine confidence in the brand and threaten a range of clientele that could be too damaging to recover from. The decision to partner with a freight forwarder becomes a sensible choice for supply chain outlets who want to cash in on cloud-based computing measures and first-class shipment security provisions, safeguarding the business from any outside attacks.
More Savings & Revenue Opportunities
Being able to lean on these operators ensures there are mechanisms in place to reduce wasteful spending and financial oversight. Over time, these improvements help to retain customer support, attract more sales, develop stronger partnerships and create a framework for efficiency and quality. What does this all translate to? It leaves more savings and more revenue opportunities, making it a savvy move on a monetary basis.
Focus on Other Roles & Responsibilities
Thanks to a host of case studies and previous examples, it is helpful to know there are professionals available to handle the logistics of shipment. When personnel have to divert their attention or be left waiting on transportation and stock availability, it creates a damaging domino effect that has a footprint across the entire organisation. Making the call to outsource suddenly frees up those same people to focus on their core duties.
Summary
The consideration of a freight forwarder partnership often results in a successful operating model. The next step for an enterprise is to make contact and develop a plan. Every organisation will be unique, but these operators have the experience and resources to deliver top outcomes.