4 Essential Logistics Tips for Small Business Owners

When running a small business, the logistical aspect is often one of the costliest and the most difficult to get right. Setting up your own logistics operation is going to be expensive, however the initial outlay may be worth it if you want your business to grow to reach its full potential. Having an effective logistics operation in place early on will save you from having to worry about it later on when you have more important aspects of your operations to worry about. Interested to hear more about what you can do to improve logistics within your company? The following are four strategies you should start to implement from today. 

GPS Fleet Tracking

GPS fleet tracking is one of the best telematic solutions you can use for your logistics operations. It allows you to use software to track your fleet with real-time GPS data. By tracking your fleet, you will have data you can use to make your operations more efficient and effective. Drivers may not be using the best available routes, which is costing you time and money. Your fleet managers can be alerted when there are potential disruptions ahead to avoid time delays. These are just some of the benefits of having a system like this installed. 

Focus on Customers

Keeping your customers happy is key to having an effective and reputable logistics operation. If your customers aren’t happy, they will be sure to let people know and this will adversely affect your business. So especially if your customer care team is now working remotely, be sure they understand that organization is crucial to working from home and maintaining the same levels of customer care. People like things to arrive on time, and if they aren’t going to arrive on time, they want to be notified. Use customer feedback to your advantage by taking genuine notice of what they think about your service. Use technology to implement ways to let your customers track their deliveries. This is not an area you should cut costs, so use the best tools available. 

Track Costs

You have to keep track of what you are spending, if you aren’t you won’t be able to reduce costs. Telematic solutions are one of the best ways to keep track of your costs. Fuel management will allow you to see how much fuel your fleet is using and give you reports you can then use to lower your costs. You can also assess the routes your driver’s take, what might seem like the best route may not in fact be the quickest. If that’s the case, you’re wasting fuel and time. Track everything you can.

Plan

Planning is obviously of vital importance as you have to ensure that you do it properly. Improper planning will lead to failure. Plan and assess everything. You might have found a cheap location to base your logistics operation but if it’s far away from your customer base, you’re going to waste money on fuel consumption. Also plan for the potential of growth within your business. It might not be immediate growth but if your business is well run, it will happen and if you have to keep moving properties or investing in new fleet, it is going to be costly.