Distribution Logistics Archives - Supply Chain Game Changer™

The Supply Chain Detective™ and the Distribution Centre Disaster!

The Supply Chain Detective™: The Case of the Unpaid Invoices!

It was early September and I was sitting in my office preparing for a meeting. I was in the Retail Industry which meant that in Supply Chain this was the beginning of the frantic Holiday season. The last thing we needed was a Distribution Centre disaster.

Products were arriving at our Distribution Centres from all over the world at an unprecedented rate so that we could in turn send them out to the Retail stores over the next few months.

We were anticipating receiving more goods than ever but as it was my first year in Retail I had been assured by my team that we could handle the load.

As I sat there my Distribution Centre leader called me.

“Mike, We are out of space already. We have no more room to receive anything else.”

My heart sank. This was catastrophic. The goods we had received so far were just the tip of the iceberg. We had a real Distribution Centre disaster on our hands.

This was a case for the Supply Chain Detective™.

Understanding ECommerce Fulfillment!

Keys to Success in Warehouse Management/Order Fulfillment! (Video)

Successful eCommerce businesses all have one thing in common: terrific eCommerce fulfillment.

You might have the best product in the world. Your website is epic. And your sales funnel slides your customers easily to the checkout.

If your eCommerce fulfillment doesn’t run smoothly, however, your web-based business will be all splash and no cash.

ECommerce fulfillment may not be the thing that gets you excited about your online business. However, it is a crucial element of your success in online retail.

Warehouse Cleaning Checklist! (Infographic)

A Comprehensive Warehouse Safety Guide!

Maintaining a high standard in warehouse cleanling is about more than just creating a more pleasant and attractive workplace. It can in fact contribute to greater safety, better employee health, longer-lasting equipment, reduced merchandise damage, and increased productivity.

Warehouses can be hectic environments at the best of times, so sometimes it can be hard to find time for cleaning. To keep your warehouse spic-and-span, try to allot a few minutes at the end of every day for cleaning. Deep cleans do not need to be done as often, but you should aim to schedule them in at least once a month.

Logistics Trends to Watch!

6 Major Delivery Logistics Trends!

As the logistics industry, and the broader business world, looks ahead, it’s time to explore what the next years will bring to logistics and logistics trends.

After reviewing several industry sources most Logistics professionals are in agreement with all of these trends.

We hope this information will help your organization prepare for what’s ahead.

Top 10 Global Supply Chain Risks

Inventory Turnover Breakthrough … Go Back To The Basics!

Change is inevitable in modern supply chain management, and risk management is essential to success. Supply Chain risks evolve and become more prevalent with time.

Risk management strategies of yesteryear are ineffective in the changing landscape, and no type of transport can avoid risks.

Risks exist in land, air and ocean freight. They’re inevitable and unavoidable. Poor grasp of hazards in your supply chain will increase freight spend and diminish brand value.

Understanding the top 10 global supply chain risks can work to reduce their impact.

8 Ways to Improve Your Warehouse Fulfillment Efficiency!

From Click to Ship in 4 Minutes! Ultimate Principles for World Class Fulfillment!

Whether you’re running a small family business or a large-scale distribution center, you know that gaps in warehouse fulfillment efficiency can seriously slow your business.

And, in today’s consumer-driven economic landscape, there is no room for moseying, with 63 percent of consumers saying they expect three-day delivery as the standard.

Taking a good hard look at your process can help ensure that you’re running an efficient operation and that your customers are always pleased with your services.

The Truth About Working at a Fulfillment Centre!

Keys to Success in Warehouse Management/Order Fulfillment! (Video)

You may have seen or read coverage depicting a fulfillment centre as a terrible place to work. John Oliver’s most recent Last Week Tonight episode focused on the dangers of fulfillment centre work.

It’s the latest in a string of negative stories that stretches back years. This Mother Jones story about an Amazon fulfillment center workers fainting from heat exhaustion was published in 2011.

As Oliver’s piece pointed out, fulfillment centers often operate on slim margins. That can mean low wages and demanding quotas for warehouse workers, as employers scramble to turn a profit. Amazon has disputed Oliver’s story. The eCommerce giant raised its base hourly rate for fulfillment center employees to $15 per hour in 2018 (though changes in Amazon benefits may negate at least part of that increase).

We can’t dispute the fact that working conditions in some fulfillment centers are less than optimal, to say the least. However, not all fulfillment companies are alike.

4 Steps for Establishing Healthy 3PL Relationships!

What is a 3PL? The Ultimate Guide Including Definitions of 1PL, 2PL, and 4PL!

The key to establishing healthy 3PL relationships starts with quality of the information that is provided at the time the request for a proposal (RFP) is submitted.

If you ask any 3PL service provider you will find that the lack of quality information provided in RFPs is one of their greatest frustrations.

Sustainable Logistics: Making the Last Mile Eco-Friendly!

Last Mile Delivery: Stop Shipping Air and Empty Boxes!

Consumer activism and demands for fast, on-demand delivery with sustainable logistics are both on the rise.

Sustainable logistics solutions like recycling and reusing delivery packaging are affordable ways for online businesses to make same-day deliveries eco-friendly and satisfy their customer base.

This article is the first in a series on creating sustainable logistics for last-mile delivery.

9 Steps to Create a Seamless Customer Shipping Experience!

On Time Delivery – Get that right First!

There is no denying the fact that the rise of e-commerce has changed the buying habits of consumers and customer shipping. Gone are the days when folks would have to go to physical stores to purchase what they need.

With the help of technology, businesses have brought their products and services to the people through their Internet-connected mobile devices. This has created a demand for same-day and express shipping to deliver goods as fast as they are ordered.

While this has increased convenience and customer satisfaction, same-day delivery involves some important and rather complex factors that have to be executed seamlessly to achieve the desired results.

5 Steps for Sustaining Healthy 3PL Relationships!

4 Steps for Establishing Healthy 3PL Relationships!

The key to sustaining healthy 3PL relationships is very much dependent on the person that is given the role to manage the relationship with the 3PL service provider.

One of the biggest mistakes that many organizations make when they move from the DIY to 3PL model is in the selection of the person they choose to manage the relationship.