The holiday season is right around the corner, and companies within the T&L industry should prepare for it. As consumer expectations grow, there’s no room for mistakes and shipping delays. Therefore, your business must find ways to ensure your goods are delivered on time.
We all know that even if we implement strategies for efficient delivery, there will most likely be shipping delays because the process depends on many moving parts and coordinating them all is a challenge. That’s why apart from knowing how to avoid them, companies must know how to manage delays to prevent a bad reputation.
Top strategies to avoid shipping delays
But first, let’s talk about how to steer away shipping delays.
Planning!
One of the most critical parts of the entire transportation process is planning, especially when it’s a process that requires many moving parts to make it happen. Therefore, sitting down and planning out the entire operation is critical.
Planning entails all aspects of the transportation procedure, like companies you’ll work with, vehicles you need, routes, weather, deadlines, expectations, contingency plans, and others.
With a well-thought-out plan, you’ll be able to track each step your freight takes and ensure timely delivery. If things aren’t going as they should, you have a contingency plan, and you’ve spoken to your customer beforehand, allowing you to provide top-tier services.
Communication
It’s all about communication. We know no one wants to have to call a client and break the news that there is a delay. But what do you think is worse? Calling them to give them the heads up, or just letting it happen and have them contact you?
But to avoid those tough conversations, you can start talking from the beginning of the process to ensure realistic expectations. As you’ve already planned their shipments, you’ll know what the panorama looks like, and you can talk to them with facts. This will ensure they understand the process and that delivery times are tied to many factors.
Technology
What better way to be efficient than through technology? Through your TMS, you’ll be able to track your shipment and provide accurate data to your clients. With all the information in one place, you can answer your customers correctly.
Utilizing technology during transportation allows you to streamline the entire process, from asking for a quote to paying for your service.
Partnering with a 3PL
Creating strategic partnerships to ensure on-time delivery is a winning strategy. Searching for companies that understand the business and have years of experience with all freight transportation services will help you deliver your promise and have happy customers.
Logistics Group International is a 3PL provider with over ten years of experience in the industry and a vast carrier network of over 11,000 vetted companies. We help you through transportation and ensure your goods are delivered promptly.
Avoiding delays is possible only if you carefully consider these simple yet effective strategies. Plan your shipment, communicate with your customers, use the right technology for your business, and work with a trusted logistics partner to avoid shipping delays!
