You may think of logistics and transportation operations as a secondary aspect of your business, behind others such as production and marketing.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
Making this process run smoothly is vital to the success of any business that needs to move goods. It is at this stage that many companies suffer the greatest loss of efficiency, which results in increased costs. And often they don’t even realize it.
From shipping your goods to warehousing and distribution, each operation is a piece of a complex puzzle. If one piece fails, the effectiveness of your entire business will suffer.
In this article we will analyze why it is so important to ensure good integration between the customer and the logistics operator, as well as the factors that must be taken into account to achieve it.
Integration in logistics and transportation: definition and advantages
Until just a few years ago, companies viewed logistics as a separate set of actions, as each stage was managed independently by different actors.
But little by little this vision began to change.
With the increase in competition, the importance of e-commerce and the level of demand from the end customer, it has become evident that the entire logistics and freight forwarding process must work in coordination between the customer and the logistics operator.
Even more so if we talk about BDtrans’ specialty: chemical products.
And that is precisely what logistics integration is all about: the harmonization of all phases and their centralization. In this way, the flow can be managed and monitored much more efficiently from a single control center.
But what specific benefits does this integration offer both your customers and your own organization?
These are the most important ones:
Speed
Integrating processes allows shortening lead times in all phases of the operation: management, reception, storage and shipment of goods.
This translates into more satisfied users, as speed of delivery is one of the most valued aspects in today’s market.
Cost reduction
A centralized system avoids having to resort to third parties, which always entails higher costs.
Moreover, by monitoring the entire logistics chain, we can detect possible incidents in real time and rectify them as soon as possible.
Quality of service
The service response to your customers will be faster and more accurate. At all times you will be aware of the exact status of the stock and the transport process.
Communication
All areas involved in logistics must support each other in order to achieve the objectives set.
In an integrated system, communication and cooperation between the different parties is more fluid, since all the agents involved share information.
In this way, it is not necessary to go from one person to another until any problem can be solved.
Keys to effective integration
The next step is to define the factors that need to be taken into account to make the integration sound.
Among them, the following stand out:
- Knowledge of the customer’s needs: each sector is different, and the same can be said of each customer. This is why it is necessary to analyze how integration can help your company, which processes should be part of the link and which system will be used to unify them.
- Overview: all stages must be clearly visible to the user. It is important that it knows at all times where its products are located and what the status of the flow is. In this way we can measure the results, correcting possible errors that could be detrimental to profitability.
- Adaptation to different systems: the market offers different solutions for integrated process control and management. At BDtrans we work with the main systems in the industry, so we can advise our clients on which one is the most suitable for their needs or adapt to the one they are already using.
- Available infrastructure: another essential factor for successful integration is the resources available to the operator, both in terms of logistics and transport. BDtrans has moved to a new 40,000 m2 headquarters, more operative than the current one and perfectly connected to a highway junction. From our new headquarters we can distribute your goods quickly and efficiently.
- Technological innovation: technology is present at every stage of the logistics process. That is why, in an industry as changing as ours, it is necessary to be at the forefront of every new technical advance. BDtrans belongs to a leading business group, which has the resources and know-how to achieve this.
We hope that this article has helped you to understand the added value that integrating logistics with a reliable operator brings to your company when transporting and managing your goods.
If you would like to know more about the integration solutions we work with at DB Trans, please do not hesitate to contact us through this contact form.
