Supply chain brands who want to gain greater control of their freight and distribution networks will see freight forwarding contractors as a viable option.
Given the skills, resources and experience that these specialists bring to the table, it makes sense to have operators on hand who recognize where the commercial gaps are located and how to rectify them with little fuss.
Here are 7 ways that these participants deliver great returns for their commercial members.
1) Using Existing Freight Infrastructure
From the outset, the use of freight forwarding contractors will allow commercial entities to tap into existing freight infrastructure, using networks that deliver quality outcomes that are direct and efficient. From road, air and sea freight avenues, they will have established contacts in place who can develop a framework that takes advantage of the most efficient routes. This is a means of tapping into a system that is already functioning and providing advantages for enterprises.
2) Minimising Cases of Damaged/Lost/Compromised Stock
Among the many concerns that owners and managers will have with their day-to-day operations, it is the threat of damaged, lost and compromised stock that can be a major complication for enterprises. This is where freight forwarding contractors enter the fray and offer a tangible solution. By utilising the best commercial partners and couriers, they will have the right safeguards in place to avoid any problems in this area of operation.
3) Saving Operational Costs
Outlets that hire these freight operators for specific roles recognize that the bottom line is where many decisions are made. By using them for these designated projects, they have specialists on side who run reports, review documentation and see where costs can be saved and revenue streams are optimized. The financial health of the brand is the ultimate judgment tool and this is where operators will drive the program.
4) Taking Advantage of Updated Technology
Freight forwarding contractors do not arrive empty-handed. In this context, they need to lean on their technology that offers them a transparent view of the company and how it manages its freight responsibilities. Their foundation will often be cloud-based computing systems that allow freight to be tracked and traced with reporting mechanisms for assessment. Yet there will be tools that are utilized at the warehouse level to ensure efficiency with this protocol as well.
5) Scalable Agreement
The good news for those businesses that link up with freight forwarding contractors is that they customise the agreement given the unique circumstances of the company and the objectives that it has set out for itself. This avoids overpaying for a service that is not required or being stuck to a long-term agreement. Given the challenge of adapting to internal and external events, this is very helpful.
6) Industry Compliance Measures
From legal issues to insurance requirements and other provisions that reduce the need for fines and penalties, freight forwarding contractors are experts when it comes to industry compliance measures. It is the kind of safeguard that could have been overlooked with so many pressures to deal with on a day-to-day basis. Rather than feeling stress about compliance concerns, the business will be up to speed.
7) Relieving Company of Freight Focus
Part of the joy of hiring freight forwarding contractors is that organisations know that upgrades and improvements are being made in that department, both in terms of the warehouse practices and the operators who control the figures above them. This affords businesses a chance to invest in other departments and domains that might have been neglected or simply under-resourced while those stumbling blocks were being managed.