About 43% of consumers consider the cost of shipping before they buy a product. They also consider the speed and accuracy of shipping.
It doesn’t matter if your business is an auto dealership or an ecommerce store, your business depends on speed and accuracy. Your shipping time will have an impact on how customers perceive your brand.
Read on to learn how you can manage your shipping department to improve accuracy and give customers a better brand experience.
1. Analyze Your Current Shipping Processes
You want to start by looking at what is wrong with your current shipping systems. You should start looking at your systems from the point where the customer places an order.
Look at how payments are processed and how orders are delivered to the warehouse. Then look at how orders are processed and fulfilled.
Once you look at that, then take a look at how packages are shipped and how long shipping takes. Note any bottlenecks in the process and the steps you can take to improve them.
2. Invest in Systems
If you’re looking to reduce the time it takes to process orders, then you need to invest in systems. It’s crucial to have a platform that you can look at that organizes all of the data you need in one place.
When you look for a shipping and logistics system, you need to make sure that you get one that specializes in your industry. For example, an auto parts dealer would want to find a company like InLog CLS.
3. What Can Be Automated?
More companies are investing in smart logistics solutions in their shipping departments. They will automate as much of the shipping process as possible.
As you look at your systems, you’ll want to see what you can automate. This can save time, money, and limit shipping mistakes.
4. Choose a Top Carrier
You want to make sure that you choose the best shipping carrier for your needs. For a B2C business, you may have to rely on FedEx, UPS, or the US Postal Service as they deliver to residential addresses.
For B2B businesses, you may have to choose between FTL or LTL shipping carriers. These are your options when you’re dealing with heavy loads or large loads. LTL carriers will be less expensive because you’re sharing the cost of the truck with other orders.
With FTL shipping, your order is the only one in the truck, so you’re going to pay for that. You want to choose a carrier that is efficient and doesn’t affect the quality of the product.
5. Measure Results
The best way to make your shipping department is to create key performance indicators. These KPIs are ways you can measure progress.
For example, one KPI is to measure is the time it takes for an order to be packed and ready to ship. If you can cut down on the time here, you can get products out the door faster.
Make Your Shipping Department More Efficient
The best thing you can do for your customers and your business is to make your shipping department more efficient. There are plenty of ways to do that.
Start by auditing your current shipping department, invest in the right systems, automate what you can, and measure the right things.
You’ll be able to improve your shipping department in no time. For more great tips, be sure to visit the Technology section of this site.
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