7 Ways to Keep Your Items Safe for Delivery
In a world of unknowns, consumers are begging for an element of control in their lives. While a person can’t determine what vibe they will walk into at home or work, the Amazon effect has trained shoppers to expect control and reliability from their delivery solutions. This mindset is not limited to personal purchases but has unfurled across all avenues of procurement.
Although, Amazon is lacking in the creativity department. A brown box is boring. Especially when sending or receiving luxury gifts or goods. Spruce up your product delivery by checking out these custom mailer boxes ideas. Not only do your products arrive in a unique box, but they will also arrive in one piece. Now that is a win-win.
Supply Chain Brain reported on “a recent study finding that 53% of consumers reported receiving damaged packages in 2020, and 43% had packages lost in transit. With last-mile fulfillment accounting for anywhere from a quarter to half of the overall delivery cost, there is no room for error in today’s digital-first retail landscape.”
So what can retailers and shippers do to protect their transported items? Here are seven things to consider.
1. Increase visibility into all driver networks
As more companies diversify their carrier networks to guarantee capacity, it can be challenging to maintain visibility. When customers need on-demand delivery, it may be easier to just book with the next available crowdsourced option. Yet, not all carrier networks and crowdsourced options provide adequate visibility.
Today, modern IoT and GPS hardware can notify shippers and retailers if their load has been stalled or stopped at an unsafe location.
When discussing the nationwide semi-truck parking dilemma, FleetOwner found that Arizona and three other western states were leading to create a better long-haul parking system along I-10 by 2023.
However, until then, shippers and retailers must require better visibility to track trucks and ensure their freight is safe, whether driving or parked.
2. Ensure packaging is right for each mode of transit, based on shipment requirements
Before a company can set up curbside pickup and delivery, they are first responsible for proper packaging.
Correct packaging can vary greatly depending on the item type, mode of transport, and distance.
While gig workers can just bring a refrigerator bag to transport perishable food or drink fifteen minutes to a hungry office, a truck driver would need a reefer trailer to transport food 1500 miles away.
Although those differences may seem small, shippers must coordinate with their transportation logistics management solution to ensure they do everything preemptively for safe transit.
We encourage drivers to visit Southern Trailer Depot to find the appropriate trailer for transport.
3. Automate alerts to avoid risk of damage or loss
McKinsey Global Institute expects half of today’s tasks to be automated by 2055. 3PL providers and AI-incorporated TMS within the supply chain can start that process with exception alerts. Within this context, exceptions are when automated systems see a need for manual intervention within freight transport, primarily in the case of damage, loss, or the predicted potential.
One example of an automated alert that can be programmed is a sudden weather change. If a shipper is transporting raw construction materials via flatbed, getting notified of a forecast change can differ between saving or losing the entire load. By getting informed of loss or damage risk, a shipper gains the time required to change the load in question and future shipments.
4. Properly vet all drivers for each delivery type
Although “desperate times call for desperate measures” might apply to much of the current capacity crunch, it’s still vital that shippers properly vet their carriers. Vetting is especially critical among the rise of logistic ride-hailing solutions to expedited shipping needs.
Does the driver hold the required commercial license? Do they maintain their insurance and liability? Does a courier network use the best cargo vans, or are they limping along on expiring assets?
Because carriers are the customer-facing representative of a company, every hired driver must be ready to pay attention to detail and get the job done right.
5. Eliminate miscommunication with shipment data context
Few phrases strike more anxiety than “We need to talk.” The seriousness mixed with ambiguity in the situation can drive a confident person to their knees to learn what the topic is. An undetailed “It’s delayed” has a similar effect within the supply chain. By keeping drivers informed about the context of each shipment, both shippers and carriers can better plan and prepare.
For example, if someone simply told the courier that their next load was delayed, when the long-haul carrier got a flat tire just a few miles from the courier office, the courier is left to sit on their hands until the mechanical needs finished. However, when utilizing a communication system that prioritizes context, that same courier could have just added those few miles onto the bill and gotten the load to its destination within the same-day window.
6. Avoid missteps with clear and concise shipment tendering and execution
In a May 2022 article, Forbes collected eight Forbes Communication Council members to discuss “How Supply Chain Disruptions Affect Communications Across Industries.” Among the observations provided by each member, the necessity for transparent, frequent communication based on expectations grounded in truth rang out loud and cleared. When a company tenders freight or hands off the cargo to another company for the last mile delivery, there must be clear and concise communication.
For example, if a courier receives a stack of randomly sorted boxes with scattered papers, they will likely have questions and concerns about accomplishing their tasks. However, if a courier gets a stack of boxes with clear instructions correlated to the box labels, the courier can move forward with confidence in their role in the delivery.
7. Digitize POD
Proof of delivery (POD) is a vital aspect of final mile logistics. And as more consumers choose companies who offer contactless delivery, how do shipping companies protect themselves from the blame of lost products? While some companies have opted for snapping a picture of the item at the drop-off location, other deliveries must get a signature.
A delivery logistics platform gives shipping companies the API ability to accomplish either. With a digitized POD, the shipper, carrier management, and customer can equally receive the communication they need to complete the order with more minor errors.
Keep All Your Deliveries Safe by Partnering With GoShare
Inside Intelligence reported, “The crowdsourcing model has been prevalent in transportation, hospitality, and food delivery now, and retailers are eyeing its low startup costs, asset-light operations, and improved customer experience to ease their last-mile delivery woes.”
As more companies jump into the delivery as a service market, shipping companies and freight brokers must partner with couriers and crowdsourcing networks that value freight safety through a transparent workflow. To see what this can look like for your last mile needs, schedule a demo with GoShare today.
Other posts we think you might like…
