In this post, we will speak about problems that companies of the industry constantly face and their logistics software solutions. An efficient CRM system which gives customers relevant details about the delivery can be extremely helpful. Warehouse zoning is a helpful technique here, for example, space is divided into pickup and reserve areas. Having an automated system for the storage of various types of packages and an analysis of their performance makes procurement deals more efficient and storage safer. Instead of manually singing out of a task people have an automated tool to do that for them. Stock errors can sometimes cost a company its reputation. Fragmentation often leads to general inefficiency. “Factors like the growing demands of the client, changing needs of consumers, and complicated business models pose challenges for logistics companies”. All of the Atlas app’s essential features came with major challenges. Since there are many parties involved (manufacturers, storekeepers, drivers, managers, and end users) it’s impossible to have centralised control over every step of the way. The technology we’re talking about here should encompass location and activity tra… At MadAppGang we worked on a project for a large shipping company. The keyword for success in this scenario is flexibility. Problem: Warehouses and departments typically need more vertical reach. If it’s a high-ticket item, your customers’ expectations for a no-non… Leading global excellence in procurement and supply 18:30 - Ayman Kabbara, Director, Energy Mining & Projects Middle East & Turkey, DSV Logistics Big Data and Effective Communication Flows in Logistics All rights reserved. Logistics companies can employ logistics managers in major locations and provide the solutions competently by time and team schedule. If you know how to improve logistics processes with a mobile app or you have a burning question, just drop us a line and we’ll be happy to discuss your ideas. An inventory app should have control over segregation, loading, and packaging. While these measures are an absolute must already, the next step is a dedicated mobile app to check and maintain security factors. Problems and Solutions of Transport Logistics Liudmyla Boldyrieva Department of Management and Logistics Poltava National Technical Yuri Kondratyuk Poltava, Ukraine Boldyrewaljuda@ukr.net … Get in touch with our experts today to know more. You don’t just need to deliver goods on time but also offer customized services to different suppliers and customers in terms of packages and pricing. In their struggle to ensure optimum results, here are the top challenges faced by logistics managers today: Growing fuel prices increased wages, and peaking inflation indexes all work in tandem to increase transportation costs daily. There are apps like Fleetio, which enable easy inspection and report processes. Using a logistics management software that can automate the process of projecting different services to different customers can not only save time and effort on the managerial level but also bring added accuracy to data compilation and compliance. He leads, mentors & coaches a team of Project Coordinators & Analysts at Fingent.”, New York Logistics operators need to offer personalized experiences to multiple segments of customers. While management training tools are already being adopted, a new way of coaching and adapting employees to changing work environments can be introduced via applications, another area for logistics mobile app development to focus on. If you're behind a … It interacts with almost every group within the company and with many companies outside the company, including its customers. The keyword for success in this scenario is flexibility. Solution: Personnel lifts can help employees get their work done in high-elevation situations… Effective logistics … Collaborating with an efficient audit software can help eliminate these pains and improve your compliance, audit results and lead to quality investigations, thereby saving you from the trouble of getting on the wrong side of the law. However, changing consumer demands, complex business models and growing client demands are just some of the top factors that pose a challenge in streamlining logistics management. Staying abreast with these changes and taking preemptive measure to ward off these challenges, is a sign of sound logistics management. MadAppGang is a team of tech experts specializing in mobile technologies.We develop applications for iOS, Android, WatchOS, tvOS, Wear OS, wearables, and provide loT system integration services. Customers want full transparency into where their delivery is at all times. With the increase in customer expectation, some top rated shipping companies are striving to consistently provide maximum consumer satisfaction. Labour management systems emerged to reduce human error, eliminate paperwork, and boost general performance. Boston Problem: Lack of communication often leads to commotion among team members and even customers. Kochi According to the 2016 State of Third-Party Logistics Study by Capgemini, the chart shown here presents some of the top logistics … Manpower is the trickiest of management responsibilities. Investing in an automated solution or application for data entries, fuel bills, loading and unloading ledgers can go a long way in streamlining operations by allowing logistics managers the luxury of time to look at the finer nuances of operations. To not go out of business, logistics companies need to check the condition of their vehicles on a daily basis. Posted July 12, 2016 by logisticsplus. “Vinod has conceptualized and delivered niche mobility products that cater to various domains including logistics, media & non-profits. But given the complexity of the processes involved, logistics still suffers from the issues that arise from a lack of automation and, unfortunately, chaotic management. Since there are many parties involved (manufacturers, storekeepers, drivers, managers, and end users) it’s impossible to have centralised control over every step of the way. Trivandrum. If you are a business catering to a global clientele, keeping up with these varying rules and regulations and familiarizing your staff with these, can pose a grave challenge. Full transparency of orders, visibility from raw material stage to final goods sale, and reverse logistics have almost become standard for some commodity groups. Automated systems which record all the details of successful shipments, and the failures, offer useful statistics and real-time insights. 4 Common Warehouse Problems and Its Solutions 01 Lack of communication. There should be an access control deterrent which records the credentials of people entering the warehouse, surveillance cameras, and a fire alarm installed in a building. Two very powerful problem-solving methodologies are the DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve and Control) and PDCA (Plan, Do, Check, Act) Models. They recently announced the 2020 launch of a new grocery warehouse. Inside this warehouse, robots will stack and load all the products, significantly optimising both space and time. In any respect, Amazon remains the most innovative brand in retail and logistics. The technology we’re talking about here should encompass location and activity tracking, asset tracking, and a messaging platform. A recent automation study showed that 37% of the respondents were interested in such advances, while only 18% currently use these solutions. Logistics managers have to deal with a lot of figures and data on a daily basis, besides coordinating smooth discharge of operations. Furthermore, we can expect a wider adoption of warehouse robots which will identify and transport items throughout the facility and be operated via mobile apps. In this post, we share a real-life example of how data and analytics helped a customer reduce shipping costs and solve their problem of paying … So, how can logistics management personalize a conventionally standard service? A warehouse-management mobile application should use relevant technologies for data collection. If you are in business, with a focus on leadership, or if you work in such complex fields as logistics or supply chain, you have undoubtedly come across problems where you have little to no experience.But, inherently, as a leader, and especially as a planner in logistics, you have had to rely on effective problem … To streamline this process they can integrate fleet management solutions. This industry’s success relies on people but it’s faced with an image problem … A study by statista shows the 2017 and 2018 American customer satisfaction index (ASCI) scores for consumer shipping companies in the United States. Logistics Challenges & Solutions CIPS Dubai Branch 27th July 2016 . The scope of their work includes ensuring the safety of the fleet and staff, fleet loading, cross-checking route maps, sanctioning fuel bills and so on. Using a. iOS and Android development for logistics and supply chain company. Problem: Some warehouses require workers to put themselves in high-elevation situations, creating a need for stable, portable work platforms. Managers can easily keep everyone on the same page and notify the staffs immediately about changes or provide them with live info they need. An all-in-one mobile app can facilitate the means by which transportation is managed and enhance delivery speed − these are sources of major concern for logistics companies nowadays. The logistic industry is trying to solve these issues to make their system more efficient. But that’s only half the story. Walmart is also in step with the latest trends. Logistics management is all about providing the right product in the right quantity to the right place at the right time. Inventory is a cornerstone of many businesses; one of the critical competencies for transportation and logistics is the ability to successfully understand and control a business’ inventory.If a business doesn’t have detailed, real-time visibility into available inventory at a given location it can strain a business’ sales and/or impact customer satisfaction.Furthermore, supply chain often needs to track and manage inventory from multiple warehouses, stores, or locations, a difficult task especially if the business syste… On the minus side, the system awarded the fastest employees with points and badges, which provoked unhealthy competition and even led to protests. Having all aspects controllable via an application opens not only the possibility to facilitate work processes but also the potential for better analytics and anticipatory strategies. 02 July 2019 mobile apps for logistics companies • logistics management apps. Taking into account last mile delivery problems, shipping companies should include offline support in their service. It would be a noticeable advantage if customers could check previously saved delivery information or contact a carrier offline. Using a visibility software can help in simplifying these challenges. On the plus side, it made the process fun and more efficient. An important aspect here is the inclusion of parties in the service. … Logistics processes have well-defined phases, milestones and responsibilities which are assigned to these. Problem 1: Lack of effective supply chain coordination Supply chain management (SCM… The more links there are in the chain, the more pressing the issue is. About the author: Robert Everett- is a well-known blogger and writer at UK EduBirdie, in Chicago. How mobility solutions can ease logistics management and reduce its challenges is a read worthwhile. We developed a solution that was suitable for the target area and the type of devices drivers in that region normally use. 02 Warehouse space. With the landscape of business operations continually changing, there is a shift in the ensuing challenges as well. The era of one fits all type of service providing has ended. They are trying to improve the quality of service, provide on-time … For prompt and apt logistic solutions and to enhance your technology adoption in logistics, get in touch with Fingent now! Furthermore, the solutions are proposed to solve the existing logistics problem. Focusing on 3 major factors- Data, Process and Technology, can solve the biggest challenges of logistics. We work with established businesses and startups who are seeking to innovate and improve customer experience. Faster delivery is another crucial point to work on. The biggest problems in the logistics industry come from its inconsistency and fragmentation. Another important consideration is how companies maintain proper warehouse security and which digital means they use to control their facilities. The more technologies involved in daily processes, the higher the demand for STEM-educated workers. Logistics is a process which runs from the vendor's door through to the customer's. Logistics and Supply Chain Professionals must be proficient in Business Problem Solving. Dubai Nowadays, logistics solutions must be tailored to each customer. A possible silver bullet here is a software solution which synchronises information between the multiple parties. In a nutshell, any logistics application needs a customisable map and navigation functionality with route optimisation and traffic information available. Focusing on 3 major factors-. In an era characterised by technological advancement, it seems insane that stocking procedures aren’t properly facilitated through software. According to a third party logistics study by Capgemini, ‘cutting transportation costs’ makes the top of the list as far as concerns for the logistics industry. Solve word problems where a situation is modeled by a logistic differential equation. While logistics was formerly one of the core functions of most... | Find, read and cite all the research you need on ResearchGate. For prompt and apt logistic solutions and to enhance your technology adoption in logistics, efficient audit software can help eliminate these pains, Cloud Service Models Saas, IaaS, Paas – Choose the Right One for Your Business, Top Technologies Used to Develop Mobile App, Top 6 Tech Stacks That Reign Software Development in 2020, How Hotels are Using Technology for Competitive Advantage, Points to Consider Before Choosing the Best Software Development Company, Logistics Management Software – Everything You Should Know, Different Phases of Mobile App Development for Businesses. To overcome these we built our own geoclustering tool for grouping multiple points on the map and developed a custom messaging solution since Twilio wasn’t an option. By automating task assignment, the tasks will certainly not be forgotten - and in the case of deficiencies, it is easy to trace which tasks for which reasons have not been resolved for the deadline. To implement these strategies well, logistics managers need reliable information on existing and future orders. This potential can be unlocked with mobile solutions which combine several management tools inside one service. Having control over the security tools inside a single logistics management app would be extremely helpful to say the least. Our experience with mobile apps, artificial intelligence, and embedded system provides a uniquely powerful resource for our clients. In this day and age, the location of a customer’s shipment is as interconnected as your social network. Large retail and logistics companies should be focused on keeping their employees loyal and facilitating their work processes, this can also be accomplished via digital means. The key issues in the industry relate to which technologies logistics companies use, how they maintain their data, and how coordinated their work processes are. Logistics companies need innovations geared at managing their inventory to identify items easily, optimising stock space, and analysing which products are prioritised by customers. Walmart learnt from own mistakes it seems; now the company has lodged itself within the world of innovations and disruptive technologies. Top Logistics Challenges Facing Shippers Today. Some other obvious pain-points … You just pay a lump-sum to an expert third-party and they take care of the rest. A possible silver bullet here is a software solution which synchronises information between the multiple parties. Companies that take this logic on board and develop custom apps to manage their shipments at all stages will eventually displace all those who can’t keep up. What matters most in any app is how functional, accessible, and straightforward it is for end users. A mobile app with a navigation function should help reduce transportation expenses greatly. Mobile apps can also reduce many tiresome manual actions, for example, by enabling documentation exchange or providing a log for drivers and warehouse workers. Customers would like to have flexible options: order online or offline, have a package delivered or pick it up in the store, and the ability to track their shipments at any stage. These notorious examples prove once again that current warehouse management systems leave much to be desired. The future of supply chain management How will technology and AI shape tomorrow [Source: University of Liverpool Online]. So, security is a big problem. Find out more on iOS and Android development for logistics and supply chain company. With such tools, companies can analyse demands to inform manufacturers about the optimal production volume and make their own service highly customer-oriented. Logistics are what keep every economy worldwide running. You must maintain a humane approach toward the employees while keeping the best interest of your organization in mind. While studying cultural studies, Robert has published one volume of educational manuals on logistics. With too many variables in global logistics and many different parties getting involved, keeping above level of service might be challenging at times. Yet while a global customer base certainly presents a lucrative target, it also provides a new set of challenges for logistics service providers (LSPs) accustomed to providing standard logistics solutions … While all this is already part way implemented by big transportation businesses, there aren’t enough present-day solutions which combine all the essential functions in an elegant way. Target missed the chance to enter a new and potentially lucrative market in 2015 because, in a significant oversight, product barcodes didn’t match the numbers in the computer system. A mobile app for logistics companies, which links all the parts of the process together, from ordering a load to receiving the delivery, is set to become an industry norm in the near future. Mobile and wireless technologies are already common. Every party involved in the process should have their own version of the app − we covered the essential considerations when we looked at truck logistics apps for drivers here. Thanks to globalization, logistics management is turning into a multi-layered job where managers are expected to keep tabs on multiple supply chains simultaneously. Let’s explore the most common logistics problems and some possible solutions. Staying abreast with these changes and taking preemptive measure to ward off these challenges, is a sign of sound logistics management. Logistics is the management of the flow of goods between the point of origin and the point of consumption in order to meet some requirements, for example, of customers or corporations. Melbourne However, solving logistic issues is not an impossible mission. The logistics industry has been through many automation phases already. If trucking, shipping, and warehousing companies aren’t bringing materials from suppliers to manufacturers and finished products from manufacturers to consumers, the economy couldn’t survive.. Adopting a strategic approach to eliminate or reduce bottlenecks can prove pivotal in revamping network designs and consequently cutting down on transportation costs. Decentralization of responsibilities, by appointing logistics managers in key locations, with appropriate work-order management solutions can help in more efficient management. Over the past few years we`ve built solutions for fintech, healthcare, fitness, transportation, and communication industries. Companies would be able to set up specific alerts and be notified about the activities inside their facilities. With relevant digital tools, logistics companies will not only solve problems but prevent them. Copyright ©2020 Fingent. We touched upon logistics problems and solutions before when we described a mobile app for truck drivers and shippers. Finally, the suggestions about regulations and monitoring methods during the collection process are given. , can solve the biggest challenges of logistics. If you're seeing this message, it means we're having trouble loading external resources on our website. For a small business, relying on a cost-effective third-party transportation agency that caters to air, ocean, rail and road transportation is sometimes the best bet for accessing quality services in a cost-effective manner. A recent move by Amazon to “gamify” their warehouse workers’ routines had contradictory results. In the present scenario of global economics, logistics play a key role in facilitating trade and, by extension, ensuring the success of business operations. For prompt and apt logistic solutions and to enhance your technology adoption in logistics, get in touch with Fingent … When done manually, this can be a time-consuming and tedious task that can take your focus off from attention to details. It should be convenient to both shippers and carriers, and the end customers should be satisfied with the result. At the end of the day, customers are the driving force for any logistics company, and the demands set by customers should provide objectives for developing innovative solutions. So how exactly can a mobile app deal with the large problems affecting the logistics industry? Logistics companies can help you manage your employees better by providing managers in major locations, quality communication, and scheduling solutions. Transportation rules, regulations and security norms can vary from city to city, state to state, and quite obviously, from country to country. Delays can create frustration, annoyance or anger with customers. Walmart, one of the world’s biggest retailers, proved they were not the example to follow in 2013. Items should be classified according to their storage requirements and delivery priorities. Fragmentation often leads to general inefficiency. That year, the company lost US$3 billion because of misplaced goods. One of two scenarios takes place: A customer receives the product in a damaged state or the transit time is delayed in order to avoid delivering a damaged product to a customer. The company developed a game similar to Tetris which guided workers through items and tasks. Source: Trends and Strategies in Logistics and Supply Chain Management. In fact, as customer expectations have increased, their willingness to pay for fast shipping has decreased, with just about 64 percent of co… … Well, that is perhaps the top challenge that the industry has been facing in the last few years among others. The biggest problems in the logistics industry come from its inconsistency and fragmentation. Related Case Study: A constantly growing market like logistics cannot be managed only from a single device. Their most critical need is the ability to connect with available shippers. By minimising stops, identifying trouble spots, and calculating the optimal routes in a given situation, these applications guarantee the best possible speed and quality of delivery. For instance, work order software like ReachOut, helps logistics managers manage team utilization, team schedules, show proof of work, generate quotes and invoices and do much more. Customers also want higher transparency when it comes to tracking their orders. The McKinsey Global Institute defined the supply chain management sector as having the third-highest automation potential. With the landscape of business operations continually changing, there is a shift in the ensuing challenges as well. Modern customers want their orders to arrive as fast as possible, which requires more local storage and delivery complexity from logistics businesses. CRM tools provide necessary analytics on customer behaviour. Get in touch , to know more about how we can … Fingent’s expertise in custom software solutions has streamlined and automated tedious tasks of numerous industries. Applications can be introduced to optimize routes and boost communication between shippers and carriers, but they’re also useful when it comes to the management of inventory and labour. Solution: The first step to controlling costs is to know your costs… However, solving logistic issues is not an impossible mission. That can be a complicated equation in any managerial setup, but especially so in case of logistics management, as the drivers and staff are often placed in different geographic locations to maintain swift supply chain velocity. Let’s dig into a few details about the key technologies logistics apps need. With a proper mobile app, companies can easily monitor the availability of personnel and equipment, track vehicle locations, and check on activity inside their warehouses. Welcome to our series on solving logistics problems with data. A lot of companies replaced manual labour with technology and updated their services. Logistics Covid 19: Effect of the Pandemic on Logistics and Supply Chain The concerns are delayed deliveries, delay in procuring goods, unexpected transit halts and shortage of manpower Since there are many people involved, it’s impossible to maintain transportation services without a tool for assigning roles and tracking activities. Cutting a few corners here and there does not always help in meeting the cost-cutting goals for transportation. ... business problems, initial technical solution approaches … From the perspective of truck drivers, the empty mileage problem is key. Every logistics firm that is struggling to boost their operations, they can incorporate these suggestions for logistics network optimization. Logistics operators need to offer personalized experiences to multiple segments of customers. Fleetio also offers a separate solution for inventory management and there are several more apps designed for a similar purpose, such as EazyStock. Environmental Issues Reducing … For one, it rules out the added expenditure of maintaining a fleet of delivery vehicles, paying salaries to the transportation staff as well as dishing out freight charges and other taxes. Logistics and freight; Manpower; Investment in new technology; These costs are significant, as such, keeping a check on operating costs is a constant challenge. Related Reading: Take a look at how a Transportation Management System can ease out the challenges of a 3rd party logistics service provider here. Apart from launching stock robots, the retailer opened a supply chain academy to train employees. Omnichannel experience is a notable trend now. Focusing on 3 major factors- Data, Process and Technology, can solve the biggest challenges of logistics. These systems work in logistics much the same way as they work for POS systems installed in restaurants. The majority of companies still rely on barcode scanners but to make smart, data-driven inventory decisions, this technology leaves much to be desired.