2. Use a transportation management system. A TMS with strong rail management features automates manual processes and standardizes daily workflows and procedures. A good rail management system can notify you of common issues such as bill of lading transmission failures, in-transit exceptions, and potential accrual or invoice related issues.

3. Cultivate and invest in relationships. Develop relationships with your carrier sales reps, local crews, executives, and anyone else you closely work with to ship rail. While this can be a challenge with turnover and promotions, it is important to invest time in these relationships to fully understand carrier capabilities, learn their shipping preferences, stay aware of service changes, and address issues as they arise.

4. Understand your rail expertise gaps. Rail knowledge is a limited commodity in the industry, but you don’t necessarily have to search for the rail unicorn to hire. Bring in an outside perspective to do an assessment of rail knowledge needed. Training, software, third-party services, and consulting are all available to help bridge the gaps to set rail shippers up for success.

5. Develop bench strength. From targeted mentorship programs to robust documentation programs, there are ways to pass along knowledge to the next line of rail experts. With rail knowledge becoming a limited commodity, this should be a focus of any rail shipping plan.

6. Build flexibility into the plan. Rail shipments can be subject to unexpected delays from weather and changing service reliability. Building flexibility includes maintaining extra inventory, staging loaded railcars at strategic points in the route, or having alternative transportation options in case of disruptions.

7. Maximize product shipped per car. Efficiently loading rail cars lowers costs and reduces environmental impact. Make sure you have the right visibility into dashboards to track loading efficiency and ensure current processes and procedures all align to this goal.

8. Use technology to optimize rail. By analyzing large pools of data, technology helps companies predict potential delays and costly scenarios before they even happen. Predictive risk identification helps shippers keep track of ever-changing conditions and understand potential future shipment issues, giving more time to communicate with customers and execute contingency plans.

9. Mitigate yard capacity risks. Work with your yard personnel to gain a complete understanding of your rail yard operations constraints. Consider planned maintenance schedules, yard track capacities, and outbound/inbound switch processes. Use this along with order/demand planning to visualize and monitor daily/weekly railcar demand, predicted railcar supply, and asset utilization.

10. Measure, monitor, and adjust your shipping plans. No matter how carefully you develop and execute a shipping plan, it still needs to be monitored, managed, and adjusted. Through dashboards, notifications, and KPIs, you can successfully execute rail shipping with minimized risks.

SOURCE: Brian Cupp, Director of Operations, IntelliTrans

2. Focus on adding value, not creating it. For many companies, the question isn’t what to do but what not to do. What is your team uniquely positioned to address and respond to effectively? And where can you find partners that are equipped to extend your impact without pushing the constraints you operate within at your company?

3. Consider capital vs. expense dollars. Many companies are being challenged to do more with the same or fewer resources than before. When evaluating new initiatives, consider the allocation of your capital resources and weigh the potential efficacy of an investment in both technology and personnel against the possibility of leveraging outsourced providers to augment your team’s capabilities.

4. Accelerate data aggregation. Data storage and aggregation is becoming less expensive with the burgeoning availability of cloud storage and its inherent ease of data transfer. Put together a strategy for your company’s data aggregation that prioritizes the seamless integration of providers and systems into a flexible environment that is not costly to change.

5. Keep resiliency efforts ongoing. Don’t forget that as you create a more resilient network, you then need to manage a more diverse network. Don’t overlook the recurring effort and personnel resources it takes to maintain and improve after implementing your strategy.

6. Put actionable metrics in place. As you diversify your network, you need to then establish meaningful metrics and a recurring cadence for reviews with your providers. Keep in mind that if your highest-scoring provider isn’t your best provider, your metrics are off.

7. Pay attention to provider solvency. As you begin to derisk and diversify your network, it will enable you to think about your provider mix differently. Maybe you can take a risk on a new provider in a market where you have more established providers in the portfolio. Derisking doesn’t mean not taking risks.

8. Determine the true cost. Look at the full cost of the opportunity. Opening up a new import warehouse may create an additional warehousing expense but transportation expenses, inventory carrying costs, or even an increase in sales due to speed to market can easily offset the initial expense.

9. Ensure provider flexibility. Core to de-risking the supply chain is to be careful to not enlist too many critical services from one provider. However, when selecting providers, additional opportunities should be identified—and potentially included in the contract—in the event you need those services.

10. Align your core solutions. When selecting a provider for one of your core solutions, make sure it is a core solution for the provider as well. Companies today are shifting strategy and focus, which can be impactful to you. Make sure you are aligned.

SOURCE: Reade Kidd, CEO & Co-Founder, EDRAY

2. Fight operator fatigue. Over the course of a shift, operator productivity can decrease as fatigue mounts. With a large portion of operating costs going to finding and retaining a limited labor pool, it’s crucial to maximize productivity all shift long. Ergonomic equipment can fight operator discomfort and keep them efficient for a full shift.

3. Bridge the gap with robots. Finding and retaining labor is a consistent issue for warehouses. Robotic lift trucks can relieve labor pressures by automating repetitive load transportation, and storage and retrieval workflows, so employees can focus on higher-value tasks.

4. Leverage the golden zone. The 80/20 rule applied to order picking means 80% of high-velocity, fast-paced order picking movement comes from just 20% of SKUs. Organize pick faces so that the most frequently picked items are in the most convenient pick locations, also known as the ergonomic golden zone. This can minimize reaching and straining to access inventory, and boost throughput.

5. Optimize order picking paths. The less time pickers travel between locations, the more time they can spend actually picking. Equipment features such as the option to move a pallet truck between pick locations without having to climb back on, saves steps and seconds between picks.

6. Reclaim indoor space for core functions. Not all warehouse space is used for processes such as receiving, storage, and picking; lead-acid battery charging, maintenance, and storage typically requires dedicated indoor facilities. Newer lift truck power sources, such as lithium-ion batteries, do not require the same dedicated space for charging, storage, and maintenance, so warehouses can reclaim valuable space for core functions.

7. Go up, not out. As warehouse space grows more expensive, many operations maximize their horizontal footprint by building up, rather than out. Very narrow aisle (VNA) lift trucks can take advantage of these higher-level locations by operating in aisles as narrow as 56 inches and accessing storage locations more than 50 feet high.

8. Assist operators working at height. Reach trucks are a common solution for narrow, high warehouse aisles, with operators picking and placing pallet loads from tight storage locations at great heights. Fork-mounted cameras and lights can help operators precisely pick and place pallet loads in elevated storage locations, enabling consistent performance and limiting damage to pallets and product.

9. Go double deep. Another way to boost storage density is to use double deep configurations, in which operations store two pallets in a single location, with one behind the other. Going two pallet loads deep can enable up to 50% more capacity than single selective racking without occupying significantly more floor space.

10. Regularly evaluate warehouse performance. Identify key warehouse performance metrics and evaluate your own performance against historic levels and industry benchmarks for best-in-class performance. The Warehousing Education and Research Council releases a yearly DC Measures report that features a list of industry-wide warehouse performance benchmarks.

SOURCE: Jim Hess, Director of Warehouse Business Development, Yale Lift Truck Technologies

2. Be Flexible with Schedules. Carriers appreciate shippers that offer flexible schedules, large delivery windows, and fast yard check-in and check-out. Providing flexible appointment times and accepting trucks during “off” hours, such as evenings and weekends, helps carriers better utilize their vehicles and gives them the ability to pick up loads at less busy times.

3. Give Sufficient Lead Time. The more lead time you can provide carriers, the better off you’ll be. This helps carriers schedule their operations more efficiently. Giving your provider weeks of notice—as opposed to days—greatly improves your odds of being accommodated, while firmly positioning you in the “easy to work with” category.

4. Provide Driver Amenities. Truckers spend excessive amounts of time behind the wheel of their rigs. Providing restrooms, break areas, and parking for drivers can go a long way in making your location more desirable.

5. Provide Drop-and-Hook Capability. Drop-and-hook freight is trucker-friendly, as it allows the driver to drop off a load and hook up to a pre-loaded or empty container at the same facility. Drivers are more likely to accept freight from shippers that provide this option because it enables them to spend more time on the road, maximizing their earning potential.

6. Communicate Clearly. Carriers are often frustrated when shippers provide incomplete instructions. That’s why it’s important to maintain clear and consistent communication. Keep carriers informed about any changes to shipments and be readily available to answer questions. An effective solution is to create a link on your company’s website where carriers can easily obtain scheduling and policy procedures. Also, consider hosting regular carrier conferences and solicit feedback to learn about ways that you can improve as a shipper.

7. Minimize Loading/Unloading Wait Times. Each minute that a trucker is stuck at a shipper’s facility is time off the road—time that can’t be utilized for hauling new shipments. Provide convenient access for drivers with a yard that is easy to navigate when coming and going. Additionally, have your equipment and manpower ready to go when a truck arrives. Shippers associated with excessive wait times will have difficulty impressing carriers.

8. Be a Predictable Partner. Carriers like to do business with shippers that are predictable. Strive to be reliable with your shipping volume and avoid last-minute changes. The more predictable you are, the easier it is for carriers to integrate your shipments into their planning.

9. Utilize a TMS Solution. Transportation management system (TMS) technology solutions help carriers increase the predictability of loads, providing them with greater visibility further upstream. This will also help carriers improve their route planning and driver scheduling functions.

10. Focus on Partnerships. Teamwork and relationships really matter in logistics. Recognize that your carriers are supply chain partners that deserve to be treated with the same respect as customers. Working together to identify and solve problems that impact both parties will serve you well in becoming a shipper of choice.

SOURCE: Jagan Reddy, Managing Partner, Netlogistik US

2. Shield your system, protect your data. Transition to a browser-based user interface using APIs or CGI scripts to transfer data to and from the servers via firewalls. Browser-based systems are far more secure—they were initially developed by the U.S. Military to ensure data security and remote access speed.

3. Implement tighter controls on logins. Requiring strong, frequently updated password controls is essential, as is controlling who can create user logins. Monitoring this helps avoid human error that can leave your system vulnerable.

4. Work through Other platforms. Swiftly work through alternative software platforms while you identify the main system issues. This helps reduce the severity of the attack because it enables business continuity with minor impact on your customers. Our experience has shown us that customers who are open to working on alternative platforms significantly minimize their cargo flow disruption.

5. Leverage AI data ingestion tools. Use these tools to conduct major data input. This can replace or substitute for EDI connections in the short term by facilitating the process of importing large, assorted data files from multiple sources into a single, cloud-based storage medium.

6. Secure the main system. Ensure the main system is fully backed up and operational and free of viruses. Returning to the main system prematurely can create additional problems that negatively impact both customers and employees.

7. Vet platforms before an attack. When looking for the right platform, ask key questions, such as: How much of the core business can be supported on this platform? Do you need more than one? Does this align with my business objectives?

8. Integrate an emergency platform into your main system. The fail-over platform, which is a standby system available if the main system fails, should run as a mirror of the live environment. Cyber attacks often result in losing access to current data, which is a huge problem. Transitioning to live data saves an enormous amount of time and minimizes the impact on the customer. Keep in mind that advanced set up reduces transition downtime and helps maintain continuous operations. It is important to establish two-way connectivity between the systems so the backup system is up to date and new data can easily be restored to the original platform. Remember to have a data mirror in place prior to an event; this serves as insurance.

9. Implement a training program. With a small investment in training, employees can quickly learn how to work in a new, unfamiliar environment—which saves time and money in the long run. Conduct training for entire teams while applying a more frequent and comprehensive approach for key users.

10. Conduct occasional fire drills. Practicing how to handle a challenge that requires a calm, swift response ensures the team is prepared during a real-world crisis. There is a reason all children must practice fire drills at school. This is to prevent panic and ensure everyone knows how to quickly transition to a safe environment. The same is true with core systems as well.

Source: Bryn Heimbeck, Co-Founder and President, Trade Tech

2. Ensure consistent quality control. Quality control is not just about your final product; it extends to all aspects of your business. When sourcing components and materials from global suppliers, insist on stringent quality checks to ensure they are meeting your standards, each and every day. This maintains a consistent brand reputation for your company.

3. Verify data accuracy and reliability. Inaccurate supply chain and logistics data can delay shipments, add costs, and hurt your reputation. Your logistics technology platform should have clean, verified data so all supply chain stakeholders can make optimal, informed decisions. Data integrity standards are an effective way to drive supply chain value for your customers and all parties to a shipment.

4. Communicate in a timely manner. From start to finish, transparent and timely communication is key to building trust with customers and supply chain vendor partners. Be a good partner who communicates effectively and resolves issues promptly to avoid supply chain disruptions.

5. Prioritize social responsibility. Engage in community initiatives and support local causes where your company operates. Employees can actively participate in these activities, enhancing your brand’s reputation as a socially responsible organization and doing something good for your community and its people.

6. Build a transparent supply chain. Eliminate siloed communication. Connect internal stakeholders, vendor partners, and customers to simplify and streamline operations, enhance communication, and effectively respond to ongoing market conditions and challenges. Web-based supply chain and logistics technology enhances global connectivity and is available 24/7. Transparent supply chains foster trust and confidence in your brand.

7. Foster supply chain innovation. Encourage innovative solutions that could significantly improve your brand reputation. Innovation can lead to a better customer experience, improve efficiency, and enhance your reputation for being on the cutting-edge of industry advancement and trends.

8. Ensure sustainability. Whether it’s sustainable packaging, transportation and routing choices to reduce your supply chain carbon footprint, or selecting renewable energy sources in your warehouse, you can make eco-conscious decisions that demonstrate your commitment to a greener, healthier future. Your ongoing efforts in developing environmentally friendly solutions is a key way to create a planet-friendly supply chain, as well as enhance your brand reputation.

9. Collaborate on planning. Build a positive brand reputation by developing rapport with vendors and other stakeholders. This leads to better collaboration and mutual support, which serves you well when exceptions occur and supply chain performance relies on resolving these issues quickly. The essence of collaboration, honesty, and respect lays a strong foundation for year-round interactions.

10. Vet your sourcing choices. Your sourcing decisions can have a direct impact on your brand reputation. Ensure that your sourcing decisions include an ethical and sustainable practices review that involves fair labor practices, environmental standards, and community engagement efforts.

SOURCE: Jeff Plumley, Chief Commercial Officer, ASF Logistics

2. Understand the current state. Take stock of current operations. Are processes manual and paper-based or supported by legacy systems that might be functionally robust but aging and technically obsolete? This will influence whether you should simplify or select an advanced system.

3. Get familiar with existing applications. If you have an existing WMS (or multiple), familiarize yourself with the vendor(s) and determine if they have newer systems that you could adopt. Also, an ERP with WMS capabilities might be another route to explore if and where it makes sense.

4. Identify functional essentials. WMS is mature with parity but not equality across WMS offerings. Companies must identify the typically small number of non-standard or differentiating capabilities they absolutely must have, or the system will not work for them. These are not basic features and functions that might show up in an RFP. These are “must haves” that may require customization.

5. Map end-to-end processes. WMS solutions are good at handling the processes that take place inside a warehouse, but sometimes companies have processes that extend into other areas like manufacturing or omnichannel fulfillment. Understanding the extended process flow and integration needs is critical to success.

6. Consider business projections. A WMS has a long life span. Looking at short, medium, and long-term business projections into the future helps ensure scalability to support the business long term. Under-invest and you could be back looking at a new WMS in a few years. Buy too much and you will under-utilize the system, sometimes for decades.

7. Determine level and types of automation. Consider current and future automation needs and how the WMS will support and integrate with them. Historically, this was easier as material automation was often a significant investment and the cost helped dictate the strategy. Now, with flexible automation like intralogistics smart robots, just about any warehouse could consider automation.

8. Gauge employee readiness. Labor, both operational and IT, is a major challenge for warehouse operations. Evaluate the current composition of your team to ensure the right balance in both the business and technical aspects of deploying a new WMS. Few, if any, companies buy WMS to slash labor, but rather to improve productivity and reduce workforce churn. Aspects like user experience, flexibility, and new ways of working can lead to a more engaged workforce and should be highly rated criteria.

9. Identify improvement opportunities (ROI). It can be notoriously hard to justify the cost after installing a WMS for the first time. Companies must find additional business value for the system, such as labor management, slotting, warehouse redesign or automation. The key is identifying these opportunities and then demonstrating both hard and soft benefits to leadership.

10. Put a sharp eye to budget and financial constraints (TCO). Be brutally honest about financial constraints that could slow or stop an evaluation. Mandating a payback in less than two years might make justifying a new or replacement WMS difficult. The good news is since most WMS purchases are now cloud and SaaS-based, OPEX (an expense that is incurred through normal business operations) can help with capital appropriation. But total cost should be evaluated in both scenarios.

SOURCE: Dwight Klappich, Research Vice President and Fellow; Simon Tunstall, Director Analyst; and Federica Stufano, Sr Principal Analyst, Gartner Supply Chain Practice

2. Automate operational decision-making. Consider an automated planning system that optimizes the work historically released and executed by public warehouse workers. An automated planner orchestrates all the complex inbound and outbound work that must be done, considering all constraints to maximize efficiency. Automated planning helps free the workforce to handle any issues that may pop up.

3. Use a warehouse management system. A WMS tracks and manages inventory accurately. It can prioritize inventory items and allocate space accordingly. A WMS provides real-time visibility into inventory levels, locations, and movements, which reduces stockouts, overstocking, and order fulfillment errors.

4. Streamline order picking. Implement efficient strategies such as batch picking, which allows pickers to efficiently pick multiple orders in a single pass. Zone picking assigns workers to specific zones to reduce travel time. Wave picking divides orders into waves based on priority, size, or destination. Use handheld picking devices or voice technologies to reduce errors and improve speed.

5. Understand automation’s limits. Automation alone may not be the answer. The harsh reality is that automated technology for picking, retrieving, staging, and shipping takes a lot of work and operating expenses to maintain the same amount of output compared to paying traditional labor more.

6. Train and upskill warehouse staff. Ongoing training helps employees learn new techniques and best practices. Training on safety protocols and equipment usage reduces the risk of accidents and injuries. Ongoing training ensures that employees are aware of and compliant with any new regulations that must be adhered to, which reduces fines and legal issues.

7. Measure performance with KPIs. Key performance indicators (KPIs) provide quantifiable metrics that help you assess how well your warehouse operations perform and whether they align with your business goals. Choose relevant metrics such as picking accuracy, order cycle time, on-time delivery, order fill rate, and employee productivity. Regularly review KPIs and adjust based on data and feedback.

8. Eliminate chaos in the yard. Release work intelligently based on labor capacity, inventory availability, and demand. Optimally sequence inbounds and outbounds to proactively expand cross-docking and interleaving. Drive capacity-constrained yard moves—what trailer, where, when—to manage door turn times and reduce detention.

9. Manage intra-campus moves. Shippers often have campuses with multiple buildings with unique process flows. Inventory, receipts, transfers, and shipments must be optimized across multiple buildings with the right timing to minimize touches. Managing intra-campus moves efficiently requires technology that carefully plans and organizes every detail. Each inventory transfer costs between $150 and $500; a reduction in transfers can save millions.

10. Use intelligent warehouse orchestration that integrates with a WMS. Often called WMS accelerators, these tools adapt and rebalance activities based on what happens inside a warehouse in near-real time. WMS accelerators rearrange schedules, review labor requirements, schedule replenishments, cross-dock orders, and ensure shipments arrive on time and in full.

SOURCE: Keith Moore, CEO, AutoScheduler.AI

2. Optimize Warehouse Operations. Consider implementing solutions such as automated sorting and dimensioning, a mobile warehouse management system, conveyor systems, and robotic process automation to speed order fulfillment. A well-designed warehouse layout can also significantly reduce the time it takes to pick and pack orders.

3. Boost Customs Compliance Efficiency. For ecommerce imports into the United States, take advantage of Entry Type 86 or Section 321 to save time and money with faster clearance and minimal manual processing. Automated Border Interface (ABI) software from an experienced provider lets you mass-upload house bills from a simple spreadsheet to expedite the customs release of your packages.

4. Prioritize Real-Time Inventory Tracking. Use RFID tags, barcodes, and other tracking technologies to monitor inventory movement in real time—not just in the warehouse, but at every step of the product journey. This can help prevent stockouts, reduce overstock, improve coordination between agents, and ensure that inventory is replenished quickly.

5. Evaluate Inventory Management. Efficient inventory management is tantamount to ecommerce success. But inventory management techniques are not one-size-fits all. A strategy that works well in one company may not suit another, so it’s important to research and evaluate several options to find the best one—or a combination—for your specific business needs.

6. Implement Effective Returns Management. Don’t neglect the returns process when analyzing efficiency. A streamlined returns process can reduce costs and improve customer satisfaction. Consider centralized return centers, third-party partners, and other techniques to reduce handling. Use analytics to understand return reasons, which can, in turn, inform positive product and process improvements that will reduce future returns.

7. Diversify Supplier Networks. Avoid relying too heavily on a single supplier, carrier, or partner. Building relationships with multiple partners ensures that your ecommerce supply chain remains robust even if one stakeholder faces issues.

8. Set Risk Management Plans. Regularly assess potential risks, such as geopolitical issues, supply chain weaknesses, natural disasters, or labor shortages and strikes. Put contingency plans into place to ensure minimal disruption to your supply chain in case of unforeseen events.

9. Train and Develop Your Staff. As technology and best practices evolve, ensure that your team receives regular training to keep current. A knowledgeable and skilled workforce can adapt to changes more rapidly and ensure the effective management of your logistics and supply chain processes.

10. Regularly Measure and Monitor Ecommerce KPIs. Continuous improvement requires constant measurement and evaluation of ecommerce KPIs (key performance indicators). Regularly review and analyze KPIs such as order turnaround time and accuracy, overstocks, stock-outs, and inventory turnover to proactively identify areas for improvement.

SOURCE: Matthew Fotouhi, Chief Technology Officer, Customs Compliance, Magaya

2. Conduct a cost-benefit analysis. Take stock of your company’s shipping priorities and the value they bring your business. From there, you can best decide on a carrier that balances quality with cost-effectiveness in those areas.

3. Assess ecommerce compatibility. As ecommerce becomes more dominant, many less-than-truckload (LTL) carriers have made a shift into providing residential delivery. If part of your business’s value proposition is white-glove delivery service, you want to select a carrier that is reliable with residential deliveries and offers installation and premium assistance to your end customer.

4. Seek out specialized carriers. Some carriers have certain niches when it comes to the products they ship and the industries they serve. For example, a carrier may have a strong record with food and grocery shipments. Based on your type of business, opt for a carrier with dedicated experience transporting those types of products to ensure proper handling and adherence to regulations.

5. Identify special handling/equipment. Your shipments may require a unique type of care throughout the transit process, such as temperature control, delicate handling or the use of special equipment for larger shipments. The carrier you select must have those capabilities and equipment. Additionally, some carriers offer value-added services, such as assembly and packaging, that you may want to incorporate to enhance your delivery experience.

6. Confirm geographical coverage. Verify that the carrier’s routes align with your shipping destinations to drive prompt and reliable delivery for your customers. Furthermore, research the distance between the carrier’s shipment terminals and origin points. A shorter geographical distance will allow for increased operational efficiency and flexibility.

7. Determine retailer relationships. Ensure the LTL carrier you are considering has experience working with large, big-box retailers. These retailers can have unique requirements regarding appointment scheduling, advanced shipment notification, delivery windows and proof of delivery requirements. A carrier with a positive history and amicable working relationship with retailers can help you avoid unnecessary fines and penalties when conducting business with them.

8. Ensure capacity commitments are met. Given that fluctuations in the economy can impact carrier capacity, work with a provider that upholds initial agreements even amidst an uncertain market. This commitment will solidify consistency in your service and prevent disruptions throughout your supply chain.

9. Assess visibility and timely PoD. In today’s logistics landscape, supply chain visibility is imperative for businesses and customers alike. You need a well-equipped carrier that offers real-time tracking and consistency in sending proof of delivery. With these capabilities in place, you can better manage customer expectations and proactively address potential issues.

10. Research claims ratios and history of billing accuracy. Do your due diligence on a carrier’s claims ratios and billing track record. While LTL billing is inherently complex, a proven account of accuracy and a claims ratio under 1% indicates their commitment to preventing interruption to your shipments.

Source: Jeff McDermott, Executive Vice President of Transportation, GEODIS in Americas