Special Report
Wheels of change
Now is the time to look for wasted money and inefficiencies in your shipping department.
By Jessica Tremayne
Smart Business Columbus | May 2009
Page 1 of 3
James Moore
vice president
Ryder System Inc.
The transportation industry has taken a hit in the past couple of years — first pummeled by fuel costs, now endangered because of lack of product demand. Even though the economic forecast may be grim, this is a prime time to evaluate your current network to find wasted money and inefficiencies that may be hurting your customer service.
Delivery delays and poor packing and routing methods can all cost your company money.
The good news is there are software solutions out there that can help you fix your problems with a minimal investment and lower your logistics and transportation costs by 8 to 15 percent.
“Without transportation logistics, businesses can’t operate,” says Luis D. Lopez, president, Dangerous Goods Declaration Inc. & DGD Transport Inc., a Miami-based hazardous materials transportation company. “Software use is critical in transportation logistics, because it manages all areas of the process. Using software can eliminate at least two employees. The efficiency you’ll see immediately after the software is installed. Some types of software will allow you to check inventory or tracking on a load without calling the company. This software is Web-based and allows you to visualize your goods regardless of where they’re housed or where they are being sent.”
Software programs are available to assist companies from the time an order is placed through successful delivery. Many executives view their transportation department as a cost center, but through successful management, it can be another way to earn money.
