Top 4 logistical challenges that face small businesses

1. Top 4 logistical challenges that  face small businesses    In today’s ever-expanding world, customers expect convenient and fast  delivery options — especially given the rapid service provided by the world’s  top commercial giants.      While there is no easy answer to that question, there are several measures that small  businesses can take to make their deliveries more streamlined and cost-effective. To  help, we’ll take you through four of the logistical challenges small business must  overcome to keep up with the pace of change.    1. Getting to grips with key logistics theory

2.   A streamlined logistics strategy is something every small business needs, but not many  have the time to master. As such, learning a few key principals could give you an  immediate advantage over your competitors. When it comes down to it, planning is the  key success factor in any logistics strategy; tracking the product journey from the point of  sourcing or manufacture, directly to the customer’s doorstep. When developing your own  logistics plan, you need to consider the following points:     ● What is the lead time on preparing new stock?  ● Where will you source product/materials from? (Or will you manufacture  independently?)  ● If required, how will you get that stock to you, do you need to consider import  support?  ● How will you ship products locally, nationally and internationally?  ● Will you handle shipping internally, or via a third-party solution?     Combined, these factors all influence the order fulfilment cycle, which determines how  long it takes for deliveries to reach customers. By carefully planning each part of the  cycle, and comparing several options for each stage, you may be able to reduce delivery  time and even costs.     This planned approach is enough to build a solid foundation for effective logistics — but  deeper knowledge may be required in order to ensure a competitive execution. To help,  hiring an expert, such as a logistics manager, to join your team or working with a  third-party logistics provider could help you to elevate your service above the  competition.   

3.    2. Keeping customers updated on delivery progress      A recent study by salesforce.com found that 66% of millennials expect real-time  responses and interactions about their orders from service reps, compared to 62% of  baby boomers and traditionalists. While this may not seem like a big statistical difference,  it does indicate a growing need for businesses to provide timely information on a  product’s delivery status.     This poses a problem for small businesses because some small-scale logistics providers  offer very limited information during shipping. When customers ask for detail, all  businesses can often rely on is a response such as: ​“It’s been dispatched.”​ Small  businesses can solve this problem either by hiring their own delivery agents and drivers,  which creates high overhead costs, or by working with a logistics provider that offers the  technology and fleet you need, such as live parcel tracking and in-flight delivery updates  via email and/or SMS.    3. Putting the right storage facilities in place   

4.   Another key piece in the logistics jigsaw is storage. Primarily, keeping as much stock in  your location as possible can help to keep order fulfilment time down. The challenge  here for small businesses is one of capacity. Small businesses often rely on a small  stockroom or even space on a residential property to store items ready for shipping.    Since deliveries increase as a business grows, you could look to expand your storage  capacity by using a network of warehouses located around the country, which can help  reduce delivery time and free up space on-site for other uses. Alternatively, you could  look for a logistics partner that has a nationwide footprint with storage space to support a  ‘just in time’ delivery model, all from the one supplier.     4. Managing logistics effectively  Some growing SMEs with a large budget have the luxury of being able to employ a  logistics specialist to ensure deliveries are running smoothly — but what about those that  are just starting up, or prefer to limit their workforce?    One solution is a CitySprint business account. You’ll receive preferential business rates  and your single account will give you access to a complete same day, UK overnight and 

5. international delivery service suite. Plus, you'll benefit from real-time tracking on  deliveries and 24/7 customer support to help solve any issues you or your customers  may encounter.     The bottom line      There are no two ways about it: keeping up with the expected speed and flexibility of  deliveries in today’s marketplace is an everyday challenge for small businesses.  However, by making just a few changes here and there, you will be able to deliver a  more streamlined service to your customers. If you could use a hand at any stage of this  process, CitySprint are here to help. We offer same day, UK overnight and international  delivery solutions, as well as storage and fulfilment services, with speed in mind,  ensuring that your consignments arrive securely, safely, and in time. If you’re interested  in learning more about our services, head over here for more information, or ​contact us  directly.  We deliver ​Courier​​Services you can depend on. Find out more about our  Same Day Delivery or Next Day Delivery solutions.