To be a competitive import company, you must have an almost perfect supply chain. If you have problems in the area of logistics, your company will not increase its profitability and will be stagnant. Randall Castillo Ortega, an entrepreneur and an expert in the field of import/export, explains how import businesses can analyze and improve their logistics to see better success.
The performance of logistics and distribution of products is very important for any company, whether small, medium or large. This importance is that logistics generally represents a high percentage of investment in each company: approximately one-third. This is the importance of knowing how to perfectly carry out the logistics and distribution of products. Says Castillo, “Import entrepreneurs have to invest a great deal in activities such as packaging, storage and transportation, not to mention the purchase or rental of the technology and the optimal equipment to carry out the entire process of logistics and distribution of products, which can also be quite substantial. The technological investment focuses not just on the logistics process, but also invests in security.”
For your company to be competitive within the market, you need to meet certain aspects of your logistics operation. As mentioned above, most companies invest a sum needed to meet their product distribution in a timely way. This depends on your growth and reputation. One of the biggest challenges for our customers is to meet the strict specifications of retail. We recommend fulfilling them in detail, eliminating or minimizing any return by retail. This will depend on your good relationship with them and you will have more opportunities and benefits.
You must operate with total flexibility to meet your customers’ requirements. “Retailers are generally specific and strict in terms of deliveries,” adds Castillo. “To accomplish this, you need to always adapt to each client and the market, updating processes and services as the market evolves and adapting to the dynamics of your business.”
You need the information of each step of the logistics process in real-time in order to make the best decisions in a timely manner. You can do this by communication through a dedicated account executive and customized reports at specific times according to your requirements.
Your products are the assets of your company; for that reason, you must protect them with an adequate security infrastructure: from receipt of goods to delivery to the customer. To achieve this, you need strict security protocols in the logistics of importing, storing and distributing your products. In addition, you also have to have a continuous investment in systems and mechanisms for prevention, control and compliance with regulations.
To support control and have the best accuracy of each of your logistics processes, you must have an internal team of specialists for the adaptation and maintenance of IT and the ability to offer connectivity and security with your logistics operation and your customers. Without these, it is virtually impossible to provide effective logistics oversight.
By eliminating the hidden costs of 100% of your logistics operation, you can maximize your company’s profitability and allow yourself to focus on your company’s growth. That’s why a full analysis of what the losses are at each stage of your operation is necessary. Focus on no loss and damage to your inventory. Check your entire operation so you don’t lose sales or spend on penalties for defaults. Take care of the prestige of your company and your brands.
If your products are sensitive and of high value, then you need someone specialized in the management of these types of consumer products. Sometimes a logistics area within your company is not enough to have everything under control or carry out the logistics operation perfectly. Hiring a logistics operator is less expensive most of the time and can be tailored to the logistics process to meet your company’s logistics operation needs.
Now that you know how to improve your company’s logistics and product distribution, it’s time for you to analyze each of these points carefully with your logistics department. This way, you’ll know if they’re being applied correctly. If not, you’ll realize what’s currently failing in your logistics operation and you’ll be in time to correct it. If you are going to prepare an analysis, do it at every stage of your logistics process: only then can you realize what you need to improve.