![]() “But when it’s less about unit cost, and more about optimizing order size and the configuration of cartons and skids for different modes, you improve your odds that goods flow through the supply chain as fast as possible.” ![]() “That’s not something buyers and planners on the customer side are used to doing,” Andrey pointed out. “Understanding your end-to-end options by mode-even by port-can help determine the most optimum flow.”Īlso, by adjusting order sizes to optimize for air, ocean or rail transport, you can often save days in transit. “One of the big shifts we’re seeing is that customers are switching from a lowest-cost-per-unit view of transportation to a most-efficient-end-to-end-transit view,” Andrey said. Can you route shipments differently to circumvent congested lanes? Can you source from somewhere different? Can you adjust shipment size to take advantage of alternate modes? Or use different modes than you’re used to? Your ability to quickly reoptimize routes can minimize or mitigate delays. Labor shortages, port shutdowns, chaos in the Suez Canal. Don’t be afraid to optimize routes and modesĪny given day, something unpredictable can upset the status quo. Good collaboration with your forwarder, along with seamless communication between buyer, factory, carrier, and the receiving distribution center, can help reduce days-in-transit in the port-to-port journey, as well as the final mile to your customer’s door.ģ. “Shippers shouldn’t be afraid to re-prioritize products with the available capabilities of all the parties within the supply chain,” Andrey said. However, good planning sometimes happens well in advance of a disruption. With the right understanding of demand and need, your forwarder can help you make decisions on carrier routing selection, from different, less-congested ports, to better inland port intermodal rail transits, to mode shifts to address urgent orders.” “Different modes, different ports, even a different steamship line if you deal directly with the carrier. “A good freight forwarder can get you access to options you may not have thought of,” said Keith Andrey, VP of UPS Global Freight Forwarding. Any good strategy starts with a solid plan, a better back-up plan, and a freight forwarding service. When supply chain capacity is disrupted, what once worked smoothly may no longer work at all.
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