CXO Bytes

Beyond transportation – How logistics platforms are more than just transportation coordinators

Smart Ship

The tech-enabled logistics solutions platforms are offering logistics more than just transportation solutions. Helping businesses adapt to emerging needs in the logistics sector like agility, scalability, customer centricity, innovation etc tech-enabled logistics platforms transcend solutions to more than just streamlining the transportation of goods.

Tech-powered logistics solutions enable businesses to increase efficiency and lower costs. The innovative, new-age solutions help customers track their shipments in real-time, reduce inefficacies and streamline the entire multi-step operation from A to Z including inventory management, data analysis, customer purchase analysis, route optimization, rider availability, transportation etc.

The fast-paced world of E-commerce and Q-commerce logistics requires planning. Transportation is just a mode to execute the logistics planning for freight movement.

Tech-enabled logistics platforms streamline decisions beyond the mode of transportation such as packaging, documentation, insurance, storage, management of the supply chain, a collaboration between vendors and partners, data accumulation and analytics etc.

 

  1. End-to-end Delivery Visibility – Addressing the visibility challenge between the first, middle and last mile is key for seamless logistics. Efficient visibility of the on-ground delivery stages leads to increased operational costs and bad customer experiences. Logistics platforms help navigate these issues by providing end-to-end visibility of the entire operation chain. Businesses and customers can track their package movement in real-time. This is especially beneficial for businesses as it helps them take preventive measures in case of unforeseen delays like unnecessary diversions, road blockages, order cancellations, rider problems etc.
  2. Enhancing Carrier Management – Ever-changing customer needs have led the business to maintain an omnichannel presence and ensure rapid deliveries at lowers costs. This has further led to an increased need for coordination between multiple vendors, warehouses, riders, and points of sale. As the labyrinth of planning grows so does the complexity. This increased complexity can only be managed with new-age logistics solutions that offer tech-enabled tools to manage multiple vendors, optimize rider and carrier selection, and allow for visibility. In a nutshell, help balance various parameters and optimize operations. Logistics platforms help in intelligent delivery management with the right historical data analysis at hand.
  3. Enhanced customer experience – The key to customer satisfaction is providing them with the correct information and ensuring the timely delivery of goods. Logistics platforms ensure an agile supply chain and delivery system that helps brands respond to changing customer demands. By optimizing routes in real-time to ensure rapid delivery, reduced turnaround time and ETA adherence, logistics platforms ensure that the customers have a pleasant experience thus building trust and loyalty towards the brand. Even small steps like automatic notifications about order deliveries, offers etc are enabled by tech-enabled logistics platforms.
  4. Internet of Things (IoT) – The internet of things (IoT) allows physical items to get connected to internet-enabled devices and systems to transfer data over a network without requiring any human interference. Tech-enabled Logistics platforms with the help of IoT collect more refined data and practice more in-depth intelligence for all parties connected to the supply network. From aiding in the safe delivery of shipments to consumers to utilizing assets, IoT-enabled logistics transcend just the transportation of goods.

 

New-age tech-enabled logistics are aggregators they are data drive industry transformers. With data, insight and analysis they bring together the stakeholders driving connectivity and transparency throughout data. This in turn helps keeps the entire logistics process from sourcing fleet to the final delivery optimized.

 

(The author is Mr. Vishal Jain, Co-Founder of Roadcast and the views expressed in this article are his own)

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