Handling a supply chain, even for a smaller business can be a lot of work these days. The competition is tough, and it is going to be only tougher with suppliers not leaving space for delays or mistakes in logistics. However, when you take a closer look at the mechanisms behind this process, it all comes down to efficient management. There are a number of factors to consider, but everything can be streamlined and planned to maximize efficiency and profit. Here are six points to keep in your mind as you are optimizing the supply chain.

Planning

Unlike many other kinds of business, managing supply and delivery lines can not be done without proper planning. This means that you have to sit down and think about everything from the supplier of goods, through warehouses and storage, transfer routes and shipping, to the final delivery. And you have to think of every single detail and possibility. It can be argued that planning is actually the hardest part of all. Once you set things in motion, you just have to follow the flowchart you already made, potentially do some improvising and finally reap the fruit of your work. But in order to get there, there is a lot of min-maxing and lead time adjusting to be done. To sum up, never skip planning - and do it right.

Technology

We are living in an age when everything is getting slowly automated. Instead of getting angry at the ever-growing technology, like some old-school managers do, you should embrace it. Modern technologies have a significant impact on the efficiency of the supply chain, and can only do you good. Integrating a good transport management system app into your system is a move that can only boost your planning and handling. Through automated handling you save time, get more accurate tracking and a better overview of the whole process. So, there is literally nothing to lose.

Team

On a completely different side, it is very important for you to build and maintain good relations. However streamlined, you are still running a team, and teams need connection to be functioning. Interpersonal skills are often overlooked these days, but they can prove to be of great value when there are times of emergency because something in the plan misfired. Invest in your team and get to know them and make sure their roles fit their skills and personalities. On the other hand, make sure to network as well, as your business is also a part of the team of similar businesses and you need to know them and learn as much as possible from their experiences.

Warehouse

Handling logistics in a professional way is impossible without expert managing of your warehouses. While things tend to differ on account of the goods you are working with, having a person who understands and knows the project and its needs is essential here. Thinking about the life of the goods if they are perishable can always be combined with storage optimization. Vertical stacking is much more efficient in bigger warehouses. Sorting and organization are crucial to shipping without delays and mistakes. Make sure your staff knows your warehouse like the back of their palm.

Transport

Handling transportation comes down to simple math. Decrease delivery times and minimize the costs. However, that simple math can get really complicated sometimes, but that’s where both the fun and the profits lie. You’ll always want to think about optimization of packaging and choosing the right freight class for your goods. Plan delivery routes in order to make them short and safe. You will see that saving time saves you money very soon.

Improvisation

Like it or not, at some point things are going to go off the rails. That’s why it’s important to always have a contingency plan, and to be ready to improvise. After mistakes happen, learn from them. Never allow yourself to pass an opportunity to improve after slip-ups. Watch the metrics closely and utilize measurement tools to the max. Your future plans are bound to improve through such practice.

Innovation and adaptation are the key. These are just the key points to consider when you are working on upgrades of your logistics process. Make sure you know your goals, as well as your capabilities and competitors. Only through knowledge comes improvement.