The Overlooked Logistics That Can Make or Break a Small Business Project

For any small business, the pressure to perform successfully every time with any project, is ever-present. A failed project or one that doesn’t quite hit the mark, ends up taking a financial and reputational hit to the business as a result. It’s important that you’re looking at the overlooked logistics that can often make or break a small business. Let’s take a look at what those are.

Inaccurate inventory and data visibility

One of the overlooked details that come with logistics is operating without real-time data on stock levels, or relying on manual and paper-based tracking. What happens is that this leads to s disconnect in systems and sales team will end up selling items that may already be out of stock or overstocking that ties up your valuable cash flow.

To rectify this mistake, it’s beneficial to use cloud-based inventory management software in order to have a centralized hub for tracking stock levels accurately.

Reverse logistics

If you’re failing to plan for how products are returned or disposed of, then this can turn what could be one-time issues into a permanent loss of a customer. That erodes margins on returned items and eats into your profit.

It’s therefore imperative you’re developing a clear and simple returns policy and a process to quickly restock or replace returned goods.

Last-mile delivery bottlenecks

Focusing on getting products to warehouse is one task but if you’re forgetting about the complexities that come from the final leg to the customer, then this can be problematic.

Delays during this process are often blamed on the business, rather than the carrier in question. That’s why it’s useful to have different carrier service options so that you can utilize routes and reduce costs, whilst also improving speed.

If you’re taking care of this process in-house, looking after your company’s fleet is vital. A van or car service prevents breakdowns, keeping your fleet in great condition while preventing bottlenecks because of a lack of delivery vehicles.

Inadequate packaging standards 

Using inappropriate or excessive packaging in the hopes to save time and money, will actually be damaging to the customer’s experience. Damaged goods during transit and higher shipping costs due to wasted space, can negatively impact your brand. That’s why it’s important to optimize your packaging to be as small but as protective as possible. 

Weak supplier relationships

Supplier relationships are paramount to your company’s success and so it’s imperative that you’re keeping them happy and that they’re doing everything they need to do for you as a business. Whether it’s handling the waste management with Gofer Dumpster Rentals to being your right-hand person when it comes to delivery of goods, it’s important to establish regular comms with suppliers to algin on lead times and ensure everything is going according to plan.

Internal team engagement 

Ignoring the roles of internal team members in logistics is a mistake that’s notworth making. Unmotivated or untrained staff are more than likely to make errors in inventory tracking or damage goods. All this leads to supply chain disruptions so invest in training to reduce turnovers and any mistakes being made.

It’s important to keep an eye on your logistics in order to ensure your small business project is forever successful moving forward.

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