Logistics is an essential arm of the business world. But a lot of businesses aren’t able to fully incorporate their own logistics systems.
That’s where businesses like couriers come into play. But it’s about a lot more than driving. If you’re operating a fleet, you need to make sure that everything from maintenance to customer support is running like a well-oiled machine.
In this article, we’ll look at some of the larger aspects of making sure you’re not driving the business down the drain.
Always keep an eye on the data
When it comes to transport, the devil is always in the details. People want to know where their product will be and when they can expect a complete delivery.
To that end, you should consider making your packages trackable through tools like Track-Trace. Tracking your fleet also has plenty of organisational benefits for you, as well. You get to know what routes they’re taking and how long they tend to take.
Whether it’s taking a driver up to task or helping them organise a different delivery route, there are a lot of ways you can use the data to optimise their journey.
Treat your vehicles like the most important tool in the business
Maintaining and repairing vehicles is a process any car owner should be familiar with. However, when your business depends on it, you need to be a lot more active in it.
Training your drivers to maintain their vehicles and operating on a schedule is a start, instead of waiting for problems to arise and having to deal with it then.
If you have a larger fleet, you also have the economics of car repairs to think about. You’re not going to be getting the most effective deal sourcing parts from your local garage.
Instead, you should go to the people who supply the suppliers. From engine parts to hydraulic hoses and fittings, make sure you’re going to those who can offer the best deals for the business market, not the consumer market.
Thinking of both the external and the internal customers
As part of the logistics system in the wider business world, you have two customers to think about. The external customers are those receiving the goods, usually from a retail, supply or manufacturing business.
Seeing the delivery to their hands safely is essential. But your main focus needs to be on the internal customers. That is, who is directly paying you for your services.
Pleasing them is all about thinking what they want from a delivery service. Offering different options on delivery times is essential, for one. As is caring about their own business image and making sure you’re representing their brand by having a professional business image of your own.
Lots of startups use delivery services before they expand into it themselves. That’s the primary market you should be targeting.
There’s a lot of room for efficient, effective couriers in today’s market. Everyone from home businesses to manufacturing firms need transport they can rely on. Make sure you’re taking every aspect of the business seriously so you can prove to be that reliable partner.
