Logistics and supply chain is a massive subject! Right from inventory management to delivery automation to demand forecasting, there are tons of subjects. And it is almost humanly impossible for one person to keep track of all. In this article, we intend to populate a list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) across subjects in a simple manner to have a cursory overview of the subject. If there\u2019s a question you want to ask, just add them in the comments, and we\u2019ll answer them along with adding it to the list. We\u2019ve also made a glossary of terms which you can <\/span>look up here<\/span><\/a><\/span>.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n Route optimization is the process of calculating the most cost-efficient route to reach a destination. It merges factors like the number of orders, multi-stops, traffic congestion, selection of the nearest drivers, location, etc., improving the speed of delivery and reduction in the carbon footprint.<\/span><\/p>\n Read: The Ultimate Guide to Route Optimization<\/a><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n A delivery automation platform enables enterprises with enhanced functionalities and security that functions across the operations, development, and other teams.<\/span><\/p>\n ePOD stands for electronic proof of delivery. It helps streamline the documentation of your deliveries, eliminating paperwork and capturing digital signatures, and photos that will guarantee delivery (offering proof of delivery).<\/span><\/p>\n Read: Why is ePOD a must for your delivery business?<\/span><\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n ETA stands for estimated time for arrival. ETA is calculated based on a) Time to load orders in a trip and b) Travel time to reach the customer’s location.<\/span><\/p>\n Read: How is ETA for your food delivery calculated?<\/a><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n A real-time visibility platform allows operation managers and customers real-time insights into orders and shipments right from the supplier, warehouse, or store.<\/span><\/p>\n As business operations become more sophisticated, it’s important to effectively manage your transportation of goods and services. Some of the best logistics software include- LogiNext Mile, CAReGO, Fishbowl, Rose Rocket, Logistically TMS, <\/span>and more.<\/span><\/p>\n Yes, SaaS software is better than on-premise as it offers better flexibility, reliability, security, and cost-effective solutions to manage your logistics operations. It helps track and manage your orders and shipments in the most robust way. <\/span><\/p>\n Read: SaaS vs On-Premise Software<\/a><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Auto allocation is the process where your orders (on-demand deliveries) will be automatically allocated to the nearest delivery partner, reducing manual intervention, and leading to improved efficiency of your fleet.<\/span><\/p>\n A delivery run sheet is a backup for proof of delivery. A courier\/ delivery person will carry a receipt of delivery acceptance, wherein the customer has to sign\/ provide name\/ mobile number on receiving the order, which acts as proof of delivery.<\/span><\/p>\n Inventory tracking is a process wherein you can track items from multiple warehouses, stores, and fulfillment centers. This is essential to meet customer demand and restock items in relevant locations.<\/span><\/p>\n Today\u2019s customers need fast shipping for orders, whether you place an order from eCommerce marketplaces, grocery stores, and other retail industries. There has been a rise in last-mile delivery suppliers that help with same-day or next-day deliveries. For such businesses, it’s important to track inventory, as it will help in faster order fulfillment, and efficient stock control (to avoid out-of-stock messaging).<\/span><\/p>\n Inventory tracking should be based on the number of times you count your inventory and the technology used. The two general types of tracking include-<\/span><\/p>\n Barcodes and RFID tags are the best way to automate your inventory tracking. These can be synced to your transportation automation system or your logistics software and keep your operation managers updated on inventory.<\/span><\/p>\n There are a few apps that can help you keep track of your inventory for free, but having a limit of 50-orders a month, which wouldn\u2019t be ideal for most businesses. Choosing an inventory tracking app will help your business with demand forecasting, keeping track of stock, and turnover rate, planning your floor space, labeling your products, and more.<\/span><\/p>\n Each shipment cost depends on the distance that needs to be covered between the sender and recipient. Additionally, the cost of shipping a parcel will depend on factors such as how fast the parcel needs to be delivered (express service), the weight of the parcel, peak order season, and more.<\/span><\/p>\n Automation is the key to helping with order surges. Your business should have an automated system that can help with tracking and auto-allocation of orders. If you face driver shortages, carrier integration will help you meet your order demand.<\/span><\/p>\n Yes, PUDO parcels can be tracked the same way as a normal parcel. A tracking link would be attached and forwarded to your number or email to ensure complete visibility of your parcel.<\/span><\/p>\n PUDO Shipping is the process where order fulfillment or returns can be handled with the customer receiving or dropping off the shipment at a designated location. These locations can be post offices, local stores, supermart, and even smart lockers.<\/span><\/p>\n A shipping carrier is the one that offers their service to deliver goods to customers of another company. The company whose goods are to be delivered is stated as the shipper, while the one that gets the shipment is termed the consignee. Shipper carriers are the ones that deliver goods from shippers to consignees. The transportation of goods can be carried out using trucks, vans, cars, rail, airplanes, and ships.<\/span><\/p>\n A shipper can be defined as the company that holds the good that needs to be shipped. While a carrier is a company that helps with the transportation of goods.<\/span><\/p>\n LTL stands for Less Than Truckload, which keeps the truck load less than its capacity. These freight trailers can carry around 150- 15000 pounds. FTL stands for Full Truckload, wherein the entire trailer\/ freight is filled to carry out the delivery. These trailers usually carry over 15,000 pounds. <\/span><\/p>\n Read: How can tech improve Freight Management?<\/span><\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n When an LTL carrier starts their trip, they have to stop at multiple locations and get the goods loaded and unloaded, leading to fuel idling. Drivers have to spend more time getting the deliveries completed, for which drivers are compensated by the company. The additional costs that the company bears are added to the customer’s shipping expenses, which leads to an increase in freight costs. Whereas, in an FLT carrier, there is a one-stop pickup and drop location, which reduces the delivery time and is a cost-efficient solution.<\/span><\/p>\n If you want deliveries to be made below 150 pounds, then parcel delivery is your best bet. Note: Some parcel deliveries now accept parcels greater than 150 pounds, hence it’s better to compare costs between LTL and parcel carriers, to avoid additional costs for delivery. <\/span><\/p>\n While transporting your goods, the total weight should be above 150 pounds and less than 150000 pounds to be considered. Though the cost of transporting goods via LTL is cost-saving, the total savings can be hampered due to surcharges and service fees (which can also increase costs than using an FTL). The goods being transported cannot be guaranteed to reach ideal conditions since there are multiple pickups and drops, which might lead to minor damage.<\/span><\/p>\n LTL freights involve the transportation of goods that cover truckloads between 150 pounds to 15,000 pounds. FLT freights are when the shipment covers the entire truckload (usually greater than 15,000 pounds). Parcel freight shipping is for shipments less than 150 pounds. The key differentiating parameter between LTL, FLT, and Parcel freights is the trailer space and the weight of the shipment to be delivered.<\/span><\/p>\n Thanks to the digital era, businesses can now optimize their supply chain to offer better value to their customers. The direct-to-consumer model allows-<\/span><\/p>\n On-time delivery is a key metric to measure supply chain efficiency. This helps the business measure whether their carrier is functioning optimally and ensuring maximum customer satisfaction on order delivery. As the competition is fierce in the market, customers’ expectations have to be met, which mainly includes delivery of the right product within the specified time window. On-time delivery will help with higher customer retention and keep customers satisfied.<\/span><\/p>\n Some of the top reasons for delivery exceptions include:<\/span><\/p>\n Wherever an item is purchased online, the two main factor that the customer considers is the cost and delivery time. Once the order delivery date is set, the customer awaits to get their product within the set period. If the delivery cannot be completed within the set period, it\u2019s important to communicate it with the customer, to avoid a bad customer experience. Offering your customers real-time visibility is crucial for delivery exceptions. The use of automation holds the key to handling delivery exceptions.<\/span><\/p>\n Fulfillment is the journey that begins once the customers places their order until it reaches its desired destination. The focus points of the fulfillment process include-<\/span><\/p>\n As customer satisfaction is crucial in eCommerce fulfillment, omnichannel fulfillment has been utilized by multiple industries to attract more customers. Some of the key eCommerce fulfillment services that must be included- <\/span><\/p>\n An eCommerce fulfillment provider should have the capability to meet the retailer’s requirements, right from understanding the business logic to operations. Sometimes, an integration marketplace (selecting multiple businesses) will help meet all your eCommerce needs.<\/span><\/p>\n When your service provider marks your order as in fulfillment, it means the order is being processed (packaging, labeling, airwaybill generation) and making sure it reaches safely and on time at the customer\u2019s location.<\/span><\/p>\n Inbound logistics is the transportation of goods or supplies from a manufacturer, warehouse, or retail store. It involves sourcing raw materials or finished goods to be readied for distribution.<\/span><\/p>\n Outbound logistics is the transportation of goods from a warehouse or distribution center to the next leg of the supply chain. It involves packing of goods and delivery of goods to the customer.<\/span><\/p>\n Got a question? We are here to answer! Comment your questions below.<\/span><\/p>\n Discover insights on logistics, last-mile deliveries, and end-to-end visibility. Explore how LogiNext transforms logistics with its Supply Chain Visibility Software <\/a><\/span>clicking here.<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n\n
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