/ By Stephanie Muraro-Gust / TMS • 3PL/Distribution • Varsity Logistics/ / 0 Comments

5 Ways a TMS Will Help You Weather Market Irregularities

The right transportation management software will help you pivot quickly to keep your logistics program working smoothly

A perfect storm of weather events, regulatory restrictions, and economic unrest can wreak havoc on the transportation market in getting goods to market.

To adjust, here are five ways using a TMS can help in making you adjust early to sudden market conditions.

How TMS keeps your shipments moving

Here are five ways TMS can help you adapt to evolving market conditions.

Capacity

The main advantage of a TMS is that it gives you unlimited access to truckload capacity. This will not only help get your goods out the door, it’ll help you find the optimal balance of price and service to fit your needs.

Flexibility

The most valued TMS providers are flexible, giving you the ability to react quickly to changes in the network. The process of setting up new lanes, shifting volume, or finding capacity in markets can be intense, but TMS software is designed to make these changes as seamless as possible. The same is true if you want to scale space, labor, and transportation according to inventory changes at your warehouse.

Technology

A TMS gives you all-in-one capability for your shipment needs by providing both real-time visibility of shipments in transit and analytics to deliver long-term efficiencies. You’ll suddenly have full control of every aspect of your shipping operation.

Network

The best TMS providers give you access to a vast resource network that can help your supply chain expand quickly and efficiently. Now, due to their relationships, you’ll have new opportunities for volume discounts, lower overhead costs, and timelier service.

Expertise

A good TMS provider knows the marketplace of shippers, from small to large. Which means they can find a solution to any challenge. They have a greater knowledge of compliance programs and access to online scheduling tools of every major retailer. Which means you’ll avoid the costly fines that come with noncompliance. And don’t forget that your software vendor is also on top of market conditions and trends, so you’ll get up-to-date business intelligence on things like general rate increases (GRIs) to help you make the right decisions to mitigate risk.

Discover how Varsity Logistics can help

Varsity Logistics can help you navigate ever-changing transportation market challenges. Visit our Request a Demo page to connect with a Varsity Shipping Specialist to learn more today.

/ By Varsity Shipping Specialists / Varsity Logistics • Retail • Shipping Software • Supply Chain/Logistics • Technology/ / 0 Comments

You Might Want to Take Notes on Amazon’s New Supply Chain Model

We uncover 4 tips for finding supply chain success from retail giant, Amazon.

While Amazon has been around for almost a quarter of a century, the company’s real breakthrough has come in these past few years with the way they’re challenging the logistics industry. The company is the fastest to reach $100 billion in sales revenue. Analysts say that by 2027 the company could reach yearly revenue of $1 trillion.

4 Amazon Tips to Use in Your Supply Chain Strategy

How it achieved those milestones is because of its supply chain management. Using a sophisticated network of warehouses and transportation, data analytics, and multi-tier inventory technology, Amazon was able to establish itself as a reliable clearinghouse for any product or service now imaginable. Through Amazon Prime and its game-changing two-day delivery promise, speed became its brand. In the process, the company disrupted the traditional supply chain model, elements of which other companies can adopt to achieve success. Here’s how to do it.

Give customers a range of delivery options

Amazon Prime offers a wide range of delivery options, from same-day to three to five days. By sharpening its focus on giving customers the delivery they want and then following through on that promise, the company has been able to brand itself as the only reliable choice in the world of e-commerce.

Fulfill orders immediately

Speed means getting orders out and in the hands of your customers by the quickest means possible. It means processing orders instantaneously. Amazon has done away with cut-off times or lining up packages for late afternoon pick-up. Instead it has created a steady routine of processing and pick-ups to ensure no time is wasted at the customer’s expense.

Outsource inventory management and insourcing logistics

Amazon depends on third-party sellers for niche inventory that is not stored in regular Amazon warehouses. However, despite using some third-party products, Amazon still insources its logistics. All products rely on in-house delivery platforms to achieve all of its delivery promises, therefore speeding up a process that could be slowed if it allowed third parties to handle shipping and delivery on their own.

Establish a mix of warehouses

Amazon has established a network of more than 70 fulfillment centers across the U.S. that are staffed with 90,000 employees. Their model has moved these warehouses closer to urban centers, not remote in some cornfield. This means that its inventory is already close by even before orders take place. Secondly, the company categorizes its storage spaces differently. Its prime storage houses books and magazines; its pallet prime storages full case products with high demand. Another stores high demand products. The reverse storage has irregularly shaped and low demand products. Finally, its random storage area has small items.

Incorporate automation

Amazon was one of the first to integrate automated solutions to its warehouses, even acquiring companies to do so. In 2015, three years after it started, the company was using 15,000 robots; today that number is up to 45,000 robots. The Amazon robots pick and pack without human assistance, which increases speeds.

Those are just a few ways Amazon has created a revolution in rethinking the supply chain. With the development of autonomous vehicles, warehouse drones, and other emerging technology, the company is poised for future innovation. Most companies may not have the scope or budget to match what they are doing, but they can incorporate elements to improve their processes. Customers are optimistic about these changes, with the current desire for instant gratification and quick shipping for online orders. Amazon is driving and supplying this new demand!

Advance your supply chain even further with multi-carrier shipping software. Request a demo with a Varsity Shipping Specialist to discover how we can optimize your shipping process with the #1 multi-carrier shipping software for the IBM i (AS/400) platform.

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