Behind the scene of logistics: how to deliver orders on time and increase profits
Have you ever had to wait all day for an order? Or seen empty shelves at a store? This is an example of poor logistics within a company. AIN.UA has teamed up with a leading Ukrainian company, ANT-Logistics, to delve into what logistics is and how it works.
That is why the main objective of logistic processes' optimization is competition for clients and winning their loyalty. This calls for the use of automated systems.
Each of them performs its designated tasks. However, their joint usage gives produces maximum efficiency
Each of them performs its designated tasks. However, their joint usage gives produces maximum efficiency
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Logistics: a bit of theory
THERE ARE SEVERAL TYPES OF THOSE:
enterprise resource planning (ERP)
warehouse management systems (WMS)
transportation management systems (TMS)
Much like the vascular system that supplies vital elements to all areas of the body, logistics ensures the transfer of goods from the supplier to end consumers. The transfer process is complex and multi-step, and if something goes wrong, the client is unsatisfied, and the business suffers a loss of profit.
An ERP stores the history of goods flow and cash flow and helps to create transportation documents. A WMS allows for optimal storage of arriving goods, timely filling of picking slots, and moving them to the packaging area. Goods that are ready for shipment are distributed between vehicles and sent to customers. This is where difficulties begin.
Many Ukrainian companies still do not have an automated route planning process. Their planning cannot be efficient, as it does not take all delivery factors into account. It is time to implement a TMS that generates optimal delivery routes and controls the work of vehicles.
Many Ukrainian companies still do not have an automated route planning process. Their planning cannot be efficient, as it does not take all delivery factors into account. It is time to implement a TMS that generates optimal delivery routes and controls the work of vehicles.
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Logistics: an insider's look
To find out what key properties a cloud-based TMS service should have, we have turned to Oleksandr Matviychuk, the head of business development at a leading Ukrainian company, ANT-Logistics.
"First of all, it should be understood that each business is unique in itself. And the main requirement to a cloud TMS is its adaptability to a specific established business process.
The quality of its computational algorithms, traffic situation tracking, predictability of the delivery time, and its cost are important. Besides, any cloud-based TMS should be organized in a way allowing a specialist of any level to master its basic functionality.
Data protection and access to high-quality tech support are equally critical for cloud services."
In this article, we will look at examples of how ANT-Logistics can come in useful in various business areas.
"First of all, it should be understood that each business is unique in itself. And the main requirement to a cloud TMS is its adaptability to a specific established business process.
The quality of its computational algorithms, traffic situation tracking, predictability of the delivery time, and its cost are important. Besides, any cloud-based TMS should be organized in a way allowing a specialist of any level to master its basic functionality.
Data protection and access to high-quality tech support are equally critical for cloud services."
In this article, we will look at examples of how ANT-Logistics can come in useful in various business areas.
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Logistics: Why opt for cloud solutions?
Previously, it was quite difficult to implement such systems at an enterprise: buying and maintaining desktop products required significant investments.
Nowadays, there have been substantial advances in the development of cloud services. You can easily connect to them and get all the advantages of modern IT engineering without extra costs.
Moreover, cloud resources allow you to quickly set up remote working, which is very relevant to the current business environment.
Nowadays, there have been substantial advances in the development of cloud services. You can easily connect to them and get all the advantages of modern IT engineering without extra costs.
Moreover, cloud resources allow you to quickly set up remote working, which is very relevant to the current business environment.
The above challenges make it impossible to plan efficient routes manually, with traffic jams and operating hours work factored in, and with the least number of vehicles employed. As a result, drivers come to delivery points late and fall short of their delivery targets. Retail chains, for their part, charge penalties to their vendors and change distributors.
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Logistics: Distribution
MODERN DISTRIBUTION CHALLENGES:
a decrease in the volume of orders along with an increase in their frequency
a big network of warehouses and retail outlets
the need for the combined use of owned and rented vehicles of various loading capacities and costs
AUTOMATIC PLANNING NOT ONLY TAKES ALL THESE FACTORS INTO ACCOUNT, BUT IT ALSO PROVIDES YOU WITH THE FOLLOWING TOOLS FOR MULTI-STEP CONTROL OVER THE WORK OF DRIVERS:
the GPS helps track drivers' movement along the route and capture their arrival to check-in points
a driver can be assigned tasks with performance control
the analytical module allows you to receive any necessary reports across all branches, with detailed data analysis available, down to each individual route
The organization of business itself also has its special aspects. Unlike distribution, e-commerce involves the daily geocoding of new delivery points. Moreover, even returning customers can change their telephone number, address, delivery time, or other parameters.
Only an automated calculation allows for combining the pickup of goods from warehouses and the delivery of orders to customers, with the consideration for narrow time intervals, road traffic, and the dynamic updating of the list of orders throughout the day.
Using a TMS in conjunction with mailing services and other software products is critical to building trust with your customers.
Only an automated calculation allows for combining the pickup of goods from warehouses and the delivery of orders to customers, with the consideration for narrow time intervals, road traffic, and the dynamic updating of the list of orders throughout the day.
Using a TMS in conjunction with mailing services and other software products is critical to building trust with your customers.
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Logistics: Online stores
The main success criterion for an online store is its customer-oriented approach. If clients can choose a convenient delivery time and keep track of their orders, this will definitely make them pick your store for their next purchases.
To solve the above problems, cloud services have developed special modules. For example, ANT-Logistics provides clients with its own mobile app, which ensures a comprehensive approach to workflow management and sales agents' control.
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Logistics: Sales agents
IT HAS THE FOLLOWING SET OF AVAILABLE FUNCTIONS:
arranging a visiting schedule for the designated period
tracking the movement of an agent through retail outlets
working at a retail outlet: taking orders and payments, clearing balances
A supervisor or sales director's greatest pain is having to oversee the work of sales agents. Neglecting regular visits to retail outlets, taking orders over the phone, failing to inform customers about new offerings can lead to a decrease in the number of orders, even down to discontinuing the сooperation.
taking a photo of goods display
demonstrating the product range catalog with prices and other characteristics of the goods
The supervisor can see the results of an agent's work in the analytics module.
«ut the main advantage of ANT-Logistics, not offered by other systems, is generating the routes for sales agents.
«ut the main advantage of ANT-Logistics, not offered by other systems, is generating the routes for sales agents.
"In fact, this is very simple. If you have ever encountered the problems discussed, or if your answer to at least one of the questions below is 'yes,' then, definitely, you should immediately start looking for your cloud-based TMS; and having seen the results of the audit of your routes, which our experts will provide for free, you can make a confident choice," says Oleksandr Matviychuk, ANT-Logistics' Business Development Director.
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How do I know if my company needs a cloud-based TMS?
Do your clients complain about delivery delays?
Do your drivers complain about constant overwork?
Do you have to dispatch half-empty vehicles?
So, when should you consider logistics automation?
Do you lack control over outlet visits?
Is there no way to plan delivery costs?
Do your logisticians have not enough time to do all the work?
Do you have no big picture (analytics) of how the transportation service works?
ПАРТНЕР
ВЕРСТКА
Светлана Волчкович
ПРОДЮСЕР
Яна Проценко
СЕЙЛЗ МЕНЕДЖЕР
Наталия Олиферович
ИЛЛЮСТРАЦИИ
Михаил Бабий
Александр Матвийчук
ПРЕДСТАВИТЕЛЬ ANT-LOGISTICS
ТЕКСТ
Ольга Мартинчук
Материал подготовлен при поддержке рекламодателя
Transport Management System
Enterprise Resource Planning
Warehouse Management System
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