Selecting the right logistics service can be an exhausting and difficult decision, as there are so many service providers and all are basically providing the same service. It is therefore, much harder in zeroing in on one service. Since the service is provided in uniform, it is not very clear that on which factors should one judge these logistics service providers.
Selecting the right logistics partner is important because they are your only source of delivering the goods to your customers on time and any little disruption can cause a major adverse effect on the company’s reputation and market standing.
However, there are a few common elements on which one can compare transportation companies and form their judgment about which one they would go for and a avoid any unfortunate supply chain incident.
1. Company Reputation
Since there are many such providers, the first thing you should look into is the reputation of the company. A few things through which one can find out about the company’s character are to ask around from people who may have used their services. Also, check whether they have a reasonable online presence or not and by going through online reviews.
Another thing to be aware of us is that since it’s a saturated service market, many of these companies resort to lower prices to lure in customers. However, one should not fall for these cheap prices and judge the firm on quality instead.
2. Services Provided
All logistic services provide one common service and that’s transportation of goods. However, when selecting a service for your business, you should be sure of few things. It is recommended to note if the company has limited consignees and shipping points and if they have repetitive truckload lanes and cater to very specific clients and routes.
If they are operating on a small scale, then they might not be the best option for you, if you are looking for a large scale distribution channel.
Also, it is better to find out if the company is able to deliver their goods in time by checking with any previous users and also how well and sensitively they handle the loading and unloading of goods as that’s the most important thing and you wouldn’t want your assets to be destroyed while in transit.
3. Customer Service
Since you are paying them good money for their services, it’s also important to find out how much the provider prioritizes their customers. This can be observed from whether they are actively responsive in communications and problem solving or they don’t keep the client in loop about their operations after taking the order.
4. Safety Measures
Lastly, the most important thing to know about your hired service providers is how careful they are with their trucks and transportations. One can find out through public forums if the company has had any history of road accidents or truck overloads.
By following the above tips, it would get easier in locating the right logistics partner matching your needs.
