We’ve all been there. We placed an order for an item. We patiently wait and… it arrives damaged. As warehouse professionals in Detroit, Michigan, the professionals at Lutheran Brothers know there are at least four tips for avoiding shipping mistakes that every carrier should incorporate into its business practices.
As a manufacturer, you need to be aware of each detail that goes into the process of shipping your goods or components. That doesn’t always happen; there are breakdowns in communication or even poor shipping practices that can cost the shipper in terms of reputation and in having to replace items. Those costs can add up.
To get your products from point A to point B, there are a myriad of factors to control. Consider not only how quickly the product gets into the hands of the consumer, but how that can be done carefully, effectively and economically.
Shipping mishaps and logistics mistakes can happen to any manufacturer or entrepreneur, and the good news is that it’s usually easy to identify where the breakdowns happen and take steps to correct them.
The best business practice, though, is to ensure shipping mishaps don’t happen, and here are our four best tips.
4 Tips For Avoiding Shipping Mistakes
- Put the power of choice in the hands of your customers. Some may want to wait and get their product more slowly if it helps ensure it arrives safely. Still others are willing to pay higher prices for higher-quality packaging and shipping. Then there are those consumers who want the product quickly and also safely (that’s true for every customer, we’ve found.) Keep in mind that some customers – more than 20% – want fast, free shipping. Some customers are willing to pay for shipping. That means you need to know what your customers want and try to cater to their needs when it comes to getting your products into their hands.
- Plan ahead for those shipping methods when your product is moved from one carrier to another. Will your products go from a train or plane to a truck or ship? Once it arrives at its destination, which may be one of our heated, secure warehouses, how long will it be stored? Who will be picking it up and delivering it to the consumer? If your products are going to be stored before making their final trip, will you have someone on hand to inspect the product to make sure it arrives unscathed? Put processes in place to track the product from the time it leaves your site until it is delivered.
- Embrace automation for all shipping processes. Automation can help prevent items from being “lost” in transit. Automation gives you a GPS-like view of where your products are at every stage of the shipping process.
- Perform regular and unannounced audits of your shipments. Studies show that packages that aren’t ever checked by the original shipper are more likely to receive less care in handling. You need to embed shipping audits – at all stages in the shipping chain – into your business costs and processes. It is time-consuming and can be costly to audit shipments, but your bottom line will benefit, and your ROI will soar, or at least level off, if you’re ensuring the shippers you’re using are taking proper care of your products.
How well-managed are your shipping practices?
When you’re looking for secure, easy-to-access, quality, experienced storage professionals, contact Lutheran Brothers.
If you are looking for clean, secure and economical warehouse space to lease and operate your business in with your own personnel, look no further than Lutheran Brothers in Detroit, Michigan.
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