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Managing a fleet of vehicles can be stressful. You have products coming in, shipments going out and customers to please along the way. If you are not careful then the whole thing can quickly become overwhelming. You may even find that your customer service suffers as a result, and this is the last thing that you need.
Make a Solid Plan
Effective logistics management is all about the planning. The less decisions you can make on impulse, the better. Even the best of plans can never account for everything, but if you have a good logistics manager then they can make sure that you plan in advance for just about anything. This will at least eliminate any delays in your supply chain, which is one of the main things that you should be focusing on.
Interpersonal Skills
When it comes to your logistics, your manager should be the beating heart of your infrastructure. It is crucial that you have someone who has fantastic interpersonal skills. They may be responsible for rearranging things within your business and they may even make life awkward for your suppliers at times. Of course, sometimes things like this have to be done but great people skills can make the whole thing much easier. If you have a logistics manager who has poor communication skills, then this can lead to unnecessary delays and you may even find that people get frustrated with your company as a result. If your manager has a solid network of contacts then this is also great because they will be equipped enough to get your business out of any sticky situation.
Automate
Automation is crucial. We live in a predominantly digital age and the more you can automate your process, the better. This includes tracking each vehicle you have and even monitoring how long they are taking to reach their destination. You can then use the raw data to try and find areas to improve. This will help your business to be more efficient and it will also help you to deal with troublesome employees without basing your opinion on hearsay alone. Data like this is invaluable to your fleet operation as well. If you are having a hard time finding a software that can work for you then Lytx is a great option.
Learn from your Mistakes
You’re only human, and sometimes you will make mistakes. Poor logistics management can cost your company thousands every single year. The most important thing that you need to do here is optimise your supply chain. It also helps to sit down with your team from time to time so that they can help you to know of any areas that need improvement. This is one of the best ways for you to make sure that everyone is happy, and that you aren’t making the whole process more awkward than it needs to be. As if that wasn’t enough, it will also help you to deal with any issues before they even arise, saving you more time in the future.
This is a collaborative post.