The eCommerce landscape in Australia continues to experience strong growth, with online shopping firmly established as a key part of consumer behaviour. As businesses head into 2024, it's essential to adapt their logistics strategies, particularly in preparation for the busy end-of-year trading period.
November and December remain the peak months for the logistics industry, driven by Cyber November sales and Christmas shopping. To meet this demand, carriers are ramping up capacity, investing in infrastructure, and expanding their networks. For businesses, having a well-planned logistics strategy is crucial to handle this surge and keep their operations running smoothly.
To ensure your freight moves efficiently through the busy season, consider the following tips:
Automate Address Verification: Invest in an automated address validation tool that checks addresses in real-time, reducing delivery errors and saving your team time in manual entry.
Consider Delivery Timeframes: Offer flexible delivery options to customers. By allowing them to choose between express and standard shipping, you can better manage freight volumes and reduce the need for costly last-minute deliveries.
Review Carrier Performance Regularly: Using a multi-carrier approach? Regularly evaluate the performance of each carrier. Look for patterns in delivery times, service reliability, and cost. Don't hesitate to adjust your carrier selection based on these insights.
Implement Weight and Dimension Accuracy: Ensuring accurate weight and dimension entry for all shipments will help you avoid unnecessary surcharges. Regularly check your internal processes to make sure this data is recorded correctly.
Optimise Packaging: Use the right packaging for your products to avoid dimensional weight charges. Consider custom-sized packaging for high-frequency items to save on shipping costs.
Leverage a Transport Management System (TMS): A TMS that supports multiple carriers allows you to compare rates and transit times, ensuring you can select the most efficient and cost-effective option for each shipment.
Consolidate Shipments Where Possible: Group orders that are shipping to similar locations into a single shipment. This not only reduces costs but also simplifies your logistics process and reduces environmental impact.
Use Freight Auditing Services: Freight auditing can help you identify overcharges, billing discrepancies, and areas for savings. It’s a quick way to ensure you’re not paying more than necessary.
Establish Clear Communication with Customers: Keeping your customers informed about expected delivery times, any potential delays, and order tracking will reduce inquiries and enhance the overall customer experience.
By equipping your team with the right tools and strategies, you can streamline your freight operations, improve customer satisfaction, and maximise savings during this critical period.
To find out how Customised Freight Solutions can streamline your freight operations and provide tailored freight management services, get in touch with us today or learn more about managing your freight by reading our Interstate Transport article.