Amidst the current supply chain issues, brands across the nation seem to be scrambling to find decent shipping costs that will still allow them to meet consumer demand.
Without the help of a connected logistics management company, many merchants are quite literally stranded or forced to pay exorbitant prices to even get their product out of a warehouse.
However, at GFS Logistics, we love to be the light at the end of the tunnel for lost suppliers trying to get products off of the ground.
Here are 5 tips for reducing freight shipping costs that only require minor adjustments to your supply chain.
Understand All of Your Freight Shipping Options
Different freight shipping methods come with vastly different price points. Shipping can be done via air, land, or sea, with the decision of which to use really depending on three factors:
- Your delivery deadline
- Delivery distance
- The size of your shipping budget
The most affordable way to ship is usually via sea freight shipping. However, this is a method that is typically slower than air and inland methods.
If you’re shipping locally, inland shipping through truck or railroad is ideal for timely and affordable door-to-door deliveries.
Finally, if you need to ship long distances and don’t want to worry about dealing with ports or road delays, planning ahead and shipping via air could be the most cost-effective shipping method, especially if your reputation for quick delivery is on the line.
Increase Your Supply Chain Management
Make sure that your supply chain is thoroughly planned out. Use your warehouse management solution (WMS) to perfect your pickup processes, packing speeds, and actual loading.
Once you have your supply chain optimized to the point that you can effectively plan far in advance for your shipping needs, your shipping providers will have more time to prepare for your deliveries.
When shipping companies don’t have to dock and wait for your items to hit their section of the supply chain, they save money, become more efficient, and may offer you better rates for the consideration you’ve provided them.
Keep Packaging Specifications in Mind
Packaging your products is one of the easiest ways to save money in the long run. If your packages are designed with freight storage in mind, you’ll quickly find yourself saving money on both the shipping and storage costs of your business as you maximize the available space on both fronts.
Work With an Experienced Logistics Team
A logistics team that has decades of experience in the field is extremely beneficial to a brand that wants to save money on the shipping aspect of its supply chain.
A team like GFS Logistics will come with established relationships between shipping companies and can offer you multiple routes that meet your delivery and budgetary needs.
Track Your Shipments
Just because your items are no longer in your warehouse’s inventory, doesn’t mean you’re out of the woods when it comes to losing money during shipping. A multitude of problems can occur that hold the process up, result in lost inventory, and leave you having to spend more money on a whim to get your initial shipment to your customers.
Although there’s really no way for you to predict or prevent various delays in the shipping process, tracking your shipments via your logistic team’s WMS allows you to always have a watchful eye on your products. This gives you the chance to spot problems in real-time, and plan ahead for how your company will resolve them in the most budget-friendly way possible.
Ship to Your Customers the Affordable Way, With GFS Logistics
If you need a strong logistics team behind your shipping and general supply chain, GFS Logistics is ready to help you take your customer satisfaction to the next level.
From packaging to warehousing and the final shipping process, our team has the services your brand needs to perfect its supply chain in a currently imperfect industry environment.
Contact us today to learn more about our services and how to become a member of the GFS family.
