The transportation and logistics industry is notoriously unpredictable. Understanding and preparing for current challenges in transportation and logistics is crucial for businesses to thrive in this dynamic environment.
Trends Shaping Transportation and Logistics in 2023
Simultaneously, the industry is witnessing a shift towards customer-centricity. Supply chain managers are no longer focusing exclusively on cost containment; around 62% are investing in capturing and analyzing customer satisfaction data.
Technologies like hyper-automation and embedded analytics are being utilized to meet customer needs. Resources are increasingly being directed toward final mile solutions to improve the critical delivery experience.
Hear more about trends affecting Final Mile during this webinar with our thought leaders, MercuryGate Co-Founder Steve Bough and Final Mile Solutions Architect Travis Schmidt.
Looming Challenges for Transportation and Logistics in 2023
As we enter the latter half of 2023, logistics and transportation remain uncertain and complex. Addressing the array of challenges in transportation and logistics is essential for companies that want to drive efficiency and meet evolving demands.
Growing Delivery Failures
Delivery failures pose significant financial burdens, particularly in the last mile. This increases tension between 3PLs and shippers. Smart automation that can identify and verify the reasons behind failed deliveries mitigates these issues and reduces costs.Middle and Last Mile Costs
The middle and last mile sectors are plagued by inefficient route planning, limited real-time visibility, and rising delivery failures. These problems all contribute to escalating costs. Artificial Intelligence-powered routing engines, surges handling custom routing constraints, and providing real-time tracking, facilitate last mile cost reduction and streamline operations.Disconnected Data
While data availability is surging, supply chain operations are hindered by a lack of consolidated, actionable information. Data is often isolated within various systems such as ERP, WPS, OMS, and TMS. Integrating data sources is imperative for making informed decisions that enhance efficiency in demand forecasting, procurement, transportation planning, and fulfillment strategy.Customer Demands
Customers’ expectations are soaring, whether they are end-consumers or 3PL shipper clients. End consumers anticipate omnichannel delivery options, expanded e-commerce, and personalized customer experience. Meanwhile, shippers require advanced ways to connect with clients, like social media, online forums, and interactive chats enabled by robotic process automation.
Route Optimization
Shippers relying on static routing face mounting challenges because freight movement demands strategic resource allocation. Static routing fails to consider human error and real-time conditions, leading to miscommunication and disjointed technology systems. Transitioning to dynamic routing optimization processes can overcome these hurdles, facilitating better communication and visibility.
Digital Transformation
As logistics technology advances rapidly, shippers find it difficult to adapt due to market oversaturation and the single-issue focus of many technology solutions. Shippers must be discerning in selecting technologies that integrate within their existing framework and provide long-term value, rather than creating different data silos or requiring extensive integrations.
Strategies for Overcoming Challenges in Transportation and Logistics in 2023
Adaptive strategies help you mitigate challenges in transportation and supply chain management.
Here, we explore key approaches for managing costs, enhancing service differentiation, and implementing technology to secure robust operations.
- Manage Costs: As inflation and commodity costs remain elevated, shippers increasingly engage in competitive bidding to drive down costs. Shippers are also considering alternative transportation modes that exert minimal impact on business performance to reduce costs.
- Differentiate Services: Precise and frequent performance measurement is a focal point for shippers willing to pay a premium for exceptional service. Emphasis on carriers’ and LSPs’ digital capabilities is essential to cater to customer demands for greater shipment visibility and control.
- Increase Agility and Diversity: To cushion the blow of disruptions and adapt to shifting conditions, transportation organizations cultivate agility and diversify transportation modes. A versatile multimodal approach enables a more resilient, cost-effective response to market changes.
- Expand Capacity: Addressing the logistics industry’s labor shortage through retention strategies and smart hiring during peak seasons is crucial. Digital freight matching further reinforces capacity efforts by connecting shippers with the best drivers in an extensive network.
- Evaluate Technology: Organizations must critically evaluate their tech stack’s agility and effectiveness in responding to past challenges. If found lacking, consider alternative TMS solutions that bolster more resilient and reliable operational processes.
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Optimizing Transportation and Logistics with MercuryGate TMS
With cutting-edge technology and deep industry expertise, MercuryGate TMS provides end-to-end solutions that facilitate cost optimization, service excellence, and operational agility. Whether managing complex multimodal shipments or leveraging actionable data for strategic decision-making, we stand as a steadfast ally for conquering challenges in uncertain markets.
See how we solve challenges in transportation and logistics with a test drive of our technology tools. Watch an on-demand demo or schedule a custom demonstration of capabilities specific to your business needs.
Click the link below for the Logistics Landscape of developing trends in transportation and logistics.
