As the food industry continues to grow and change, it is important for companies to keep up with the demand. In addition to concerns about inventory, supply lines and competition are also keeping everyone on their toes. This is the year to make real changes in both technology and process efficiency to ensure growth and better opportunities in the future.
Each year, companies take time to look back over the past and see what went well and what went wrong. At the same time, the goal is to make changes that will continue to benefit the growth and bottom line in the upcoming year. Today, companies dealing with Southern California logistics are focusing on two key areas of transformation.
The logistics industry is no stranger to changes in technology. Keeping up with those changes has been the key element in a business’ success over the past decade. However, improvements to technology and taking full advantage of all it has to offer will keep a business on track and ensure that swift communication and problem solving will ensure things are running smoothly, despite setbacks and unforeseen issues with suppliers and supply locations. This is especially important in the case of companies looking to supply food to various businesses across the globe.
At the same time, in addition to technology, companies focusing on Southern California logistics will also need to take a good hard look at their processes and find ways to improve efficiency. Even the smallest changes could be the difference between standing out from the competition or getting lost in the wave logistics companies making products available to other companies.
Transformation in Technology
Digital technology has become an integral part of the supply chain created by logistics companies. Gone are the days of keeping track of inventory, supply demands and company relationships with paper and pen. While most companies have taken some steps towards digital technology, others are lagging behind. Companies that invest in technology this year stand to gain a considerable amount of business. Moving from inventory programs to Internet-based systems will create a huge change that will ripple through the entire company.
At the same time, improving technology also offers another benefit that is often unrealized. These same changes are also decreasing the operating costs associated with the business. With up to the minute numbers for inventory analysis, it is possible to prevent waste. Once again, this is even more important for companies working with perishables like food. Less waste means less cost associated with obtaining, storing and delivering foods to a variety of different businesses.
Digital technology allows a large amount of information to be shared between groups of people. This connection stretches out the reach of a logistics company, making it easier to extend the supply chain and stretch for opportunities that may have seemed inefficient or unreachable in the past. With everyone on the same page, it is easier to move forward. Today, information should be at everyone’s fingertips.
Changes in technology easily coordinate with the second opportunity for transformation within the Southern California logistics industry. Using the information provided by digital technology, it is possible to make the entire system more efficient, improving everything from performance to the bottom line.
Transformation in Process Efficiency
Digital logistics set the stage for a real transformation in process efficiency. When the technology is utilized correctly, there are opportunities to make improvements that will have far reaching effects that will continue to be seen in the upcoming years. The application of new technology could have a dramatic effect on everything from transportation to customer relations and feedback.
When it comes to the transport of food, no company can turn a blind eye to the amount of time it takes to get from one location to another. The goal is always to arrive with fresh foods that can immediately be presented to local businesses. However, with updates in technology, it is possible to improve the efficiency of the transportation. It is possible to look at the cost of each shipment and it’s transportation. Using these facts and figures, a logistics company can put together a plan that offers efficient movement of food while still delivering a quality product on time. In the same instant, it’s easy to look over the numbers and see where the cost of transport is increasing or decreasing, based on delivery changes.
In addition to transportation efficiency, similar technological improvements can make customer relations more efficient. A logistics company can send out automatic updates and foods are in transit. At the same time, these updates can go out to multiple departments within the company to ensure that everyone knows what is going on. There is no need to track down information about certain shipments or orders when everyone stays in the loop of information. Customer satisfaction improves, as they are made constantly aware of what is headed to them. The entire process is improved with minimal staff to keep the lines of communication open.
To ensure that customers are getting the service they expect, customer surveys can also be automatically generated to gain feedback. All information comes to one group and can be analyzed and used to continue to improve the system. The goal is to streamline every process, offering efficiency while still taking care of customers.
Taking care of logistics, especially within the food industry, can be a challenge. But 2016 offers plenty of opportunities for businesses to take advantage of the latest technology and improve their processes and overall efficiency. In addition to improving the bottom line through growth and far-reaching supply lines, they also work to reduce costs.
There is no better time to make these changes to keep up with the ongoing demand from customers for expedited delivery, overall efficiency, and customer satisfaction. It isn’t just about keeping up with the industry as a whole. Instead, it centers on standing out; offering the best possible supplies and doing it better than the competition.