Common Logistics Mistakes You Should Really Avoid

Your business’ logistics can mean the difference between being a productive successful business or being a company that is constantly trying to catch up to the competition. So, it is really important that you avoid some of the most common logistic mistakes other companies make.

Below are some of the most common logistics mistakes many businesses make. If you can avoid them, you will have a definite advantage over the competition:

1. Not monitoring operational costs

In the logistics business, it is true to say that you will probably need to deal with a number of different hubs and companies throughout the process. These will all be differently priced and those prices can and will change over time. If you are not monitoring these prices and you are not forecasting for the long-term, you could end up spending far more money than you need to, and a lot more than you are prepared for. Make monitoring operational costs a priority and this is something you can avoid.

2. Not making use of automation

If you want your logistics company to run as smoothly as possible, then using automation is a must. Tools like these Robotunits will speed up the process of moving goods from one place to another significantly, which means you will save time and money while also boosting productivity and beating the competition. You know it makes sense.

3. Stocking the wrong number of goods

If you stock too many or too few goods it can cause major problems for your logistics. If you stock too many goods, then you will end up paying over-the-odds in fees. And if you stock too few goods then you could end up missing out on sales due to not having the right things in stock at the right time. The good news is, you can use inventory software to better keep track and plan for the right level of stock you need to run your company optimally.

3. Stocking the wrong number of goods

If you stock too many or too few goods it can cause major problems for your logistics. If you stock too many goods, then you will end up paying over-the-odds in fees. And if you stock too few goods then you could end up missing out on sales due to not having the right things in stock at the right time. The good news is, you can use inventory software to better keep track and plan for the right level of stock you need to run your company optimally.

4. Not using warehouse management systems

Related to the above, one of the biggest mistakes you can possibly make is not using warehouse management systems to run your operations. If you try to do everything manually, it is easier to miss stuff and it is harder to make connections and use formulas to ensure that the operation is run as efficiently as possible.

5. Promising more than you can deliver

It can be tempting to promise the earth to your clients, but if you tell them you can deliver more products than you can actually manage or you estimate an overly optimistic delivery time, you will end up annoying your clients and your business will suffer as a result. 

We all make mistakes, even those of us who have been in business for a long time, but if you are aware of the most common mistakes, you can hopefully avoid them, and when it comes to logistics, the above mistakes are probably the most commonly made. Remember them, avoid them and succeed.