A shipping company’s main role is to move items from where they’re made to their final destination. However, there is a lot that happens in between, and much more than meets the eye. Professional and experienced full-service shipping companies wear many hats. These fill the gaps and act as the glue that holds the entire supply chain together. In most cases, third-party logistics (3PL) systems connect the raw material suppliers to the manufacturer or the manufacturers to their retailer customers. In any case, today’s top shipping companies are far more than the trucks that haul goods from Point A to Point B. If your current logistics provider doesn’t offer these shipping company services, you may be missing out.
5 Essential Shipping Company Services
The top companies in the USA provide these essential shipping company services. Does yours?
1. Shipping Services (Obviously)
Shipping falls into four different categories or modes, though intermodal shipments are common (intermodal means using multiple methods of transportation). Full-service shipping companies should be familiar with each of these methods. These include:
- Road: Over-the-road transport is typical within national borders and may contain full or mixed loads.
- Rail: Rail is typically a domestic shipping option, often in bulk quantities. The shipping company can arrange rail transport and local delivery to the destination.
- Ocean Shipments: Usually international shipments, ocean freight is mostly in full containers. Transit may require a week to several weeks depending on the destination and customs clearance delays. Global shipping companies or freight forwarders arrange for door-to-door service including customs clearance, duties, and local delivery.
- Air Shipments: For shipments needing quick transit, the shipping company arranges airfreight from the arrival location to the destination. This ensures faster delivery times.
2. Digital Warehousing
Warehousing today depends on digital management systems that can track incoming inventory, select slotting locations, maintain FIFO control, identify picking locations, and stage products for loading. Each phase depends on e-management systems and electronic logging devices and scanners for real-time recording. Knowing the location of every item ensures that nothing is lost or damaged and products are rotated as needed.
An efficient warehouse management system (WMS) is internet-enabled for easy access. It provides real-time information and supports in-house packaging or kitting based on customer requirements. Additionally, it delivers compliance labeling at the right time.
Full-service shipping companies tailor their in-house functions to the unique needs of their customers. Each additional service is value-added, which the customer will not need to manage in their facility. Plus, computer-managed warehouse logistics generate inventory reports instantly, track returns and backorders, and automate stock rotation.
3. Inbound Processes
Inbound inventories must be handled quickly and accurately. Mistakes in recording recently arrived products create problems throughout the warehouse.
Accurate inbound receipts should reflect the following:
- lot numbers
- manufacturing dates
- expiration dates
- serial numbers
- purchase order tracking
- instructions for “cross-dock” reloading
- backorders
To facilitate the receiving process more, a pre-delivery notification may be sent ahead of the shipment that will reduce the manual entry required upon arrival.
4. Warehouse Fulfillment
Shipping company services also include warehouse fulfillment. Allowing third-party logistics professionals to manage the storage of raw material parts and finished goods at their site rather than at the manufacturers’ or retailers’ location reduces their space requirements substantially. Warehouse professionals manage inventories and maximize available space efficiently. They maintain turnover rates for individual items using forecasts and handle product picking and replenishment as needed. After receiving and storing products in assigned slots, they prepare them for picking and loading onto vehicles for delivery to customer locations.
5. Outbound Processes
Whether orders are placed by the customer or a “push” system is in place in which products are automatically shipped based upon forecasts or prearranged agreements, inventory must be picked and moved to a staging area for loading. Picking strategies vary depending on the company and product type. Many companies have implemented retrieval systems that automatically bring pallets from their assigned slots by a network of conveyors all the way to the staging area.
In other situations, picking is accomplished by more manual methods, often using different strategies for different products in the same warehouse. For example, sometimes products are picked by order. In other instances, picking by batch or zone may be appropriate.
Packing, checking, and loading are next. These must be handled correctly to prevent damage, yet quickly to ensure timeliness. The loading process is monitored by the WMS which reduces the in-house inventory while generating the proper loading and delivery documents.
Delivery is next. Assuming all went well and the product arrives in great shape, the shipping company has further strengthened their reputation.
The Science of Supply Chain Logistics
With the continuous evolution of the science of supply chain logistics, many shipping companies only remained focused on just a few of the elements of the supply chain. In many cases, their customers have suffered from out-of-stock situations, too much inventory, late deliveries, incorrect order fulfillment, and higher landed costs.
BRW’s available shipping company services have evolved into sophisticated logistical solutions for supply chains of all types. Modern shipping industry companies like us handle:
- shipping and transportation while offering advanced warehouse management
- inbound freight coordination
- order fulfillment
- outbound shipping and delivery
Every function of supply chain management is available, and close collaboration is essential.
Ship with BRW and get the most out of your business’s shipping and logistics needs. Contact our team today and learn more about how we can help.
Related Reads
Where’s My Inventory? 7 Benefits of Choosing a Warehouse with a Digital Warehouse Management System
The Key to Successful Inbound and Outbound Processes & Logistics Services