As society naturally evolves, so do all kinds of services. Services that are profitable to invest in. Logistics is no exception, where customer demands are also increasing with high competition, both in the B2B market and especially in the B2C market. Sometimes it can be hard to decide shares of which company to choose for your investment — some of the local delivery services or international ones such as Instacart IPO shares.
Nowadays, customers demand more delivery options, possible redirection of packages, and processing of returns, even from abroad. All parcels should then be easily traceable using technology. All of this must be handled flawlessly by the logistics providers, and all shipments must be delivered on time and in the right quantity.
Speed
One of the main trends is the constant increase in delivery speed. Particularly in e-commerce, customers are already used to next-day delivery, ideally on the same day if it’s in a major city. This trend is evident in both the B2B and B2C markets. It is already standard practice for customers to be informed of the exact delivery time. So they do not have to wait for a long time at a given location without being sure that they will be there.
Shipment tracking
Every major logistics company already offers online tracking of shipments by number. The customer can then check from his computer or phone where the shipment is, that it is not lost, and, if so, where the problem or delay occurred. This is also advantageous for the trader using the logistics service because he can check that all shipments have arrived safely.
New technologies
Although it may seem like science fiction, autonomous vehicles are an increasingly hot topic. For cars, it is still more of a future concept, but in the trucking industry, i.e., the B2B sector, it is already a reality.
For example, autonomous driverless trucks are already running in Germany between Munich and Nuremberg, not yet alone, but as part of a convoy of trucks that have a driver, and their advantage is mainly in fuel economy and high safety.
Another modern technology is:
- drones, which could be used to transport goods in the future. For now, however, they are “only” used in logistics for warehouse inventories.
- robotics is finding a wide range of applications in logistics. It can be used in the loading and unloading of goods or the packaging of goods, or even in the delivery itself.
In-house delivery services
Large companies are increasingly considering setting up their own courier services, and some of them have already done so. The advantages for them are absolute control over the goods being transported, the ability to offer their end customers additional premium services, and, ideally, a profit. The disadvantage is the demanding nature of the organization, these services operate mostly only in large cities, and it is still necessary to hire outside courier services to deliver to more remote parts of our country.
Sharing economy
The sharing economy trend has also affected logistics. Especially popular are shared warehouses, where competing companies can work together, share employees, and also deliver to their stores together. Provided the conditions are right, this can be a very efficient way of working together.
Regular transportation of cargo and goods
Why is it worth investing in? What attracts consumers? The transport network today offers a relatively diverse choice. If you need to deliver parcels to customers at regular intervals, or perhaps transfer documents or goods between branches, you can choose one of several proven carriers. Or regularly enter data into forms, weigh and measure according to tables, or regularly stand in line at the post office cash desk. Or you can arrange a regular delivery with the possibility of flexible volume changes. And it is convenient to pick up the goods directly from you.
Offer more than your competitors
Gainy will pick a company that values its customers and is able not only to present its goods or own creations well but also to deliver them reliably. This will save your investment. As your reliability grows, so will the number of orders.
- Cultivate trust in your customers and let them experience the perfect journey from selection to delivery right to their door.
- Online trading is becoming increasingly popular, not only because of its simplicity and speed. With an e-shop, you can offer your products far beyond the region.
You do not need to risk large investments by creating a separate branch or entrusting the sale of your products to another party. You retain complete independence and decide for yourself who and how to offer your products. Furthermore, you do not need to worry about the final delivery.
Make your job easier
However, regular shipping is not only about business to end customers. Maybe your business is split into several branches, and you’re looking for a way to connect efficiently. While we’re still trying to use digital communication as much as possible, there’s still a certain amount of paperwork that can’t be avoided. Equally, you could use some practical help with getting production samples between the manufacturing and sales showrooms. You can look for ways to pass pieces of merchandise between separate stores.
The nature of the package doesn’t matter, you have to rely on it getting to the right place on time. So, your investments will increase due to the market.
