New Year Resolution: Start Collecting More Data in 2021

Author PhotoBlueGrace Logistics - January 13, 2021

Most of us are happy to have put 2020 behind us. A new year means a new start and for most people, that means setting goals of making it out to the gym, cutting back on the indulgences and maybe paying a little more attention to the checkbook. With everything the past year has thrown at us, a fresh start sounds like just the thing the doctor ordered.

 

If 2020 has taught businesses anything, it’s that our supply chains are not nearly as secure as we might have once thought.

However, resolutions need not only apply to individuals. A new calendar year is a perfect time to set some goals for your organization and start planning new business strategies. If 2020 has taught businesses anything, it’s that our supply chains are not nearly as secure as we might have once thought. COVID-19 has exposed quite a few vulnerabilities in both the procurement and distribution process of goods and materials and the overall transportation process. As many organizations have scrambled to find alternative suppliers and quick solutions to the myriad of problems that cropped up from the pandemic, now is the time to reflect on what we’ve learned and begin to implement a more robust system to be better prepared for when such disruptions happen again in the future.

So what should the number one resolution be for every organization that is responsible for managing a supply chain? As you might have guessed from the title, it’s time to start collecting more data.

 

The Big Benefits of Big Data

Over the past two decades, information technology has grown by leaps and bounds, which, considering how outdated most practices are in the freight industry, it’s a welcome change.

For starters, the process of digitalization means that companies are moving away from paper logs and forms, countless emails and phone calls, and are automating their processes. Not only does this result in fewer human errors (a missing form here and a mis-click there), but it expedites the entire process of booking and shipping freight, allowing organizations to operate more smoothly and efficiently.

However, the benefits of this process don’t stop there. Digitalization also creates the opportunity to collect data that would otherwise fall into the unknown. That data is what creates the necessary visibility into your supply chain and day-to-day operations to truly understand what’s happening behind the scenes.

In the past, companies have simply operated blindly. A carrier was booked, the cargo was moved, it arrived where it needed to go, maybe late, maybe on-time. Job done. However, in today’s marketplace, that’s not enough as the “Amazon Effect” has pushed customer expectations to new heights. Consumers aren’t content to order their package and wait. They want real-time updates as to where their goods are; they want ultra-fast delivery times; they want it for free (or as close to free as possible), and they want it now.

 

Simply put, good data drives better service.

In the B2B world, shipments must be on time, in full, or shippers run the risk of getting hit with fines, penalties, and chargebacks. Not to mention the risk of losing preferred supplier status, which is a major hit when dealing with big retailers like Wal-Mart. With competition tighter than ever for just about any industry, providing that insight isn’t just a nicety, it’s a necessity. Simply put, good data drives better service.

 

How Do I Collect More Data?

This is one of the most important questions every company needs to be asking themselves. The supply chain is capable of generating vast amounts of data, in some cases, too much. There are a few problems with this. First problem is that the data either gets overlooked, or siloed away where it doesn’t serve any other purpose than consuming bandwidth. Companies that ignore their data miss out on some significant opportunities to improve their operations and reduce their overall operating costs.

 

Without a focal point and clear goal, too much data is just as bad as not enough data.

The second issue is that even if companies begin collecting the data, they end up getting lost. This is known as “analysis paralysis” a state in which so much data comes flooding in and there is no conceivable means of separating what’s good from what’s not. Without a focal point and clear goal, too much data is just as bad as not enough data.

This brings us to the third point, oftentimes there is no clear goal or direction to go with the data. Data analytics is a powerful tool that can push shippers to new levels of operational efficiency if they know which direction to go with it.

To that end, many shippers decide to bring in help from outside their organization either by working with a third party logistics provider or by incorporating a transportation management system (TMS).

A TMS is key in helping you mine valuable data from your supply chain, which increases your operational visibility and offers insights into areas where your company can improve. But it also goes beyond that. A TMS can also reduce your operational costs, which, given what we’ve seen from 2020, will be an essential survival strategy for every company going forward into the new year.

The good news is, implementing a TMS into your organization doesn’t have to be a costly or disruptive endeavor, and the benefits that can be realized from both the supply chain optimization and the cost reduction are significant. Moreover, the data collected from utilizing a transportation management system can create an insight into your organization that you might not have had otherwise. That insight is both powerful and necessary should you decide to take your resolution a step further and perform an internal audit of your operations.

The New Year is just around the corner, so it’s time to start making your resolutions and more importantly, planning to make them a reality. Request your FREE Supply Chain Analysis today!

 

 

 

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