How is the supply chain of expedited shipping companies managed?

Expedited Shipping company – same-day delivery, which is offered by Ecommerce giants like Amazon has indeed increased customer expectations. While the end customer is happy about receiving the product the same day or the next day, small business owners are finding it hard to deal with the competition. 

Did you ever wonder how Amazon provides a same-day or one-day shipping option to its customers? Amazon delivery services are backed up by their ecommerce warehouse, which is located nationwide, and their foolproof effective logistic operations. This is creating complicated situations for small businesses where the customers are expecting the products to get delivered quickly, and for free. 

How is the Supply Chain of Expedited Shipping Company Managed

However, both small and medium-sized companies too can offer expedited shipping to their customers. Before we look into the basics of how expedited shipping companies manage the supply chain, let us understand more about expedited shipping first. 

How different is expedited shipping from standard shipping?

As the name says, expedited shipping ensures faster shipping so that the product reaches the end customer within a day (depending on the location). 

For example, when the product has to be delivered within the same locality or the city, expedited shipping involves shipping the item to the final destination directly. As there are no stops in between, the shipping time is relatively less. 

In another case, a product that needs to be sent to another city, the shipping can be expedited by sending it via air. In such cases, the product travels to the destined city by air and is delivered to the final destination by ground. 

Also, the companies that handle expedited shipping work 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. They do not wait for business hours to get the shipments moving. So, even when you are fast asleep, these companies are moving packages. 

Is expedited shipping really fast? How fast can a package reach the final destination?

This is one of the most common questions asked by business owners who are yet to use expedited shipping to ship their products. It is hard though to give out a specific time frame as the shipping times vary based on several factors. 

Expedited shipping is indeed fast, but how fast your shipment reaches the destination depends on how far the final destination is. For deliveries within the same city, the shipments are delivered the same day. 

However, even the most efficient shipping company can have some limitations regarding space or time and this determines how fast a shipment can reach the end destination. Most of the shipping companies do have the skill, the workforce and the equipment to ship the products anytime during the day or night, and ensure that the product reaches the customer on time (even early in some cases). 

This is one of the many reasons why you need to hire the services of a company that provides high-quality service as promised. Look for a shipping company that has both experience and expertise so that they will be aware of the routes, and how to deal with emergencies and weather changes. 

Expedited shipping also comes in handy when you have a business emergency or when a natural disaster occurs. Even during storms or hurricanes, the business needs to go on, and these are the situations when expedited shipping using air transport or smaller vehicles comes to the rescue. 

Now that we learned a little about what expedited shipping is all about, let us learn about how shipping companies manage the supply chain of the same. The most important thing shipping companies understand is that there are two types of expedited shipments: the time-sensitive ones, and the critical ones. Once the shipper knows the difference and understands why they are categorized that way, they make the right decisions backed with the best shipment strategies. 

Hiring the right team

Having the right people on the team will ensure the proper flow of the supply chain of expedited shipping. Experienced staff can easily assess the shipments and choose the ideal mode of transportation which is quick and economical at the same time. 

Using technology

Logistic companies make use of the right technology for managing shipments effectively. By implementing the best practices, they not only offer quick deliveries across the country but provide ease of use to their clients. With a single dashboard or a control point, the entire process of shipment and delivery can be easily streamlined. 

Real-time tracking

Both the clients and the customers need to know where their shipment is. Having door-to-door visibility of the shipments sent implies that the logistics provider has effectively linked the suppliers, the shippers and the carriers. Having a tracking id for the shipment once it is handed over to the shipping company has become basic now. 

Operational all days

Most of the shipment companies do not work as per the bankers’ hours anymore, and this especially holds true with expedited shipments. As these companies provide expedited shipments, they need to maintain the visibility level, and hence a logistic specialist is always available any time of the day or night. So, any issues that arise are thus taken care of right away. 

Understanding the customers/clients supply chain

Shipping companies need to understand that not every expedited shipment that comes in is critical. This can be differentiated by understanding the supply chain of the customer. Before the shipment is routed to the destination, it is important to know whether it is critical or time-sensitive. 

Using the best

A low cost does not guarantee a quality service. Likewise, if you are planning to provide expedited shipping to your customers, you need to pick the best carriers. Make sure you evaluate the cost and the service quality to choose the best. Do not forget to reevaluate from time to time. 

Conclusion

Expedited can mean a lot for your business, but in general, it means success. Make sure you choose the right shipping partner and deliver beyond boundaries so you can grow your business.