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While the arrival of the festive season brings in the holiday cheer and vibe, it turns into a nightmare for the transport and logistics industry. There is an unprecedented surge in online shopping, which makes it tough to live up to buyer’s expectations. Due to an abundance of orders, demand often exceeds supply, logistical delays crop up and delivery timelines go for a toss. Drivers in charge of shipments an deliveries also have to contend with road and weather conditions, which might not be favorable. It is imperative to come up with a practical solution that addresses these challenges and ensures operations run smoothly.
What are the common shipping and delivery problems during the festive season?
When the festive season rolls in, sellers are overwhelmed with orders, but fulfilling and delivering on time is a humongous task, so a systematic approach is must. Here are some of the issues faced by the logistics and transportation industry:
Excess of orders
Too many orders lead to stockouts where an ecommerce seller has no inventory left to fulfill orders. On the other hand, overselling refers to selling more products than are available. This often leads to missed sales opportunities and loss of revenue. Overstocking increases storage costs and the chances of inventory becoming obsolete.
Shipment delays
Adverse weather conditions, slow order processing, challenging road conditions, driver fatigue, etc. can cause shipment delays, so the delivery time frame goes haywire. As a result of which, customer satisfaction plummets, because orders are late. In the absence of a proper real-time tracking system, packages that get lost during transit can’t be traced.
Last-mile bottlenecks
There is a lot of pressure on ecommerce sellers to provide fast deliveries during the festive season. Same-day delivery, next-day delivery and express delivery have become the norm, and if the delivery time is too long, it can increase shopping cart abandonment. At the same time, fast deliveries can lead to higher shipping costs if the ecommerce warehouse and a customer’s location are too far apart.
How can Anstel’s telematics platform make festive season deliveries more efficient?
Centralizing logistics data
A lot of data is generated during last mile deliveries. When this information is stored in a centralized location, businesses can understand their ins and outs better, especially when it comes to managing inventory. They can understand where they are going wrong, which areas can be improved, and how overselling, overstocking, and stockouts can be prevented.
Route optimization
Using the last mile delivery solution, fleet managers can map out routes that are not only quick, but cost effective too, by factoring in time, location, vehicle capacity, weather, traffic conditions, and delivery schedules. Dispatch and planning becomes more efficient, with the software analyzing real-time data, historical route performance etc., to identify efficient routes for each asset. If conditions change, the software adjusts the route and updates the driver in real-time. This can decrease the number of drivers needed in a day to complete deliveries and provide a more streamlined route.
Implementing real-time tracking
If packages get lost or misplaced in transit, it is a major problem for your business. Implement an effective tracking system before the product even leaves the warehouse. Throughout the supply chain, you should be able to quickly and easily track an order right from the time of placement to delivery. It is imperative for packages to arrive on a customer’s doorstep in a timely manner.
Similarly, you should also provide customers with a tracking number, so they can monitor live driver locations and accurate ETAs. They should be given contact details about the driver, so they can get in touch if required. When customers are updated about the location of their package throughout the supply chain and last mile distribution process, it decreases the number of customer service calls inquiring about the status of their order. On the other hand, it builds on customer confidence and trust.
Customer satisfaction is important
As mentioned, customer satisfaction depends majorly on whether a package arrives on time. When orders are delivered exactly when and where specified, they won’t have complaints and are likely to become repeat customers. A flexible fulfillment system that allows customers to alter delivery windows until the day of delivery also increases satisfaction and likelihood of first-time success. Instant notifications are also sent regarding changes in delivery schedule or delays, so they are updated about the situation.
Predictive maintenance to avoid downtime
Predictive maintenance ensures that potential issues are flagged before they cause major problems like breakdowns. Detailed vehicle diagnostics reveal which parts are functioning as they should and what components require fixing or replacing. By scheduling maintenance outside peak periods, fleet managers can minimize downtime and keep operations running efficiently, ensuring that vehicles are ready when demand spikes. The telematics data generated will help schedule maintenance at the most convenient times. It is recommended that vehicle undergo maintenance during slower periods, so that service isn’t disrupted.
Real-time monitoring of vehicles
Using Anstel’s telematics platform, vehicles can be monitored 24×7, to keep tabs on fuel consumption and engine idling. During busy periods, when time is of the essence, optimizing routes and minimizing downtime can significantly improve overall fleet productivity. Telematics systems guide fleet managers in choosing the most efficient routes, ensuring minimal delays. Fleet mangers can check if vehicles are following proper routes without any deviations or unauthorized stops, which could lead to late arrival of shipments. Geo-fences can be created so they stay within the designated areas and zones.
Ensuring driver safety
Since you can monitor vehicle performance in real-time, the telematics platform allows you to watch for reckless driving signs as well. If a driver indulges in aggressive driving behavior such as harsh braking, rapid acceleration, sharp cornering, etc. fleet managers can send alerts so they can self-correct immediately.
Increased workloads during peak seasons can lead to driver fatigue, which poses significant risks. Telematics systems via AI dashcams can help by monitoring driver activity and ensuring compliance with regulations on working hours. Dashcams effectively detect signs of fatigue such as droopy eyes, drowsiness, tiredness, and so on. This reduces the risk of fatigue-related incidents while keeping operations running smoothly. Drivers are required to take regular breaks, especially during long shifts – telematics automates this process, which improves enhances driver safety and reduces risks.
Anstel’s telematics systems platform equips fleet managers with tools to tackle shipping and delivery related hurdles during the holiday season. It generates valuable data that can be used for future planning as well. It offers detailed insight into past trends that allows for more accurate predictions of seasonal peaks. Managers can develop adaptable strategies that keep operations running smoothly to ensure fast and timely deliveries, regardless of fluctuations in demand.
