Trade shows: Managing shipping costs and logistics

Trade show costs can blow out of the water if not managed properly. One area where money can be saved is in shipping costs.

The logistics of moving props and decorations for booths can become involved and expensive as well as the possibility of getting damaged in shipping. Cut costs markedly by sourcing them from companies in the city where the trade show is being held. With trade shows normally being held in major cities, you'll find companies who specialize in trade show props and decorations. Compare their quotes and work and choose the best one.

Arrange for products and promotional materials to be shipped directly to that city venue rather than cart them from your office. This may take a bit of logistical co-ordination but can save money. Otherwise compare the cost of sending them through a freight company rather than paying excess baggage.

Smaller businesses may find it beneficial to inquire into the prospect of sharing shipping costs with others businesses in their area that are also attending the trade show.

The amount of money saved on shipping costs will ultimately depend on what is being taken to the trade show but always check on whether it's cheaper to source them from businesses in the host city.


SOURCE:
http://wwww.helium.com/items/290596-trade-shows-managing-shipping-costs-and-logistics

TL Logistics Management Software is Essential to Cutting Shipping Costs

When companies grow large enough, they typically purchase their own shipping fleet and have a logistics department that manages their shipping process from a variety of vantage points. But for small to midsize companies that don't have a shipping fleet or an in-house logistics team, carrying out and managing their shipping process means outsourcing their transportation logistics or trying to choose the right shipping options on their own. In most cases, these companies trust a third party logistics (3PL) provider to provide the best TL shipping solutions for their unique distribution needs. However, to save money and have more control over the shipping process, more and more companies are turning to truckload logistics software-also referred to as TL logistics management software. In addition to allowing small to midsize companies to become their own logistics provider, freight logistics software helps them save money with respect to the following areas of the shipping process: freight management, transportation execution and freight payment and audit.

Freight Management

Freight management amounts to managing each means freight distribution, including but not limited to: small parcel, less than truckload (LTL), full truckload (FTL), rail and sea. While large companies employ logistics professionals or construct internal freight councils, small companies typically either outsource freight management or defer to purchasing personnel or shipping or warehouse managers. By implementing TL logistics management software, companies realize more shipping options than they do from outsourcing to a 3PL provider. Because 3PL providers only use carriers that they can make the most money with, your shipping options with 3PL providers are limited to what makes the best sense for 3PL providers and not necessarily for your company.

Transportation Execution

Traditionally, transportation systems are designed for tendering outbound shipments, meaning that they aren't designed for managing inbound and third party shipments. In addition, parcel carriers have compliance requirements that cause shippers to use a separate system for parcel processing, leading to higher freight costs. Ultimately, shippers have a difficult time keeping their freight from being tendered outside of their original pricing agreements and end up overpaying for freight transportation. To remedy this situation, TL logistics management software allows companies to enforce internal and external compliance throughout the shipping process with regard to the carrier pricing agreement.

Freight Payment and Audit

TL logistics management software allows you to combine your freight payment and pre-audit data, which gives you limitless reporting options concerning your freight spend. With the combined information uploaded to the software application's dashboard to give you almost real time visibility of your freight spend, you can to monitor freight KPI's on a daily basis to further control shipping costs as KPI's change. The freight payment and auditing capabilities of truckload logistics software also allow you to receive more of your freight bills through EDI, which serves to lower your pre-audit costs.


SOURCE:
http://ezinearticles.com/?TL-Logistics-Management-Software-is-Essential-to-Cutting-Shipping-Costs&id=3969677

Value of Logistics Management and Cross Docking for effective business

Be it solutions, support or warehousing every service is provided for all your business requirements just with the click of a button or is one call away. Strategizing and managing the processing and entire functioning of a business is a job to be considered in high spirits. Be it Logistics Management, Supply Chain Management
, Reverse Logistics, Cross Docking, E commerce, Distribution Fulfillment or any other service, seek solutions and get the best of services tailor made for your company. All these services put your business in the right direction and earn you the entire money back for your investment on such services. They are offered keeping in mind your specific needs and are integrated to provide you maximum profits.

When it comes to Logistics Management, it helps in creating a known path for the success of your business and makes you journey towards the same rewarding and full of achievements. Logistic Management organizes your business and let it prosper in the right direction. Logistics Management has become one of the most crucial requirements for any business. Over the years the service has become immensely popular and is the most sought-after service. The solutions for managing your logistics depend on the kind of business you are in and your choice of service providers. Logistic management takes care of your entire inventory and safely sending it to the final destination. Right from in-house requirements to shipping details, everything is taken care of. It simplifies the entire procedure for your betterment. It is designed to streamline your business.


Cross Docking ensures smooth functioning of products with the right flow efficiently. The products are monitored at every cross docking facility that are strategically placed to improve convenience and effectiveness. The overall efficiency, status of the products and timely delivery improve customer satisfaction and allow the company to serve customers in the best possible manner. Cross docking reduces material handling equipment and also reduces the need to store your items. This helps in saving a lot of time and the labor cost is reduced to a large extent. Be it Logistic Management or Cross Docking services; select the service as per your requirement and specific needs.


SOURCE:
http://www.articlealley.com/article_1535698_15.html

Merits Of Logistics Management And Reverse Logistics

Logistics Management performs the task of managing your products right from its manufacturing stage to its final destination. Managing, planning, executing, assembling, delivering and accomplishing all the tasks with utmost perfection involve Logistics Management. The importance of Logistics Management
is felt in this aggressively competitive world. It helps in streamlining the entire procedure and also relieves the customers from the responsibility of being concerned about inventory and products. Due to the changing business scene, Logistic Management has gone through tremendous change. The corporate needs have changed and so is the requirement of various customers
. Keeping in mind the constantly evolving business scenario, Logistics Management is designed by various service providers to reform varied consignments and projects. Right from warehousing to transportation to parcel and other crucial things are taken care of.

Every client is unique and has individual requirements. Logistic Services providers study and research the dynamics of each customer and offer tailor made solutions. Companies big or small, has diverse demands and Logistic Services providers fulfill them in every possible manner. Highly skilled and talented professionals are required to perform the workings and are even trained in doing so. With the help of state-of-the-art facility, various Logistic Services providers offer best of solutions to their clients and customers. Safety, security and efficiency are some of the factors of Logistics Management that play very important role in determining the perfect functioning and execution. Result-oriented services are always the true winners and the customers look forward to associating themselves with such service providers.

In today's world of cut-throat competition, every aspect is taken care of and is given importance. Reverse Logistics is one such service that has gained momentum right from its start. Reverse Logistics includes all the activities that take place after the sale of that particular product, commodity, service or application. It helps in optimizing the after sale activities and in turn improve the overall functioning. There are various service providers who offer Reverse Logistics services to manage the aftermaths of post sales. Every industry requires Reverse Logistics to help the clients and customers get better service

SOURCE:
http://www.articlesbase.com/management-articles/merits-of-logistics-management-and-reverse-logistics-2100629.html

Defining reverse logistics: An integral part of supply chain management

Reverse Logistics is often associated with 'returned goods' or even recycling of products, but the gamut of reverse logistics activities include much more than just returns management or recycling. The Reverse Logistics Executive Council defines Reverse Logistics as 'The process of planning, implementing, and controlling the efficient, cost effective flow of raw materials, in-process inventory, finished goods and related information from the point of consumption to the point of origin for the purpose of recapturing value or proper disposal.'

In order to better understand the process of reverse logistics, let us break down the definition into succinct parts.

The first part of the definition talks about planning, implementing and controlling the process. This implies that the process is an important business function that requires planning and control. It also indicates that a reverse logistics plan has to be implemented by the business. Planning and controlling becomes important when there are resources to be spent and some gains to be expected in return for the investment. Thus, reverse logistics is definitely not an overhead for any business nor a cost center but a business process, a part of the supply chain that requires careful planning and control of activities. Many businesses are now realizing the strategic importance of their reverse logistics function as a key differentiator in competitive markets. A perfect example is that of Canon, which has a well developed toner cartridge return program that not only earns Canon considerable revenue through remanufacturing of cartridges but also earns it substantial goodwill as an ambassador of 'recycling programs'.

Moving on to the second part of the definition which states that it is an efficient, cost effective flow of raw materials, in-process inventory, finished goods and related information from the point of consumption to the point of origin. This part explains the direction of the process, drawing parallels with the definition of a supply chain which is often defined as the flow of goods, information and money from the supplier to the end consumer. As a matter of fact, the definition of supply chain merely talks about the forward flow of goods and information whereas, for the definition to be complete it should include the backward flow, i.e. the reverse logistics as well.


SOURCE:
http://wwww.helium.com/items/1470845-what-is-reverse-logistics