Every business is different and has unique requirements, constraints and operating conditions. However, any SME E-commerce enterprise undertaking their own fulfilment will have a storage and picking and packing facility and a distribution network – a warehouse and a fleet of trucks (or a 3PL).

Transportation is a key element in logistics – getting the product into your warehouse and out again to satisfy customer demand in a timely manner and to the correct destination. It can be compared to an ongoing battle against mishaps, a battle that recurs on a daily basis with a vast range of potential disaster just waiting to upset the best laid plans.

Consider this fact: a single strategy change, process tweak, or resource realignment might save a large company 1% of its logistics and supply chain overhead. That could well map to a 10% saving in a smaller company. This principle underlines the simple fact that the objective of a reputable supply chain consultant is to save you money, thereby increasing your profits. Whether it is expressed as increasing efficiency, enhancing productivity, or successfully enabling a new initiative, it really can be boiled down to reducing costs at the end of the day. Any company of any size will benefit from the expertise and wide experience of a consultant.

The King of Egypt 4,000 years ago would have asked “How much grain do we have in storage?” Heads would have rolled if he could not get a reasonably accurate answer (grain lasts about 4 years in good storage).

The Egyptians had a simple WMS based on stock inwards and outwards, transfers and wastage, recorded on clay tablets or on the walls of their granaries. Any type of storage facility simply has to have a warehouse management system, WMS or otherwise it is nothing more than a disorganised asset dump.

The transport system is the pivotal element in a logistics chain and can consume perhaps one third of the total cost of logistics. The transport system has an overarching impact on the overall performance of production procedures right through from manufacturing to distribution. Given its critical role, transport planning is essential and good planning reaps rewards in efficiencies that add to the bottom line.

Good supply chain management results in a competitive edge, increased profitability and productivity through lean and efficient processes. No matter how satisfied you are with your specific network, only a cool appraisal by an independent external expert can reassure you that you are not missing any number of potential enhancements. You could be leaving money on the table unwittingly.

Flaws in warehouse design and layout cost money over the life of the facility. While not every eventuality can be foreseen and prevented, there are some common design mistakes that recur time after time in warehouses all over the world.

To improve your transport planning strategy and supply chain management, you first need to know what you want to achieve from your supply chain, before making and changes or committing any investment for most businesses there are two overarching goals behind transport planning:

Your transport and distribution network plays a vital role in your supply chain. At times of company expansion or reorganisation, many businesses review their transport capacity in light of their operational commitments, vehicle size and customer service requirements. This reassessment cannot happen in isolation, but is usually carried out in conjunction with warehouse improvement and other steps to improve the supply chain.

Transport planning allows you to optimise your delivery routes, take full advantage of the space in your vehicles and gain the most output from each driver-hour.

Your Transport Plan will cover different areas relating to warehouse layout, stock control, storage, fleet management and handling costs. Every business will require a bespoke plan to meet their business goals and service obligations. The details will vary, but behind each successful transport strategy are six guiding principles by which improvements can be measured.