A business can really suffer if logistics managers fail to ensure shipments are delivered within committed time-frames. Not only can there be a loss of sales, but delayed deliveries also diminish a company’s market value and credibility, increasing the chances of losing out to your competitors. To deliver within a committed TAT (Turn-Around Time), a logistics manager must have full visibility and control of the entire supply chain and its processes, including manufacturing, document preparation, shipment on-boarding, shipment packaging and other arrangements.

Delays associated with any of these elements directly impact delivery schedules, making life more challenging for logistics solutions managers. In Australia, air freight companies can play a vital role in overcoming potential issues and ensuring timeframes for delivery are met. Air freight operators can also assist with your planning, such as guidelines for sensitive cargo.

Read on to understand the difficulties logistics managers can have in meeting the required TAT, and how air freight can help you leap the hurdles and meet your delivery deadlines.

1) Last moment delay at any node of the supply chain

Any supply chain is comprised of a series of processes, and delay at any stage can have a direct impact on final delivery TATs. To minimise the risks, logistics managers must have full timeline visibility of all the different elements including manufacturing, packaging, labelling and documentation for freight and customs clearances.

However, there are certain factors such as manpower availability, machinery failure or any unpredicted event which can disrupt the best-laid plans and lead to last-minute delays. It is therefore important to have a Plan B or be nimble enough to implement an on-the-spot solution to ensure timelines are met. The solid relationships and established networks of Australian air freight companies enable them to arrange the appropriate resources very rapidly, helping you to navigate last-minute supply chain glitches effectively.

 

2) Facing a space crunch in peak seasons

Managing peak seasons including Christmas, New Year and other seasonal events is always a tough nut to crack. The combination of limited resources and unlimited volumes create a space crunch regarding sea freight shipping and can add extra days to your delivery timelines.

To ensure you are not caught out, it is wise to prepare for peaks well in advance by booking the required space and streamlining the relevant resources. Still, 100 percent accurate prediction is impossible, so last-minute delays are still possible. Having a good working relationship with airlines and an effective resource network allows Australian air freight companies to get the space for your cargo quickly, making it easier for a logistics manager to meet TATs.

3) Improper documentation and non-compliances can be a downfall

In international shipping, documentation is a crucial part of the whole process. Your documents represent the cargo, and any error or incompleteness in the documentation can lead to cargo detention. Government and airline policies require specific and appropriate documentation. Therefore, logistics managers should be extremely mindful when preparing shipping documents to ensure everything is as it needs to be.

Given the rapidly changing nature of policies, you either have the choice of keeping your team continually updated and completing documents in-house, or partner with an air freight company that can shoulder the burden of bureaucracy for you and save time and energy. The service package provided by Australian air freight companies usually includes preparation of all your documents, in conjunction with managing your shipping to ensure timely delivery.

4) Unreliable door-to-door services

Despite efficient and timely air freight services, it is still possible for logistics managers to miss delivery timelines due to ineffective or inefficient door-to-door delivery services including surface transportation. Despite any degree of uncertainty that may exist around the timing of air freight services and customs clearance, a logistics manager will still need to spend time with their land transport provider. The follow-ups required to ensure everything is proceeding smoothly can be a real time-stealer!

A professional Australian air freight company can take all of that in their stride, with in-house trucking and customs clearance activities. Having regular shipments and onsite resource availability also allows them to provide immediate services, so the moment your cargo reaches the destination, they can get it through customs and on the road to your customer’s doorstep.

These are the four most common difficulties logistics managers face in meeting their required TAT. There may also be other specific challenges that may arise in daily operations, and that is where the guidance of a professional and experienced Australian air freight company can assist greatly.

Partnering with a professional and experienced air freight company provides you with access to professionally managed services and experts who can efficiently manage your air freight consignments. This then assures logistics managers that they can commit to specific timelines for goods reaching their customers, making for more satisfied customers and a much less stressful supply chain management process.

For more than a century, BCR has continued to help small, medium and large businesses achieve an optimum logistics solution with warehousing and transportation, including air freight and sea freight services to and from the major ports including BrisbaneSydneyMelbourne, Adelaide and Fremantle (Perth).

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