The changing demands of last mile delivery

Not all that long ago, we used to order small stuff online.  If it was a major purchase, which usually translated to physically large, it was made in person, and the delivery handled by the company you purchased it from.  And they had their own delivery infrastructure in place.  Contrast that with today, with Brad Jacobs, XPO chairman and CEO, pointing out in a recent interview that “…just three or four years ago, most people would not buy a major appliance,like a refrigerator, an oven or large pieces of furniture, or other heavy goodsonline, whereas now, these types of online purchases can be viewed ascommonplace.”¹  And that means the demands associated with last mile delivery have changed – drastically.

Now, “…there are more than 4,000 local carriers (couriers) in North America, and very few of them operate nationally or even regionally, which means companies have to work with a patchwork of couriers in every market they serve. And most of these couriers use proprietary software systems to manage their operations — if they use any software at all! And in some cases, service providers subcontractdeliveries to other agents in the market, which adds another layer ofcomplexity.”²  So how do you navigate this maze and manage costs, protect your brand, and get your product into your customer’s hands?  The right fulfillment partner can help you choose the path(s) that best meet your needs – with our complete logistics offerings, including local cartage, domestic, custom brokerage, international and small parcel shipping, Vision goes far beyond basic 3PL fulfillment services.  Contact us to build a solution to your last mile delivery conundrum!

Vision Consumer Products Fulfillment has decades of experience and industry expertise in consumer products fulfillment services.  No matter who your customer is, we treat your customer as our own.  We know what makes a raving fan out of an individual customer, as well as what makes a business partner trust you with their business.  Call or email us to learn how.  We’re certain we’ll be the best fulfillment warehouse partner you have ever had!

http://visioncpf.com

CPFSales@VisionMediamgmt.com

Got E-commerce?

As the staff of Entrepreneur Media Inc. discuss in their new book Start Your Own Business, “If you plan to sell anything online, having an ecommerce plan is as important as your original business plan. Because you’re exploring new territory, making decisions about technology and marketing, and establishing a new set of vendor relationships, a well-thought-out plan will serve you well.”1  But where do you start?

The customer experience is everything in an e-commerce store. Today’s savvy shoppers expect beautiful online stores with lots of images, community reviews and ratings, social media integration, and more – all while delivering an intuitive and easy to navigate experience.  A successful e-commerce system incorporates all of this while integrating with your fulfillment system for timely delivery as well as with your accounting and reporting systems so that you know the status at any given time (or period).  Vision can provide a great first impression for your customers including a hassle-free and modern e-commerce experience that can seamlessly integrate into your company systems.  Contact us to find out how we can support your ecommerce strategy!

Vision Consumer Products Fulfillment has decades of experience and industry expertise in consumer products fulfillment services.  No matter who your customer is, we treat your customer as our own.  We know what makes a raving fan out of an individual customer, as well as what makes a business partner trust you with their business.  Call or email us to learn how.  We’re certain we’ll be the best fulfillment warehouse partner you have ever had!

http://visioncpf.com
CPFSales@VisionMediamgmt.com

How to keep your logistics strategy current

The logistics environment is far from static – weather, strikes and high seasonal volumes can all impact your ability to get your product in your customers’ hands – not to mention changes in technology, best practices, and operational management. How do you keep your logistics strategy current in an ever-changing environment?

The answer is to leverage your fulfillment services partner. They should be dialed in to the latest industry news and ready to employ those options on your behalf. They can provide ideas on transportation, logistics, foreign trade zones, carrier operations, warehouse technologies, customer service, and more. Here at Vision, we embrace change and help our customers to leverage change to maximize return and strategically grow their business.

Vision Consumer Products Fulfillment has decades of experience and industry expertise in consumer products fulfillment services.  No matter who your customer is, we treat your customer as our own. We know what makes a raving fan out of an individual customer, as well as what makes a business partner trust you with their business. Call or email us to learn how. We’re certain we’ll be the best fulfillment warehouse partner you have ever had!

http://visioncpf.com

CPFSales@VisionMediamgmt.com

Los Angeles and Long Beach ports closure status updates

The Los Angeles/Long Beach port closures have come to an end and operations are back in full swing. But given the massive backlog (on 2/23 there were 27 container ships waiting to dock rather than the normal one or two), per Paul Bingham, a trade economist with Hackett Associates, “…it could take around three months for the ports to run at full speed again.”   These two ports handle 43 percent of the goods entering the US, and about 27 percent of exports – so how do you manage your logistics needs during the upcoming months?

March 1 the ports opened a “gray chassis pool” that will help ensure more availability and efficient positioning of the truck-trailer chassis used to haul containers to and from the port 2  - are you ready to take advantage of the pool to help expedite your logistics?  A fulfillment services partner can help you get your products where they need to go by leveraging their contacts, knowledge and experience in logistics to navigate challenges such as the backlog at the ports.  Vision’s extensive experience in logistics tracking and planning services encompasses the full spectrum of options, backed by the relationships to make it happen.  Vision can help you navigate the changing paths to get your product where it needs to be – in your customers’ hands.

Vision Consumer Products Fulfillment has decades of experience and industry expertise in consumer products fulfillment services.  No matter who your customer is, we treat your customer as our own.  We know what makes a raving fan out of an individual customer, as well as what makes a business partner trust you with their business.  Call or email us to learn how.  We’re certain we’ll be the best fulfillment warehouse partner you have ever had!

http://visioncpf.com
CPFSales@VisionMediamgmt.com