Inefficient processes add up. In this week’s blog post, we’ll be covering key areas in your operation where supply chain technology can save you time. And while the saying goes “time is money”, cutting down on wasted hours brings even more benefits, like increased customer satisfaction, room to implement new initiatives and scale, and even increased employee engagement.
Key Takeaways:
Our internal data shows an order management system can save an order desk team member up to 2 hours of time per day.
Warehouse optimization strategies cut down on unnecessary travel in the warehouse.
Route planning and optimization tech can shorten delivery times by up to 25%.
According to Manufacturing.net, one of the primary areas where time-saving efficiencies are in order processing. According to a 2017 survey by Tungsten Network, companies spend “almost 6,500 man-hours chasing purchase order numbers, processing paper invoices and responding to supplier inquiries.”
Tools like online order management make an immediate difference for both your customers and your staff. When placing orders, customers no longer need to wait in a phone queue, spend time waiting for physical documents, or combing through email threads. These tools also help your operation efficiently scale worldwide: customers can access your order management and tracking tools 24/7.
The average U.S. warehouse wastes 6.9 weeks a year on unnecessary motion throughout the warehouse, “costing the industry $4.3 billion, or 265 million hours of labour annually, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau” (Food Logistics).
Warehouse optimization strategies and motion tracking can help reduce unnecessary travel within warehouses and prompts teams to make strategic adjustments to the warehouse’s layout and product placement, saving time and boosting efficiency.
Delivery, especially the final mile, is increasingly important. B2B and B2C customers alike expect a fast, convenient, and seamless delivery experience.
The right technology can shave a significant amount of time off last-mile deliveries. For example, one mid-sized distributor who used Routeique™ route optimization and delivery management tools was able to shorten their delivery times by 25%.
There are several key benefits to saving time. The first is cutting down on costs, but the other is increased customer satisfaction and employee engagement.
Factors like timely delivery and ease of ordering are key for B2B and B2C customers alike. The “Amazon Effect” has impacted customer expectation, and made easy ordering, seamless fulfilment, and rapid delivery an expectation rather than a bonus.
We created the Routeique™ suite of tools to help businesses of any size compete and thrive in this competitive supply chain landscape, whether it’s staying connected with your best suppliers or offering digital invoicing.
Often, there is a misconception that investing in automation or technology can lead to less full-time work for team members. However, according to Talent and Management HR, automation can actually increase employee satisfaction and enable them to focus on essential work that can help scale the business. This is because the right technology can streamline workflows, reduce bottlenecks, and free up their time for additional tasks that allow them to use their skills in a greater variety of situations. By cutting down on time-consuming and repetitive tasks like taking orders by phone, sending emails, or manually entering data, automation “can free up the time of employees that they can use to focus on more business-critical work” as well as for upskilling.
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