Warehousing

The answer lies in understanding what options are available among the many services available and evaluating your needs to determine what is best for your business. Understanding the different options will help you make more informed decisions about which warehouse logistics services providers meet your needs now and in the future.

1. Transportation and Warehousing

A transportation service provider is a person or organization that helps move goods through the supply chain. They can help handle everything from storage to distribution and even raw materials handling, also known as “inbound” logistics. Other services may be available as well, including:

Inventory management: Using technology, this service provider will use software to store information about inventory items such as quantity and availability. This includes the ability to track orders, whether they have been shipped or not, if they are on a truck in transit or sitting in a warehouse, tracking inventory history, and more.

Fleet management: Using technology, this service provider will help you manage your supply chain by managing your shipments and driver schedules. The benefits of using a fleet management service to manage your supply chain include smooth operations, reduced costs; increased productivity; and more.

Packaging and labelling: This service provider uses technology to track which materials are used for a package or product. For example, the package may contain additional items, including an invoice, invoice number, product information, etc. When the shipment arrives at its final destination, it is unpacked, and the contents are checked against what was shipped to ensure accuracy (faulty products can be returned and new orders placed).

Materials handling: Using technology, this service provider will provide you with a combination of physical and electronic controls that include the ability to track the flow of material through your facility. This includes materials handling equipment such as pallet racks and conveyors.

2. Security and IT Services

A security service provider is an organization that ensures your company data will be secure while it is moving through the supply chain. The information needs to be protected from loss or unauthorized use during shipment and while in storage, at customers’ locations, etc. This can vary from simple firewalls to complex ones, including digital certificates for security devices depending on the level of security needed for a particular business application or supply chain process.

As you grow and evolve, your IT needs will also change. An IT service provider is an organization that will help your company stay up-to-date technologically. This service provider can help you with everything from computer systems to software used in the supply chain to help with order tracking, inventory, etc. Other services may include:

Software systems: Using technology, this service provider can provide a system that includes tracking inventory, communicating with customers; communicating with vendors; communicating with the public via social media; and much more.

Computer hardware: Using technology, this service provider will provide you with everything from laptops to desktop computers and even mobile devices, as well as any other hardware needed for your company.

3. Freight Services

A freight service provider is an organization that helps with shipping goods through the supply chain. This person or company may specialize in the shipping industry or provide a service that uses multiple types of transportation, including planes, trains and ships, etc. Other services may be available as well, including:

Shipping: Using technology, this service provider can help with car shipping, boat shipping; air freight; less-than-truckload; trucking; and more. Their services can range from packing and Mahadev Trans Logistic to connecting the pieces and providing further support.

Merchandise handling:Using technology, this service provider can handle everything from receiving to shipping or back-hailing the item. They may provide additional services such as installing doors, shelving or other warehouse equipment for a warehouse setting or specialized equipment for a car shipping facility.

Other logistics services: Using technology, this service provider will help with anything from transporting raw materials to providing storage space in a warehouse setting. Sometimes they will lease space in a facility as well. When considering service agreements with potential service providers, always read the fine print to make sure all options are covered.