Logistics Strategies for Business: 19 Experts Share Tips on How to Develop a Winning Logistics Strategy

For any company that is in the business of providing a variety of products and services to costumers, it is of crucial importance to the health of that business to implement a logistics strategy that will help keep service levels at their highest at all times, no matter what changes might be happening in other areas of the business organization. This is an even bigger imperative for companies that are more complex in structure, or that may have a very fluid or fluctuating supply chain, or that have specific product lines, specific countries or specific customers to cater to.

But what exactly should logistics professionals focus on to improve their business’ effectiveness? Should you spend more time identifying structural improvements to increase speed of production? Should you focus primarily on minimizing costs? Or should you first spend more of your focus on identifying the best high-level organizational objectives and determine whether your overall logistics strategy contributes to that objective? Which tactic is right for your business and in what circumstances?

To help you evaluate your choices and even come up with some new ideas, we’ve asked 19 logistics strategy experts the following question:

“What’s your top tip for a new business (or even an established organization) looking to create an effective logistics strategy?”

We’ve collected and compiled their expert advice into this comprehensive guide to effective logistics management strategy. We hope it will help you maximize your company’s logistic resources and ultimately take your logistics strategy to the next level.

How to Start a Small Business "Courier Service"

You can practically start a business courier service overnight. Make sure you have reliable transportation as you will need to pick up and deliver packages each day. You can probably start out with a car, van or SUV. You will not have that many clients early on. However, you may need to use a larger truck when your business grows. You can purchase a truck or rent one for a truck rental outlet.

Step 1

Create an office in a separate room of your house. Keep track of the hours you work at home as you may be able to deduct your home office for tax purposes.

Step 2

Create a name for your small business courier service. Apply for a doing business as license through your county or city, according to Business.gov. Use the fictitious name of your business on your DBA application. Apply for a vendor's license simultaneously as you will need to collect sales taxes from customers.

Step 3

Decide whether your want to focus on residential or business customers, or both. Decide what types of packages you will pick up and deliver, such as personal gifts, checks and money orders, perishable good or body organs. Limit the weight of the items you pick up and deliver if you desire.

Step 4

Call competitive delivery or courier services in your area. Obtain their rates for various package sizes, client types and mileage, if applicable. Price your services comparable to these other courier businesses.

Step 5

Create a website for your business courier service, or have a web designer create one for you. Place your website on all business cards, fliers, brochures and advertising materials. Place your website in various search engines, such as Google.com and Yahoo.com.

Step 6

Contact small businesses, office complexes, hospitals and schools to procure commercial clients. Leave a business card and brochure with the owner or business manager. Stress that you can provide more personal attention with your courier service over larger companies. Leave stacks of fliers behind in retail outlets to attract residential customers, and place ads in several coupon magazines. Start scheduling pickups and deliveries when residential and business customers call you.

Step 7

Advertise your courier service in the print and online Yellow Pages.

Step 8

Maintain a log of all pickups and deliveries. Arrive for each pickup on time as customers will be more likely to use your service again.

Step 9

Hire other drivers as your business expands. Create a manage a dispatch center, then hire employees to work the phones. Spend your time focusing on building more corporate business accounts. Sign these corporate business accounts to long-term contracts, offering a discount on single deliveries. Charge $12 for envelope pickups under contract, for example, if you normally charge $15 for single pickups and deliveries.

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