#freightforwarding #projectlogistics Top ten thoughts for complex logistics and the new world of transportation...

The games have ended but the beautiful game continues...

Top ten considerations for the transportation industry in the spotlight now that challenges and problems are plenty and solutions seem confusing?

The world takes notice of our own beautiful game which is played 24/7/365 days of the year!

Just as the #euros & #copa championships, our game of global supply chains and transportation of the large and small revolves around processes, speed, data, flow, change and excitement; no different than football!

My top ten simple things to watch for when planning the beautiful game of global #logistics?

1. As always, COST. Sure let's talk about cost and margins openly (I do) and work together as partners. Easier to understand the multitude of processes, ideation, innovation needed to move products from Point A to Point B. Once all is understood, communicated and agreed to are a few % points really going to kill a deal based on the relationship, depth of communication, experience and coverage. Are these discussions had, if not why? They need to be in my option. Cost plus; supported, agreed to and trusted.
2. RESPECT. A "dime in dignity rather than a dollar in disgrace" mentality. I explain this to my clients all the time. I'd rather be friends in 20 years with my clients rather than do a dance in the parking lot after winning 1 shipment and then only 1 because the client did a price-check after the award only to learn too much $ was spent.
3. REALITY NOT FANTASY. No one service provider can do everything well and has the global strengths to execute 100% of the time. I once had a job interview with a TOP 5 global company for a sales position. At the end I asked the question of "weaknesses" and the answer was "we don't have any." Well, this wasn't my first rodeo luckily and I didn't fall off the turnip truck and bump my head & believe every word said during the interview with senior management. The reality of the matter is there is always weakness, the trick is to acknowledge it, communicate it and in some cases decline opportunities due to the fact. Can't be everything to everyone is the key & building a trusted partnership the goal.
4. It's a PEOPLE and experience industry not a trainee and school setting. If you want to allow a service provider the opportunity to learn by handling your business that's fine. Determine and vet your service providers; you might be interested to learn who is handling your shipments and what their experience level is. I've quit jobs in the past due to this mentality of allowing junior staff to handle critical business for my clients. Not going to do that to my clients, never have and never will.
5. Complex SELLING of logistics services and products require deep industry knowledge. Service knowledge and geographic market understanding. I always get a kick out of companies hiring sales people with little or no experience and then offering "2 weeks training" and then kicking them out into the market to sell. Do companies realize the reputational damage & risk caused by inexperienced sales reps in the market putting this on the playing field?
6. MANAGEMENT. Similar to sales, do companies have the experience & energy to manage staff, focus on internal and external forces at play and drive success into their organizations? Again, you can't really learn this in a classroom or be slotted into an available management position without the proven skills to succeed.
7. LISTENING not talking is the new superpower. Use your words. Connections required. Too heavy a reliance on email (I am guilty as well). I see a change and we all need to come back to the world of connecting, face 2 face and talking more. Communication is key, are we getting deep enough in using the methods we unfortunately prefer?
8. CAUTION. There are imposters, be careful. I can only say that review of who is handling your commercial products present and future should be on your list of important topics for your freight forwarders.
9. The old adage, "HONESTY is always the best policy." Critically applicable, the only way to develop relationships and communication in complex business. Challenges occur; talk, communicate and find solutions.
10. PROBLEM RESOLUTION. And finally, when things go wrong (surprise surprise they sometimes do) How was it resolved? I once had a problem at 8AM with a client that was a 5 hour drive away. Guess what? Got in the car and was standing in front of them at 2 PM the same day. We worked it out in person, face to face and in the end the customer gained trust, transparency and we gained immense respect in knowing the right thing was gone to resolve the problem right away without delay.

Adding 1 more extra-special one as this is burning a hole in my brain as of late and I am sure this one will cause major industry disruption and job losses....

Added TECHNOLOGY & AI. Over the past 40 years I've seen changes in the ways things are (telex/phone to fax to email to tech) done and certainly the way that AI and tech are being quietly rolled out and have been over the past 5 years. IMHO, tech/ SaaS are canned generic solutions based around cells and fields of programs and of course AI algorithms & generative learning as it evolves. It is what it is. Reduction, simplification and added automation to a people-driven industry in our case. We all love our 1-800 experiences don't we or the great customer service we are receiving everywhere now? Over simplified perhaps but what is the goal of these tech & AI organizations and their value to our industry?

Oddly enough, many fluid factors at play in our complex world; having difficulty in seeing how tech and AI will streamline our processes other than by reducing clicks and using systems which most service providers have/use regardless to process and report no?

Thinking the result of adding more systems and layers will be only more questions but I might be totally wrong?

Perhaps I can develop a product to sell that would solve some of these questions that are produced by the implementation of tech and AI? The future is bright but only perhaps. Deep thoughts as always...

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Mike Weiner is a 40+ year career logistics professional focusing on collaborative solutions for regional and global stakeholders, EPCs and equipment manufacturers.

He is adding personal, fresh and innovative project management perspectives to a complex market through customer focused discussion and review.

Offering ANOTHER CHOICE for capital project logistics management, transportation/customs brokerage & supply chain services globally.

MEDIA NOTICE: Thoughts and expressions in this article are my own and do not necessarily reflect those of my employer.