Coming from a different industry (Online recruitment @ www.jobs.ie ) and going into a new sector (Logistics @ www.zendfast.com) was an eye opener. The difference in the two gave me a completely new and fresh look at a whole industry, same day delivery, improved my understanding of business in general and gives me an insight into Dublin same day deliveries which may not of been apparent had I traditionally worked in the logistics industry since the start of my career.
My career started as a graduate account manager in a well know online jobs board in Ireland. Jobs board in Ireland connect businesses and recruitment agencies with potential candidates for a variety of jobs through advertising. Once you have landed a customer to advertise a job, its a simple process were you upload a job on the website and check back in a few times throughout the month. Its fairly automated, painless and requires a minimum amount of administration or the need for anyone in an operational role.
“Change is the law of life and those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future.” —John F. Kennedy
Last Mile, especially Dublin Same Day Delivery is difficult
Compare this to the logistics industry and same day delivery especially. There are multiple stakeholders involved in organising a supply chain for a customer with multiple drops or deliveries which makes things complicated.
Stakeholders involved at a minimum
- Ordering customer
- Delivery driver
- Consignee
- Zendfast
- Zendfast’s customer
What makes same day delivery complicated is that once you multiply these stakeholders, it becomes very challenging to coordinate a same day delivery for a certain time effectively. Example: 5 shops, 7 days, 3 times a day, multiple drivers, multiple customers and consignees all within a low margin and competing price. Coordinating this is difficult. But you know the saying the harder something is the more rewarding.
“The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly; it is dearness only that gives everything its value. I love the man that can smile in trouble, that can gather strength from distress and grow.” ― Thomas Paine
Technology Isn’t Being Utilised
This is were https://www.zendfast.com/solutions/zendfast-same-day-delivery/ comes into play. I firmly believe that technology is the solution to same day delivery obstacles. Im not talking about some of the newspaper headlines you read about drones and autonomous vehicles. Im talking about understanding each customers needs, tailoring processes and backing it up with software/technology that saves time, increases efficiencies and saves money.
“harness technology to confront the biggest challenges that America faces”. – Barack Obama
Other Delivery Businesses Are Partners, Not Competitors
In my last role other job boards were seen as competition. We would rarely partner with other businesses to help us out. In contrast, the logistics industry is all about partnerships and helping each other. I don’t see other courier or logistics businesses as competition, I see them as potential solutions to the many different problems our customers will have. Our job is to connect the dots.
Customer problems could include
- Quick delivery
- Chilled vans
- Hazardous goods transport
- Pharmaceutical Clarence
- Airport Clarence
- Truck, Van or Car
- Next day, same day, on demand
- Secure vehicle
- Fragile Goods
I could go on but I think you get the picture.
“Associate yourself with men of good quality if you esteem your own reputation; for ’tis better to be alone than in bad company.” – George Washington
Data And Communication Is Key
I mention earlier that with so many stakeholders involved in multi drop delivery it gets really difficult. The major solution along with tech is data and communication. API connections from ordering platforms, internal data you can generate yourself, other data that may be available all organised and developed to make sure communication is open and transparent.
This means that its possible for businesses to prepare products for delivery on time, customers understand when the delivery is coming, drivers understand the best route to get there and if something happens we can fix with minimum disruption or with minimum resources. Like a crash on the M50 or consignee is not at home, it happens all the time.