Partnerships are often resisted by small business. Often times, having full control of all aspects of their business was the motivation of the owner for setting up the company. Because of the small scale, it can be seen as an added luxury that is not only unnecessary, but the extra cost could be potentially harmful. However, a small business with few employees can quickly become overworked. This leads to stress in the workplace, slowing down your workflow and lowering the quality of your output. Any partnerships that can help to reduce the chances of this will be of a major benefit the small business. Here’s how a logistics partner could aid your company.
Added Flexibility
Perhaps the biggest advantage to finding a good logistics provider is the added flexibility it offers. Many service providers can offer warehouse space designed to fit all sizes of business. Not only does this mean that there are no fixed prices, it means that if your business usually sees a dramatic increase in sales during certain months you’ll be able to upgrade your real estate as you need it. This can be used to accommodate both short-term and long-term business requirements, making it much easier for small businesses to plan ahead without the need to worry about restrictive contracts or paying for excess storage.
More Convenient
As online shopping continues to grow, it becomes an inordinate challenge for distributors to keep on top of their stock. An all-in-one logistics specialist have the tools available to them to pick up goods from the manufacturer, perform designated quality checks, and then deliver the items to the customer’s home. This kind of solution was previously only available to large, established businesses. However, now even startup companies who want to fast-track themselves through their industry are able to take advantage of these services.
When you have just a single delivery provider who’s capable of providing pick-up, quality checks, and delivery, it ensures a consistent services. Being involved with numerous business partners can often lead to delays in certain processes and communication breaks down. You should, instead, hire a logistics provider capable of offering all these services, in addition to a storage solution, to reduce the added costs and time third-parties can take up. A good logistics providers should also have access to a national network, allowing you to access numerous local collections rather than one main depot. Being able to feed directly into a national delivery network means businesses are able to reduce their transport costs, improving your profit margins.
With small businesses often finding it harder to access finance, cost is a big driver in any decision. Look for a logistics provider who is willing to work for you and is capable of providing flexible, convenience, and added services that you need.
