In times of need, dock support can make a huge difference in the effectiveness of a third party logistics provider. While you always have the option of hiring more team members, there are advantages of utilizing a labor support provider instead.
Here are just a few:
Aid During the Busy Season
Most holiday shoppers believe the busiest time of the year is over for supply chains. While that used to be true, more shoppers are spreading out their purchases these days, now is the season for intensive reverse logistics. While returns happen year round, they’re never at the scale of the first few weeks of January, and many supply chains aren’t built to support it. So you may need additional help for your supply chain team now more than ever to ensure that your typical supply chain flow isn’t impeded by returning freight.
Faster Turnaround Times
Many hands make for light work, which is why our lumping teams come in sets of three workers with the experience to streamline your loading process. If you’re concerned about making deadlines or clearing freight from the floor, they’re capable of taking on the challenge while working within your system to ensure a balanced load that’s handled safely. While one worker is better than none, three have the capability to build an assembly line that makes freight management simple.
Shrinkage Reduction
A huge amount of returns being made this holiday season will be for missing pieces or minor imperfections. Under many supply chains, this would require logistics back to the warehouse and then either another trip back to the manufacturer or a loss taken as the damaged item is sent to landfill. But rework service providers can simplify the process by providing repackaging services and minor repairs. That way, you can reduce shrinkage in the supply chain as well as improve turnaround times for refurbished products.
Stop Gaps for Labor Shortages
The last couple years have been hard when it comes to keeping a staff trained and happy. Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem like we should expect more stability in the coming years. So, you need a strategy to combat warehouse labor shortages, and working with a labor support provider can keep your third party logistics company in motion during these periods.
Specialized Knowledge Base
If your 3PL is hoping to extend a new service offering to your warehousing clients with which your team has no experience, working with a labor support team can be a great resource to get the ball rolling and train your team on best practices. Having specialized knowledge on site for time-sensitive offerings like crossdocking services can ensure you’re providing the best customer experience right out of the gate.
3PLs need to stay as sharp as a knife’s edge to provide excellent service to their clients while limiting wasteful spending. The flexibility of utilizing labor support systems can provide options in difficult situations without requiring the drain on productivity that hiring and training requires. These are just a few ways labor support can create flexibility in the supply chain. If you’d like to learn more about other ways we can support your team, reach out to ours today.