Expedite shipping isn’t just for emergencies
Some think of expedite as the “911” of shipping services. While there certainly are use cases for it as a rescue solution, making it part of your overall transportation strategy beyond emergency freight has definite benefits. High-quality service and guaranteed delivery have become the standard across many industries, making it a “normal” part of the supply chain.
In some cases, integrating expedite into your transportation plan can improve the overall health of your supply chain by reducing inventory costs, helping manage inventory delays and satisfying customer expectations — resulting in better business outcomes that bolster your bottom line. But how do you determine if it’s right for your business, and how do you choose the best partner for your expedite loads? Let’s take a look.
Read more about reasons shippers choose expedite solutions
Can you afford NOT to use expedite?
While expedite services are generally accompanied by a premium price, when it’s well-managed, the trade-offs can be transformational. In some cases, the cost of failure far outweighs the cost of fast, coordinated delivery. As you’re thinking about the trade-offs, some questions to consider are:
- Do you have shipments that require tight coordination and exceptional care, where failure isn’t an option?
- Is the cost of missing a deadline higher than the cost of guaranteed service?
- Does your customer charge fees for missed appointment times, and are those fees adding up?
- Are your warehousing and inventory management costs rising?
- Would improved customer satisfaction benefit your business?
If the answer to any of these questions is “yes,” paying a bit more upfront for expedite services may be to your advantage.
Industries that commonly use expedite as part of their supply chain
Companies across industries have found that expedite is a valuable tool for optimizing supply chain efficiency. Some of those include:
- Automotive
- Aerospace
- Energy & Utilities
- Medical & Pharmaceutical
- Seasonal
- Retail
- eCommerce
- Manufacturing
- Entertainment
Ways companies use expedite to optimize supply chain efficiency
Expedite as part of your supply chain can help set your business apart and gain a competitive market advantage. Here are some common ways it’s used across industries:
1. Meeting seasonal and unexpected demand
Using expedite as a shipping strategy to manage seasonal demand and unexpected spikes in sales can help ensure your inventory levels remain optimized and products are available and ready to be shipped on time — so you can meet your customers’ expectations.
2. Coordinating events, special projects and product releases
When meeting a specific project timeline is imperative, and failure isn’t an option, having expedite as part of your transportation strategy is critical. Real-time tracking and shipment monitoring, transparent communication, and 24/7/365 support help you deliver on your promises.
3. Managing supply chain disruptions
In the event of a supply chain disruption, such as a production delay or transportation issue, expedite can mitigate the impact on your overall supply chain — ensuring critical products or components are delivered on time.
4. Optimizing Inventory Management
Using expedite, you can move product through the supply chain quickly, reducing the inventory in storage. This can help lower inventory holding costs and free up valuable warehouse space.
5. Improving order fulfillment
Faster delivery options and the ability to give precedence to high-priority orders and reduce lead times help improve the order fulfillment process — keeping customers happy and reducing the risk of stockouts and backorders.
Establishing a partnership with an expedite provider
If you’ve determined that making expedite part of your transportation plan can benefit your business, the next step is to choose the right logistics partner. To get the most out of your expedite strategy, you’ll need a provider who understands your business — they should have the expertise, technology and capacity to analyze your supply chain, recommend the best solutions, execute on your shipments, and help analyze performance.
Read more about choosing a company to handle your expedite freight.
It’s best practice to start with a test lane or single load to see a full spectrum of what the provider offers. Take note of how the single load goes and have these questions in mind:
- Does the provider maintain superior communication?
- Are advertised transit times accurate?
- Are you fully satisfied with the service you’re paying for?
Make ArcBest your Expedite Partner
As a leading logistics company with 100 years of transportation experience, ArcBest has the expertise, technology and capacity to help you navigate the complexities of planning and executing on shipments that require quick, coordinated deliveries. We listen, understand your goals and requirements, and help create solutions that streamline operations, reduce costs and improve efficiency.
