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6 Best Benefits of WordPress for Your Logistics and Transportation Business 

wordpress

6 Best Benefits of WordPress for Your Logistics and Transportation Business 

Just like any other business, logistics firms must have an SEO-driven website to build a robust online presence. 

This can help convey brand messages and reach the right clients without hassles. Businesses can highlight their offerings and differentiators to establish credibility in the industry.

WordPress can help achieve this goal!

This content management system offers customizable features to help you build and manage a stellar website.

But why only WordPress? Unlike other platforms like Sitecore, it provides superior user experiences to ensure long-term audience engagement and retention. 

No wonder, leading players in the the logistics business are considering WordPress.

If you are already managing your logistics website on relatively complex platforms like Sitecore, consider contacting a reputed Sitecore to WordPress migration company to build more user-friendly environments.

That’s not all. There’s more to WordPress.

Here are the six best benefits of WordPress for your logistics and transportation business.

1. Offers User-Friendly Interface

WordPress is an excellent option for the logistics and transportation industry because of its intuitive interface. 

With WordPress, you can create and manage websites with zero coding skills. For instance, it offers a visual drag-and-drop editor that helps streamline activities, including content creation, editing, and publishing.

This platform thus allows all users, even those with limited technical knowledge, to access it hassle-free. 

Moreover, setting up a WordPress site is a quick and straightforward task. 

You only need a domain name for your logistics and transportation business and a web hosting account. Besides, you can install it via a WordPress hosting provider or directly from WordPress.org. 

The admin dashboard offers all the essential features to customize your site’s appearance and layout. This allows you to create pages and posts to establish your online presence.

2. Provides Stellar Themes and Customization Options

WordPress offers an array of impressive, customizable themes.

You can choose from basic and premium themes related to the logistics industry to customize the look and functionality of your website. 

Whether you want to change your site’s layout, add new features, or update the design according to your company’s branding protocols, WordPress allows you everything. 

Besides, you can explore and purchase additional professional-looking options from design marketplaces and third-party designers. 

This gives you the freedom to make modifications at your convenience.

3. Ensures Seamless User Experience with Mobile Responsiveness

A non-responsive website doesn’t adjust its content and layout based on the audience’s device screen size. This can lead to a poor user experience. 

The audience may encounter challenges like poor menu navigation, text readability issues, imagery and videos that don’t fit on the screen, and more. 

The result? The audience will leave the site. In fact, a survey confirmed that non-responsive design is one of the key reasons people leave a website.

And there are over 7+ billion mobile users across the globe. This means that a non-responsive site can cost you valuable customers. 

Most importantly, mobile responsiveness is a crucial Google ranking factor because it impacts user experience. 

The good news is that all WordPress themes are mobile-friendly. This functionality ensures your website functions well across distinct devices or screen sizes. 

For instance, it provides a consistent experience across devices like tablets, laptops, phones, computers, etc. This ensures optimal user experience, which can help you attract and retain potential customers.

4. Helps Enhance Your Business’s Online Visibility

WordPress enables you to optimize content and achieve top rankings in Googe’s SERPs. It allows you to –

  • Incorporate headings and metadata in the landing pages.
  • Place logistics industry-specific keywords to optimize the content.
  • Optimize the website for mobile devices.
  • Optimize videos, GIFs, and imagery to ensure a fast-loading website.
  • Add internal and external links to the content for building authority.

It thus takes care of the vital Google ranking factors, which can uplift your SEO game and help establish online visibility. 

Moreover, you can leverage WordPress SEO plugins like Yoast for content optimization.

5. Maximizes Cost-Effectiveness

Unlike conventional advertising channels, which are often expensive and have limited reach, a WordPress website is highly cost-effective. 

It allows you to choose from a variety of affordable hosting options. You can even leverage free WordPress themes and plugins to design and customize your website.

Once your WordPress website is up and running, it can help you reach a global audience. 

This can be a massive benefit, especially if you are a small-scale logistics company with tight budgets. 

The best part? As your logistics company grows, your WordPress website can scale to accommodate ever-evolving business needs. You can add new features, pages, and more according to your business requirements without spending a hefty amount.

In short, it can promote your logistics company and improve customer acquisition without breaking the bank.

6. Accelerates Informed Decision-Making via Analytics

A WordPress website has an inbuilt analytics dashboard that provides insights into customers’ behaviors and interactions with your logistics company. 

For instance, it can help track crucial metrics like –

  • The total number of website visitors 
  • Visitor’s demographics, like age, interests, etc
  • Bounce rates 
  • Top and low-ranking pages
  • Email Sign-ups
  • Conversion rates

This information can help you analyze your site’s performance, identify key improvement areas, and make informed data-driven decisions. 

If you notice certain pages load slowly or have high bounce rates, that might reveal user experience and content need improvement. Similarly, you can track visitors who sign up for your logistics business newsletter or request a quote. 

This can help gauge your marketing efforts’ effectiveness in real time.

WordPress analytics can thus accelerate decision-making and strengthen your digital marketing strategy.

Summing Up

WordPress can prove an invaluable tool for your logistics and transportation company.

It can help increase your business’s online visibility, attract customers, boost audience engagement, and build credibility in the industry. 

With a well-designed, user-friendly WordPress website, you can highlight your service offerings and engage your target audience. Besides, its SEO-friendly features make your firm discoverable on Google’s SERP and appear before people looking for transportation and logistics solutions.

The outcome? Positive business outcomes that can further help you gain an edge in the logistics domain. The shared six benefits of WordPress are a testament.

So, choose WordPress to turbocharge your logistics firm’s long-term growth.

 

credit

Behind the Scenes: A Peek Into the Credit Card Transaction Process

It’s easy to take for granted the lightning-fast technology that allows money to exchange hands instantly when using a credit card. Hand over the plastic to pay for something, stare blankly as the cashier swipes, and before you know it the receipt is printed. But behind that mundane card is an intricate system working to securely shuttle money to the right place.

Next time you mindlessly tap to pay for a morning coffee, take a moment to appreciate the invisible payment network sparking to life. Information zips from merchant to bank and back again in seconds. Your account is checked for sufficient funds and then, in the blink of an eye, authorized for the transaction. 

But how exactly does a small plastic card ferry money instantly and securely? This fascinating process involves more than watching paint dry at the cash register. Read on to dive into the behind-the-scenes steps that allow credit card transactions to happen smoothly in a matter of seconds.

Step-by-Step Credit Card Transaction Process

So, how does credit card processing work? Here is a quick overview of the eighth key steps involved:

Step 1: Cardholder Presents Card to Merchant

The first step occurs right in front of you – you present your physical credit card or virtual wallet to the merchant to pay for goods or services. This card contains your name, account number, expiration date, and security code that will authorize the transaction.

Step 2: Merchant Sends Information to Merchant Services Provider

After you provide your card information, the merchant then sends it along with the payment amount to their merchant services provider. This financial intermediary, also called a payment processor, handles credit card transactions on behalf of the merchant.

Step 3: Merchant Services Provider Routes to Card Network

The merchant services provider acts as middleman, passing your credit card data and authorization request to the store’s chosen card network. This is typically Visa, Mastercard, American Express or Discover.

Step 4: Card Network Identifies Issuing Bank

Whichever card network receives the information looks at the first few digits of your card number to identify the issuing bank. Your card number essentially contains instructions about where to send the transaction data.

Step 5: Card Network Sends Data to Issuing Bank

The card network routes all the details over to the bank that issued your card. This issuing bank holds your credit account that will fund the purchase.

Step 6: Issuing Bank Approves/Declines Transaction

Here is where the magic happens – the issuing bank receives the authorization request and immediately checks that your account is valid, open, and has sufficient funds or available credit for the transaction. It evaluates within milliseconds, using algorithms to determine authorization.

Step 7: Approval Goes Back Through Network to Merchant

If everything checks out, the issuing bank sends an approval code back through the card network, which relays it to the merchant services provider. This entire roundtrip typically takes just seconds.

Step 8: Merchant Completes Transaction

Finally, the merchant services provider communicates the approval to the merchant. This notification lets the merchant know they can safely complete the transaction with you, the cardholder.

With approval verified, you walk away with your goods or services! Meanwhile, the funds are deposited into the merchant’s account, minus a small transaction fee. Although the customer sees a direct payment, the merchant only receives the money after the settlement process is complete.

While the transaction process seems straightforward on the surface, it involves many coordinated exchanges between players to happen instantly and securely. When you factor in that there are over 2.8 billion credit cards around the globe, this process becomes even more impressive. So, next time you pay with plastic, appreciate the hidden work to make it frictionless!

Identifying the Key Players and Their Roles

Several key players participate in the credit card transaction process. Each has an important role in making payments fast, seamless, and secure.

  • Cardholder – The consumer making a purchase with their credit card. They initiate the transaction by presenting a card to the merchant.
  • Merchant – The business supplying goods or services to the cardholder and accepting credit card payments. Merchants must have merchant services set up to accept credit cards.
  • Merchant Services Provider – Also called a payment processor, this is an intermediary company that handles credit card transactions on behalf of the merchant.
  • Card Network – The network linking issuing banks with merchants. They route transaction information between the two. The major card networks are Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover.
  • Issuing Bank – The financial institution that issued the credit card to the cardholder and holds their account. Can be a bank, credit union, or other lender. They approve or decline transactions based on the cardholder’s account status.
  • Acquiring Bank – The bank that processes credit card transactions on behalf of the merchant. They handle deposits into the merchant’s account.

This cast of players cooperates to facilitate the quick and secure movement of funds between consumers and businesses. Smooth coordination between them drives the speed and reliability of credit card payments.

Final Word

That little plastic card in your wallet is your ticket to seamless shopping. But behind your smooth payment experience is a fascinating coordination you never see. Every time you tap, dip, or swipe, an intricate process kicks into high gear to authorize your transaction instantly. Although it seems mundane on the surface, your credit card conceals sophisticated technology allowing billions of secure purchases daily.

Between merchants, processors, card networks, and banks, information zips back and forth in a choreographed sequence. Blazing-fast communication and fraud checks happen behind the scenes so your funds can be approved in seconds. So next time you’re standing there staring blankly as your card is processed, take a moment to appreciate the hidden payment network sparking to life. Your credit card may seem ordinary, but behind each transaction is an extraordinary system powering the modern economy. Your payment may be smooth, but behind the scenes, things are moving swiftly!

 

startup

Strategic Time Management for Startup Success: Navigating Productivity, Growth, and Remote Teams

One of the most important factors in the success or failure of any startup is time management. If time isn’t managed effectively, productivity and therefore profits will decrease. This is especially true of companies that employ remote workers, which can make monitoring the workforce even more difficult.

Companies must also manage the extent to which they monitor their employees. A 2014 study by Accountemps revealed that 59% of survey respondents stated they had worked for a micromanager in the past. Of those, 68% said it lowered their morale and 55% stated that it lowered their productivity.

The Startup Tempo: Unique Time Management Challenges

As most startups operate at a much faster pace than established businesses that have been around for years, their time management systems will be vastly different than those of their more seasoned counterparts. The system will also be harder to navigate, with a lot of trial and error before the most efficient plan is devised.

First-time entrepreneurs in particular will find it difficult to properly manage their time for a variety of reasons, including relative inexperience, not knowing whether a potential problem need to be prioritized or backburnered, and the standard growing pains endured by every startup in its infancy.

Another major challenge is finding the right balance between solving immediate, urgent issues and long-term planning. Sometimes, the easiest solution that solves a current problem will cause difficulty months or years down the road. Similarly, focusing strictly on the distant future could prove catastrophic in the present or near future.

Remote Work and Startup Culture: Striking the Right Balance

Ever since Covid-19 changed the work landscape forever, more and more businesses have begun to transition to remote work, either partially or fully. Embracing remote work has now become essential for startups, as a recent study by Robert Half shows that 34% of employees would prefer to quit a job that required in-office work in favor of one that allowed them to continue working from home.

Some of the major benefits of a remote work setup include higher employee morale, lower real estate costs for the startup (due to the lack of required office space), and higher employee retention rates. The drawbacks include managers having to get creative about ways to keep employees on task, a potential lack of motivation for easily distracted employees, and greater difficulty in communication between employees collaborating on a project.

That being said, one of the easiest ways to overcome these potential issues is to put into place a work culture that is designed to foster communication, both between employees themselves and between workers and management. If employees understand what is expected of them, respond to messages from colleagues in a timely manner, and employee tracking software is used, the negative aspects can be severely neutralized.

Time Tracking as a Strategic Tool, Not a Surveillance Tactic

One of the biggest misconceptions that employees might have about monitoring software or time-tracking programs is that their primary focus is to spy on them. In reality, their actual intended purpose is far less sinister. When used properly, they are a valuable tool that can benefit both employer and employee.

Employees who know that these programs are in place will be more productive as they’ll be less likely to use social media or visit other distracting websites using work devices. Employers will be able to see how employees are spending their time and understand how each employee completes their tasks, which can assist with future project planning and time management.

For example, let’s imagine an employee who has been assigned five independent tasks to be completed in an eight-hour shift, which can be completed in any order. First, the information from the software will reveal how much time was spent completing each task, from which management can determine how long similar tasks will take in the future.

Secondly, the program can reveal in which order the employee completes the task, which gives the company insight into their thought processes. This information can then be used for future projects. If the employee chooses the Excel spreadsheet-based tasks first, the company knows the employee likes working with Excel and can delegate similar tasks to them in the future.

Another important piece is the length of time it takes the employee to finish their work. Some office employees will finish a day’s work in six or seven hours, then spend the rest of their workday on social media instead of starting new tasks. If the information reveals

Building a Results-Focused Team: Trust, Autonomy, and Accountability

For a remote workplace to be successful, there must be a culture of both trust and autonomy. This starts from the top, with management trusting their employees to accomplish their goals independently, correctly, and in a timely manner. In turn, employees must trust their supervisors and coworkers to give them the tools and support they need to do their work.

If these conditions are not met, distrust will grow, morale will drop, and productivity will eventually be reduced to potentially unsustainable levels. Many startups have failed because employees feel like their bosses are constantly watching over their shoulders and don’t trust them to make the right decisions to accomplish their goals. They then either find a job with a different company or employ the TikTok-inspired trend known as “quiet quitting”, where they reduce their productivity to the lowest acceptable level to avoid being fired.

Similarly, if managers or supervisors cannot trust their employees, too much time can be spent making sure that the work is being accomplished, which can result in lost productivity from their other duties.

The goal for any startup should be to maintain a system of accountability that does not interfere with the employee’s creative processes. Since every employee will work differently according to their personal strengths and weaknesses, many businesses have learned that a “one-size-fits-all” model is unsustainable, particularly in remote workplace environments. It is a difficult balance, but an essential one.

One example of a popular startup that has embraced a results-oriented work environment is JL Buchanan (JLB), a retail consulting firm that embraced working from home even before the pandemic. CEO Susan Hoaby told CNN in an interview that autonomy is the key to her business.

Employees don’t need to request time off, as the focus is strictly on whether or not the work is accomplished. One of her employees worked on a Paris vacation without incident without Hoaby even knowing she’d left until she’d seen the employee’s post on Instagram. Of course, this may not work for every business even though it has produced excellent results for JLB.

Perhaps the greatest example is GitLab, a DevOps platform used by many Fortune 500 companies. When the startup was founded in 2014 with its only employees being its two cofounders, all work has been completed remotely. Six years later, the company had grown to 1300 employees who lived in 65 countries around the world. It is one of the largest remote-exclusive companies in the world with roughly 30 million registered users.

The company’s founders have explained that although a remote-only environment saves them money due to reduced overhead, lower waste, and employee flexibility, the most important aspect of the policy is employee empowerment. The company’s handbook states its desire to have its workers see themselves as people first and employees second.

Growth Mindset and Time Allocation: Prioritizing What Matters

One of the biggest factors in time management is the “growth mindset”, which means that tasks must be prioritized with the overall goal of growing the company in mind as the primary factor. If a company and its employees aren’t managing their time properly and giving more weight to more important tasks, the company won’t be able to grow.

For example, imagine an employee has been tasked with working on a presentation for a venture capital firm that’s interested in investing in the company. However, they’re also working on several other projects of lesser importance, like organizing spreadsheets or doing data entry to be analyzed for future projects.

Naturally, the presentation to the venture capitalists is the most pressing issue for the employee to complete, as the other tasks can be completed at any time. Should the employee choose to focus on those lesser tasks, the presentation might not be the best it can be or, worse, might end up unfinished by the time the meeting takes place. The end result could be disastrous for the company’s future.

This is a rather extreme example, of course, but the logic can apply to any number of other situations. In general, businesses need to allocate time and resources between innovation, operation, and future growth. The right balance can be hard to achieve but if a company isn’t focused on the future as well as the present, the result can be stagnation and eventually lead to its downfall.

Time Management Tools for Startup Owners: From Apps to Techniques

There are many apps and programs that help a company’s time management, such as employee tracking software that can show how an employee is spending time on their work devices and will dissuade them from using social media or engaging in other distractions during work time. They can also reveal how much time an employee spends using each program, which can give broader insights into how long it takes an employee to complete a task, among other things.

Of course, the specific needs of the startup will be the determining factor in which tools should be used for time management. If deadlines are frequent and unmovable, a higher level of supervision and communication may be needed, at least at the start. If the work is less time-intensive and the focus is strictly on the quality of an employee’s work, more leeway could be granted.

It may require a lot of trial and error before finding the perfect solution, but if the company’s employees have a high enough level of trust in management, they can give honest feedback and help speed along the process. This is not to say that management should always bow to workers’ demands, of course. Instead, management should work to find strategies that keep their employees happy and productive.

One popular method of time management is the Pomodoro Technique, which involves setting a timer for 25 minutes, blocking out all distractions and working exclusively on the task for that time, then taking a five to ten-minute break as soon as the timer goes off, then repeating the process until the task is complete. After it’s done, the employee takes a break of roughly 30 minutes before beginning the next task.

Another option is time blocking, which involves splitting a period of time like a day or a week into blocks, during which time the employee focuses exclusively on a single project or task. For example, if an employee has three tasks that will take roughly the same amount of time each to complete in a standard 8 AM to 5 PM workday, they could work on the first task from 8 to 10, take a 30-minute break, work on the second project from 10:30 to 12:30, take lunch from 12:30 to 1:30, work on the third task from 1:30 to 3:30, then spend the last hour and a half reviewing the work they’ve completed that day to make sure it’s ready to turn in.

For employees who want or need a little extra structure, goal-oriented planning may be the best strategy. This involves taking a project or objective, splitting it into smaller tasks which are then prioritized by level of importance, and completing them in order according to a schedule based on an estimate of how long each task should take.

Remote Leadership in Startups: Navigating Challenges and Facilitating Collaboration

Proper leadership can be difficult to achieve in any business, but a remote startup has its own unique sets of challenges that must be overcome. Unlike established businesses that have time-honored traditions and years of experience to fall back on, startups generally have to learn as they grow. That learning curve can be difficult, especially after the business takes off and it has hundreds or thousands of employees across the country or even the world.

Communication and collaboration are the two primary keys to success when navigating these challenges. If the leadership can clearly communicate the company’s goals and expectations, their employees will have a better understanding and will be less likely to feel confused. Instead of simply giving workers a list of tasks to accomplish, it is better to explain why the tasks need to be done and what the overall goal is, so that employees will feel included and will be more invested in making sure the project is executed successfully.

Time tracking is one of the most valuable tools for facilitating transparency and cooperation within remote teams. It allows managers to have a fuller understanding of how employees complete their work and, if employees understand they’re all part of the same system, they know that their coworkers’ time is equally well-spent. This can prevent them from feeling jealous or like they’re being singled out.

Conclusion: Nurturing a Time-Conscious Startup Culture

There are many aspects to running a successful remote-based startup and although there’s no “silver bullet” that will magically solve all of a company’s problems, successfully managing time is perhaps the most important key to success. Prioritizing the most important tasks for the present while also continuing to look towards the future will help ensure the company’s place in its industry for years to come.

Happier employees are generally more productive, which is why fostering a company culture of transparency, trust, and autonomy can make the difference between a startup’s success or its potential failure. Although management should not always bow to the whims of employees, especially since they might not all agree on a particular issue, it is important to get their feedback and try to incorporate it into the business’ overall strategy when possible.

Employee tracking software can help achieve that delicate balance by helping managers ensure that employees are being truthful about their time management. In the words of Benjamin Franklin, “trust, but verify.” These programs can also be used in tandem with other strategies, like the Pomodoro Technique, to ensure that the team is running as efficiently and productively as possible.

Startup owners should aim to adopt a balanced approach that leverages time tracking as a strategic tool to foster growth, innovation, and a positive team culture. Balance is truly the key to a successful startup, as focusing too much on one side or the other could lead to long term and unforeseen consequences.

By using these strategies and understanding the importance of time management in remote work environments, startups can continue to thrive, operated by happy employees who can do their jobs in the way that works best for them.

SMB business

4 Common SMB Challenges in Managing International Trade

International trade represents a significant opportunity for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), connecting them to a wider customer base and new markets. Yet, navigating through customs and border regulations can be a challenging process for SMBs, due to the intricacy and complexities of the various factors involved.

Effectively managing these challenges is crucial to avoid delays, penalties, and disruptions in your supply chain

In this article, we’ll explain four common challenges SMBs face in managing international trade and explore potential solutions.

1. Understanding diverse customs and border regulations

Operating in the global market entails grappling with customs and border regulations, which can easily get confusing for SMBs, due to the rapidly changing nature of the laws surrounding them and the documentation required. To keep up, SMBs must consistently monitor the process, which requires sifting through numerous online sources – a time-consuming task SMBs often don’t have the manpower for.

However, keeping up-to-date with regulations is pivotal for any business in the international trade arena. Even the slightest oversight can lead to fines, shipment delays, or legal complications, which can damage a business’s supply chain and more importantly, their customers’ satisfaction.

Inoreader, a content aggregation platform, can help in simplifying the process of staying updated with industry changes. Using its platform, businesses can monitor websites, newsletters, social feeds, and podcasts related to customs and border regulations, without the need to check multiple sources.

Inoreader also monitors keywords across multiple languages, helping businesses keep tabs on related topics such as regulatory changes, trade agreements, or compliance deadlines, and automates news feeds to personalized content for SMBs.

By streamlining the monitoring of customs and border regulations, SMBs can stay better informed and compliant and reduce their chances of encountering unwanted delays.

2. Documentation and compliance

In international trade, there is a large amount of documentation needed to comply with customs and border regulations. For SMBs, not executing the documentation process properly can cause roadblocks such as non-compliance penalties and delays.

The Export Documentation Manager from Descartes Visual Compliance provides a one-stop solution to streamline the export documentation process. 

SMB

The software integrates compliance checks such as restricted party screening and product classification verification. By automating these processes, SMBs can reduce their chances of making costly mistakes, and have peace of mind regarding compliance matters.

The tool presents data in an easy-to-understand format, offers centralized control of export activities, and allows for the creation of multiple export documents in one step. Moreover, it includes features like AES and EEI filing assistance, which ensure businesses adhere to government regulations correctly.

The platform accumulates knowledge as you use it, creating a personalized, automated export system, saving time on future shipments. The user-friendly interface of Descartes’ platform, coupled with its adaptive learning capabilities, makes it a valuable asset for SMBs aiming to manage their documentation and compliance efficiently.

3. Logistics and supply chain management

Logistics and supply chain management in international trade is an intricate labyrinth for SMBs. Ensuring the secure, affordable, and timely delivery of goods is paramount. 

In a recent survey conducted by UPS, 92% of SMBs revealed that they have incurred losses due to logistics and supply chain issues from lost, stolen, or damaged shipments. This can be detrimental for retailers, as 61% of shoppers in the survey stated that they will stop ordering from a particular business after two or three delivery issues.

To maintain smooth logistics and supply chain management in the international arena, SMBs must work with reliable partners that can ensure the safe delivery of their goods. International trade involves many different stages, such as setting up land and overseas deliveries and coordinating customs clearance. It also involves working with several logistics partners along the way, which can be daunting to organize for an SMB.

SMBs can leverage a freight forwarder to take care of the logistics matchmaking. Freight forwarders today are increasingly offering more options to help SMBs navigate international trade. Ship4wd, a new digital freight forwarder powered by the global shipping giant ZIM, gives SMB owners a dashboard where they can obtain competitive quotes and book the entire shipping process directly through the platform, while being able to track their shipments in real time. It also offers payment deferral for up to 90 days and financial credit lines, which can ease cash flow crunches, a common problem for SMBs. 

SMB

Ship4wd understands the struggles of SMBs, which is the reason behind the development of its platform, and therefore provides 24/7 customer support and dedicated account managers for each business, to ensure transparency and resolve any issues on their behalf throughout the shipping process.

By using a freight forwarder, SMBs can more effectively navigate the complexities of logistics and supply chain management, helping ensure reliable and timely global shipping. 

4. Insuring your shipments

Preparing for the worst-case scenario is highly important in international trade, as theft, loss, or damage can severely harm a business’s supply chain. Shipping insurance is therefore a critical component for financial stability, and in some cases, could be a regulatory necessity. 

SMBs can easily struggle with securing comprehensive coverage due to cost considerations, lack of information, or administrative complexity. InsureShield, offered through UPS Capital Insurance Agency, provides a solution for businesses to insure their shipments, including high-value, fragile, and time-sensitive goods, whether transported via ground, air, or ocean. 

SMB

The package offers flexible options such as single shipment coverage, making insurance acquisition quick, easy, and affordable for SMBs.

Having a strong insurance plan not only mitigates financial risk, but also keeps brand reputation intact, keeping customer loyalty.

Wrapping up

There are many challenges for SMBs when it comes to managing international trade, considering the many rules, logistics complexities, documentation requirements, and risk factors involved in the process. 

By addressing the above mentioned issues, SMBs will be better equipped to navigate the complex world of international trade, allowing them to focus more on growth and customer satisfaction.

client aurora

Best Benefits of Using Chatbots in the Logistics and Transportation Industry

Logistics and transportation companies require coordinating with several departments in real-time to ensure on-time delivery. Besides, they need to constantly share updates on order supply or delivery status with the clients. In this era of digitization, performing such operations using phone calls or manually is impractical. 

That’s where chatbots can help!

With chatbots, businesses can create engaging and personalized conversational experiences. From sharing business updates to resolving clients’ queries, chatbots provide end-to-end virtual assistance, redefining customer support. Rightly so, leading industry players like XpressBees, UPS, and LetsTransport are leveraging chatbots. 

The best part? With a no-code chatbot builder, building and deploying chatbots has become hassle-free. No wonder, these chatbot builders are gaining popularity among firms wanting to establish an omnichannel presence. Further, the cost efficiency of chatbots makes them ideal for businesses, especially SMBs with tight budgets. 

Did you know? The chatbot market is expected to reach $9.4 billion by 2024 at a CAGR of 29.7%. 

In this post, we will share the five best benefits of chatbots for the logistics and transportation industry.

1. HELPS WITH DATA ANALYTICS

Data analytics helps companies gain in-depth insights into customer activities and make informed business decisions. It helps them streamline customer support operations, identify pressing challenges, and use data-driven solutions to overcome them. 

For instance, if a customer raises queries regarding their delivery status, authorities in respective departments can receive the notification on their systems. With chatbot integration, customer support experts can track crucial details like customer purchase history, order ID, GPS location, shipment status, and more. 

Notice how iMile’s chatbot collects user data in real-time. This approach helped their team handle 6X queries efficiently. 

2. SUPPORTS FLEET AND STAFF MANAGEMENT

Tracking the availability of employees and vehicles is pivotal for logistics and transportation businesses. This helps them better manage their delivery schedule and ensure on-time delivery. According to statistics, 41% of customers rank fast and reliable delivery as one of their top priorities. However, only 15% of customers in the US are satisfied with delivery speeds. 

Deploying chatbots can help businesses track en route, under maintenance, and idle vehicles. Besides, they can monitor the availability of their employees or drivers. This helps in getting visibility of resource availability, allowing them to assign delivery tasks effectively. For fast delivery services, companies can gauge whether to opt for road vehicles, cargo, or freight train shipping. 

3. AIDS WITH SEAMLESS OPERATIONS AND PRODUCTIVITY

The productivity of a logistics and transportation firm depends on how well the workforce manages the warehouse and operations like shipping, inventory management, distribution, delivery fulfillment, and customer support services. By streamlining the tasks related to customer relationship management, chatbots can help improve the team’s productivity. 

Let’s say – your customer support experts spend around four hours servicing client requests. AI-powered chatbots can help reduce time consumption. As per reports, chatbots are efficient enough to save 30% of a company’s time spent in handling client requests. 

AI-powered chatbots like IBM Watson Assistant can answer 79% of repetitive questions with 14.7 times more accuracy than others. This reflects that your team can save around 1.2 hours daily. Your employees can utilize the time for complex operations like inventory management, order fulfillment, and warehousing. In short, chatbots can improve team efficiency and productivity.

4. PROVIDES 24*7 CUSTOMER SUPPORT

According to reports, the rise of globalization has made it crucial for businesses to operate  24*7 to gain a competitive edge. Besides, millennials expect them to resolve their queries within an hour. 

As running any business relentlessly can be draining, companies are switching to chatbots for uninterrupted customer support services. Statistics reveal that 64% of users consider ongoing service as the best feature of chatbots. So, deploying a chatbot with round-the-clock support can help logistics and transportation firms establish high customer service standards. This will improve customer satisfaction rates. 

Another study highlights that establishing continuous customer support can help save clients valuable time. So, logistics firms deploying chatbots can create a great impression on customers and achieve positive reviews as social proof of their exemplary services. 

The greatest benefit? According to a report, 72% of customers trust online reviews and testimonials more than anything else. So, a consistent chatbot service can encourage clients leave become loyal brand advocates, thereby boosting your company’s credibility. 

5. ESTABLISHES OMNICHANNEL PRESENCE

Forbes reckons, “a company is only as good as their customers perceive them to be,” which is true. Whether customers interact with your business via chatbot, website, social media pages, or client portal, a quick response is crucial. 

The reason? The average waiting time of customers when using live chat is only 88 seconds. This depicts you can lose valuable customers if you fail to address customer requests within a few minutes. 

Chatbots can be integrated into multiple communication platforms, including social media, websites, emails, messaging apps, and more. They work seamlessly on multiple communication platforms without human assistance. 

For instance, you can integrate chatbots with WhatsApp, which is GDPR-compliant and 100% secure. With a WhatsApp Chatbot platform, you can assist and engage clients in real-time. 

Observe the following example depicting chatbot integration in WhatsApp. Notice how chatbots can help logistics and transportation businesses engage clients on WhatsApp.

So, deploy chatbots to achieve an omnichannel presence.  

CHATBOTS ARE HERE TO STAY

96% of businesses agree chatbots are here to stay. As shared in the post, chatbots can help logistics and transportation businesses save on operational costs, streamline operations, track staff activities, and assist clients when they need them the most. 

With such a plethora of benefits, chatbots can prove to be a big asset for logistics businesses and their customers. So, if you run a logistics and transportation business, invest in chatbots to take your business to greater heights.

remote employee

8 Tips To Maintain And Strengthen Customer Relations While Working Remotely

Remote working is the way of the world now, and it is the way forward — thanks to the hybrid working model.

Most companies have adapted swiftly and embraced digitalization without hampering business operations or keeping their customers waiting. Video chats, instant messaging with collaboration tools, and tracking team progress on project management software have become the norm.

The sales team, for instance, can now generate contract terms, get approvals on any modifications to the contract terms, and have their customers e-sign key documents through contract management software.

What is contract management, you ask? It refers to how businesses create and manage contracts for their prospects, leads, and long-standing customers. Ever since offices have gone remote, contracts are being drafted, discussed, and signed online, keeping all stakeholders in the loop and without hampering the sales efforts of a business.

However, all is not hunky-dory.

Building a personal connection with your customers, for instance, becomes much harder owing to no physical meetings — and some companies overcompensate for that by keeping customer communication lines open at all hours and leading to sales and customer service teams burnout.

A whopping 67% of salespeople have experienced job burnout while working remotely and rate their stress level as 7/10. A study by the Quarterly Journal of Economics reports that remote customer service teams get through 13% more requests every day. 

Naturally, overstretching your employees is not the answer. What it takes is a little adjustment from everyone, a willingness to adapt, and a shared commitment to providing top-notch service. Here, we share our top tips to help that happen.

1. Hire the right team

A remote-first sales and customer relations team requires its own skill set that is distinct from the traditional way of working. The ideal candidate should be comfortable in a fast-paced digital environment, skilled at time management, and adept at conducting conversations across multiple channels while delivering satisfaction.

They should also be self-motivated — as they will be working out of their own homes — and willing to take ownership of their role. Try to hire people who have worked remotely before, including freelancers and consultants. Hire someone who you can rely on to take care of your customers.

2. Invest in remote employee training

With in-person onboarding out of the picture, you need to enable your team to feel just as enabled and empowered while working from home. This calls for building up a top-notch repository of learning material and training videos for different roles.

According to TalentLMS, 80% of employees would like to receive training on hard skills and 53% want to be trained on their soft skills. You can, therefore, boost engagement by designing the content as a self-paced learning pathway with points and rewards.

In addition, encourage the team to reach out to the top managers for any extra help. Foster a transparent environment — one that advocates growth and learning.

3. Set clear KPIs for everyone on the team

Regardless of where you are working from, there should be clear standards of sales and customer service that everyone adheres to. 

Some KPIs to work with include call volumes, closed-won deals per rep, average response time, sales tools used per rep, leads generated via different channels, customer satisfaction score, customer retention level, and the number of incoming queries.

4. Have a communication strategy for your customers

While each customer will have their own specific needs, your team should not be approaching each conversation ad hoc.

There needs to be a clear communication strategy, including email sequences, decision trees, and call scripts, that your sales team can use to deliver consistent service each time.

This not only takes out the guesswork but also gives each salesperson the best chance of giving the customer accurate solutions. Customize your messaging to current events.

5. Enable self-service for query resolution

Do you know why one out of three buyers is frustrated? Hard-to-navigate websites that make it hard to find what they need — yes. Poor quality or repetitive contact forms — sure. Having no service outside of normal business hours — most definitely!

It is rarely feasible for your human sales and customer relations team to be able to handle all the questions and complaints that come in. In this regard, a chatbot preloaded with answers to the most common questions can save you time and resolve issues faster.

According to Drift, chatbot usage as a brand communication channel has increased by an impressive 92% since 2019! In fact, almost 25% of customers now use chatbots to communicate with businesses.

Advanced chatbots can also hold human-like conversations and redirect the customer to a human agent for critical queries. A knowledge base equipped with handy tutorials and frequently asked questions is also a good investment — set up your chatbot to point customers towards the right content.

6. Let your customers know where they stand

Transparency is crucial when it comes to building customer relationships. If there are proposal building delays, product upgrades, organizational changes, or any other development that your customer ought to know about, let them know promptly, whether through a social media post or a personal email. This way, you also open up a new channel for engagement.

In a remote-first world, you need to be present for your customers when they need you, and that means being present across all the channels they are present on. It can be contextual too — sometimes they might be fine with a quick DM response, and at other times they may need a detailed chat over the phone. Pay attention to what your salespeople are saying about customer behavior and build a presence accordingly.

7. Be transparent and have regular team meet-ups

Working from home can be more isolating than one realizes. To counter this, it is important for managers to frequently check in on their teams and have 1:1 calls at intervals.

In addition, organize informal catch-ups over internal communication tools such as Zoom, Skype, or Microsoft Teams to help your salespeople feel more like a family, especially new recruits.

You could play virtual games together or have karaoke matches — anything to break the ice and remind everyone that they’re all part of the same team. 

Research by the Queens University of Charlotte found that 39% of employees agree they do not collaborate enough with their team members, with only 27% of employees receiving communication training.

To unite your employees, encourage small talk and allow them to get to know each other in their own way. When your employees are on the same page, it just becomes easier to deal with customer queries. 

8. Keep collecting customer feedback for improvements

You will only know whether your remote-based customer service strategy is working if customers say it is. Be proactive about collecting feedback and opinions, be it through a social listening tool or direct surveys that you share with clients.

You can also use CSAT and other scores to help you gauge your performance according to certain metrics.

Over to you

In conclusion, maintaining remote-based customer relations can seem like a challenge at first, but as long as you are transparent and proactive and have proper processes in place, you can make it work.

Your sales and customer service team is your biggest asset, so make sure you are supporting everyone to perform their best. And remember — whether you are working remotely or not, stellar service and honest commitment will win customers over every time. Good luck!

Author Bio

Hazel Raoult is a freelance marketing writer and works with PRmention. She has 6+ years of experience in writing about business, entrepreneurship, marketing and all things SaaS. Hazel loves to split her time between writing, editing, and hanging out with her family.

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How Data Is Helping Reduce the Supply Chain’s Carbon Footprint

More and more businesses around the world are putting sustainability at the center of their growth strategies, and the logistics industry is no different. This is a crucial decision towards a green future, as the supply chain is one of the major contributors to emissions for basically every company that sells physical products.

According to a global supply chain report released in 2020 by CDP, supply chains amount to 92% of an organization’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This is because, on average, supply chain emissions are 11.4x higher than operational emissions.

To make global logistics more sustainable for any business, efforts have to be made to make the supply chain eco-friendly.

Aside from the moral and regulatory imperatives, there’s a strong business case for cleaner supply chains. Some 85% of consumers will opt to purchase from a company that is sustainable if the prices are the same. This makes all the investment for a greener supply chain worth it.

One way to make progress in that direction is by leveraging data. Data reveals the ins and outs of a process objectively, quantifying things to help us see if we’re making progress towards a goal.

In this article, we have pointed out three ways in which data has helped brands all around the world reduce their supply chain carbon footprints.

1. Secure shipment of goods

According to Packaging Digest, 11% of goods sustain some degree of damage by the time they reach the distribution center.

Transporting volatile products that are sensitive to environmental conditions is challenging to say the least. Even a temporary deviation from recommended storage conditions during shipping can render the goods unusable by permanently damaging them.

Goods damaged in transit do more than just hurt your profits and business partnerships. Involved parties have to put in extra work to make sure that the damage is undone and the customer’s requirements are fulfilled.

That extra work drastically increases the carbon footprint, as it involves transporting the damaged goods again, spending resources to repair/replace them, and re-shipping them back to the destination.

Logmore, a company out of Finland, solves this problem by developing a data-based logistics condition monitoring solution. Shipping containers and even individual packages are equipped with sensors that constantly monitor the vitals such as temperature and shock. The stats are securely updated to the cloud when the QR code outside the container is scanned through a smartphone.

This makes it easy for vendors and other interested parties to track the health of shipped goods, in real-time, remotely. Furthermore, vendors can set customizable triggers that will let them know if any of the vitals deviate from within the desired range. Logmore has already helped many pharmaceutical companies, food wholesalers, and other global enterprises reduce the spoilage of goods in transit. 

Accurate surveillance also makes the quality assurance (QA) process easier. For instance, bioMérieux, an industry leader in in-vitro diagnostics, slashed its QA workload by 25% through automated temperature analysis.

2. Eco-friendly packaging

As the eCommerce industry continues to boom, the demand for packaging has increased. According to a report by Mordor Intelligence, the eCommerce packaging market was valued to be $27.04B in 2020 and will be at $61.55B by 2026.

Inefficient packaging methods consume more-than-necessary resources and waste energy, leading to an overall higher carbon footprint.

Many companies are emerging to help solve this problem. One such company is EcoEnclose, which has started to make a difference by providing personalized eco-friendly packaging solutions to eCommerce brands. They have already helped many online stores reduce their carbon footprint through biodegradable and compostable packaging materials.

The packaging solutions they offer are plastic-free, and even the ink that they use on the box is compostable, giving back to the environment. EcoEnclose offers packaging solutions for multiple products including consumable products like oils and soaps.

Let’s take a quick look at an example where innovative packaging has made an impact. Amazon, the global eCommerce giant, has made great leaps in this regard by eliminating more than 25K tonnes of plastic per year. They have included paper-based mailers, using recycled paper boxes, and reduced plastic in their packaging solutions.

3. Automated warehousing

Lack of updated inventory, suboptimal picking paths, and inefficient storage of goods are some of the challenges faced in warehouses. Again, these roadblocks consume more than necessary resources for the same outcome.

For instance, if the picking-and-dropping paths of goods are not optimized, it will take longer than usual to get the product shipped. To make the process faster, the interested parties have to invest in a larger warehouse or hire more individuals.

With more people and a larger working area, the possibility of human error increases. All these mistakes result in rework that consumes more resources, ultimately increasing the overall carbon footprint of the warehouse.

One solution to this is using warehouse automation, something Swisslog is helping eCommerce companies achieve. The Switzerland-based company specializes in developing tools and layouts that help eCommerce companies automate their warehouse operations.

As a result, they get more done in less time, with fewer mistakes. This means less rework, and minimum wastage of their resources, reducing supply chain carbon footprint. The company has helped various industries such as beverage, pharmaceuticals, and retail automate their workflows and managed to reduce energy consumption by 20% through automated distribution.

One of the best examples of automated warehousing is Ocado Retail. With the help of robots, they have managed to automate their entire warehouse. This has eliminated human error completely and also enables them to run the warehouse in a “lights-out” mode.

Conclusion

Many other elements of the supply chain are becoming eco-friendly with the help of data. Advances in machine learning, alternative fuels, and material science promise a more sustainable supply chain in the future.

For example, Maersk, the global shipping giant, uses e-methanol in its vessels, which is a carbon-neutral fuel and is 100% renewable. The use of drones and self-driving trucks to deliver packages can further reduce energy consumption in the last-mile delivery.

All in all, big data is and will continue to play a key role in optimizing the supply chain carbon footprint.

supply chain

7 Ways to Update Your Supply Chain Strategy for 2022

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the logistical landscape forever. There have been significant channel shifts due to renewed consumer behavior, the speed of orders, and delivery standard expectations. Amidst all this pandemonium, supply chains had to evolve years in a span of months just to keep up with this significant paradigm shift. 

Companies have moved away from low-cost supply chains and towards a much more resilient and agile framework. 87 percent of supply chain leaders are looking to invest in resilience in the coming years. As a result, the adaptation of next-gen transportation and logistics strategy solutions has made supply chains faster, smarter, and user-centric. Moreover, the logistics industry is evolving at an alarming rate and is said to reach a valuation of $12,256 billion by 2022. 

Since adroit logistics are reshaping the whole supply chain, what should you look forward to in 2022 and beyond? Read on to know more about seven different ways you can make your supply chain strategy even better!

Importance & benefits of a good supply chain strategy

In light of this new normal brought by the pandemic, it is of the essence that all companies, no matter the size, adapt a supply chain component. But why? Well, let’s delve into that for a bit.

Keeps costs and service quality in balance 

Customer satisfaction is key to the success of any business. But that might mean having goods in stock at all times. This might lead to overproduction and wastage of resources. With a good supply chain management (SCM) strategy in place, this can be avoided. The company shall save money and keep customers happy at the same time. 

Higher efficiency rate  

Data-driven SCM provides real-time data on the availability of raw materials and manufacturing delays. Hence, companies implement a ‘plan B’ instead of meeting these hurdles with empty hands. Out-of-stock inventory and late shipments won’t be an issue anymore. 

Encourages business development  

With an effective data-driven SCM strategy in place, you can analyze your past dealings with vendors. You can compare prices, quality of services, raw materials, etc., and realize improvement areas. Work on them and achieve your business goals efficiently. 

7 ways to better your supply chain strategy for 2022

Higher visibility 

Increased visibility into your supply chain’s transportation spend is a must. By doing so, you can improve on your weaknesses, control costs, and make effective, impactful data-driven decisions. In fact, 50 percent of global product-centric companies will have implemented real-time transportation visibility platforms. But why so?

Well, the answer lies in two parts. Firstly, they allow customers to track their orders in real-time. This meets the renewed customer expectations and makes the work of the customer support team a little easier. Secondly, the customer support team can deliver invaluable insights into your transportation costs and overall performance. 

Total visibility into your transportation spend is a gateway to optimize carrier selection, carrier rates, contract management, etc. Not only that, but you now have a stream of high-quality data that can help improve your business intelligence and make smarter data-driven decisions to cut costs further. 

Increased resiliency 

A resilient supply chain can be the only thing standing between a company’s success or failure. A bold claim? For sure. But is it wrong? Absolutely not. An effective, agile, and resilient supply chain management strategy can be a massive sales enabler and a significant driver to the company’s profit margin and growth opportunities. 

You need to optimize your transportation spending to understand where you are directing your money and root out all the unnecessary expenses. By controlling the costs within the supply chain, you can cut many costs and direct that money towards optimizing the areas that require improvement. Provided your supply chain management strategy is spot-on, you can make data-driven and impactful decisions and secure your place at the top of your industry. 

Optimized logistical networks 

The supply chain industry has recently seen a shift to omnichannel. The logistical disruptions caused due to the ongoing pandemic have accelerated this process by a considerable extent. According to a report by Gartner, 76 percent of supply chain professionals claim to have experienced an increase in disruption events in the past three years. 

72 percent of them also stated that the impact of these events has also increased. Hence, optimizing your logistical network for agility and resilience has become vital to maintain and multiply your customer base. Due to the ongoing pandemic, most customers have adapted to online shopping or buying online and picking up at stores (BOPUS). 

Although in-store shopping hasn’t completely disappeared, this new normal demands you to constantly keep up with customer orders and restock retailer inventory. Companies seem to be juggling between global, regional, and local networks to enable quicker delivery times. Hence, 90 percent of US retailers and consumer goods companies plan to change and optimize their supply chain network to increase efficiency. 

Better risk mitigation 

Risk mitigation is essential to maintain your customer base and the integrity of your supply chain. This point can’t be stressed enough post the onset of the pandemic. Over 28 percent of companies experienced a stock shortage in the first few months of the pandemic. This can damage your brand identity and have a detrimental effect on your customer base and market share. On top of this, damages, delayed shipments, inadequate storage environments, etc., can worsen the situation. 

You need to evaluate and identify the current risks to your company, prioritize them by probability and impact, and approach them accordingly. For example, optimizing and automating freight audits can act as a potent risk mitigator, as it eliminates errors, averts delays based on discrepancies, and streamlines operations. 

Digital supply chain adoption 

Supply chains have been very sluggish in adopting digital transformation. But the pandemic has been a wake-up call. With the digitization of almost everything in sight, supply chains need to undergo complete change management to stay afloat and keep up with the changing times. 

But what is change management? Change management is a collective term for all structured processes and approaches used to prepare, support, and help organizations make a complete organizational change. Managers today need to understand its tenets and create a seamless digital transformation. This is extremely necessary as only 1 percent of world supply chain leaders have an extensive digital supply chain system in place. 

With proper change management and digital supply chain tech adoption, this number is expected to shoot up to 23 percent by 2025. But people generally misinterpret the meaning of a digital supply chain. It is not just pushing spreadsheets onto a platform. 

It refers to the development and implementation of advanced technologies cloud-based computing, IoT, blockchain, ML, AI, etc.) to drive improvements in traditional supply chains. Implementation of such technology will reduce errors, improve resource efficiency, and provide valuable insights. 

Reliance on real-time data

Organizational silos can be detrimental to the smooth functioning of your company. Employees might become more insular and distrustful of other departments, making it challenging to work with other groups. Real-time data is the only way to break down these organizational silos as they offer complete transparency within your supply chain’s transportation spend. 

According to a study conducted by Forbes, 84 percent of supply chain leaders claim that real-time data has helped them break down silos across the entire value chain. Real-time data can allow you to control cost centers, measure performance, address procedural gaps, improve decision making, and boost overall team and company performance. 

With the pandemic still at large, the remote work culture makes maintaining transparency and leveraging accurate real-time data even more critical. This is to ensure that your transportations spend management keeps running smoothly and fruitfully. 

Increased disruptions 

The first nine months of 2020 experienced a massive 4200 disruptions to global supply chains, 14 percent higher than 2019. With disruptions set to keep increasing, supply chains must adapt and evolve to survive. Investing in supply chain resilience is an absolute must for 2022. 

Also, climate change is making it more and more necessary to adopt digital solutions within supply chain management. According to a WHO, UNDP, and IPCC report, climate change has increased heat in the workplace and has reduced labor productivity by 20%. Hence, our reliance on software solutions has to proliferate to unburden human resources and prevent productivity loss.

Implementing an agile approach to supply chain transformation

An agile supply chain is a supply chain of the future. Supply chains must encompass the ability to achieve more in a shorter time, adopting new digital technologies. All end-to-end processes, such as planning, manufacturing, logistics, etc., must be backed by the latest technologies. 

A more traditional supply chain will be rendered obsolete and must undergo complete change management to keep up with the rapid digitization of the industry. Process re-engineering (radical redesign of business processes) and adaptation of software solutions to cater to the company’s specific needs will pave the way for an impeccable supply chain management strategy. 

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Hazel Raoult is a freelance marketing writer and works with PRmention. She has 6+ years of experience in writing about business, entrepreneurship, marketing, and all things SaaS. Hazel loves to split her time between writing, editing, and hanging out with her family.