Inbound Logistics | April 2023

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DELIVER ON TIME…OR ELSE! Large deliveries come with a variety of challenges, but retailers need to keep their promises or it could lead to lost business. A study on big and bulky deliveries conducted by DispatchTrack shows that 61% of shoppers are unlikely to purchase from the same retailer again if the order didn’t arrive on time. The survey also finds that 44% of deliveries aren’t completed on time, so some businesses may want to take a harder look at their shipping procedures. Improving communication and touchpoints with customers should be the first step. Customers’ top concerns are poor communication and an inability to track order status. In fact, half of the customers surveyed cite poor communication as the leading cause of a poor delivery experience. And while 90% of consumers say they want to be able to track big and bulky delivery orders online, 35% say they are unable to do so. The survey points to areas where stores and shippers can focus e orts to improve the delivery experience. Consumers say the key components of a positive delivery experience are on-time delivery (66%), accuracy (57%), item condition (41%), speed (47%), and courteous delivery teams (38%). EXPANDING PROJECT LOGISTICS IN THE GREAT WHITE NORTH A number of oil, gas, and o shore companies already call Eastern Canada home, but more are moving in with plans to expand renewable energy sources in the region. Case in point: work has already begun on World Energy GH2’s Project Nujio’qonik that will see 164 wind turbines built throughout Newfoundland’s largely rural Port au Port Peninsula. Big projects such as these bring big shipments, and logistics companies are ready to help. Rhenus Logistics, for example, is opening two new business sites in Halifax and St. John’s. The company plans to kickstart its service operations related to onshore, o shore, project logistics, and transportation with customs clearance in Eastern Canada. The project logistics specialist also plans to focus its e orts on renewable energy and o shore markets. Meanwhile, the Port of Argentia and Torrent Capital created a joint venture company, Argentia Capital, to focus on port infrastructure construction. The port is gearing up to host renewable energy companies proposing to establish facilities to produce wind energy, hydrogen, and ammonia. It is also expected to act as a staging site for o shore wind farm construction projects throughout North America.

TAKING BIG AND BULKY TO THE FINISH LINE Many businesses have standard operating procedures for shipping automobiles, but what happens when they’re asked to transport specialized, expensive, and unique cargo? AGI Bristol, for example, recently transported a Formula 1 car and simulator to Berlin. The delivery required careful planning. The car and simulator were being shipped by road, so the team had to think creatively to guarantee no movement during transit. They placed pallets beneath the wheels, then strapped the wheels to the pallets. This method also helped by allowing the team to use a forklift when loading and unloading the car and simulator. AGI Bristol also arranged a carnet—an international customs and temporary export-import document that is used to clear customs without paying duties and import taxes on merchandise that will be re-exported within 12 months. The shipment reached its destination safely and without any hiccups, which helped AGI Bristol secure the contract to deliver the car and simulator to its next destination—a trade show in Dubai.

April 2023 • Inbound Logistics 13

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