If you’re a Greensboro, NC distribution business and you’ve printed packing slips, sent off invoices, and filled the trucks’ fuel tanks, one of two things is about to happen. In one instance, the truck leaves Greensboro and gets to Lexington without a hitch – the truck arrives on time with undamaged cargo that matches the invoices and packing slips perfectly.
In another instance, however, things don't go so smoothly. And when the unexpected happens, it will be critical for our hypothetical Greensboro business to have an efficient and well-organized container tracking system in place. Otherwise, it could find itself in hot water with its customers, suppliers, or even the government.
One factor that can make life difficult for our hypothetical company is the unexpected transfer of containers from one truck to another. Perhaps the truck has broken down or is needed back at the main facility earlier than planned. In either case, the containers are no longer where they are supposed to be, and they should be inventoried an additional time. A container tracking system can make sure that this process is completed smoothly with as few errors as possible, even if the transfer takes place miles and miles from the nearest inventory specialist. Without an inventory tracking system, the transfer could result in lost, misplaced, or mislabeled goods.
Even if the goods remain on the same truck all the way from Greensboro to Lexington, damage during shipping remains an ominous possibility. Failure to keep careful track of the condition of goods in transit can cause all manner of headaches, from re-shipment to contractual disputes. Although a container tracking system can't prevent goods from becoming damaged in transit, it can provide you with solid evidence of when and where the damage occurred. This can help you quickly resolve any business problems created by the damage – and prevent damage from similar events in the future.
Delivering goods on time is just as important as delivering them in good condition. Weather delays, traffic delays, and repair delays can all affect the timeline of our hypothetical delivery to Lexington. Without a container tracking system in place, even a small delay can turn into a big headache as workers in Greensboro race to get updates from the truck driver and relay them to the customer in Lexington. A container tracking system makes it easier to manage delays by giving the customer verified updates on the shipment's location or even by helping the Greensboro business find nearby alternate routes or alternate vehicles.
Ideally, every shipment to every recipient will go as smoothly as the one described at the beginning. Unfortunately, however, we do not live in an ideal world. When the inconvenient realities of the distribution business make life difficult for shipping managers, a container tracking system can save the day. Failing to have one in place can result in a number of headaches that are far easier to prevent than they are to fix.
Oates & Company is dedicated to helping distribution businesses design and implement the ideal container tracking system for their needs; feel free to contact us for more information about our services.
