Logistics is the management of the movement of goods from one place to another, while a logistic service provider is a company that helps businesses manage their supply chain.

It include transportation from manufacturer, all the way to warehouse, order fulfillment and ultimately outbound shipping and order delivery to customers.

Yes, there are different types of logistics services available, including:

• Warehousing & Distribution: Keeping Goods moving smoothly
• Freight Forwarding: Managing & Coordinating Shipments
• E-commerce Logistics: Agrowing area due to the rise of online shopping.
• Inventory Management
• Courier Shipping
• Packaging
• Cutoms Clearance
• Tracking & Monitoring

Logistics providers manage supply chain risks through process that include:

• Identifying Risks
• Analyzing & Prioritizing Risks
• Developing Mitigation Strategies
• Monitoring & Controlling Risks
• Reviewing & Improving

While choosing a logistic partner, you can consider things like:

• Reliability: Whether they can handle disruptions, deliver on time, and minimize delays.
• Customer service: Whether they are responsive, professional, and prioritize open communication.
• Reputation: What other customers say about their performance.
• Location: Whether they are close to your customer base, shipping hubs, and major highways.
• Scalability: Whether they can handle large workloads during peak season.
• Safety: Whether they have safety guidelines for warehouse workers and inventory.
• Integrity: Whether they have a strong commitment to ethical principles.
• Risk management: How they handle disruptions like strikes, natural disasters, or geopolitical events.
• Technology: Whether they have the technology to meet your needs.
• Financial stability: Whether they are financially stable.
• Areas of expertise: What areas they specialize in.
• Price: Whether their price balances with the quality of service they provide.
• Routes: Whether they offer customized solutions to meet your specific needs.

Logistics services can benefit a business supply chain in many ways, including:

• Cost reduction: Logistics can help reduce costs by streamlining procurement and logistics procedures.
• Improved inventory management: Logistics can help improve inventory control and optimization, which can directly impact a business’s efficiency and profitability.
• Increased production rates: Logistics can help increase production rates.
• Better customer experience: Logistics can help improve customer experience and satisfaction.
• Risk management: Logistics can help identify and mitigate potential supply chain risks by analyzing gaps between processes.
• Supply chain transparency: Improving supply chain transparency can help a business run smoothly and gain the trust of customers and vendors.
• Demand prediction: Logistics can help businesses predict demand and act accordingly.
• Improved communication: Logistics can help improve communication and coordination with shipping and transport companies.