2018 has brought us a year full of blessings. While there have been challenges, we know that we couldn’t have done it without everyone’s help. From our loyal customers, our top of the line staff and our reliable drivers, we know how much you’ve contributed to these blessings. For that, we thank you and wish you a wonderful holiday season in which you can share your own blessings with your family.
It’s always exciting for a manufacturer to begin receiving new orders, whether from a recently on-boarded customer or as a result of new contracts with existing clients. Continued growth is a common goal for most companies, and with this year’s impressive manufacturing boom, many have been able to outperform previous expectations. While this is a positive trend, there are challenges that come with rapid growth, as each new order comes with updated requirements and a larger workload. To alleviate these growing pains, it is important for organizations to focus on efficiency throughout their supply chain.
Transportation is just one part of the supply chain, but it is an integral aspect in fulfilling orders and keeping customers happy. It may be tempting to simply find the cheapest carriers available and book them whenever possible to save money on every order. However, this often leads to service failures and can end up costing money in the long run due to late fees and fractured relationships with clients and vendors alike. A superior strategy to this transactional model is to develop strong, long-lasting partnerships with quality transportation providers. Partners who understand how important each shipment is to your reputation and are dedicated to helping you keep your commitments. This approach helps companies secure more capacity and benefit from more reliable service. Fostering these sort of partnerships will help prevent spikes in pricing and service failures as capacity tightens and markets shift.
Zip Xpress strives to create strong partnerships with everyone we work with. Our goal is customer satisfaction, providing reliability as well as the ability to handle your shipments. We understand that you’re growing with new orders and it is our mission to help you shore up that growth with strengthening your supply chain. Our experts work to ensure that your freight arrives on time and damage free, making your company more reliable and improving customer service. To see how we can shore up your supply chain, start today with Zip Xpress!
Customer service is an integral part of any industry, and logistics is no exception. When a customer – whether a business or an individual consumer – is relying on a company to deliver their product, they want to know that they are working with a reliable, communicative, and proactive organization who can quickly and efficiently service their needs. All too often, however, logistics companies fail to meet the service levels required of them, resulting in customers seeking out new, more dependable options. This can easily be avoided by committing to finding quick, simple solutions for customers rather than taking unnecessary measures to compensate for previous service failures.
When a customer is waiting on a product, they don’t want to hear excuses. They want to know that their logistics provider is working on the problem immediately. This means that there is someone to answer their call at all times and that emails and other inquiries will be responded to within minutes. Quick, straightforward answers are far more valuable than exuberant “make-up” offers or long-winded, reactionary explanations. The fewer channels and reps that a client must go through to find their answer, the more likely they will be to report satisfaction with their customer service experience. Just as time and transparency are key factors in any shipment, they also play a large role in customer service.
Zip Xpress is committed to providing the highest level of service for all of our valued customers. This is why we make sure to keep our lines of communication open and our response times as short as possible. Zip Xpress doesn’t even have a voicemail system or use prompts when you call our phone number. There is a live person here 24/7 and customers will always speak with someone when they call Zip. Employees at Zip are all crossed trained so if you need to trace a shipment, any of us that answer the phone can help you without passing you to someone else. Quote requests are responded to within 5 minutes of reception, because we know that even if the freight doesn’t have to leave the dock right away, customers want to know their costs as quickly as possible. Our highly trained and experienced professionals at Zip are dedicated to providing prompt, friendly, and effective service. To see for yourself, start today with Zip Xpress!
In the past few months, America has seen its fair share of treacherous weather. Hurricane Florence ravaged the southeast with flooding in September, constant rainstorms soaked the northeast in October, and a cold front brought heavy snowfall and frigid temperatures to the midwest just this past week. This is not to mention the devastating wildfires in California that have gone on for months. Despite these conditions, commerce stills goes on and Americans continue to work, and that remains particularly true in logistics. But how can carriers, customers, and other parties involved in manufacturing make sure that their freight arrives safely and on time in such a volatile environment? The simple answer comes down to preparation and communication.
Even the best meteorologists can not predict the weather with certainty, but we can all pay attention to the news and recent weather patterns around us. When we know that a storm is coming, we can better prepare our warehouses to expedite the production of hot shipments and communicate with all parties to set realistic expectations. The unfortunate truth is that trucks are going to be shut down due to blizzards, rainstorms, icy roads, and other unsafe driving conditions. This will lead to shipments being delayed, and it is an inevitable part of the world of transportation. However, if shippers, carriers, and customers stay in constant communication, potential late deliveries become manageable. We know that constant communications makes everyone in the supply chain more reliable and stabilizes your delivery schedule.
At Zip Xpress, we stay in constant communication with our partners at all times, even during inclement weather. We work with our customers, and ensure all updates are provided by another human being, not a recording. Hazardous weather is another challenge to navigate, but as long as you have a communication plan in place, everything becomes manageable. If you’d like to experience the stability and reliability of our custom carrier solutions, start today with Zip Xpress!
As we gather together to count our blessings, we wanted to pause for a moment and thank everyone who has helped make Zip Xpress a success. From our loyal staff to our dedicated customers, we wouldn’t be here without you. Every person has added so much that we’re overwhelmed with gratitude. We hope you and your families have a safe and festive Thanksgiving. May you share in all of your own bountiful blessings.
Talk with anybody who lives near a major city in the USA, and there’s a good chance you’ll find out they don’t think much of the roads around them. Whether they’re constantly clogged with traffic, littered with hubcap-shattering potholes, or simply don’t ride as smoothly as desired, roads across the country are not very popular among the citizens. This doesn’t just apply to cluttered urban main streets or rarely traveled dirt roads – the entire interstate highway system is suffering from many of the same problems. Why is this such a prominent problem, and what can be done to fix it?
Mismanagement of US highways goes back decades, with a severe lack of funding made even worse by bloated maintenance contracts and uncooperative state or local municipalities. This means that funds are allocated in an often-lopsided fashion. Consider also that it is very challenging to predict how much funding can be expected on a yearly basis, so not as much thought goes into planning for repairs and new construction. With 75% of the nation’s heavy truck traffic utilizing the Interstate system, carriers have great incentive to take action in helping prevent our national highways from crumbling.
There is no single, simple solution for America’s road problem, but we can all do our part in the meantime. At Zip Xpress we utilize our headload solution which allows us to place more shipments into one trailer. This solution has the double benefit of cutting down on emissions and trucks on the road, preserving our highways. Our customers know how important this issue is so we work with each and every one of them to optimize their shipments and ensure they’re making a more sustainable impact on the environment. Manufacturers have taken the lead on becoming environmental stewards, we’re doing our part as well. To see how we can optimize your shipment, start today with Zip Xpress!
Improvements and innovations in technology inevitably dictate changes in the way any industry or sector behaves. Manufacturing has been disrupted by technology since before the Industrial Revolution, and that disruption does not seem to be going away any time soon. This hasn’t only changed the way manufacturers operate from a physical standpoint, but also the way they analyze their own performance and efficiency. No longer are manufacturing companies looking only inside of their factories to monitor performance – now they are extending the supply chain in both directions to evaluate their standing among end users and second and third-tier suppliers.
It is far easier now than ever before to collect and analyze data from deep within the supply chain. This means that manufacturers can use loads of end-user and supplier data to help them come up with stronger, more efficient solutions for their everyday operations. It isn’t just about pleasing the next warehouse in the line of production. It’s about ensuring that every consumer is happy with the final product and that vendors and suppliers are working seamlessly with the manufacturer to create an experience that benefits every party along the way.
However, data analysis can leave a sense of feeling trapped and that it’s not providing the full utility you desire from it. The end of the supply chain consists of shipping, shipment tracking, and invoicing all of which add on to this sense of overwhelm. At Zip Xpress our customer service experience offers solutions which help you get the answers you need without feeling trapped or overwhelmed. We’ll get you the answers you need with no waiting, no voicemail and no support tickets. When our data analysis uncovers an issue, Zip Xpress is able to quickly respond and address the issue. To see how we can help fit your supply chain together, start today with Zip Xpress.
For many, the image that comes to mind when they think of pollution is the factory sending billows of smoke into the atmosphere. However, today’s manufacturers have become some of the most environmentally-conscious patrons of the environment, and they continue to strive to reach new goals in sustainability. Thanks to widespread social awareness and changes in attitude, manufacturers are making it a point to reduce their carbon footprint and participate in programs that promote a cleaner, healthier environment for everyone.
An impressive 93.8% of manufacturers report that they track their energy consumption, meaning that the vast majority of organizations are at least paying attention to their impact on the planet. This is a positive trend across the board, because it means that organizations are showing a desire to make improvements rather than doing so only to comply with rules and regulations. It makes sense from a financial standpoint too, as investment in green energy can help organizations to break free from the expensive and inefficient shackles of fossil fuels. Investing a little extra now will provide major benefits in the long run as renewable energy becomes the healthier, more productive, and less expensive option. We at Zip provide our customers their own carbon footprint report as well as our own company-wide one. You’ll be able to see the direct impact your sustainability efforts have.
Manufacturers, however, aren’t the only companies that can contribute to a cleaner environment. We are placing a major emphasis on sustainability and in doing so are helping our partners reduce their footprint as well. By optimizing the space in our trailers, we’re putting fewer trucks on the road and releasing fewer emissions on a daily basis. These solutions, based on maximizing the efficiency of the trailer and the truck, are only the beginning. With a mentality of always looking for the most efficient answer and keeping it sustainable, we at Zip Xpress promise to be the sustainable transportation option for the foreseeable future. To experience our sustainable options for yourself, start today with Zip Xpress!
The supply chain is one of the most vital functions of any company, and it affects every aspect of the business, directly or indirectly. Because it is so complex, however, it can be a challenge to keep the supply chain running as smoothly as desired. There are a countless number of things that can go wrong, from a truck breaking down and missing a production line delivery to a warehouse suffering a power outage. Since so many of these things are out of our control, it is important to keep open lines of communication across every part of the supply chain.
The moment something goes wrong, it should be communicated to everybody directly involved. From there, notification should be sent to all others who’re going to be affected, whether it’s the next manufacturing warehouse or the customer’s final distribution center. Many catastrophes could be avoided if communication was focused on from the ground level. Many soured business relationships could have been salvaged if both sides were simply open and honest with each other. It is better for both sides to be able to address the problem at the beginning rather than waiting for it to get worse.
As you develop stronger lines of communication with customers and vendors, you will notice that your supply chain will run more smoothly and efficiently. You’ll be able to catch unfavorable situations before they cause major problems, allowing you to focus on getting your shipments delivered safely and on time. If you establish trust throughout your supply chain, there will be fewer arguments and greater understanding when something does go wrong. As part of the supply chain, we are all in this together. We can reduce our stress levels and increase our productivity if we simply communicate in a clear and honest way.
To see how we’ll communicate with you and your supply chain, start today with Zip Xpress!
A recent study in the consumer packaged goods industry found that nearly 70% of executives see the supply chain as a support function rather than a tool for growth. While that is only one industry, it isn’t hard to imagine that key players in a wide range of industries might feel the same way. The problem with this line of thinking is that it seemingly ignores all of the advances that have been made in the supply chain sector. These advances have been integral in growing multiple industries and contributing to the success of some of the biggest companies currently in existence.
Consider how much e-commerce has evolved over the years. The obvious name here is Amazon – what they’ve accomplished by focusing on revamping their supply chain has been nothing short of remarkable. The lesson here is that Amazon made the supply chain seamless for many consumer companies. The next logical step in supply chain evolution is getting product to arrive on time and damage free. Manufacturers need to take a long, hard look at their supply chain and evaluate how their carriers handle their products.
In today’s world, many customers want their product to arrive damage free. They don’t want to see office furniture coming out of the truck dented, scratched or crushed. They don’t want to see dents in their medical machinery or bends in the industrial robotic arms. Low prices and fast transits go out the window if your unique freight arrives damaged. Customer trust erodes every time freight arrives damaged and the costs to replace this sensitive equipment will soar. This will put a strain on sales and revenue, further hurting the company. On the other hand, if you are consistently outperforming expectations and keeping your customers happy, you have a great chance of gaining more business and driving profits up. To see how we can increase growth for your company through the supply chain, start today with Zip Xpress!