Logistics as a whole employs logistics professionals who will manage a company’s transportation network. The network includes trucks, rails, ocean and air freights, and inbound/outbound logistics. This also covers production facilities to warehouses, retailers, and end-users (consumers).
Referencing Australia, the country has almost 2.1 million companies, with half of them being highly dependent on secured global logistics services Australia. Through the decades, the logistics process in the country has improved by leaps and bounds.
This resulted in enabling small and medium establishments (SMEs)deal with their markets with ease. The involvement of international freight services into any venture have encouraged investments and the growth that followed.
To date, the Australian logistics market was valued at USD 81.28 billion in 2021, and it is expected to reach USD 114.32 billion by 2027. The registered growth rate is 5.85% during the forecast period (2022-2027).
Government investment
Anticipated by many to drive the Australian logistics and warehousing industry in the coming years, the government is currently investing in infrastructure development. This includes development of roads, rails, air and water transport facilities.
The estimated investment that included AUD 70 billion was for the allocation is for transport infrastructure from 204 to 2021. The additional AUD 75 billion is for funding road and rail infrastructure from 2018 to 2027.
The government is investing AUD 110 billion on land transport infrastructure across Australia through its rolling infrastructure pipeline, the majority of which is funded under the infrastructure investment program.
Expected to help in the various land transport infrastructure program is the partnership of the Australian government with New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania, the Northern Territory, and the Australian Capital Territory.
Advances / globalization
Technological advances and globalization are the twin charges that had rapidly changed the transport and logistics landscape. The other trends influencing the industry include such factors as increased consumer demands, the rise of e-commerce and the digitalization of the supply chain.
In the area of logistics, several offered services are covered: transport distribution and storage, order picking and shipping, incoming goods logistics and warehousing, payment management including control, monitoring and documentation of processes.
Also included are inventory management and warehouse management.
Important component
Planning has been considered to be one of the most important components of Logistics management. It is found to be essential in assuring all the elements of the process to be coordinated and implemented successfully.
Logistics management is complex and is fundamental for companies in managing their supply chain. The key components create and enforce consistency in the movement of goods from the manufacturer to the distributor or consumer.
Logistics activities
This actually defines the logistics activities within the supply chain. Having a deep knowledge and understanding of the key components of logistics management is crucial.
Presently, the industry changes and pushes for faster and more effective logistics to get a product into the hands of the consumer or distributor. The following are the key components in improving the process.
Planning: Storage / Warehousing / Materials Handling
The action is in anticipation with the unpredictability of the market. Coupled with this is the fact that it is highly susceptible to the imbalances between supply and demand. Supply can be steady but the demand for goods is not.
It is directly affected by different factors, making it unpredictable.
Logistics management has the key role in ensuring a constant and continuous supply of goods from the manufacturer to the consumer. Great planning becomes essential to maintain a healthy supply chain.
Fluctuation: supply and demand
When there is fluctuation of supply and demand, there can be an insufficient supply of goods or a surplus of goods produced. In cases like this, storage units and warehouses become part of the process.
Proper logistics planning provides the right organization and synergy. It becomes essential to ensure proper maintenance and handling of the goods.
As it is, planning is one of the most important components of Logistics management. It is essential in assuring that all the elements of the process are coordinated and implemented successfully.
Packaging unitization
Proper handling and storing of products is key in logistics management. This is why care and conditioning of the products and goods are essential in the supply chain.
Products packaging takes a lot of research. This includes the way the goods are stored to keep them at their best quality. Also included is strategizing how the package itself can be handled and processed.
In addition, the colors and branding play a big part to ensure the consumer gets a positive experience. The design, the shape, the material, and even the colors of the packaging are thoroughly thought out.
Packaging protection
The idea is to successfully get the product to the right hands in the best condition possible. Packaging protects a product as it is being transported from the manufacturer to the consumer.
When supply and demand fluctuate, that package might need to sit in a warehouse in the process. The same goes with the packaging strategy as well. It needs to maintain and condition the product in such scenarios, without jeopardizing the quality.
Unitization
Unitization helps in the storage and transportation of goods and products. Essentially, it is a “grouped or bundled cargo, wrapped into packages and loaded onto or inside a bigger unit”.
The aim is to fit products and goods in a cube, the easiest shape to transport and store. Packaging and unitization work together on packing all different shapes and sizes of products and goods into a cuboid shape.
Inventory control
Closely related to storage and warehousing, inventory is important to ensure consumer requirements are met.The aim is to control the flow of goods and products going in and out of the warehouses.
It determines how much stock to hold, where to store, and how much is to be stored.
Inventory management is about predicting the demand of goods by consumers. They do this with the help of sales data, mathematical and statistical tools.
Not exactly an accurate science, inventory management is an important logistics element to helping manage the flow of goods through the supply chain. A healthy inventory balance is detrimental to the supply chain and business margins.
Transportation
Transportation is one complex and costly part of logistics management. It can represent 50 percent of the logistics budget. This puts pressure on companies to find the fastest and cost-effective way to get products and goods to the consumers and distributors.
Transportation includes various platforms, such as road vehicles, cargo trains, freight shipping, and air transport.
It also plays a key role in the fast-growing industry of e-commerce. The consumer has high expectations for fast and proper delivery of goods.
When partnering with a 3PL, it is important to work with a company that provides reliable and transparent logistic services to ensure quality and efficiency.