10 Ways Logistics Companies Can Improve Their Customer Satisfaction

Nowadays, excellent customer service is a must for companies aiming to grow. Both commercial and business clients want vendors to be reliable, and they will look for new providers if they are not satisfied with the quality of service they receive. There are several ways businesses in the logistics industry can improve customer satisfaction. In this text, you will learn about 10 that yield outstanding results in a relatively short amount of time.

Importance of great customer service in logistics companies

Over 65% of people have higher expectations for customer service today than they did three to five years ago. As a result, your ability to quickly resolve issues and provide accurate information has more value than ever. If the software your warehouse operates relies on external vendors, you know how important it is to solve issues quickly. A system downtime that lasts long enough can prevent your business from operating, which may lead to considerable losses or costly fines. 

In that situation, demanding a timely fix from your IT vendor is only natural. It’s no wonder your customers expect you to meet deadlines and quickly resolve their queries. And in a market where 75% of customers are willing to spend more to buy from businesses that give them a good customer experience, companies that put their clients first prevail.

Developing a customer-centric strategy is a challenging task, but the rewards are evident. Excellent service increases the customer retention rate. And according to research by Bain & Company, a 5% increase in customer retention can produce over a 25% increase in profits.

Recognizing the importance of earning customer trust should lead to a comprehensive reconsideration of your priorities. Should you put more emphasis on problem-solving, improve customer-facing processes, or invest in warehouse automation? The answer depends as much on the current industry landscape as on your business’s unique strengths and shortcomings. 

Before deciding on the approach you take, it’s good to know your options. Below, you’ll find 10 ways your logistics company can improve the customer experience.

1. Streamline your operations

Streamlining operations is a sure way to improve service delivery and supply chain visibility. In addition, simple processes are much easier to comprehend. If your clients understand how your company operates, they will trust you more and become more prone to choose your services. 

Start by looking at the processes that haven’t been touched for a long time. Think about what parts can be adjusted - more often than not, you will find a more efficient way to get from point A to B. Such an analysis may take up a lot of time, so consider working with a consultant who knows what to search for.

Once you know which processes can be updated, it’s time to introduce new technologies to help you track and manage inventory, optimize routes and transportation modes, and automate repetitive tasks. The right choice of technology will be an excellent lever for improving efficiency, reducing costs, and streamlining processes, resulting in faster and more accurate deliveries. By streamlining operations, you will also reduce the number of disparate systems utilized by all facets of your operations, the learning curves of such systems, and invariably, mistakes in the process.

2. Invest in the customer service team

When a customer experiences an issue, they want to be treated seriously and see their concerns resolved right away. This is why an outstanding customer service team can become your greatest advantage. Located at the frontline in dealing with customer queries, these teams became cornerstones of many successful, growth-focused companies. On top of improving client retention, every satisfied client can become your advocate and refer more prospects to you.

The first thing you have to do to become known as a company that treats its clients better than others is to invest in customer service training for your employees. Your people represent your business in the eyes of others, so they should embody the company’s values. Once your staff understands their role in customer experience, it’s time to implement feedback mechanisms and focus on providing timely and accurate information to your customers.

3. Leverage data analytics

Every logistics company has access to a vast amount of data, but only some leverage this information to improve their operations. Data analytics provide in-depth insight into your daily operations that can be used to make more informed decisions. By analyzing data on transportation routes, inventory levels, product velocities, and customer behavior, you can competently identify areas in need of improvement.

Virtually all modern enterprise software should be able to provide you with the data you need for this analysis. Depending on your company’s specialization and business model, you may want to track different metrics. Nonetheless, along with the key performance indicators (KPIs) of your choice, you should always collect data on delivery times, accuracy, and customer satisfaction. It will give you a good understanding of your organization’s health and help you compare your performance against your competitors. Whenever you find a metric that falls behind the industry average, you should identify areas that should be improved and implement changes that are needed to correct this factor.

4. Establish mutually advantageous partnerships

One of the easiest ways to expand your service offering is to collaborate with partners who supplement your services. Working with other industry leaders gives you invaluable insights and information on new developments in related markets. The right partners can help you adopt new technologies, optimize transportation routes, and develop your strategy further.

What partners should you be looking for? It’s a tricky question, and the answer depends on the unique characteristics of your business. For example, if you want to expand your transportation network, you should partner with a carrier that can support your fleet. If you expand to another country, a partner experienced in foreign markets can guide you on this journey. Generally, a strong partner network is most advantageous for businesses with a strategic approach to finding their place in the globalized economy.

5. Implement real-time tracking and visibility

Supply chain visibility data enables you to identify and mitigate issues before they become urgent or harmful, reduce delays, improve communication with customers, and increase transparency.

On top of that, a real-time tracking system allows companies to provide up-to-date information on the shipment status, leading to improved satisfaction. Today’s customers expect convenient access to such information on their laptops or smartphones. The only way to reliably provide them with accurate data is by leveraging tailor-made software for your company. 

6. Embrace continuous improvement

Tech companies know that the modern software development process never truly ends. There is always something to improve or new functionality to add. Logistics companies could benefit from adopting the same mindset, as there is always room for improvement in that industry as well. 

Organizations that strive for continuous improvement review their processes regularly, seek feedback from customers and employees, and identify more areas for improvement. This way, they repeatedly eliminate inefficiencies, improve processes, optimize costs, and fight the decline in customer satisfaction. 

This journey will never end, but it has to start somewhere. It would be best if you began by updating your current systems and ensuring they are ready to support your growth. While doing so, make sure your whole company understands the continuous improvement mindset, as from now on, all employees must look at their roles differently and think about how their end can be improved. 

7. Enhance security measures

If you put safety measures on the back burner, you expose yourself to hundreds of cyber threats. Today, you simply must have robust cybersecurity in place to protect your business, shipments, and customer data from malicious actors and incidents. 

But security is also crucial when it comes to your employees and the goods you’re taking care of. By using secure packaging, implementing driver safety training, and installing security cameras, your business becomes well-protected. As a consequence, it also becomes trusted by its clients. People look for safety and want to see that their partners take it seriously.

8. Reevaluate the transportation routes 

Transportation of goods is the biggest cost logistics companies have to face. Truck maintenance is expensive, and so are gas and drivers’ salaries. It only makes sense to optimize further expenses by using the most efficient routes.

Software solutions can aid you in finding the shortest and safest routes, so you can optimize the gas cost and ensure that the goods don’t get damaged in transit. Load planning is also easier with applications, so you can ensure all vehicles carry full loads and don’t drive with empty trailers pretty effortlessly. 

But the best way to ensure your company realizes its full potential is to work with the right people who believe in your business and understand how it works. Such trusted advisors will help you redesign transportation routes to ensure they are as cost/time efficient as possible.

9. Improve warehouse management

The truth is the way your warehouse operates determines how efficiently you manage inventories and how fast you fill orders and transport goods. It doesn’t matter what you store and transport. If you’re not using robots to move boxes, you waste valuable time. If you’re not using vertical columns, you waste priceless space. Usually, in every warehouse, there are improvements to be made to move the boxes from shelves to trucks more efficiently.

Ensuring proper warehouse management can be partially achieved by utilizing modern Warehouse Management Systems. If you’re not using one yet, or run an outdated system, it’s time to act. An optimized warehouse will not only help you provide excellent service but also keep your mind calm and clear. When not worrying about managing chaos, you can focus on things that make your business stand out.

10. Optimize efficiency with automation

Today, almost all businesses use some kind of automation, and you should do it too if you want to thrive in the years to come. By embracing new technologies, you will speed up your organization's operations, improve communication, decrease the need for manual labor, and reduce human error. 

Automation won’t replace your employees. It will help them focus on the most important areas of your business. Adjusting to change may be difficult, but automating mundane and repetitive tasks that have troubled your workforce for a long time will quickly pay off the investment. The best thing about this technology is that custom automation may solve even the most unusual challenges.

Achieve your business goals quicker by working with experts

So how do you start optimizing your business? It’s easier to find room for improvement with a process scorecard. Tracking how everything really works will lead you to discover inefficiencies in your processes. If you run into trouble deciding the priorities or next steps, consider hiring a consultant with subject matter experience.

Maxima Consulting has supported businesses in their digital transformations since 1993. Contact us today and schedule a free consultation with one of our logistics experts. Once we understand what’s unique about your company, we’ll know how to optimize its performance.