April 20179 Smart solutions & innovative delivery methodsAs eCommerce becomes a natural choice, the issues of traffic congestion and last-mile deliveries are transferred to the logistics provider, driving more innovative distribution networks and the rise of omni-channel delivery solutions. In response to increased congestion, distribution companies are using smaller vehicles such as vans and motorbikes to increase speed and agility, maximise the number of small drops per load, and increase the daily number of delivery runs when compared to their larger counterparts. Innovative networks and logistics partnerships are also evolving such as the pick-up and delivery locker networks placed at existing retail outlets such as 7-11, which still rely on consumers completing the last mile themselves. In some more extreme (and impressive) examples in Jakarta, some distributors are able to deliver direct to customers' cars while they're stuck in long traffic jams.IT supporting new networksThese new networks need intelligent systems to provide accessibility and visibility of transactions for distributors and consumers. For Asia, these systems need to be cost effective and ideally free to last-mile users and consumers in the supply chain, including delivery drivers. Until recently, the high cost of devices for drivers was a considerable barrier to completing the visibility loop in the supply chain, but increasing wage rates and the availability of low cost smart phones is now solving this problem. As a result, many new Android apps are appearing in the market, replacing the old and expensive enterprise track and trace solutions with agile and intelligent proof of delivery (ePOD) solutions that allow customers to see where their goods are in real time, and allow sellers and retailers to receive instant confirmation of orders reaching their destination. This development helps to significantly speed up the order to cash cycle for many businesses from the manufacturer through to the delivery driver. It also maximises the flexibility of delivery options by using apps such as Waze or Google Maps and the smartphone's inbuilt GPS to adjust delivery routes on the fly based on traffic conditions or changes to customers' requirements.Many companies are still trying to define how eCommerce and omni-channel networks will work best for them, and supply chain providers like Linfox are now working to fill this gap with one-stop eCommerce services that offer everything from the front-end website, to fulfilment, delivery, and customer service infrastructure. Many of our own customers are adapting to meet changing consumer demands and complement their traditional bricks and mortar offering with more comprehensive omni-channel networks.Logistics is the critical enabler for successful omni-channel networks and Linfox is working closely with our customers to provide solutions such as greater network visibility, shorter delivery timeframes, and innovations in warehouse operations to meet higher volume small order requirements. As the use and understanding of big data and analytics deepens through the expansion of the IoT, the range of options for end consumers in the future will be boundless. The best is certainly yet to come. Carly Cummings
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