You're debating cost-effective transportation solutions with your team. How do you find common ground?

El análisis de costos logísticos internacionales es fundamental. Desde Argentina se dan algunas particularidades a tener en cuenta, sobre todo en las exportaciones por vía aérea donde hay alta oferta y poca demanda del espacio; aquí es notablemente más económico optar por el transporte aéreo VS al marítimo bajo el modo LCL. Esta ventaja aplica a embarque de hasta 2000 kg / 8 M3, según el destino. En este análisis se contemplan la gran parte de los piases de Europa y América. El tiempo de transito aéreo a estos destinos va desde 1 a 4 días y el marítimo de 7 a 57 días. La capacidad de mover nuestro capital y el costo de oportunidades que nos brinda esta opción es incalculable. Lo probamos a diario con nuestros clientes.

Try to strike a balance among all key members. You need to put the main goal of the company, the CP Value of the task, the benefits of all stakeholders, etc. Always make the better and accepted choice but not the best choice of yourself. Otherwise, no one want to get involved your game after this time.

Assess Key Priorities: Identify shared goals like reducing costs, improving efficiency, and maintaining service quality. Explore Alternatives: Compare different transportation options, considering both short-term savings and long-term benefits. Collaborate on Solutions: Encourage open discussion, balancing innovative ideas with practical constraints to find a middle ground.

In my experience, you need to evaluate three critical items before choosing a route to cost-saving measures. After selecting your core team for the project, please follow these steps to get started. Always remember that communication is the most important part of all business decisions. A- How much is the minimum you must cut to get through the lean time? B—How will this affect your team's morale, keeping work and personal lives in mind? Include ideas on how to mitigate negative effects with positive experiences. C—Last but not least, create a truth test, a discussion on how to ensure that any ideas put into action will work. You do not want experiments when cost-cutting is critical; you need actual, immediate savings.

Uma vez que as necessidades estão claras, o próximo passo é explorar as opções disponíveis, como diferentes modais de transporte (rodoviário, ferroviário, marítimo, aéreo), transportadoras, ou até mesmo a combinação de modais. Em um projeto específico de reestruturação de transporte que conduzi, participei ativamente da análise de diversas alternativas, comparando os benefícios de soluções intermodais em relação a rotas tradicionais. Minha abordagem foi sempre envolver a equipe de operações e logística para coletar insights práticos, o que permitiu uma avaliação mais completa das opções viáveis.

There are more options in logistics than one would think, therefore it is important to carefully evaluate all available solutions. This includes transport modality like air (which is the fastest), ocean (which is cost-effective), rail (which is the most environmentally friendly) and road (which is efficient). On top of choosing the type of transport, the company needs to assess the type of load they need to ship. This can include regular goods, ADR, specific temperature and security needs. The prices vary both in transport modes and load types so the company needs to find a combination that caters to their needs and most importantly, budget. It can occur that a compromise is needed in order to satisfy both shareholder and management needs.

Compare diferentes modos de transporte (rodoviário, ferroviário, aéreo, marítimo), equilibrando custo, tempo e impacto ambiental, e explore soluções intermodais ou inovadoras.

Decision should be based on assessing factors like cost, speed, reliability, and capacity. It requires comparing transportation modes (air, sea, rail, or road), service providers, and routes. Key considerations include delivery time, pricing, environmental impact, and tracking capabilities. Businesses must balance these to optimize efficiency, reduce costs, and meet customer expectations while managing risks.

Depois de identificar as opções, a análise de custos é essencial para determinar qual solução oferece o melhor equilíbrio entre eficiência e economia. Aqui, além de calcular custos diretos como combustível, taxas e manutenção, é importante considerar custos indiretos, como possíveis atrasos ou danos. Durante minha carreira, liderando grandes operações portuárias e de transporte, implementei análises detalhadas de custo-benefício para garantir que as decisões fossem tomadas com base em dados financeiros sólidos, resultando em soluções mais econômicas a longo prazo.

Less than Container Load (LCL) and Less than Truckload (LTL) have been two preferable options for transportation and logistics. The shipment service provider would segregate the cargo as per the destination and pack them in a single container. In turn, the consignee can save on transportation costs significantly. A leading logistics firm will have shipments moving constantly to different locations around the world. This would alleviate the possibility of delays. With LTL and LCL shipping services available, you don’t have to go for FTL or FCL (Full Container Load).

Analysing the cost and leveraging available data would go a long way to helping both parties reach a common ground. When arguments are presented, data should be put at the forefront. Historical data should be used as a basis for arguments from both of us...marry these data, find insights, patterns and with that decision on cutting down cost should taken .

Total delivered cost should be heavily weighed to ensure there are no adverse impacts both up and down stream. Additionally longer term vs immediate market impact should be heavily vetted.

Calcule o custo-benefício de cada opção de transporte, avaliando o impacto no orçamento, otimizando a relação entre rapidez e economia.

Na escolha de uma solução de transporte, é crucial avaliar os riscos envolvidos, como interrupções na cadeia de suprimentos, ineficiências operacionais, ou até mesmo questões legais e de compliance. A gestão de riscos sempre fez parte das minhas decisões, especialmente em contextos de operações internacionais de importação/exportação, onde fatores como mudanças regulatórias ou riscos geopolíticos podem impactar diretamente as rotas e os custos. A experiência me ensinou a implementar planos de contingência robustos e a monitorar continuamente os riscos.

Risks are a big part of logistics and averting them are costly, therefore the team should agree on the measures they are willing to take. Some risks to take into account are the following: traffic congestion on roads, multiple station stops on rail, weather conditions on ocean, limitation of goods, and pollution by air. Each company should evaluate the budget they have to avoid these problems in order to ensure a safe and punctual delivery. Although some risks can be avoided, it is important that transport is always subject to current market conditions that can not be controlled. When talking about risk aversion it has to be mentioned that trusting a slightly expensive logistics firm can minimize the risks that occur.

Identifique riscos no transporte, como atrasos e flutuações de preço, e implemente estratégias para mitigá-los, como diversificação de operadoras ou contratação de seguros.

Considere o impacto ambiental nas decisões de transporte, otimizando rotas e escolhendo transportadoras com foco em reduzir emissões, equilibrando custos e sustentabilidade.

Além de considerar os custos e os riscos, o foco na sustentabilidade tornou-se uma parte essencial das decisões de transporte nos dias atuais. Durante a implementação de uma estratégia de transporte sustentável, analisei cuidadosamente o uso de modais mais ecológicos, como o transporte ferroviário ou o uso de veículos movidos a GNL. Ao introduzir práticas sustentáveis nas operações, consegui reduzir não apenas a pegada de carbono das operações logísticas, mas também melhorar a imagem da empresa perante clientes e stakeholders, o que gerou valor a longo prazo.

In the logistics industry, sustainability is a hard topic. This is why companies should always try to maximize efficiency and reduce carbon footprint. Some ways it can be done is trying to choose more eco-friendly alternatives, such as rail for regional and ocean for intercontinental transport, and optimizing routes. Choosing groupage/LTL transport is a also a good way to reduce impact without compromising delivery times too much. Choosing sustainable solutions can also improve brand image which can be a good investment for companies on the long run.

To maintain sustainability in logistics, optimize transportation routes and use eco-friendly vehicles like electric or hybrid models. Reduce packaging waste by using recyclable materials and right-sizing packages. Improve warehouse efficiency with energy-saving technologies and smart inventory management. Adopt reverse logistics for recycling and reuse, and collaborate on shared logistics networks to reduce resource consumption and emissions.

Finalmente, alcançar um consenso é vital para garantir que a equipe esteja comprometida com a solução escolhida. Em situações anteriores, envolvi os principais stakeholders desde o início do processo de tomada de decisão. Realizei workshops colaborativos para garantir que todas as opiniões fossem ouvidas e alinhadas com os objetivos da empresa. Isso não só facilitou o consenso, mas também garantiu que a implementação das soluções fosse mais eficaz, já que todos os envolvidos estavam comprometidos com o sucesso do plano.

I think it’s slightly unrealistic to have everyone agree on a system of transportation modes for a product range / company. It will be a bit give and take of what can be prioritized as air cargo or need to be ordered earlier to ship out on time. I believe that ultimately it needs to be the board that determines which option of 2-3 offers that will win after a throughout input from the logistics department and sales department. It’s highly related to margins. There need to be an ultimate deciding authority that weigh in market conditions, lead times and nature of product. Sometimes more chefs doesn’t make a better soup.

Facilite uma discussão onde a equipe possa colaborar, garantindo que a solução final leve em conta as necessidades de todos e seja apoiada por todos os envolvidos.

For collective decisions, identify key stakeholders and define the decision’s objective. Gather relevant data, encourage cross-functional input, and facilitate open communication. Use decision-making tools like SWOT analysis or voting to evaluate options. Agree on evaluation criteria, ensure alignment, and document decisions for review. This fosters collaboration and informed decision-making.