Financial constraints, lack of IT expertise, time constraints and entirely too many difficult options to choose from can all negatively impact even the best-laid technology investment plans. There are also upfront costs to consider, existing systems to replace and advanced software applications to run — all of which can quickly consume a growing company’s time, resources and energy.
Technology has undeniably leveled the playing field for companies of all sizes to be able to compete for market share. It also places new constraints on smaller organizations that may be throttled by their legacy IT systems and use too many manual processes and unintegrated solutions that can’t share data.
These challenges come to light in the supply chain, logistics and transportation spaces, where getting end-to-end buy-in, cooperation and visibility have become table stakes for growing companies.
Supply chain automation becomes a core focus
As supply chains become even more automated, the digital transformation race is on for companies of all sizes.
Unfortunately, the race-day experience is going to be different for everyone. Middle-market companies with annual revenues of $10 million to $1 billion, for example, generally have below average technology capabilities, according to a recent Harvard Business Review study.
Even companies that have ample resources are dealing with tech pain points right now. “The problem isn’t money. The smaller companies say they have the resources they need,” the publication points out. “The problem is knowing what to do, then doing it. Midsize companies are 25% more likely to say that they lack a comprehensive plan for digital adoption and transformation.”
The last mile hasn’t kept up with digital change
Digital transformation has dramatically changed how consumers buy things — from research to discovery to transaction processing — but the products themselves still have to physically move from seller to buyer. This link in the supply chain, which is also known as the last mile, hasn’t kept up with the pace of digital change.
Large e-tailers like Amazon have large fleets that support quick delivery of customer orders, but most other companies have been left to their own devices to figure out their last-mile logistics approaches. This has put companies of all sizes in a compromising position as customers get more and more discerning about the delivery experience. Speed of delivery is the second most important factor for consumers when choosing where to shop (second only to free delivery). Plus, 55% of shoppers say they’ll switch to another seller in order to get their orders delivered quicker.
Enterprise-grade tools at your fingertips
Businesses that incorporate technology solutions into their logistics operations can set themselves up for success. And if an internal IT investment isn’t feasible right now, Roadie offers users access to an enterprise-grade crowdsourcing platform without the usual headaches associated with an enterprise-level software implementation. This access lets customers digitally transform their last mile without significant upfront capital investments.
The enterprise-grade tools in the Roadie platform gives businesses of all sizes an effective alternative to regular delivery routes, parcel carrier shipments and other last-mile delivery methods. Using Roadie technology, companies can also affordably accommodate VIP and rush orders, fluctuations in demand, and big and bulky items — all without needing costly investments in delivery infrastructure.
As a wholly owned subsidiary of UPS, you can expect high quality enterprise-level tools from Roadie like:
- End-to-end shipment visibility platform. Recent research found 56% of shoppers are more likely to complete a purchase if they can see the estimated delivery date in the shopping cart. Roadie’s real-time tracking, signature confirmation and photographic chain of custody help customers track the status of their shipment at every step.
- Advanced delivery optimization. With the batching and clustering algorithms built into the Roadie platform, you can efficiently group and batch a set of orders. Then, a single crowdsourced delivery driver picks up a batch of orders from the warehouse or store and delivers the goods quickly and efficiently.
- On-demand warehousing resources. On-demand fulfillment and warehousing platforms such as Ware2Go, another UPS company, help companies identify and book open warehouse space only when and where they need it. This will help you manage inventory surges, leverage new market opportunities and put goods closer to your end customers.
Your customers are asking for more
Consumers today expect a seamless, digitally enabled experience every time they hit the “Buy Now” button on their computers, tablets or mobile phones. Companies that can meet these expectations are reaping significant rewards: One recent study found that organizations offering a high-quality customer experience can generate 4% to 8% more revenue than their peers. Roadie’s crowdsourced delivery and enterprise-grade IT tools can help your company meet and exceed customer expectations for a high-quality experience every time they shop.
The user-friendly Roadie platform and processes will give you the confidence to bring customers the products they want fast — all without having to invest in your own last-mile technology infrastructure, software and resources. You’ll be able to deliver exceptional service that keeps customers coming back again and again.
