Shipping and receiving can be one of the biggest expenses for any warehouse or plant. With the cost of labor, trucks and containers, and supplies, reducing shipping and receiving time and labor costs is essential for improving profitability and efficiency. Here are some tips and best practices for reducing shipping and receiving labor costs and becoming more efficient.
Appointment Scheduling to Avoid Overbooking and Wait Times
Appointment scheduling is a critical aspect of shipping and receiving, as it allows you to plan your workday, reduce wait times, and avoid overbooking. By setting appointments, you can make sure that you have enough staff on hand to handle incoming shipments and keep the work moving smoothly. You can also use this information to improve your workforce scheduling, which will help you reduce labor costs and maximize productivity.
Collect Accurate and Complete Load Information Up Front
Collecting accurate and complete load information is essential for reducing shipping and receiving labor costs. Accurate load information can help you avoid delays at check-in and at the door and facilitates planning and staging all loads up front to minimize un/loading time. Accurate load information also helps you avoid detention claims and minimize the time spent on unloading and loading. For situations where customers have special requirements such as specific labeling and packaging, this can reduce the loading times from 2+ hours to 15-20 minutes.
Accurate Visit Statuses and Audit Trails
Accurate visit checkpoints, time stamps and audit trails are crucial for improving warehouse efficiency. They provide a record of all incoming shipments, which can be used to monitor the progress of shipments, track labor status, and identify areas for improvement. Accurate visit audit trails also help you avoid detention claims, which can be a significant expense for any warehouse or plant.
Consumer-Grade User Experience for Automation Systems
A consumer-grade user experience is essential for maximizing adoption and value. This includes a simple and intuitive interface, similar to those we use in our private lives, that is easy to use, quick to navigate, and accessible from any device. A consumer-grade user experience can help you reduce training costs, increase adoption, and improve the overall efficiency of your shipping and receiving operations.
Benefits of Reducing Shipping and Receiving Labor Costs
The benefits of reducing shipping and receiving labor costs are significant. By following these tips, you can reduce overtime, variable/temp workers, and improve your warehouse team's productive time from 65% to 95%. You can also minimize the time spent on unloading and loading, which can result in a more efficient and productive workplace.
In conclusion, reducing shipping and receiving labor costs is essential for improving profitability and efficiency. By following these best practices, you can become more efficient, minimize labor costs, and improve the overall productivity of your warehouse or plant.
