Streamlining the motherload of deliveries this Mother's Day
Mother's Day is celebrated annually in almost every country around the world. In Australia, the occasion was observed first in 1910 but it wasn’t until 1924 that the holiday became more widespread.
Mother's Day is celebrated annually in almost every country around the world. In Australia, the occasion was observed first in 1910, but it wasn’t until 1924 that the holiday became more widespread. This special day is dedicated to appreciating the tireless efforts and unconditional love of mothers and mother figures.
As Sunday approaches, freight managers in the logistics industry have been gearing up to accommodate the increased demand for products and services. With the rise in e-commerce and online shopping, good freight management is especially important in the lead-up to this big day. In fact, Australians are set to spend more than $995 million on Mother’s Day gifts, with flowers, alcohol, food and clothing topping the list.
Ensuring that every gift arrives at its destination on time, transport companies are focused on maintaining timely deliveries and providing premium service to delight moms during this busy period. However, this also places a significant responsibility on shippers and transport operators to uphold the standards of their freight services.
Securing deliveries with automation
The logistics sector plays a mum-umental role in ensuring that Mother’s Day celebrations are a success, and this process begins far in advance of Mother’s Day. To cope with the increased demand around annual occasions, shippers and transport operators typically ramp up their operations and tap into their networks.
Adopting advanced transport solutions such as automation is a strategic solution during peak periods— it enhances supply chain and inventory management, streamlines processes and reduces errors. This efficiency accelerates the handling and delivery of goods, leading to significant cost savings and improved business operations during high-demand times.
An example of this can be seen in logistics planning and execution, where systems and processes are automated to identify and capitalise on market opportunities. The industry is increasingly using this technology to manage and analyse data to make informed decisions and boost efficiency. Also, while technology providing real-time updates on staff and vehicle availability is already in use, automation tools enhance the customer experience further by improving visibility and transparency.
Delivering on sustainability
Delivering on sustainability is increasingly becoming a critical part of meeting modern consumer and business needs. Today’s road freight industry is incredibly wasteful―about a third of the total kilometres trucks drive in Australia each week is with empty loads, and when they’re not empty, they’re not always completely full.
During peak periods such as Mother’s Day, the logistics industry faces the challenge of managing a surge in deliveries, including a significant amount of interstate freight across Australia. This high volume of freight travelling extensive distances is a major reason for increased carbon emissions during these times. Technological solutions that better coordinate shipments and fleets can play a critical role in reducing these emissions and improving cost efficiencies across the industry.
The challenge now is to educate every stakeholder on these solutions to make sure adoption takes off and that we create a more efficient industry. Consumers also play a crucial role by pressuring retailers to adopt these changes, even though it may initially impact prices as new, more sustainable logistics solutions and technologies are rolled out.
Doing our part for mum
At Ofload, we’re playing our part to streamline and automate deliveries this Mother’s Day. Our platform allows shippers and transport operators to keep track of all their orders in real-time, providing them with greater visibility and control over the delivery process. The automation of systems and processes helps identify and capitalise on gaps in the market during peak periods during the year. Meanwhile, we partner with businesses to achieve efficient, flexible and sustainable supply chains to streamline freight movements and give stronger visibility into supply chains, all while eliminating waste.
Mother's Day is an important occasion that creates mum-ents of joy and appreciation to so many worldwide. The logistics industry plays a critical role in ensuring that the products and services required for a celebration are delivered efficiently and sustainably. With the increase in deliveries this time of year, it’s a reminder that our industry must take steps towards improving sustainability, recognising the need to minimise the impact on the environment.