Challenges Faced During the Transmission of Electronic Goods

Online, December 2, 2013 (Newswire.com) - The other day, while on a stroll at one of the premium malls of Delhi, I happened to visit a modern trade outlet and couldn't help pondering over the fact that in this cornucopia of electronic goods, we sometimes forget how these products are supplied and the amount of pain/toll it takes on the logisticians at work. Retailing and logistics are concerned with product availability. Many have described this as 'getting the right products to the right place at the right time'. Unfortunately more often than not, this description does not do justice to the amount of effort that goes into a supply chain system and the multitude of ways in which these systems can go awry.

The trick of the trade is to make logistics look simple, day in and day out, whilst reacting to volatile consumer demand on one side and the complexities and challenges inherent to FMCD logistics, on the other.

With an extensive and diverse experience in handling logistics as a service provider for some of the leading electronics/White goods brands in the country, I can list down myriad challenges which we overcome every day to provide a delightful service to our customers and to our customers' customers.

Below are the some of the more prominent challenges faced during logistics of electronic goods:

1. Electronic items are not only fragile in nature but are also usually high in value which warrants special care and training for storage, Inbound/Outbound flow and during their primary/secondary distribution.

2. Electronic /FMCD are "Sales-Centric" industries therefore the cardinal rule is that Actual Date of Delivery (ADD) should be sooner than Expected Date of Delivery (EDD).

3. Most of the electronic items prostrate to seasonal fluctuations, and even the best of prognostications can go haywire due to various external factors. For example- This year can be termed anything but "prosperous" for almost all the Air conditioning manufacturing companies in India as the early and more than expected monsoon has played a spoilt-sport to the otherwise meticulously drawn out & ambitious sales projections of these companies.

4. Perseverance coupled with smooth coordination with both transporters and end customers is needed to ensure better flow of material as well as information.

5. There is a constant need for eliminating the looming chances of mismatches, transit damages, bottlenecks in reverse logistics as known as 'Sales Returns', obsolescence and stock-outs and other unforeseen challenges .

Therefore, in hindsight, when it comes to buttonholing the challenges faced during logistics, holistic and disciplined SLA based approach of LSPs can act as vital bridge between these electronic companies and their satisfied end customers.

• How do you combat problems of pilferage/cargo theft of electronic goods?-

It won't be a misnomer to compare Logistics to the 'Jugular Vein' of electronics industry. As most of the electronic items belong to 'high value aspirational' category, it is as prone to pilferage as a funambulist is to the risk of failing.

But nevertheless, apart from being more vigilant, it is our endeavor to address the poignant concern by constantly devising and implementing ways of combating these challenges through the following safeguards -

1. Installing CCTV cameras at strategic locations within our Warehouses. To a vast extent, these CCTV cameras have proved successful as a deterrent against any larceny attempt.

2. Special emphasis and strict adherence to 'Perpetual Count' (be it random, planned, transaction wise or category wise cycle count activity) and month end, 100% Wall to Wall count.

3. Deploying top-notch quality security agencies and sensitizing security guards about the importance of thorough frisking of every individual physically and also by using metal detectors

4. Strict adherence to restricted entry policy at all our warehouses to refrain any unauthorized personnel from entering the warehouse.

5. Maximizing usage of closed body vehicles and proper methodical sealing of same.

6. Also, plans of using sealed roll-over cage bars for small but high value items are also in pipeline.

7. Use of tamper proof stickers/holograms and color coded BOPP tapes also helps in keeping a check on pilferages especially during transit.

8. And lastly a good insurance policy to cover goods both during warehousing as well as during transit can act as a savior.