Rick MacDonald, President, Retail, DHL Supply Chain
No industry has been able to avoid supply chain issues over the past few years. This is especially true for the beer, wine and spirits industry. The challenge of keeping the right amount of product on hand to meet demand amid shipping delays and other constraints is forcing many suppliers and distributors to transform the way they do business and improve the performance of their supply chain operations. It was out of necessity.
Although this experience was painful, it also sparked positive change in many ways. In addition to disruptions to product and supply flows, labor shortages, the rise of e-commerce, and changing consumer behavior are forcing companies to evolve their supply chains.
Incorporating the technology and expertise needed to evolve can be a complex task, especially for liquor control jurisdictions and systems that govern the sale and distribution of alcohol within specific regions of North America. Often a combination of state government and private partnerships, these organizations work with suppliers to retail and distribute alcoholic beverages to consumers and licensed establishments. Additionally, beer, wine, and spirits companies in the regulated jurisdiction are looking to leverage automation and mechanization to help innovate and digitize their operations.
Some organizations are able to navigate this new landscape with the help of third-party logistics (3PL) providers. Here are five ways 3PLs can help organizations within the beer, wine, and spirits industry evolve their supply chains to meet current market demands and enable future growth and stability.
1. Accurate inventory management
Expanding the supply chain through the integration of e-commerce means more activity within your facility, with more locations and more cargo moving in and out of your customers/consumers. You need to quickly decide where to place additional inventory and how best to handle it. A qualified 3PL will work with a company or organization in the beer, wine, and spirits industry to develop strategies for inventory placement, accommodating new inventory and new channels, integrating new suppliers, shifting resources, and increasing volume. can be developed and implemented.
2. Improve supply chain visibility
Decisions about where to place inventory and how to get products to consumers and customers as quickly and efficiently as possible require superior data and visibility across the entire supply chain. This visibility also increases transparency with suppliers and customers, keeping them updated on order and delivery status, increasing flexibility and ensuring deliveries occur within the allotted timeframe.
A 3PL with the right experience and expertise can help customers quickly and easily track shipments by providing near real-time visibility into transportation operations. This allows transport to be managed remotely and securely. Estimated time of arrival (ETA) updates and Global Positioning System (GPS) capabilities let you know exactly where your delivery is in your network.
3. Introduction of advanced technology
Success requires continued investment in innovation that drives technological advancement within the supply chain. Leading 3PLs are always looking for the latest innovations that are most applicable to the supply chain industry. For example, large-scale pick assist robots have provided valuable insights and best practices that allow 3PLs to deploy technology strategically and quickly adjust implementations as needed to meet peak demand. I did.
4. Access to a skilled and flexible workforce
Supply chain talent demand remains a serious challenge, with companies struggling to identify and attract qualified candidates. For most companies looking to address their capacity needs, it’s about more than just meeting hiring quotas and employee numbers. Brands should look for 3PLs that can leverage their expertise to help their customers create a more streamlined and efficient hiring and onboarding process. This makes it easy to match the right person to the job and add skilled workers during busy seasons or when demand increases.
5. Seamless e-commerce integration
The explosion of e-commerce in recent years (driven in part by the COVID-19 pandemic and changes in consumer demand and behavior) has led to the Companies are being forced to rethink how they approach, or not approach, online sales. . Adding e-commerce capabilities means offering more channels to meet the needs of customers and consumers who order online or through an app, and schedule curbside pickup or home delivery. Naturally, this can add complexity.
A reliable 3PL can work closely with numerous companies in various industries to help you implement or expand your e-commerce operations. This experience and expertise provides a unique level of insight when strategically integrating e-commerce capabilities into your supply chain while minimizing complexity.
As organizations in the beer, wine, and spirits industry look to evolve their supply chains and strengthen their operations, they rely on industry experience, supply chain expertise, proven best practices, and the right tools to do the job right. You’ll need a reliable partner with the advanced capabilities you need.
rick mcdonald is president DHL Supply Chain North America Retail Division. He oversees the strategic development of this key division, strengthening the company’s position as an employer and provider of choice in the United States and Canada.
