Building the most effective RFPs possible requires self-awareness, attention to detail, industry insights and a willingness to adopt new technologies.
Many shippers are now looking to shorten the duration of their bid contracts in order to take advantage of current capacity and avoid being locked into sky-high rates as the market shifts.
As farmers prepare for harvest, shippers should ready themselves for the seasonal rate increases and capacity shortages that accompany fresh fruits and veggies each year.
Consumers are becoming more aware of both the urgency of climate change and the complexities of the supply chain. Companies should be prepared for consumers to start calculating supply chain sustainability into their purchasing decisions.
Weather disruptions have always been common across the supply chain. With climate change-induced severe weather conditions on the rise, logistics companies should expect – and plan for – even more challenging conditions in the future.
In order to take advantage of different RFP options, shippers must have access to the data they need to determine which lanes need to be repriced and when. Success requires coupling decision-making with efficient technology.
Shippers may benefit from limiting the number of partners they work with in a loose market, but this exclusionary approach has become a serious — and seriously expensive — problem as capacity has tightened and rates have climbed to record highs.
Shippers are buoyed by the promise of falling rates in the coming months, but this optimistic outlook may put even more strain on rate negotiations in the meantime.
