“Availability trumps ability every time.”— Michael Eshelby
“Time is of the essence” readily implies a need for immediacy, urgency, and action. It is not a phrase that is easy to ignore. But “time is of the essence” is also a term used in business planning, contract law, medical procedures, and other situations where forethought, deliberation, and critical decision-making come into play. So, you could say it connotes availability, readiness, and follow-through with equal import.
With the deliveries you entrust to a third-party courier and/or messenger service, timing is everything. Sometimes, timing involves an immediate on-demand request under serious circumstances. More often, precise timing addresses regularly scheduled sweeps that ensure your operations run smoothly and without flaw. This post highlights six key factors that influence overall performance, productivity, and management of your courier, messenger, or inter-organization logistics program and how you can ensure “time is of the essence” always translates into greater efficiency and success.
One — make sure you partner with a courier service that provides 24/7/365 dispatch services. While automated technologies have greatly enhanced delivery timing and accuracy, there are times when human intervention is an absolute necessity. Being able to speak live with an experienced person skilled in problem-solving, making special arrangements, or fixing a technical glitch is mission critical. Moreover, drivers benefit from those very same capabilities when the potential for delay or unforeseen obstacles arise.
Two — make sure your partner provides user friendly workflow technology and access to the proper training. End-to-end systems like e-courier facilitate ordering a delivery, allow visual tracking of the delivery both before and after pick-up, and receipt confirmation once your package or parcel successfully reaches its destination. Verify the app is equally accessible and usable on any Internet-enabled device: mobile, tablet, or desktop computer.
Three — ensure your courier provider offers around the clock on-premises operations support. Akin to dispatch, 24/7/365 technical expertise is a must in an industry that relies so heavily on cloud-based systems.
Four — carefully assess your partner’s scalability. For example, Portland-based MMS Courier exclusively works with independent contract drivers. Doing so provides flexibility to scale up or scale down based on service volume and demand. As a result, the firm meticulously manages internal expenses and diminishes or eliminates costs that could adversely impact your operating budget. Moreover, the independent drivers view the arrangement as a plus because it allows them to manage their time more effectively.
Five — review existing vehicle maintenance programs in place to support drivers. Precision timing requires reliable, well-maintained cars. In addition, the afore-mentioned MMS Courier encourages use of sedans, which are more agile in heavy traffic and are generally able to access facilities with greater ease. There are mileage, operating, and total cost of ownership benefits as well, all of which are passed on to you.
Six — at a time when technology has made communication nearly ubiquitous, it’s remarkable how hard it can be to get ahold of somebody when you need immediate attention. So, confirm the availability of management, support staff, and team members. The firm’s operating system goes a long way in ensuring availability. But you should always request a roster of key team members that includes contact information. MMS Courier CEO Michael Eshelby believes availability is so vital that he includes his personal cell phone number on the back of his business cards.
In an industry where time is truly of the essence, bear in mind the real power rests with you. You are in control. And when you partner with a firm that makes availability, accessibility, and accuracy top priorities, you ensure that control results in flawless performance. Time and again.
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