CitySprint and Clean Air Day 2019 Top 4 logistical challenges that face small busine | Page 2

A streamlined logistics strategy is something every small business needs, but not many 
have the time to master. As such, learning a few key principals could give you an 
immediate advantage over your competitors. When it comes down to it, planning is the 
key success factor in any logistics strategy; tracking the product journey from the point of 
sourcing or manufacture, directly to the customer’s doorstep. When developing your own 
logistics plan, you need to consider the following points: 

● What is the lead time on preparing new stock? 
● Where will you source product/materials from? (Or will you manufacture 
independently?) 
● If required, how will you get that stock to you, do you need to consider import 
support? 
● How will you ship products locally, nationally and internationally? 
● Will you handle shipping internally, or via a third-party solution? 

Combined, these factors all influence the order fulfilment cycle, which determines how 
long it takes for deliveries to reach customers. By carefully planning each part of the 
cycle, and comparing several options for each stage, you may be able to reduce delivery 
time and even costs. 

This planned approach is enough to build a solid foundation for effective logistics — but 
deeper knowledge may be required in order to ensure a competitive execution. To help, 
hiring an expert, such as a logistics manager, to join your team or working with a 
third-party logistics provider could help you to elevate your service above the 
competition.