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Need Cleveland Warehouse Space? Start Searching Early!
If you’re in the market for Cleveland warehouse space, a bit of insider advice from third-party logistics experts: Start your search early. Lock in the deal as soon as possible.
Recently, The Wall Street Journal reported warehouse space leasing has become increasingly rivalrous as online sales impose evermore unforgiving time crunches on already-squeezed U.S. and Ohio warehouse and distribution centers. Just in the 2018 third quarter, real estate brokerage firm CBREGroup calculated a sharp drop-off in the industrial warehouse vacancies – even though nearly 50 million spare feed of new warehousing capacity hit the market during those three months. The upshot is that as distribution demands rise, Cleveland warehouse space is snapped up almost as fast as it’s built.
On the one hand, this is good news because it’s a signal of a robust economy for consumers. However, that’s only part of the story. Bigger picture, it’s the exponential growth of e-commerce and corresponding shift in infrastructure. To further break it down, shoppers turning to the internet for everything from loaves of bread to love seats, many third-party logistics companies and their warehouses are hurdling toward or hovering at capacity.
Warehousing is critical because client confidence can be bolstered or broken based on satisfaction with the good condition and timely delivery of products. Cleveland warehouse space shortages can lead to supply chain bottlenecks that can ding consumer satisfaction.
Cleveland 3PL Supply Chain Management Talks Tariff Strategies
Cleveland 3PL supply chain management teams recognize the additional cost for many businesses amid the U.S.-China trade war is potentially crippling, involving $250 billion in Chinese export tariffs and $110 billion on U.S. goods. The Section 301 remedy tariffs have been unrolled in phases this year, and more are scheduled for next year. The Section 232 tariffs on aluminum and steel have also hurt bottom lines globally.
Hopes are high an accord will soon be reached, but in the meantime, firms and industries reliant on Chinese manufacturing and parts (and there are many) should be mapping their game plans if they haven’t already. The aide of an experienced 3PL supply chain management company can help businesses navigate these challenges and curtail impact.
Whether the tariffs will have the desired economic policy impact remains to be seen, but it’s not impossible that even if this one ends, a new one won’t suddenly crop up. Tariffs are one of those adverse market forces outside our control for which companies need to prepare because of the dizzying blow to American manufacturers and shippers, jobs and consumer prices. As a long-time Cleveland 3PL supply chain management partner, On Time Delivery & Warehouse works to formulate strategic supply chain approaches – tailored to each client – to help minimize distribution and financial woes.
Smart Shipping Solutions: Ohio 3PL Partnerships an Imperative
Shipping companies around the globe are increasingly concluding that outsourcing with a third-party logistics service isn’t simply a means to ease the workload or save costs. Shippers of all sizes are finding such partnerships essential to carving a competitive advantage in modern markets. A solid partnership with a trusted Ohio 3PL can mean the difference between sink-or-swim for some shippers.
Consider recent analysis from supply chain think-tank Armstrong & Associates (published in Supply Chain Management Review) revealing that 9 out of 10 Fortune 500 companies depend on third-party logistics for key supply chain services. We’re guessing most folks reading here aren’t on that list, but the reason we make note this statistic is because these firms have the means financially to construct strong internal logistics operations – yet each concluded if they want to enhance client satisfaction in an era when same-day service is expected, it’s not worth the investment to optimize logistics on their own. Reality is, their resources and energy are better spent on innovation. They decided the smartest thing they can do is team up with an experienced 3PL team with the ability to act as a positive business extension.
Shipping companies especially can’t overlook at least exploring Ohio 3PL partnerships because of high truck driver turn over and soaring rates of trucking shipments and expenditures are higher than ever – and continuing to climb. This ongoing trend is squeezing all shippers, but smaller ones in particular. They need the savings 3PLs can provide, and are actively seeking freight broker services to secure better rates.
Cleveland 3PL Warehouse Helps Tackle Logistic Bottlenecks
Warehousing bottlenecks are a source of time-consuming and costly delays that ultimately chip away at customer confidence. A once-in-a-while warehouse bottleneck might be manageable, but even an occasional bottleneck can signal larger, non-obvious systemic issues that are hurting your bottom line. If this or constant in-house warehousing bottleneck headaches sound familiar, it’s time to discuss these concerns with an knowledgeable Cleveland 3PL provider.
Outsourcing warehousing services to a third-party logistics firm is sometimes the smartest way to manage complex and/ or fluctuating operations long-term – and avoid warehousing bottlenecks.
Ohio LCL Shipping Often Makes Most Small Business Sense
Ohio LCL shipping (less-than-container-load) makes the most sense for many small business owners requiring lower-volume, time-sensitive freight shipments that won’t fit in an entire ocean container, but would cost too much to send by air freight.
A full container load, or FCL shipping, is when a cargo shipping container’s space capacity is maxed-out. Although large corporations often have no problem regularly filling entire shipping containers, smaller companies may rely on international trade or products, but don’t do the same kind of volume needed to fill a whole space. LCL shipping allows both the space and cost to be shared, so you aren’t stuck footing the bill for an entire full container load you don’t need.
With international cargo shipping, figuring out the optimal method for YOU is key to reduce losses and maximize profitability. Whether you run with LCL or FCL, make sure you’re getting:
- On time cargo delivery to the proper destination;
- Optimized freight costs;
- Simple, streamlined processes.
If container freight cargo shipping is something your Cleveland company is exploring, On Time Delivery & Warehouse third-party logistics professionals can assist in mapping a supply chain cost-benefit analysis and determining which method makes the most sense. Implementing that plan is also seamless, with our own committed Container Freight Station and Customs Exam site and established import/export procedures already in place.
Cleveland Supply Chain Cost-Cutting Boosts Your Bottom Line
No matter what size your business, reducing unnecessary supply chain costs can result in a significant savings – assuming you can accurately identify and efficiently address the weak links.
Anyone who works in Cleveland supply chain management service knows that all for-profit companies are going to incur a “cost to serve.” But is your company’s “cost to serve” reasonable? Can you lower it without risking a major blow to quality or customer satisfaction?
Supply Chain Loopholes Vary by Industry, Service, Location
The answer will depend a lot on the type of product or service you provide. For example, let’s say your Cleveland supply chain involves the packaging and delivery of building products to construction sites. Not only are you managing a complex schedule thanks to the heavy equipment and various contractors involved – your deliveries MUST be precise and on time. Certain materials like mixed cement can be totally wasted if there aren’t workers on site. If elements like weather are consistently a problem in one region, you may need to consider whether you can re-route around that area altogether. If you are in the grocery or restaurant industry, it will be critical that your deliverables be properly packaged, sometimes limited to one product-per-pallet and that delivery dates and times are accurate to the minute – otherwise the shipment could be unusable.
Understanding not just your industry but also your customer base is priority No. 1. You need to be able to serve their needs, but also make sure the cost of doing so is still sensible. One analysis in the International Journal of Production Economics found in supply chain cost reviews by 30 companies in 10 different industries, most were falling short when it came to the estimated standard supply chain cost compared to actual cost.
One of the best ways to cut your Cleveland supply chain costs is to work with a dedicated third-party logistics partner. On Time Delivery & Warehouse 3PL providers can help you better pinpoint what exactly in your chain of supply is causing you the biggest headaches and cost bleed-out. Despite wide variances between industries and companies, there are a few supply chain our third-party logistics professionals have seen consistently cause problems. If any of these issues sound familiar (or you’re having trouble identifying exactly which supply chain loophole is costing you most or what to do about it), a third-party supply chain management team can be an invaluable resource.
Is Your Ohio Construction Supply Chain Working For You?
Effective Ohio construction supply chain management is critical to ensuring you aren’t wasting resources or valuable materials – ultimately costing you customer confidence. If your current supply chain system isn’t working for your construction business, it may be time to explore contracting with a new 3PL.
Construction companies are especially prone to supply chain complexity snags because unlike so many other industries, you may not be building the exact same prototype over and over. The teams with whom you’re working – from consultants to contractors to suppliers – might vary greatly from project-to-project or season-to-season. Having an adaptable and responsive supply chain management 3PL can be key to streamlining and lowering your risk of loss.
Why Ohio Supply Chains Must Be Hurricane-Ready
The official Atlantic hurricane season lasts from June 1 to Nov. 30. While those of us in Northeast Ohio are safely tucked away from direct impact, local supply chains in this region still need to be hurricane-ready. Those Ohio 3PL providers like On Time Delivery & Warehouse that have national and international reach can’t afford to waste time weighing IF they’re going to be ready for natural disasters – but rather HOW. 
For example, our Cleveland supply chain network of local ports includes those in Galveston, TX, Houston, TX, Miami, FL, Charleston, SC and New York-New Jersey – all of which have the potential to be affected by Atlantic hurricanes. We recognize that even if a storm doesn’t hit one of those locations this year, it’s likely than not they will be affected by one in some way over the next few years. We must be ready.
If you work with a third-party logistics company (or you’re searching for one), it’s important to inquire about their disaster mitigation strategy is, especially if a key part of your supply chain is in a coastal area or one prone to other natural disasters. No one can predict with perfect accuracy when and where a storm will strike, but smart supply chains utilize the benefit of historical data to help us form workable contingency plans.
Supply Chain Management Statistics That Might Surprise You
Some think of logistics and supply chain management as simply moving goods from one place to the next. In reality, it’s a complex and dynamic trillion-dollar industry, with outsourcing proven to be mission-critical for companies edging out competition.
Reliable supply chain management partners know it’s always been a challenging field, though it’s true lately many of us are facing down some tough realities. Those include higher rates, capacity shortages and now a pending trade war and import/ export uncertainties. This tightening of the market (especially in ground transportation) means those of us on the front lines need to be innovative now more than ever – while also holding true to the best practices and relationships that allowed us to ride out past tumult.
If you depend on Cleveland supply chain management, you may be interested in these surprising statistics offering insight into the industry – and where it’s headed.
Why Warehousing is Critical to Ohio Logistics Operations
Warehousing is essential in Ohio logistics operations, where the goal is faster, cost-effective facilitation of your supply chain. The best warehouse management systems help companies keep pace with seesawing compliance regulations, increasing order cycle demands and oscillating supply chain requirements.
It’s no shock the global market for warehouse management systems is expected to climb from $1.7 billion this year to $5.72 billion in 2025, according to Grand View Research. Clearly, a growing number of industries recognize the value of third-party warehousing.
At On Time Delivery and Warehouse, we know that when warehouse operations are smooth, you get better results with:
- Proper inventory accounting;
- Order fulfillment accuracy;
- Fewer picking errors;
- Practicable stock replenishment;
- Ease of scalability;
- Real-time tracking and trouble-shooting.
Partnering with a trusted Ohio logistics firm allows for all this, plus shared costs.