#reverse logistics services

[reidtransportationgroup]

Delivering Excellence: The Impact of Logistics Transportation on Jacksonville Industries

Logistics transportation plays a pivotal role in shaping the landscape of industries in Jacksonville, Florida, by ensuring the efficient movement of goods and services. The city's strategic location, supported by robust transportation infrastructure including ports, railways, and highways, enables businesses to thrive and compete on a regional and global scale. Manufacturing industries benefit from timely deliveries of raw materials and efficient distribution of finished products, while e-commerce businesses rely on logistics for seamless order fulfillment and last-mile deliveries. The agricultural sector leverages logistics networks to reach broader markets and deliver fresh produce. Moreover, the growth of the logistics sector contributes significantly to job creation and economic development in Jacksonville, reinforcing its position as a key logistics hub in the Southeast. As technology advances, logistics and transportation services in Jacksonville, Florida, are undergoing significant transformations.

[shadowfaxnews]

Nykaa, Licious amp up quick commerce game as consumers demand instant gratification

Beauty retailer Nykaa has launched a 10-minute delivery pilot in Borivali, Mumbai, as the rapid growth of quick commerce starts disrupting multiple product categories, pushing vertical players to find ways to drastically speed up deliveries.

Direct-to-consumer meat brand Licious is piloting deliveries of ready-to-eat food items in certain locations in Gurgaon in about 15 minutes though its promise remains half-an-hour delivery, while top fashion platform Myntra is piloting a 4-hour delivery plan in four cities, including New Delhi and Bengaluru.

Delivering instant gratification is clearly the need of the hour.

Nykaa’s quick commerce testing comes at a time when beauty has emerged as one of the top grossing categories on rapid delivery platforms such as Blinkit, Zepto, Swiggy Instamart and BigBasket’s BB Now.

The Mumbai-based beauty retailer is expected to add more pin codes in Mumbai for 10-minute delivery.

It plans to undertake a major update on its platform to launch the service in more locations, people aware of the matter told ET.

It is likely to have a separate brand name as well, they said.

“Certain low-priced items such as kajal pens, foundations or daily-use skincare items are finding traction on quick commerce…and platforms such as Nykaa stand to lose,” a senior quick commerce executive told ET. “Same goes for other categories such as fashion, home decor…where more vertical platforms will do quick deliveries.”

The CEO of a top quick commerce player said beauty in select stock keeping units (SKUs) are seeing one of the fastest growth rates among the new-to-quick commerce segments.

Industry executives, however, said that while horizontal quick commerce platforms such as Blinkit and Zepto are likely to retain a stronghold in grocery deliveries, there is a play in quick commerce for vertical platforms with a wide range of SKUs and deep supply-side relationships.

An email sent to Nykaa didn’t elicit any response until press time Tuesday. Licious also did not comment.

The Bengaluru-headquartered online meat shop “has been conducting one-to-two-hour deliveries in major markets and often delivering ahead of the promised time,” a person aware of the matter said. “In Gurgaon, there is a new experiment to reduce the time even further based on the density of orders,” the person added.

These developments come at a time when large horizontal e-tailers are firming up their quick commerce play. While Flipkart has launched its 10-minute delivery service Minutes in Bengaluru, Delhi-NCR and Mumbai, Amazon is working on its Q-commerce offering, ET has reported earlier.

Last week, Swiggy started the 10-minute food delivery service Bolt, and it is understood that its rival Zomato is planning to bring back a 10-minute food delivery option for certain items, too, in partnership with top cafes and quick service restaurants.

ET had reported earlier that even logistics players such as Delhivery, Shadowfax, Ecom Express and Xpressbees are entering the quick commerce space.

Also Read | Tiger Global conducts due diligence of Zepto dark stores as it eyes quick commerce

Beauty and the quick beast

Nykaa initially plans to take about 5% of its total SKUs to the quick commerce offering as it sees certain kinds of products being ordered for quick delivery, people cited above said.

Multiple industry executives told ET that several brands — depending on the category — are increasingly moving to same-day delivery in top metros, underscoring the changing nature of delivery expectations from consumers.

“This is what’s leading to the dynamic changes. You don’t want to wait for a basic kajal for two days. These products are selling fast and consumers want them instantly,” a senior quick commerce executive said.

Nykaa has been offering same-day delivery for orders placed before 12 pm and next-day deliveries are done for orders after 12 pm in four metros.

“For Nykaa, they already see about 10–15% of orders in the top four metro cities being delivered the same day while 85–90% of the orders get delivered by the next day,” a person aware of the numbers said.

A recent note from JP Morgan said Nykaa’s premium portfolio is growing the fastest. “Nykaa sees no major impact from increasing proliferation of quick commerce on account of its skew towards more beauty products (80–85% mix) and tier-II+ cities (66% contribution). Nevertheless, Nykaa aims to enhance same day/next day order delivery rate to 65% of orders in top 12 cities and 60% of the orders from top 110 cities through higher efficiency of its supply chain network and expects no major investment in the initiative,” the report said.

In August, Varun Alagh, cofounder and CEO of direct-to-consumer beauty and personal care brand Mamaearth, had said during the company’s analyst call that quick commerce was the fastest growing sub-segment within its online commerce channel. He had pointed out that quick commerce sales — most of which were coming from top 10 cities — contribute over 10% of the company’s online revenue.

Beyond instant gratification

Quick commerce along with highly competitive new brands is speeding up the premiumisation trend in the country, CLSA said in a recent note.

“We agree that quick commerce will accelerate premiumisation, but note the competitive intensity in premium categories is even higher than in standard categories, especially as new entrants are likely to target higher gross margin categories. This is especially evident in categories such as premium personal care, beauty, premium foods and premium home care, where competitive intensity from new entrants is the highest,” the brokerage said in the note dated September 24.

During the ET Startup Awards 2024 ceremony held on October 5, a panel discussion chaired by Infosys chairman Nandan Nilekani threw light on the rise of instant gratification in Indian consumption.

During the course of the discussion, Zepto cofounder and CEO Aadit Palicha said the rise of quick commerce was on account of factors beyond just instant gratification.

“When you look at why quick commerce is working in India, it’s largely because we’ve been able to cater to ‘small ticket multiple times a week’ use case that is unique to Indian commerce,” Palicha said. “If you go to the West, for example, it’s precisely the opposite — it (grocery shopping) is large baskets one or two times a month. The average frequency of transactions in India on grocery household essentials is 2.2 times a week… In the US it’s 2.4 times a month.

[dahnaylogistics]

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Explore our blog: Choosing the Right Freight Forwarder

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[unicargo]

Warehousing and fulfillment services play a crucial role in modern supply chains, providing efficient storage, order processing, and shipping solutions for businesses. These services streamline operations, reduce overhead costs, and enhance customer satisfaction by ensuring timely and accurate deliveries. Embracing Warehousing and fulfillment services solutions can empower businesses to focus on growth and customer engagement.

[logisticscompanyinbangalore]

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[syndrossi]

So I have another "what if" prompt that is very out of left field. Jon gets brought back as his 14 year old self in the 8 year old body (same as Rhaegar) only he's not the only version of himself that the got Summerhalled. They managed to grab 19 year old war vet Jon who is transported into the actual conception child Rhea and Daemon would have had. Rhaegal and Ghost come with (he doesn't get an emotional support twin so he gets 2 service pets to compensate). He's the one who stops in and saves the twins and inadvertently helps sell Daemon's fiction that the twins are true born because he is literally an older version of Jon.

This ask predates Restoration AU, I think, which is funny because it's sort of a reverse Restoration AU? Two Jons but in Resonant era, and one of them the same age as Winterfell!Jon in Restoration, while the other is the nineteen-year-old vet version.

I don't think the math quite works out for 19-year-old Jon to be the consummation baby of Daemon and Rhea's marriage unless he's a few years younger in the Dance era, and Daemon wouldn't have abandoned a trueborn son (nor would early marriage Rhea have hidden him). Maybe it works if he's 14, aka born 3 years into Daemon's marriage with Rhea, when she was much more embittered against him, though again we have to handwave that Rhea was willing to hide an actual trueborn son when Jaehaerys himself was still alive!

The logistics of Rhaegal suddenly appearing in the world would certainly be...interesting. Vet!Jon would have to be pretty clever with his explanation there! Once the Volantis shenanigans are known to him, maybe he can claim that he was kidnapped by them as a child and only recently escaped/returned to Westeros.

[jozor-johai]

Assuming that Arya ends up back at Winterfell at some point—which does not necessarily have to be the case—how will she get there? Here I’m proposing two ideas, based on possible predicted “next steps” for Arya’s character.

1. The Jeyne/Arya Mirror Idea

In the TWOW Theon preview, we see Stannis send Justin Massey on a mission: first to Castle Black to deliver “Arya” to Lord Commander Jon Snow (ostensibly fulfilling his promise to retrieve Jon’s half-sister), then to Eastwatch to depart for Braavos. In Braavos, Justin is to collect the Iron Bank’s loan and use it to hire a reputable sellsword company to return to Westeros with.

We the readers know that Jon is dead, however, and the current situation at the Wall is hard to predict. Without Jon to return “Arya” to, it raises the question of what Justin Massey will do with the girl. The Northern Lords have a vested interest in Arya’s sustained safety, so Justin cannot endanger Jeyne. If Jon is no longer there to receive her, and if the Wall has become embroiled in Night’s Watch/Free Folk conflict, it may not appear safe to leave “Arya” at the Wall after all.

Of course, much of this speculation is solely in service of the sheer fun of this possibility: what if Justin Massey ends up bringing Jeyne Poole to Braavos? If that were the case, then we could get the delightful irony of Arya, with her identity hidden, hearing of “Arya” visiting the city. Even better, we could see Jeyne Poole-impersonating-Arya interact with Arya-impersonating-someone-else.

Another benefit here is that Justin Massey’s return trip to Eastwatch (with a sellsword company) might be one way that Arya catches a return trip back to Westeros—even in disguise, perhaps Arya returns to the North via Eastwatch, to mirror Jeyne’s theoretical trajectory out of the continent.

That arc might look like this, with a focus on how the two girl’s trajectories might be the inverse of one anothers’. Of course, much of this relies on layers of speculation; this is all being proposed for the direct purpose of being able to create a scenario where Jeyne’s journey as Arya is somehow the reverse of Arya’s future journeys as not-Arya.

2. The Arya-Sansa-Catelyn Journey

However, that’s hardly the most direct route from Braavos to Westeros, and it’s certainly possible (and even likely) that Arya’s journey might not be related to Jeyne’s at all, even if Jeyne has taken Arya’s identity for the moment.

Perhaps instead Arya’s journey from Braavos will tie more directly to the storylines of her sister and mother.

If Arya lands at Gulltown, she could potentially cross paths with Alayne Stone on her path through the Vale, which could be interesting. Through Alayne and the Corbrays, we are constantly being reminded of the importance of Gulltown as a port for Westeros, and Lord Corbray’s merchant marriage might have been introduced as a way to tie either Braavos or the Iron Bank to Gulltown specifically through trade or commerce.

Then, assuming Arya needs to return to Winterfell, she will be forced to travel through the Neck… where Lady Stoneheart is. I’m not personally a particular supporter of the idea that Arya will (or should) kill Lady Stoneheart, but in any instance it would be narratively interesting to Arya cross her path.

In fact, this trajectory makes an arc that is both logistically sound and provides a real narrative journey from Arya to Winterfell. On this path, Arya-who-is-not-Arya could cross paths with Sansa-who-is-not-Sansa and then Catelyn-who-is-not-Catelyn, all in one smooth arc home from Braavos, shown here:

Of course, neither of these things could happen. This is just a couple of possibilities, and how they would logistically work.

[bunniisms]

Amity is the absolute world to me, and it's funny cause she doesn't feel sorry at all for being an all-watching, consuming insect monster (I mean, maybe she's sorry for herself, but non-apologetic as a whole). like she has a beef with a friend of mine's vampire character - they run vampire speak easy's and try to move the population around and facilitate underground human-cattle esc blood networks and keep the vamps going to avoid getting noticed by the big dogs like Hellsing.

But Amity's the bitch that keeps getting them busted - and they call her a traitor - she has to live off of the living just like them, so why side with them. And she finds it funny, stupid, stupid vampires to imagine there's some fictional familial network connecting them. This isn't how life works, nor how the world works. SHE'D eat them all alive if not for the fact that their dead flesh is useless to her swarm. Her loyalty is only to hers and her own

Peace was never on the table for Lady Pestilence. She's a corrupter, a rotter, her voice infiltrating and infesting far before you notice how endemic she's become. How many of their men became HER men? Do they want to tally and count? Games like these feed into the Sadism inherent in the Jorōgumo. She's just a little wicked

(ALSO FUN HISTORIC CONTEXT, the word Pestilence started seeing use in Old English and is a borrowed word from Old French, and it essentially translates to 'The morally corrupting/rotting/general moral entropy' because Medieval Europeans viewed the plague as a moral failing (because, for much of human history, morality and disease and faith were allllll interconnected and viewed as one singular thing) )

As a tangent, though, how this impacts Amity and the dynamics she forms with her informants is interesting - especially around the artificial vampire issue. Cause, Amity, as wicked and scrupleless a minx as she is, even with her heart at its coldest, does hold fondness and respect for her informants, and while manipulative, she does want to honour her end of the agreement made with them in exchange for their information. It's not her desire to treat them as tools or disposable, though ultimately, her actions do cross this boundary frequently.

But the reason for this, honestly? Lies in the fact Amity KNOWS an unfortunate truth, a LOT of her informants from these underground clubs and rings aren't there by choice - they're not the rich kid lovers or the Luke and Jan sort.

They're more like Helena. They are people in positions without power who had choices made for them without their consent by people abusing power over them, and currently, they're just as much trapped as the people they have to feed off. And, while Amity leverages their desire to get out for information she can't always gather herself, she doesn't WANT to abandon them to their fate or let their service be returned with betrayal and murder. Think of what that would do for her reputation! (she says, while truthfully caring less about that fact than about the memory in the back of her mind of these people relying on her so rawly, presenting their wounds at her feet and asking 'help me,')

So, when it comes to the matter of 'dealing' with them, Amity leans more on the side of hope and dreams and personally champions ( read as. pushes) Integra and the Round Table to probe further into the chips and learn to reverse them - if only because she wants to see a lot of her informants be able to be unshackled from their ailment (or at least reduced to a human condition to face punishment). Which Integra bawks at the logistics of, but Amity compares it to victims trapped under rubble by a tsunami.

YES, their condition is worsening, and they're losing humanity. Yes, it would be labour intensive to free them to the point some could argue it's a waste of time because 'what if they're too far gone, they'll die eventually anyways, ' but she argues any efforts to save and salvage souls are worthwhile, if only to honour the hope Hellsing gave them.

This being said, Amity KNOWS the likelihood of being able to reverse, or at least disable, the artificial effects is next to nil. After all, how many can boast that they've raised the dead? But Amity's doesn't want to leave that book, or it's potential untracked. But either way, dead or alive, she won't lose sleep. She's served her role*.

(*Amity is entirely ethically on board with putting them down if there's no other choice, and she knows that it's just the hope- if they CAN do something and make them half-artificial-vamp-half-human like Mina, or just fully revert 'em, that's the dream but if not she doesn't think it hurts to try.)

[trainsinanime]

tell me about french train headlights

They're all the same! Or at least they were, from the mid-1950s to about the early 1990s. They all look like this:

Okay, some context for why I find this interesting. Suppose you see a picture of a train, especially one made in the second half of the 20th century, and you want to know where the train is from. The key trick to telling this at a glance is having a bit of autism, but more specifically, the headlights.

In Europe, all major and many minor countries used to have their own government-owned railroad and their own train-building industry, which would build trains to the specifications of their railroad company. There has always been some exporting going on, but for the most part, the trains you'd find in Germany, France, Switzerland, Austria and so on would be all completely different. This has changed drastically over the past 20ish years.

One thing about this old model is that railroad companies would standardise certain parts within their fleets, especially small parts that need servicing and replacing every now and then. It saves on how many different types of spare parts you need to have.

Headlights are the most notable among these by far: Every train needs to have some of them. All trains have basically the same requirements for their headlights, no matter how fast or slow or whatever they are. Before LEDs, you needed to service the headlights regularly to replace the light bulbs. Also they are glass parts at the front of a fast moving vehicle, they can get damaged, so spare parts logistics are an issue. And most importantly, we as railfans can easily see them. So you get something like this:

As a result, basically all railroad companies in post-war Europe standardised their head- and taillights for all or most of their trains. And all of them had completely different ideas. Fundamentally, all of them agreed that you need white headlights and red taillights, and since modern trains are easily reversible, you put both of them next to each other.

But do you make the white and red lights the same size (West Germany, Netherlands) or different sizes (Austria, East Germany)? Are they separate things, or do you combine them into one assembly (UK, Switzerland)? Do you make them anything approaching normal sized or gigantic (Poland)? Maybe I'll do an overview post over these later, but I don't have enough pictures in my library right now and I'd have to scour Wikipedia for them later.

The French headlight design shown here is in many ways just one of many, but also interesting in its own right: The actual lenses for red and white are the same size, but the white headlight gets this huge lens assembly that makes it look much more prominent. You can clearly see that different French designers had very different ideas about whether you align the center-lines (most of them), or the bottom of the lens assembly. Why is the headlight lens so big, and what are the metal tabs around the bottom half of the circle? I have no clue. My guess is to put some coloured glass panes in, but I have no idea why you'd need that. Also, note that the red taillight classically has a fresnel lens, that's unique as far as I can tell.

I've taken all these pictures in the Cité du Train, the big central French railroad museum in Mulhouse. (That's why I was posting about traveling to Basel early this weekend. Mulhouse is actually really close to Basel, and going via Switzerland is the most practical—and most scenic—route for me) The oldest locomotive I could find with these headlights was CC-7107:

During high speed trails in the early 1950s, this locomotive reached a speed of 326 km/h (203 mph). That made it only second best behind the other locomotive at the trials, BB-9004:

This one reached 331 km/h (206 mph), a world record that would not be beaten for a long time. The difference was nothing to do with technical performance. Instead, both locomotives melted their pantograph, the part on top that touches the overhead line to get power, at around 320 km/h (200 mph). BB-9004 had a second one that it could lift up to continue accelerating, while CC-7107 only had the one. For a long time, SNCF pretended that both locomotives had reached 331 km/h, to protect the reputation of both manufacturers.

What's notable for our purposes is that BB-9004 has different headlights. As far as I can tell, these seem to be an earlier standard design, also found e.g. on the CC-65001 diesel locomotive:

And even on steam locomotives, like this class 141 R:

So CC-7107 lost on the high speed world record, but it was the way of the future when it came to headlights. These headlights then started cropping up everywhere. From the detail pictures I've shown you above, we have e.g. Le Petit Gris (the small grey one, an EMU for suburban services in Paris):

A CC-6500, dressed up with a nameplate for the express train it was hauling. Fun fact: One locomotive of this type (not this one) was used in the US for a while, as Amtrak was trying out new electric locomotives to use. They weren't happy with it and bought a Swedish one instead, mostly because this locomotive's suspension did not work well with the American track quality.

A Z 2200, a diesel railcar for rural lines designed to be cheap first, second and third.

A BB-26000, which feels altogether way to new to be in this museum.

It's from the 1980s, so I guess the first are reaching retirement age. But at the same time: The train I took from Basel to Mulhouse was still pulled by one of these BB-26000.

Other favourites include the BB-25600 with its rare diagonal light arrangement:

Or the really terribly lit gas turbine train RTG, which puts the headlight on stalks:

Fun fact: Amtrak did end up buying a few these. They didn't use the same white headlights (although they did use the same stalks), but they did use the same fresnel lens red taillights.

And the headlights went all the way up to the top. To the TGV. Only these headlights aren't very aerodynamic, so for their high-speed train, SNCF decided to cover them up.

As far as I can tell, SNCF used these headlights in the TGVs up to the Réseau series, including the Eurostar. That meant that they're also found, though behind faded glass, on the TGV Atlantique 325 in the outdoor area. Number 325 is notable because it was involved in another high speed trial, and reached 515.3 km/h (320.3 mph) on May 18th, 1990.

That was a world record, of course; in fact only the French ever exceeded 500 km/h on conventional railroads. So these headlights did get their world record after all. They didn't get to keep it for long, though. In 2007, a newer TGV reached 574.8 km/h (357.2 mph). That one is still in service, though, and it was equipped with newer LED headlights. I think it's highly unlikely that this record will be broken anytime soon, but if anyone does, I wouldn't be surprised if it were the French again, they like that sort of stuff.

Some final odds an ends with the headlights, though: Here's CC-40101, which isn't actually relevant, I just like the way it looks.

Designed for service in France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany, with four different voltages and four different train control systems, and that with mid-1960s technology. It wasn't quite as successful as hoped, and in service it only ever reached Belgium, but still, look at that design. The front is supposed to evoke an athlete, a sprinter about to start, but this type of design has instead become known as "Nez cassé", broken nose.

BB-9291 shows a rare early version without red tail lights at all. Someone thought they were saving money.

This small work train has a free-standing version of the headlight, which shows us how deep it really is. Apparently, the French headlight is actually not that deep, and isn't that a nice summary for this post?

And a personal favourite of mine, I even bought a T-Shirt with it on it, the Z 600:

The design, in particular the side windows (recessed instead of flush, no outside visible gasket) says Swiss, the headlight and SNCF logo says French, it's narrow gauge and it has a third rail to provide power. Just all around a weird little train, for the weird little line known as the Mont-Blanc Express from France via Switzerland to the bottom of the Mont-Blanc mountain. The train was built in Switzerland, experts of building small trains for mountains, but for the French part of that rail line, so it got French headlights.

Headlights with exporting is a fun topic in its own right. Do you keep the headlights from the country of origin, or demand your own? You will find both approaches. Both Portugal and the Netherlands bought very similar electric locomotives from France. Portugal has French headlights, the Netherlands insisted on (less interesting) dutch ones.

These days, of course, you will still find these headlights, but they're getting rarer. They stopped being used in new trains around the mid-1990s. What's more, the ones you do find, like on this MI-84 in Paris, probably don't have the fresnel lens taillight anymore. Instead, those were replaced with LEDs.

LED lights for railroads make a lot of sense. They last forever and require less power. And since most railroads have standardised their head- and taillights, you just need to design one replacement light for most of France, and then keep building that one until SNCF stops giving you money.

(Since we're showing a picture from Paris, a quick note: These headlights were never used on passenger-carrying trains for the Paris metro. However, some work trains do have them.)

These days, standard headlights are completely gone. LEDs don't need a lot of replacing, and they give you much more freedom to do things like shapes and patterns and designs. Also, we don't have the "one country, one railroad, one rail industry" pattern anymore. Instead now we have multi-national rail conglomerates. Alstom is technically French, but arguably just as much German, ever since they bought Bombardier's rail division, nominally Canadian. Stadler is Swiss, except for the stuff they build in Germany or Poland or Belarus or Hungary or…, and some of their most interesting products right now are built and designed in Spain.

The end result of that is this:

That's a company I saw at a trade fair (Innotrans, Berlin, 2022) that makes LED train headlights, and specifically they make… all of them? Okay, I'm exaggerating, but this is a great picture to drive a European rail fan insane as they try to assign the different headlights to different trains. You get Stuttgart trams, German (and Turkish) high speed trains, lots and lots of Swiss stuff. Nothing specifically French that I could tell, but at least the German high speed train regularly travels to Paris.

The standard headlights, or their LED variants, were still in use for work trains until fairly recently. There are not that many companies that make rail grinders or ballast tampers, and those tend to just use whatever headlight their customer tells them to. But these days they go for shaped LED headlights as well, because they're just better, and because thanks to European standardisation, a headlight approved in one country can (generally) be used in all European countries.

(All pictures © me, feel free to use them under CC-BY-SA 3.0 DE if you want)

[cristpoherolli1993]

Exploring the Role of 3PL and 4PL Logistics in the Modern Supply Chain

Image by freepik

With the increasing turbulence touching the global scenario, countries and businesses have actually gone one better at ways of making their operations leaner, cheap and efficient. Among some of the simple ways of making even the long-standing functions much more effective is the involvement of an external party in the business activity that would have required a major slice of the overhead. In most cases, it gets into the area of using 3PL and 4PL Logistics for streamlining, if not totally eliminating, logistics functions while advancing their significance.

This logistics-dependent service is significant in enabling supply chain processes of present-day organizations so that they can concentrate on business strategy while the experts take care of the entire facilitation process: transport, warehousing, inventory, and much more.

But what exactly are 3PL and 4PL logistics? Well, and exactly how do they differ?

Let us now consider the particular roles of both in the context of today's supply chain and discuss how such services can be availed of by businesses.

What is 3PL Logistics?

Third-party logistics (3PL) refers outsourcing of logistics functions by a company to a different specialized service provider, usually a 3PL provider, which takes care of the supply chain, including some of the following key processes: transportation, warehousing, inventory management, packaging, and distribution. In other words, the 3 PL logistics companies do the actual operational work of transporting goods from point A to point B, leaving businesses with more time for their core activities.

What services Offered by 3PL Providers:

Transportation Management: The logistics 3PL companies ship or deliver products from one place to another through varied modes of transportation, namely road, rail, and sea. In addition, customers have the option to choose the cost-effective carriers and handle their shipping processes.

Warehousing and Storage: Most 3PL businesses carry out warehousing services, which include placing goods in warehouses that optimize their distribution with good strategic positioning. Another common feature of such warehouses is that they are usually fitted with inventory management systems which help the companies track their goods in real-time.

Inventory and Order Management: 3PL providers can manage inventories and the orders within them, ensuring that products are stored correctly for when they are needed, and that orders will be accurate when they are filled.

Packaging and Labelling: Packaging custom solutions for any 3PL logistics service would also include full-scale packaging, as well as cost-effective labels and barcodes to warrant proper regulation compliance.

Returns Management: Many of the reverse logistics processes - including inspection, refurbishment, and restocking of returned goods - are performed by 3PL companies.

Benefits of 3PL Logistics:

Cost savings: If companies outsource logistics functions to 3PL, they don't have to invest in warehouses, fleets of transports, or technologies. They can put the money into other areas of the business.

Scalability and Flexibility: 3PL provider easily adapted to orders volume, providing businesses with flexibility in their  during peak seasons, 3PL providers could scale according to their demand.supply chain. In the event more warehouse spaces or more trucks are required

Knowledge and Expertise: 3PL providers have in-depth knowledge and experience in logistics management. Their capabilities will be beneficial to all companies by taking advantage of best practices in supply chain management and by avoiding costly mistakes.

Reach: Many 3PLs establish global networks that allow businesses to ship internationally without worrying about complex logistics.

What is 4PL Logistics?

Fourth-party logistics (4PL) is regarded as an advance upon the 3PL continuum in logistics management. A typical role for the 4PL provider is to consolidate into one place, coming through the entire supply chain process. It handles all flows of goods, information, and services from first to last-end in a more strategic and holistic approach than a 3PL provider.

4PL Supplier Core End Services:

Integration within the Supply Chain: 4PL providers integrate and coordinate all logistics functions through the use of many 3PL providers and other entities in the supply chain by establishing standardized ways of smooth communication and overall collaboration throughout the whole process.

The Strategic Planning of the Supply Chain: 4PL providers take a pretty macro perspective of supply chains and strategize on maximizing overall efficiency, reducing costs, and increasing performance. They look more at the long-term aspect of the supply chain than at day-to-day logistics operational activities.

From start to finish, 4PL logistics providers will run the entire supply chain process, including procurement and transport, as well as storage, inventory control, and distribution of products. It thus ensures that every step in that supply chain works efficiently and according to the company's objectives.

Technology Integration: 4PL providers not only carry forward advanced technology solutions, for instance, supply chain management software, but analytics tools that provide real-time visibility and data-driven insights into the supply chain. It helps businesses make informed decisions on a more reliable basis and lets them stay ahead of the next giving disruptions.

4PL is providing vendor management services under vendor management: This is the best advantage that gives 4PL clients the benefit of taking responsibility for managing relationships with multiple vendors and service providers while ensuring total compliance with contract fulfillment and performance standards.

Benefits of 4PL Logistics:

Seeing that the supplier operates the other connected logistics businesses, 4PLs follow a holistic approach toward supply chain management: assuring that all logistics functions would be done to have no inefficiencies.

Visibility and control:4PL heads up the entire supply chain from raw material to finished product delivery into the warehousing facilities of retailers. This one makes businesses being stonewalled against having an inside view of their logistics operations. Thus, better monitoring and decision-making as well as the means for controlling the full cycle could be made accomplished.

Focus on Core Business: Outsourcing the strategic management of the supply chain to a 4PL provider allows businesses to focus on what they do best: manufacturing, sales, or customer service.

Innovation and Continuous Improvement: Difficult 4PL solutions with continuous process improvements in supply chain management would assure competitive advantages for businesses and the ability to adapt to changing conditions in the market.

Differences Between 3PL and 4PL Logistics

Both 3PL and 4PL outsourcing offer logistics functions. However, the significant difference is in the scope and the extent of involvement.

Focus: 3PL focuses narrowly on executing a logistics function related to transportation, warehousing, and inventory management, while 4PL dramatically extends the role into a far more strategic oversight of the entire supply chain management end-to-end.

Integration: 3PLs usually operate independently, whereas a 4PL integrates and manages a group of 3PLs, and possibly other vendors, overseeing all logistics activities for an organization.

Technology and Data: 4PL providers usually have sophisticated technologies and data analytics to oversee and optimize the supply chain, whereas 3PL providers do not necessarily have the same degree of technological integration.

Customization: Usually a more tailor-made solution based on the client's unique needs; typically includes standardized services that businesses can choose from.

Which Option is Right for Your Business?

The choice of a logistics solution, either 3PL and 4PL, depends upon the size of your organization, the complexity of the supply chain, and the logistics requirements. For example, if you want certain hands-on aspects of warehousing and transportation in the supply chain, a 3PL provider would make the best fit for your company. A 4PL provider serves a different purpose - to build an integrated solution for businesses requiring one to manage and optimize the whole supply chain.

Here are some considerations that you may take in the decision: 

Complexity of the Supply Chain: If the supply chain has involvement from multiple vendors or partners, then integrated and strategic-reach of 4PL will most likely serve you best. 

Level of Control: If you want higher levels of control over individual logistics functions, you may find 3PL logistics better suited as it offers more room for managing certain areas within the supply chain. 

Growth and Scalability: The greater complexity associated with an expanded business may likely make 4PL a better solution than 3PL logistics in an ever more intricate web of managing logistics. But while still relatively small, a 3PL provider will be that flexible and cost-efficient solution that you need to scale up.

The Future of 3PL and 4PL Logistics

As the global supply chain continues to evolve, both 3PL and 4PL logistics providers are adapting to new technologies, market demands, and environmental considerations. Innovations in automation, artificial intelligence (AI), and data analytics are transforming how logistics services are provided. The future of logistics will likely see even greater collaboration between 3PL and 4PL providers, enabling businesses to take advantage of cutting-edge solutions and improve their overall supply chain performance.

Ultimately, whether you choose 3PL or 4PL logistics, the right provider can help you streamline your operations, reduce costs, and improve efficiency, positioning your business for success in the modern supply chain.

[pontevoix]

headcanon : shoko ieiri & alcohol consumption habits inspired by who drinks whiskey in their coffee at work sent by @deiikara

she misuses alcohol. it is a habit, & it is not so much of a temptation.

she thinks of social nights at izakayas as a type of celebration, as a moment for community, as something for which to be grateful. it is a type of play-pretend to drink with friends, to imagine that the world can still long enough to toast glasses.

she thinks of intimate nights. vulnerability a farce & commiseration not-quite shared over a split bottle. sometimes wine-red kisses & promises never made. shared cups of coffee in the morning. people like her don’t see the point in honest conversation, sometimes. so it’s shared experiences instead. it’s comforting, she supposes. it’s a catharsis, she supposes.

she thinks of haggard nights. work attire cast aside & socked feet & vacuuming her apartment to make up for the fact that it’s been empty for the last week. she doesn’t bother with coasters when a beer bottle weeps on the coffee table. sometimes she mixes whiskey in coffee instead.

coffee comes to her as instinct. it’s soothing to her to start the day with coffee. it’s soothing to her to finish the day with coffee too.

in truth, she likes the flavor of whiskey in coffee. she likes the flavor of whiskey, likes the way it bites & overtakes the burnt taste of the instant coffee she buys from the store. when she drinks , she’s usually at home — or else she’s finished her shift as she sits on the steps of one of her offices in the city, nursing a paper cup between her hands.

she misuses alcohol. it is a habit, & it is not so much of a temptation.

it is punctuation to days that feel like they never end.

nota bene. she doesn’t drink when she works, but she supposes she has had alcohol in her system when she has worked. finishing a shift always feels more like an imaginary construct than it does a logistical reality. if she’s done for the day, it’s still possible that someone may require her services — that the next day’s work may start sooner rather than later.

regardless, it doesn’t make much difference. in more trying moments, she can use reversed cursed technique to identify alcohol as a toxin & filter it away.

she’s good at sorting through pieces of herself like that.

[reidtransportationgroup]

The Importance of Effective Container Management Services

Effective container management services play a pivotal role in the seamless functioning of global supply chains, contributing significantly to the efficiency and competitiveness of businesses. These services are instrumental in optimizing inventory and space utilization, ensuring that containers are loaded strategically to maximize capacity and minimize the risk of damage. The resulting cost savings are substantial, as efficient container management reduces storage costs, demurrage charges, and other delays-related expenses. Enhanced visibility and real-time tracking capabilities empower businesses with the knowledge to monitor container movements throughout the supply chain, facilitating proactive decision-making and minimizing disruptions. Furthermore, streamlined container operations lead to reduced turnaround times, enabling faster shipping and improved overall supply chain efficiency. Compliance with international regulations, minimizing environmental impact, and mitigating risks through secure handling protocols are additional benefits that underscore the crucial importance of effective container management services in jacksonville, fl today's complex and interconnected global trade landscape.

[shadowfaxnews]

E-commerce companies race to offer Same-Day, Next-Day Delivery

Logistics players see demand surging by 4–5x for same-day and next-day deliveries

E-commerce majors and companies are racing to fulfill orders this festive season as they pivot from the earlier timelines of 4–5 days delivery to same-day or next-day delivery.

With quick commerces looking to capture user base with 10–12 minute delivery, e-commerce players are looking to enhance delivery timelines.

Logistics experts said the demand for fast delivery has surged dramatically compared to last year’s festive sales.

Over the past year, e-commerce majors and D2C firms have introduced same-day and next-day services to cater to customer demands.

Logistics players have noted a surge in demand by 4–5x for same-day and next-day deliveries.

“Delivery speeds during the festive season naturally improve due to increased demand, with line-haul trucks operating more frequently, however, this year we have seen a surge in fast delivery requests,” said Vishwachetan Nadamani, Chief Operating Officer, Ecom Express.

In February this year, the company rolled out same-day and next-day deliveries in India’s top 10 metro cities.

Faster Fulfilment

Echoing the same thought, Praharsh Chandra, CBO and Co-founder, Shadowfax said that e-commerce platforms and retailers are leveraging same-day delivery as a competitive advantage, responding to growing consumer expectations for faster fulfillment, especially during peak periods.

“At Shadowfax, our same-day delivery channel saw a five-fold growth on the first and second day of sales this year. Peak order volumes from last year to this year have increased by almost four times, with highlights like delivering 15,000 iPhones on day one of the sale,” said Chandra.

Key categories such as electronics, beauty and personal care, fashion, and home goods have seen strong interest.

“Based on sales, the category with the highest demand has been electronics, especially mobile phones, and the second highest is fashion,” Chandra added.

According to a report by Redseer Consultancy, this festive season players such as Amazon, Meesho, Flipkart, and others are expected to clock a 20 percent year-on-year rise in gross merchandise value, generating sales in the range of ₹1–1.2 lakh crore.

[dahnaylogistics]

E-Commerce Logistics Service | International Freight Forwarder - DahNay Logistics

Effortlessly broaden your global e-commerce footprint using our specialized Ecommerce Logistics Services. We grasp the intricacies of international shipping and offer custom-tailored solutions perfectly aligned with your business requirements.

Benefit from our global network and exceptional customer support to streamline your operations and boost customer satisfaction.

Take your e-commerce venture to the next level: dahnay.com/ecommerce-landing-page

Visit our website: dahnay.com

[unicargo]

Amazon Prep Services has become a lucrative venture for countless businesses, opening up access to a vast customer base and global reach. However, managing inventory and ensuring compliance with Amazon's fulfillment requirements can be time-consuming and complex. Enter Amazon Prep Services – a game-changing solution for sellers seeking efficiency, accuracy, and peace of mind in their e-commerce journey.

[logisticscompanyinbangalore]

Top 7 Logistics Company In Bangalore

There are several logistics companies operating in Bangalore, also known as Bengaluru, which is a major city in the southern part of India. Here are some well-known logistics companies in Bangalore:

CriticaLog Logistics Company is a service provider based in Bangalore, India. They offer a range of logistics services to meet the needs of businesses in various industries. Some of the key services provided by CriticaLog include:

Shipping Services: CriticaLog specializes in shipping services, which involve the transportation of goods from one location to another. They manage the entire shipping process, including packaging, documentation, customs clearance, and delivery. Whether it's domestic or international shipping, CriticaLog ensures the smooth movement of goods.

Special Handling Services: CriticaLog understands that certain goods require special handling due to their nature or fragility. They provide specialized solutions for handling sensitive or delicate items, such as medical equipment, electronics, perishable goods, and hazardous materials. Their trained professionals ensure proper packaging, storage, and transportation of such items to minimize the risk of damage or mishandling.

Fulfillment Services: CriticaLog offers fulfillment services to help businesses manage their inventory and order processing efficiently. They provide warehousing facilities, inventory management, order fulfillment, pick and pack services, and returns management. By outsourcing these functions to CriticaLog, businesses can focus on core operations while ensuring smooth order fulfillment.

API Integration: CriticaLog understands the importance of seamless integration with various systems and platforms. They offer API (Application Programming Interface) integration services to connect their logistics solutions with their clients' existing software systems. This integration enables streamlined data exchange, real-time tracking, automated order processing, and improved visibility across the supply chain.

CriticaLog Logistics Company aims to provide reliable, efficient, and cost-effective logistics solutions to their clients. By offering shipping services, special handling services, fulfillment services, and API integration, they cater to the diverse needs of businesses seeking logistics support in Bangalore and beyond.

2. DHL: DHL is a global logistics company with a strong presence in Bangalore. They offer a wide range of logistics services, including freight transportation, warehousing, supply chain management, and e-commerce solutions.

3. FedEx: FedEx is another prominent logistics company operating in Bangalore. They provide international courier services, express delivery, freight forwarding, and logistics solutions for businesses of all sizes.

4. Blue Dart: Blue Dart is a leading logistics company in India, with a significant presence in Bangalore. They specialize in domestic and international courier services, cargo transportation, and integrated logistics solutions.

5. Gati: Gati is a renowned logistics and supply chain management company based in Bangalore. They offer a comprehensive range of services, including express distribution, e-commerce logistics, cold chain logistics, and warehousing.

6. Xpressbees: Xpressbees is an emerging logistics company in Bangalore, primarily focusing on e-commerce logistics. They provide services such as last-mile delivery, reverse logistics, and warehousing for e-commerce businesses.

7. Delhivery: Delhivery is one of the largest logistics and supply chain services providers in India, operating in Bangalore as well. They offer end-to-end logistics solutions, including express parcel transportation, fulfilment services, and e-commerce logistics.

These are just a few examples of logistics companies in Bangalore. It's always recommended to conduct further research and consider specific requirements before choosing a logistics partner.