If starting a new business wasn’t hard enough, the pandemic has caused disruptions in 61% of small businesses’ supply chains. These challenges are more frustrating when logistics management software isn’t integrated into your other business software.
Make your supply chain management easier by following these tips when integrating logistics software into your other business management software.
Know Where You Start
You can’t measure success if you don’t know where you start. Before integrating cargo logistics management software, benchmark your current system with data. This lets you know where the current system fails and what features your future system needs to have for growth.
Be Careful of Long-Term High TCO
It’s easy to fall into the trap of fancy and highly customized software for logistics. However, this isn’t always the right solution. Find a balance between customized features to meet your business needs and budget.
Software services like carton cloud offer a variety of features and flexible plans. This is perfect for growing small businesses that need software that can grow with them.
Consider Using an API
Before you choose logistics software for full integration, consider using an API. This solution can get your business operational faster with fewer hurdles than full integration.
An API is an Application Programming Interface. It enables different software programs to communicate directly using an intermediary.
Don’t Forget About Training
You could have the perfect system in place, but if your team doesn’t know how to use it, then it is useless. Set clear expectations for your team. Once your new system is in place, arrange for in-depth training for each employee expected to use it.
Once your team has a level of familiarity, they are more likely to integrate the new software into their daily processes. The faster this happens, the smoother the integration process is.
Use Data to Track Performance
The best software for logistics management comes with data reporting. This lets you track the performance of your new system. You can then quickly identify weak points for further improvement.
You can also manage the entire system more efficiently. This reduces breakdowns in the system and allows for smoother growth.
Work With an Expert
As a small business owner, you may not have any experience with supply chain management or logistics software integration. If this is the case, it can be helpful to hire an expert for guidance. A contractor can work with you on a need basis.
They provide expert analysis of the current system. With this information, they’ll give suggestions for improvement and software integration guidance. This may seem like an extra unnecessary expense upfront. However, investing in your business now can save you money in the long run as you avoid expensive mistakes.
Integrate Your Logistics Management Software
If you are struggling to manage your supply chain, it’s time to integrate your logistics management software. Doing so allows you to be more productive by combining multiple platforms and dashboards.
Check out our other helpful articles about managing your business to help you grow and succeed.
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