Optimising logistics for the future
It’s no secret that our buying habits have changed over the last 20 years. Since the advent of online shopping and the increased automation in the supply and distribution chains, companies have shifted away from large, bulk deliveries towards the ‘Just In Time’ model.
This system can reap great rewards for businesses and consumers alike. As the name suggests, a Just in Time format is optimised to have stock arrive for sale just before the point in which it’s needed. When a shop or regional distribution centre is about to run low on stock, the system dispatches a small delivery of goods to that location, tiding them over until another delivery is required. Rather than being held in lots of outlets, the stock is stored in bulk at centralised warehouses, often located on major arterial routes across the country.
In practice, that means someone purchasing a new smartphone isn’t faced with a multiple-day wait for delivery or a dreaded ‘out of stock’ notice, while a shop 50 miles away is full to the brim with stock but with little demand to buy it. For the business, it means there’s a lesser need for investment in extensive storage and warehousing at each outlet, reducing operational costs and allowing an opportunity for more competitive product pricing.
With an increased number of deliveries, those working to the Just in Time model should take steps to optimise their vehicles to be as efficient as possible. One such way is with regular servicing and maintenance. Using a premium-performance engine lubricant, such as Texaco Delo 600 ADF, which is purpose formulated to reduce ash and improve fuel economy. Texaco Delo 600 ADF’s formulation also helps to protect Diesel Particulate Filters (DPF), which plays a key part in capturing many of the dangerous gases expelled during the combustion process.
Operators should also ensure that their vehicles are running with the correct tyre pressures and aren’t carrying unnecessary weight, as these too can impact efficiency and fuel consumption.
