Page 11 - Logistics News - September - October 2021

O P I N ION

Doug’s disruption remedies: hubs. Then get to handling small deliveries to new

• Always have someone looking ahead – MDs need destinations – Bottles, Sixty60, Uber meals…
vision, but I’m talking sight. Interpret what’s in • Move consumers upstream in supply chains – think
front of you coming fast, like a wave. Be prepared collection options, not just delivery options.
for storms: scenario plan consequences of likely • Trust the people you deal with, surprise loyal
major disruptions to your business – forecast customers, not with stamps/discounts but with
causes/effects/actions not just sales/demand. Be useful solutions. Beware of the ‘cheap’ guys before
ready to act instinctively to sort it – don’t think you lose your shirt and reputation.
like a salary man, a cog in a wheel. Jump up, shout, • Believe in individual responsibility and ethics.
be the rabbit in the headlights – stop the car or, • Timing – what will hit first, how do you react to
even better, turn the Titanic. that, then the next? Use teams.
• Not same old, but new different – think customer/ • Data – system data accuracy matters, do it or it
worker/supplier, how would you react, what will won’t support your actions. Regularly cleanse,
you do or need, how will you change? check planning/control parameters, so when you
• Thinking cost/margin protection is necessary but need action, it’s not ‘fake news’.
reactive. Think revenue creation, new channels,
new customers, new products you can make/deliver We’re all hindsight experts. But today your
that will be demanded. organisation must have a Doomsday Prophet – the
• With supply chain and people lockdown, rethink just-in-case data engineer, the realist, the conscience L O GI S T I CS NEWS
distribution, share load capacity to fill large trucks. armed with well-sorted technology, a crystal ball and
Deliver bulk to new local ‘pop-up’ cross dock a heart. •

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