8 Supply Chain Elements Critical to Your Ecommerce Operation
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From sourcing to final mile delivery, building a global supply chain is essential to the success of your ecommerce business.
Your logistics strategy should be flexible to accommodate changes in the global market as well as consumer trends, and offer a cost-effective solution that efficiently delivers your product to your consumer.
Let’s take a look at eight critical elements of the supply chain for ecommerce shippers and how the right partner can optimize your operations.
suppliers
With uncertainty in the market, now more than ever it’s important to find, evaluate and maintain a diverse supplier base to ensure continuity and cost efficiency in production.
Since many trade shows are currently virtual or postponed, use resources like Global Sources, TradeSparq, Alibaba and/or JungleScout to evaluate suppliers.
Port of origin
One of the most cited factors in port selection by shippers is geographic location. Choosing a port of load that is logistically viable from your suppliers will streamline your production land-side costs.
Ocean Carriers
The collaboration of today’s ocean carrier alliances provides a comprehensive global shipping network for shippers.
JAXPORT offers service aboard the 2M (Maersk, MSC, Zim & Hamburg Süd) and THE Alliance (ONE, Hapag Lloyd, HMM & Yang Ming) as well as other liner services. Access the full list of container services.
Find shipping rates for your container shipment using freight calculators from iContainers and Freightos, or contact a freight forwarder or customs broker for a detailed quote.
port of entry
Consumer expectations are driving more stringent performance metrics for retailers and suppliers, increasing the need for an efficient supply chain. While many shippers will focus on the final mile component – U.S. inbound port selection can set your supply chain up for success.
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection offers a tool to help you locate a port of entry near your distribution center or warehouse operations.
Terminal Operator
Your terminal operator – usually determined by your carrier selection – controls the velocity of your cargo once it arrives at port.
In Jacksonville, terminal operators work with shippers to find creative solutions for picking boxes to maximize efficiency and cost savings.
View how to track your container with JAXPORT’s terminal operators.
Inland Transportation
Utilizing a strategic mix of rail and truck transportation can optimize your product delivery network and yield cost savings.
Northeast Florida offers service from two Class I rail lines, CSX and Norfolk Southern, as well as regional rail line Florida East Coast Railway. Review the service map and rail schedules for each line.
Connect with trucking firms in Jacksonville via JAXPORT’s online business directory.
Third-Party Logistics Provider (3PL)
A 3PL partner can serve as a logistics supply chain partner for your ecommerce business handling the management of your inventory and warehousing needs as well as order fulfillment. Retailers can also consider a 3PL partner to open new fulfillment centers near growing consumer markets.
InBound Logistics provides an online tool to assist you in finding a 3PL partner that meets your needs.
Final Mile Delivery
A final mile delivery partner helps shippers meet consumer expectation for next-day and – increasingly – same-day delivery. There are a number of parcel delivery service providers located in Jacksonville with sort centers in close proximity to major warehousing centers as well as port terminals in Northeast Florida.
Get to know the final mile parcel delivery partners in Jacksonville: USPS, UPS, FedEx, DHL and Amazon.
Technology
Within each of these areas, technology is increasingly becoming a hallmark of a successful operation providing visibility into the supply chain and data-driven decision-making.
Learn more about the trends impacting the global supply chain in this article from SupplyChain247.
From startups to large retailers, more and more businesses are choosing JAXPORT to optimize their ecommerce supply chains.
In this 18-page e-book from JAXPORT, learn how Northeast Florida is meeting the industry’s growing demand for industrial real estate space in close proximity to urban population centers.
