MAKING THE RIGHT CHOICE FOR YOUR WAREHOUSING AND DISTRIBUTION IN ALBERTA

The process of considering outsourcing warehousing is a big one. FMi is continually engaged with a wide variety of customers and businesses looking for warehousing and distributions solutions. The need for expert guidance and assistance is a need that unites all of our customers, whether their businesses are small, medium, or large.

In our experience, it is not just smaller companies that lack experience in selecting an outsourced logistics partner; FMi Logistics routinely helps mid-sized and larger clients with warehousing and distribution in Alberta and beyond. Many mid-sized or larger clients self-manage their warehousing and distribution. When they make the decision to outsource, often regardless of size or scope of their business, it’s usually their first time choosing a logistics partner. While there are countless items to consider, choosing a partner that will transparently work with a customer to ensure that a full scope of consideration is explored is the first strong step in planning to outsource.

Some customers have significant experience outsourcing their needs, so two things are generally in place when they make their enquiry with a company like FMi Logistics:

1. Their specific processes and key performance indicators (KPIs)

2. Their understanding of a preferred pricing and engagement structure. FMi refers to these first two key items as ‘the Art of the Deal’, and no—Donald Trump does not work here.

We’re going to deal with those two items in this article as a useful reference for our customers who may not have experience choosing a warehousing and distribution partner. Regardless of the size of your business, it’s critical to you and to your entire supply chain—including your customers and your supporting vendors—that you can measure your success. You’ve likely built into your business processes several KPIs or business measurements that govern how you manage your performance; outsourcing your business to a 3rd party logistics firm should be no different.