Logistics and transportation are two very important aspects that you should not forget when planning your business. Having both under control will help you provide better service to your customers and even help you start offering these services.
Logistics and transportation processes are a real challenge for entrepreneurs. No matter what product they offer, if they do not have a good service that covers both distribution to the end customer and the raw materials to produce them, it can become a real headache that no one wants to have .
Over time, these activities have gained strength, to the point of becoming a good business idea for entrepreneurs or a differentiator to attract potential customers by offering faster shipping nationally and internationally.
In this article we will talk about the main concepts that you should take into account for your business, the importance of logistics and transportation of goods , the types that exist and even some tips for creating a company dedicated to these activities.
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What is logistics and transportation?
Logistics and transportation , although they go hand in hand in many processes, are different concepts.
When we talk about logistics, we are referring to the management of processes for the movement – or transportation – of goods and raw materials . This action ranges from planning to execution and can focus on very specific tasks such as preparing packaging, organizing orders and even storage.
Transport, on the other hand, is the action of moving products and everything related to them from one place to another . Unlike logistics, this activity is limited to displacement work.
Now that you know the difference between both terms, we will explain their importance for business.
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Importance of logistics and transportation
Without good transport logistics – yes, here we will start talking about both as a whole – the delivery of goods, both to manufacture your products and to take them to customers, would become a problem that can cause any business to fail.
The importance of logistics and transportation lies in ensuring that everything arrives from point A to point B without any damage , in the time promised and without spending a lot of resources to achieve it.
It sounds easy, but it's not. To make it all work, you have to plan distribution routes , provide protection for objects, ensure delivery of sensitive materials, and of course, resolve any setbacks that may arise during the process .
As you can imagine, there are several types of transport logistics. I will explain them below.
Types of transport logistics
There are 4 types of transport logistics, which are:
Ground transportation logistics
Air transport logistics
Maritime transport logistics
Last mile logistics transport
Here I mention the main characteristics of each one:
1. Ground transportation logistics
As its name suggests, land transport logistics uses means such as vans, trucks, trains or even motorcycles to safely transport goods to the promised destination .
This type of logistics and transport has some disadvantages, such as lack of flexibility in schedules, routes, difficulty in accessing certain geographical areas and even delays due to external factors.
In the case of rail logistics, since it depends on this means of transport for its operation, the limitations increase due to the existing railway infrastructure.
2. Air transport logistics
This is the type of logistics and transportation of goods that requires a larger budget to carry out. By using air routes, its efficiency increases compared to other routes that take longer to transport materials, for example, to other states or countries.
3. Maritime transport logistics
Maritime logistics is the most widely used method for importing and exporting goods worldwide due to its cost, which is much lower compared to air means.
Its infrastructure has undergone modifications over time with the aim of promoting the growth of international trade. Among its advantages is the possibility of transporting very large volumes in ships with a large storage capacity .
4. Last mile logistics transport
The last mile is the transportation logistics that involves the end customer, who is the person who receives the product that they purchased, for example, on the Internet.
Courier companies , which are necessary for the operation of an online store, are the perfect example to describe this type of distribution. They are responsible for organizing the final journey from the package collection center to the buyer's home.