Getting Your Goods to Your Customers in the Best Way Possible

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StrategyDriven Tactical Execution Article |Getting Your Goods to Customers|Getting Your Goods to Your Customers in the Best Way PossibleWhen you run a small business, you put a lot of work into reaching the point of sale. You have to design innovative products. You have to conduct market research to ensure your idea is feasible and that there’s demand for it. You have to figure out manufacturing pass products you do produce through product testing. That’s before you mention web design and development, product photography, product descriptions, social media and much more. So, it’s bound to be an exciting moment when you actually make a sale! But that’s not the end of the journey. You’re going to have to get the product to the buyer. This is just as important as any other step and you need to make sure that your products are packaged and delivered perfectly to wrap up the perfect customer experience. Here are a few suggestions that could help you to achieve this!

Consider Eco-Friendly Packaging

People are growing increasingly aware of the impact that human behaviour is having on the planet. We’re destroying the very place that sustains and many people want to do something about this. From a moral stance, you should join this movement and implement eco-friendly packaging for all of your products in order to reduce the amount of non-biodegradable waste being produced and ending up in landfill, the sea and elsewhere. In terms of marketing and customer satisfaction, this is a good idea too. Customers will appreciate the effort and will favour your brand accordingly. Eco-conscious customers will be more likely to shop with you!

Using Couriers vs. Using Your Own Delivery Methods

Whether you use couriers or not will depend on the size of your business, how much money you have to invest into shipping and how much demand your products have. If you’re a small business, using a courier is probably most cost-effective and logical. Price check different services and read up reviews to ensure customers are happy with them. If you’re a bigger brand, you could invest in your own trucks, recruit drivers and deliver up and down the country yourself. Of course, 80,000 pound big-rig trucks need to be properly managed on the roads, so check all drivers’ qualifications and maintain the vehicles well.

With this, you should be attentive enough to learn about all ocean freight forwarders who play an integral part in this process. You can seek more details about it through https://dedola.com/solutions/ocean-freight/ and know how ocean freight forwarders infuse technology for better experience.

Shipping Quickly

We’re living in a convenience age that revolves around instant gratification. People tend to want things and want them now. So, the sooner you can get items out to them, the happier they will generally be! Focus on shipping as quickly as possible for the best feedback and reviews. Next day delivery options can also drastically boost sales by allowing for impulsive purchases and getting the product out to the customer before they reconsider and cancel. It also caters to those who need last minute items for occasions, such as birthdays.

These suggestions are so simple to implement. But you’ll have to actively do this yourself. So, focus on them and incorporate them into your shipping process!

5 Golden Rules for Managing Business Logistics

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StrategyDriven Tactical Execution Article |Managing Business Logistics|5 Golden Rules for Managing Business LogisticsManaging your business gets increasingly more difficult as you scale it, Thankfully, there are plenty of ways to ensure that your company stays organized as long as you adopt some golden rules to help streamline your workflow and logistics processes. So in this post, we’re going to talk about five important things to follow.

1. Proper planning is mandatory for an efficient logistics system

Before you make any sweeping changes to your business, it’s vital that you plan out all of your actions to ensure that you’re not missing anything and that you’ve included everything that is a part of your logistics chain. Planning is important because it allows you to get a better overall view of your business’s current logistics system, giving you a better look at the areas that need to be optimized and where you can maximize your profits.

However, what’s arguably more important than proper planning is the ability to prepare for any potential situations where your plans don’t work. Unforeseen circumstances aren’t uncommon regardless of the type of business you operate. Whether it’s a problem with your products, adverse weather conditions, transportation issues or even internal organization problems, you need to have contingency plans in place for when things go badly.

2. Focus on building solid relationships with third-party services

While you might manage most of your general logistics chain, there’s undoubtedly going to be areas that you need to rely on other companies–at least for now. Everything from outsourced drivers to a pallet delivery company can be considered an essential service for smoothing out the bumps in your logistics chain. In some cases, you might even need to rely on a warehousing service to help you store excess goods as you grow your company’s storage space.

However, if you find that you’re constantly forced to use external employees to help, you might find it more convenient to hire new staff instead as long as the cost of recruitment and training can offset the current cost of hiring temporary workers. Eventually, you’ll want to manage virtually every aspect of your logistics chain so that you have more control over it, but until then, it’s perfectly fine to rely on outside services.

3. Efficient warehouse management is the key to a well-oiled logistics system

Proper warehouse management, such as indexing of items, can help a considerable amount when it comes to optimizing your logistics system. This is especially important for companies that typically deal with items that are perishable, such as food items that need to be refrigerated. The capacity of your warehouse should also accommodate your needs. This can be difficult to measure unless you’re actively monitoring every aspect of your logistics chain, hence why analytics and accurate reports can be important.

Warehouse management also means having enough workers and equipment to store and retrieve orders as needed. This includes having staff that are knowledgeable of all the safety considerations of working in a warehouse, and also having access to forklifts and similar pieces of equipment to make their life easier.

4. Use automated processes to become more efficient

Whether it’s organizing goods or printing labels, automation can make your logistics chain a lot simpler to manage. With the right type of software and engineers to monitor and tweak it, automated processes could play a major role in the way you operate your logistics.

Automated tools are usually always a big help, but it’s worth remembering that they can be difficult to set up and are usually prone to problems. Make sure you do your research and trial any piece of automation technology you use before putting it into service.

5. Analytics will help you get an objective look at your logistics chain

We mentioned this briefly already, but having analytical tools to track different metrics is critical to the operation of your business. Warehouses benefit greatly from using analytics because it allows you to make informed decisions backed by real statistics and facts that you personally generate. It allows for smarter inventory management, it helps you expand when needed and it also works well with complex supplier networks.

In addition, analytics can also help you react to certain situations. For instance, if there’s a supply chain issue like a truck getting stuck in transit, then you’ll immediately notice there’s an issue. Using your analytical tools, you can make decisions on how to proceed. This can be done by examining current stock, how much the truck is carrying and also how long your current stock will last. You can even track financial objectives to see if you’re meeting your targets.

3 Reasons Why a Ball Screw May Fail: Here’s What to Do If You Encounter This

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StrategyDriven Tactical Execution Article |Ball Screw Failure|3 Reasons Why a Ball Screw May Fail: Here’s What to Do If You Encounter ThisPremature or unanticipated ball screw failure can be extremely frustrating, especially when it causes machine downtime. Thankfully, most ball screws can be repaired, and those that can’t be repaired or refurbished can be reverse engineered to meet the machine’s exact specifications. Before going into these repair options, let’s take a look at three of the most common reasons why a ball screw may fail.

Common Reasons for Ball Screw Failure

There are many reasons ball screws may fail prematurely, ranging from improper storage to overloading and even mismatching of leads between ball screws and ball nuts. Three reasons stand out among the crowd due to their frequency, so machine operators and owners should keep an eye out for these common problems.

Lack of Lubrication

Machine lubrication systems must be properly maintained using the correct type of lubricant. This helps to dissipate heat, reducing component wear. Insufficient lubrication is one of the most common reasons for ball screw failure, so machine operators should pay careful attention to this essential maintenance task. If the damage has already been done, machine owners can visit dynatect.com to get the help they need.

Eccentric Loading

Ball nuts and ball screws must be properly aligned to avoid eccentric loading, or sideloading. The ball screw assembly is only equipped to handle axial loading, so eccentric loading can cause the ball bearings to wear flat or break out of their return tubes. Eccentric loading can also create problems with overloading.

Excessive Speed

All ball screw assemblies are manufactured to withstand only a certain speed of operation, known as the critical speed. Exceeding this speed can cause the screw to vibrate or whip, causing misalignment and reducing ball screw longevity. Ball screw surface speeds above 8,000 inches per minute will almost always result in reduced rated life.

What to Do About Ball Screw Failure

The first thing to do is to call a specialized repair service. Some services offer 24-hour rush repairs, which may be the best option for those who need to get their machines up and running quickly. Otherwise, look for a company that offers quick turnarounds and economical replacement options.

In some cases, ball screw assemblies can’t be repaired. If it has sustained damage due to pitting or brinneling, the unit may need to be refurbished instead. The ball screw itself will need to be reground, and a new ball nut will be manufactured to fit the original assembly specifications.

Machine owners shouldn’t stop at repairing or refurbishing their ball screws and replacing them without first identifying and resolving the underlying problem. Lack of lubrication, eccentric loading, and excessive speed are all relatively easy problems to fix. If necessary, consult an engineer for help with correcting the problem. It will be worth the money since it will prevent the need for frequent repairs and costly premature replacements.

The Bottom Line

Ball screws have an impressively diverse set of precision applications, ranging from machine tooling to robotics, and beyond. These complex components are essential to the functioning of all machines that require linear actuation, so it’s important for machine owners to ensure that they are kept well-lubricated, clean, and properly aligned. When having a ball screw repaired, make sure to work with a reputable company that specializes in this niche field, and don’t shy away from hiring an engineer to help identify the underlying problem.

What is Transactional Email and How is it Used?

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StrategyDriven Tactical Execution Article |Transactional Email|What is transactional email and how is it used?What is transactional email and how is it used?

Definition

“A transactional email is an automatic email sent to a single recipient to confirm a transaction or an event.”

Transactional emails have the highest opening rates because they are a direct response to a previous action; the user is somehow already waiting for them. In general, the click-through rates are incredibly high.

Transactional email is a service email that is sent after a user’s action, for example, a welcome message after registering on a website, a reset password confirmation, an auto-responder, a purchase receipt, etc.

Transactional emails are functional, and they are necessary for the normal functioning of your activity. If they are no longer sent, the function they perform ceases to be fulfilled, which can have severe consequences and cause you to lose many customers. Since transactional emails are so good for marketing, it is vital to ensure that they are delivered correctly to recipients and to trace it accurately.

Difference between email marketing and transactional email

Unlike marketing emails (newsletter type), which are sent in mass, transactional emails are sent to a specific recipient to confirm an action or notify them of an event. Typically, transactional emails include order confirmations, invoices, etc.

Types of Transactional Email

Invoices and receipts

Invoices and receipts can be integrated directly into confirmation emails but are sometimes the subject of a dedicated transactional email.

This kind of transactional email is particularly the case for:

  • Services not requiring delivery tracking
  • Subscriptions requiring the sending of an invoice at regular intervals

Tracking control

Your communication after a sale should not stop at the confirmation email. The various order follow-up emails have a crucial role in managing the wait.

You can send an email to notify your customers of the different stages of the order:

  • Order preparation
  • Shipped
  • Arrival order

Order confirmation

Your customer expects the transactional email the most. It is essential if you sell products or services online.
Pledge of seriousness and confidence for your customers; it must fulfil several objectives:

  • Confirm that the order has been taken into account
  • Reassure the customer
  • Send him all the information necessary for follow-up (order reference, access to his account, customer service contact, etc.)
  • Give him an estimate of the delivery time

This email plays a vital reinsurance role, and it often happens that the user has doubts about taking into account his actions, hence the importance of confirmation emails.

For some customers, ordering online is still something unusual and sometimes anxiety-provoking: a particular order confirmation email should reassure them that you are serious.

Password reset

The password reset email allows you to configure a new password via a single link. It is one of the essential transactional emails to set up: without it, your users who have forgotten their password have no way of being able to access their account!

How to set up your transactional emails?

Transactional emails are based on the SMTP protocol and require a specialised solution to ensure constant and reliable deliverability.

Use a dedicated and reliable solution

The best option is to go through a specialised transactional email services to manage your transactional shipments, such as sendgrid transactional email.

Sendgrid indeed offers many advantages compared to transactional emails included in CMS such as Prestashop, Magento, Woocommerce:

  • Real-time monitoring of performance indicators: deliverability, openings, etc.
  • Ability to customise your templates
  • Optimal and instant deliverability

Using the native solutions of most CMSs, you have no way of knowing if your transactional emails have arrived at their destination!

Separate your transactional mailings from your marketing campaigns

It is also essential to choose a solution that allows the routing of transactional emails to be separated from marketing emails.

Transactional emails are a vital point on your site and should not be penalised by the necessarily lower deliverability of your marketing mailings.

A problem in a marketing campaign can quickly lead to a decline in your reputation with email providers. You must, at all costs, avoid this impacting your transactional mailings.

Tips to Improve Your Transactional Emails

Finally, here are some tips to improve your transactional emails:

  • Keep the email concise and very clear. The user already knows what he expects, so be synthetic.
  • Send them a few seconds after the user action.
  • Use the most beautiful and most uncomplicated model to encourage clicks.
  • Place your contact details at the bottom of the page (footer).
  • Always send from an active address, better if authenticated.
  • Pay attention to the subject, and it must indicate the content of the transactional email to make it immediately recognisable in the inbox.

10 Top Reasons Why You Need To Hire Crane Services For Your Business

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StrategyDriven Tactical Execution Article |Crane Services|10 Top Reasons Why You Need To Hire Crane Services For Your BusinessWith the rising demand for construction, many people are trying their luck with the construction business. Although constructing high-rise buildings and modern houses is not a piece of cake, everything is possible with a little hard work and dedication. However, purchasing construction equipment with a small budget is out of the question.

Construction has high machinery demands that might cost an arm, especially when it comes to coughing money for cranes. The majority of businesses face this issue. Surprisingly, there is a way out for every problem. How about you hire crane services rather than purchasing cranes? Here are 10 top reasons why you need to hire crane services for your business.

1. Efficient Material Handling

Do you think manual labor is enough on construction sites? Honestly, lifting those heavy blocks of cement is not a human’s cup of tea. They might lift it one by one, making it forever to complete the construction work. This is the reason why you spot cranes at every worksite; they can lift several blocks at a time and placing them where it belongs. Besides, you have an option to install tower cranes or self-erecting cranes to handle all the materials efficiently.

2. Less Time-Consuming

If it takes manual labor 15 minutes to shift material from one place to another, cranes can do it in 2 minutes. Thus, it not only saves time but makes the construction process a lot faster. At the same time, if you are thinking to get your crane, then it might take several days to install the machine. You would have to get a license, train the workers for using such heavy machinery, and follow all the safety precautions.

However, hiring crane services can help you escape all his hustle. You also have the option to hire the person who operates cranes. So, consider going with the option of crane hire.

3. Variety of Machines

Do you know there are different types of cranes? Every construction site has a different requirement for machinery and crane. If you are hiring crane services, then it exposes you to a variety of machines. You can opt for a mobile crane if you want to hoist the material or a tower crane to work on skyscrapers.

Similarly, there are loader cranes and overhead cranes for lifting heavy and different sorts of material. Believe it or not, purchasing all these machines requires a gigantic investment. Alongside being light on pockets, hiring crane services would provide you with all the machines you need.

4. No Maintenance & Repair Costs

Dealing with heavy machinery is not a child’s play. Several technical glitches or engine are misfunctioning, which can halt the entire construction process. However, when you are hiring crane services, all these problems are no longer your headache. The renting company would be responsible for all services and maintenance of the cranes. If it stops working on the construction site, you only have to inform them, and they would replace it with another one, maintaining a smooth flow of work.

5. Saves Money

Some businesses look for financing options when it comes to getting machinery for their construction site. It makes sense if you require the machinery for every project. However, if you are doing this to satisfy the needs of a single project, it can land you in trouble. Alongside repayments, you have to cast away money on interest payments too, shrinking your profits significantly. Therefore, consider renting the crane every time, fulfilling your need for different machinery.

6. Escape Insurance Fees

You can’t bring cranes to the site without any insurance. It involves working on heights on the top of the sky, making insurance mandatory. The ratio of accidents on construction sites is quite high, and you can’t end up risking machinery you just purchased, adding another expense on your list. This is the reason why the majority of businesses hire crane services to dodge these unnecessary costs. However, getting an insurance cover for employees remains essential.

7. Promotes Quicker Processes

Honestly, loading and unloading material with the help of manual labor is possible, but it can take days. Hence, it is better to rely on machinery and equipment to fulfill these monotonous tasks. Many construction workers also develop back injuries due to heavy material lifting. Therefore, using cranes doesn’t only speeds up the entire process, but motivates workers to perform efficient tasks. After all, in today’s world, modern cranes can hold tons of material and while carrying it 10,000 meters high.

8. Weather Doesn’t Halt Operations

Humans can’t work during heavy rain showers or windy days since it is very risky to climb buildings. All these external factors can halt operations, but things are different when working with machinery. They can work in the rough and tough climatic conditions. Therefore, explore the option of hiring a crane to maintain a smooth flow of work. The operator working on the crane has a protected cabin, helping him run the crane efficiently.

9. Ensures Safety

Many construction sites face accidents due to a lack of safety measures. After all, the workers are sweating under hectic conditions while performing risky functions. Well, if you use machinery to replace this dangerous work, it would reduce the number of injuries. The workers would feel satisfied and also increases their productivity levels. Cranes are completely safe; workers work with all the safety manual and equipment, avoiding safety violations.

10. Swap with Latest Equipment

Do you see the changing technological trends? Similarly, equipment and machinery are also evolving and introducing new functions. If you are considering purchasing equipment, it is impossible to cope with the changing trends. However, while hiring cranes, you can enjoy using the latest cranes and machinery on your site. At the same time, you swap equipment easily too. For instance, you can get a high-tech crane for a high-rise building and over loader for building houses.

Wrap Up

Every business demands some risky decisions and calculations. In the construction business, it is always about getting the right equipment. Some owners are skeptical about purchasing heavy cranes and equipment while others are exploring options of renting services. Well, if you can’t decide, look above to see the 10 top reasons why you need to hire crane services for your business.