In a world where quality, cost and delivery time are critical, logistics and supply chain play an important role for companies wishing to ensure customer satisfaction. However, managing these aspects is complex and time-consuming, including various tasks such as inventory management, order preparation, shipment tracking, and more.
This administrative burden can limit performance and competitiveness without adequate resources. Therefore, some companies, especially SMEs and mid-caps, are looking for solutions to optimize certain parameters of their logistics and supply chain.
The administrative management of the supply chain of a current company
The supply chain, or supply chain, represents the vital network that integrates suppliers, manufacturers, distributors, resellers and customers into a modern enterprise. This network encompasses all operations, from design to after-sales service, including the production, storage, transport and distribution of goods or services to the final customer.
The administrative management of this supply chain supports the efficient coordination and control of all flows: information, documents, goods and finance among the actors concerned. This involves key activities such as demand forecasting, sourcing, production planning, inventory management, order preparation and tracking, invoicing and after-sales support.
This management is essential to ensure the efficiency and quality of the supply chain. It plays a key role in productivity, profitability and customer satisfaction, while ensuring compliance with international standards, compliance certifications, customs regulations, and environmental and social requirements.
At the heart of a world marked by globalization, digitalization, the desire for personalization, the imperatives of sustainability and the need for resilience, supply chain management faces significant challenges but also unprecedented opportunities. It must constantly adapt to changing customer needs and expectations, market changes, disruptions in supply networks, and technological advances and new managerial approaches.
Mandatory international standards
Logistics and supply chain work across borders for companies that export abroad. This involves exchanges and cooperation between various countries and regions. These interactions are framed by mandatory international standards with the objectives of harmonization of practices, trade facilitation, security, environmental protection and many other standards and certifications for a wide range of fields.
Entities such as the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the World Customs Organization (WCO) are some examples of organizations that have developed these standards.
The main areas impacted by these international standards are:
- Commercial documents (invoices, bills of lading, certificates of origin, etc.) that must adhere to standardized formats and codes for better electronic management and effective recognition by customs authorities.
- Packaging (containers, pallets, labels, etc.) that are regulated in terms of dimensions, materials, markings and identification systems to optimize handling, traceability and recycling.
- Customs procedures (declaration, control, customs clearance, etc.) that must align with uniform rules and requirements to minimize formalities, deadlines and costs at the border.
- Quality, safety and environmental standards (ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 28000, etc.) to ensure compliance, performance and responsibility of supply chain stakeholders, while preventing risks and negative impacts for people, goods and the environment.
Compliance with these standards is essential for the successful operation of a company’s logistics and supply chain. This not only helps to enhance competitiveness, reliability, transparency, and sustainability of trade, but also builds trust and cooperation among trading partners.
Certifications of regulatory compliance
In the field of logistics and supply chain, compliance with regulations must be taken into account. These regulations, which vary by industry, country and region, are designed to ensure the safety, quality, traceability and accountability of products and services. They also aim to protect consumers, workers and the environment.
To comply with these legal requirements, companies in the logistics sector must obtain regulatory compliance certifications. These certifications prove that the established standards and requirements are met. There is also the pvoc (pre-verification of conformity) which allows companies wishing to export to Africa and the Middle East to have, as its name indicates, a pre-verification so that they do not need to go through customs.
Regulatory compliance certifications cover various aspects of logistics and supply chain, including:
- Products (food, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, hazardous products, etc.) that must meet quality, safety, health, hygiene, and labelling criteria in accordance with the regulations of the countries of origin, transit and destination.
- Processes (manufacturing, storage, transport, distribution, after-sales service, etc.) that must adhere to rules of management, control, documentation, training, and audit, in accordance with the regulations of specific sectors of activity.
- Service providers (carriers, logisticians, distributors, resellers, etc.) who must meet reporting, authorization, insurance, and certification obligations, according to the regulations of the relevant areas of intervention.
The acquisition of compliance certifications is essential for logistics and supply chain players. It plays an important role in reducing the risk of non-compliance, penalties, penalties, litigation and recalls. It helps to strengthen the trust, credibility and reputation of companies while promoting their differentiation from the competition.
The arrival of artificial intelligence and what it brings to the world of international trade
Artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionary, it allows through tools or machines to analyze, understand and adjust through various data. His contribution is significant in the field of international trade, notably by transforming logistics and supply chain management.
AI offers significant benefits at different levels of the supply chain, including:
- Real-time visibility: Thanks to AI, it is possible to collect, study and share information instantly on the movement of goods, transport conditions and unexpected incidents. This improves traceability, transparency and agility in supply chain management.
- Demand forecasting: AI analyzes large volumes of varied data, such as historical sales data, market trends and consumer behavior, to produce more accurate, personalized and flexible demand predictions.
- Process optimization: It models, simulates and solves complex issues such as route optimization, inventory management and order planning, thus contributing to lower costs, faster processes, limiting waste and reducing the ecological footprint of the supply chain.
- Task automation: The AI supports recurring, standardized or risky tasks, such as handling, sorting, loading and unloading products. In doing so, it saves time, minimizes errors and increases security in the supply chain.
Artificial intelligence is a major innovation for logistics and supply chain in the international trade sector. It generates added value, strengthens competitiveness, increases customer satisfaction and promotes sustainable development.
Optimization of internal resources
For any company, optimizing internal resources is an important challenge to significantly improve the performance of its logistics and supply chain. This approach consists in making efficient use of the resources available (whether human, material, financial or informational).
The optimization process is based on various levers:
Training and motivation of employees
Develop the skills and commitment of logistics teams through targeted training, the use of powerful tools, the definition of precise objectives, and the offer of attractive rewards.
Improvement of internal processes
Simplify, standardize, and streamline logistics processes. This means eliminating unnecessary activities, duplications and errors, while reducing delays. It is also vital to set up performance indicators and dashboards for rigorous monitoring and evaluation of processes.
Integration of information systems
Connect the various information systems operated by supply chain actors, such as ERP, WMS, TMS and CRM. Also leverage innovative technologies such as cloud, big data, artificial intelligence (AI), and the Internet of Things (IoT).
Optimizing internal resources improves efficiency, quality, productivity, and profitability of logistics operations and supply chain. It also helps to improve customer satisfaction and loyalty, as well as boost employee motivation and retention.
Improved flexibility and responsiveness
Opting for the outsourcing of administrative management related to logistics and supply chain offers a significant benefit: a significant increase in flexibility and responsiveness. This strategy allows companies to quickly and efficiently adjust to fluctuations in demand, market changes, competition challenges, regulatory changes, and more.
By delegating administrative management, companies can improve their agility and responsiveness in several areas, including:
- Strategic flexibility: This reflects the ability to revisit or diversify the offer of products or services in response to market changes. Through outsourcing, companies can focus on their core business, innovate, differentiate their offerings and explore new niches or markets.
- Operational flexibility: It is the ability to adapt its production capacity, stock provisions, transport network, etc., in accordance with fluctuations in demand. Through outsourcing, companies benefit from the expertise, resources and infrastructure of their logistics provider, which can adjust its offer to meet specific requirements.
- Organizational flexibility: It manifests itself in the ability to reorganize the company’s internal structure, processes and information systems to better respond to environmental changes. Outsourcing administrative management simplifies the organisational structure, reduces fixed costs and optimizes communication and coordination with the logistics provider, which can offer innovative and tailor-made solutions.
The rise of flexibility and responsiveness through outsourcing directly contributes to improving the performance and competitiveness of companies, while strengthening the satisfaction of customers, suppliers and partners. This also minimizes the risks and uncertainties associated with logistics and supply chain management.
Reduction of costs and savings
Outsourcing the administrative management of logistics and supply chain offers significant benefits in terms of cost reduction and savings. This strategy aims to reduce the expenses associated with logistics operations while enhancing the quality and added value of products or services.
Opting for outsourcing leads to savings on various levels:
Reducing fixed costs
This relates to lower spending on the ownership and operation of infrastructure such as warehouses, vehicle fleet or information systems. By entrusting administrative management to an external partner, a company overcomes these costs and pays only for the services actually employed.
Reduction of variable costs
This implies the reduction of expenditure related to the consumption of resources (fuel, electricity, packaging, etc.). Through outsourcing, companies benefit from economies of scale, volume purchasing and sustainable practices adopted by their logistics provider.
Reduction of hidden costs
This aims to reduce the expenses associated with imperfections, errors, delays, disputes, etc. By partnering with a logistics provider, companies benefit from its expertise, reliability and compliance to prevent and manage these costs effectively.
The reduction of costs and the realized savings favor the improvement of the profitability, the competitiveness and the sustainability of the company. They offer the opportunity to reinvest in its expansion, offer more attractive prices, offer better quality services and adopt a more responsible approach towards customers.
Delegate your logistics and supply chain to focus on your core business
Delegate by outsourcing the administrative management of your logistics and supply chain to an external provider frees up your time and energy, allowing you to focus on what really matters: creating value for your customers and shareholders. But how to identify the ideal provider, the one that will precisely meet your needs and expectations? And what is the most direct and effective way to get the information and services essential to your business?
This is where YVEA comes in. As a pioneer in the development of a virtual assistant dedicated to administrative management in logistics and supply chain.
YVEA represents a revolutionary platform that facilitates your connection with the most qualified logistics providers, chosen according to strict criteria of quality, safety, compliance and efficiency. Yvea is able to assist you in finding your needs until the establishment of the contract with the partner.
YVEA stands out for its intelligent virtual assistant. A bit on the same system as a chatgpt or a BARD, MAY (being the virtual assistant “search engine” of YVEA) will be able to answer any of your questions concerning transport, logistics or supply chain. He will also be able to offer you the range of partners we have selected and with whom YVEA works (with negotiated rates, what more?).
Yvea’s idea was to be able to centralize all information on these topics to save valuable time for companies that do not want to waste time in the administrative side of their business. The tool will also be useful to monitor the status of your orders, manage your administrative documents, solve your various problems, etc. YVEA ensures you adequate and tailor-made answers, available 24/24, 7/7.
Thanks to YVEA, you benefit from a significant time saving, all the necessary information being centralized and easily accessible on a single platform.
YVEA offers you the opportunity to entrust the administrative management of your logistics and your supply chain with confidence, allowing you to fully refocus on your core business. Rather a beautiful tool that can revolutionize the supply chain, what do you say?