E-commerce has shaken the retail industry’s logistics approach, as Amazon’s model dramatically altered consumer expectations in a phenomenon now known as the “Amazon Effect”. Under orders to stay home, much of the world turned to online retailers like Amazon for shopping that was previously done locally and in person. Between hard to predict consumer behavior and the erratic flow of goods, outlooks on capacity continue to vary and become more heavily influenced by urgency.
Impacts Of COVID-19
COVID-19, which required government response worldwide, presented many barriers to the existing standards of freight. Many workers considered non-essential by governments, happened to be essential in producing, packaging and transporting goods. Borders were closed to stop the spread, further bottle-necking the flow of supply chains. The threats that COVID-19 presented to supply chain security, continuity and resilience exacerbated traditional risks faced every year and also created new vulnerabilities and risks that experts will need to tackle in the year ahead.
“The Amazon Effect” and E-Commerce
As slowdowns became prevalent in other major carriers such as FedEx and UPS, Amazon remained comparatively unphased. Obsessed with customer satisfaction, Amazon was well seated to thrive during what was for most others, a crisis. With COVID-19 creating changes in best-fit practices, Amazon contributed to the plight of its competitors by raising the bar.
Consumers had come to expect options like free shipping, free return shipping, same-day delivery, and high visibility. As Forbes states, “last-mile delivery is one of the most challenging problems in fulfillment,” and “The Amazon Effect” has had its heaviest influence here. Amazon has the same logistics focus as it’s competitors, inventory and freight. However, it has shifted the weight of this focus largely on controlling its freight costs. Since last-mile delivery is almost exclusively by road, shifting investment towards freight allows delivery models to expedite delivery with smaller fleets.
For freight shippers to keep pace, they will need to make logistics-minded investments that allow them to evolve with the pervasive influence of Amazon’s near-instant gratification.
Due to the high influence of this phenomenon over last-mile delivery, the trucking industry will continue to be affected in 2021. For freight shippers to keep pace, they will need to make logistics-minded investments that allow them to evolve with the pervasive influence of Amazon’s near-instant gratification.
Ideal Capacity for Profitability
2020 came with many uncertainties, but there is one thing the trucking sector knows about shares: they tend to outperform as the industry emerges from capacity-related stress or economic pressure. Inventory to sales ratios are at record lows. Businesses that responded to The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) Optimism Index showed that increasing their inventories was a chief priority in their developing plans for 2021.
Given the industrial exposure of LTLs, the most optimistic of analysts are preparing for a bull market.
The end of 2020 sees all-time highs in LTL stock trading. Many analysts are projecting that the COVID-19 vaccine will increase not only consumer economies but provide a catalyst to company inventories-related-spending. Of course, the implication of this outlook is positive strides in the industrial sector. Given the industrial exposure of LTLs, the most optimistic of analysts are preparing for a bull market.
FTL shipping has many benefits over LTL in expedition, and is favored for it’s lower spot rates. However, as factors like the Amazon Effect come into play, it is important to think critically about best-rate decisions.
FTL shipping has many benefits over LTL in expedition, and is favored for it’s lower spot rates. However, as factors like the Amazon Effect come into play, it is important to think critically about best-rate decisions.
Trucking stands to see plenty of action in 2021. If freight companies can accurately forecast capacity-related needs, they will remain insulated from the chaos 2020 brought with it’s unprecedented factors as they continue to hit the open road into 2021.
Strengthening Capacity Foresight
BlueGrace offers end to end support by assessing and integrating your needs into projections from our data analytics team. Partnering with an extensive list of carriers, BlueGrace can help ease the significance of the dreaded capacity crunch. If you would like more information on how BlueGrace can help you meet tightening deadlines and reduce transportation costs, contact us at 800.MY.SHIPPING or fill out the form below to speak to one of our experts today!
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