An organization expanding markets or experiencing growth
A customer experiencing growth while prioritizing continued customer service came to us for recommendations on geographic placement of a new distribution center and optimized routing to align with this adjustment. We completed a network analysis considering transportation, labor, and warehouse costs, followed by a transportation design to understand the new driver and tractor needs at each location. This strategy helped to improve service levels across these locations, so there were no disruptions during this important period of growth!
An organization with shifting customer expectations
We work with our customers consistently to ensure we adjust to their shifting needs and align initiatives to their priorities. Examples of shifting customer expectations include changes to systems and technology. In one case, a customer experienced a system change that increased flexibility for stops to be routed together that could not previously. Because they expected transportation savings from this change, we completed a routing analysis and identified reductions in load count, miles, and hours. There have also been times when customers had shifting requirements when wanting to focus on meeting either cost or service goals. In these cases, we identified ways to either reduce resource needs to eliminate waste or estimate new resource needs to meet changing service requirements. It’s all about communication and what our customers expect and desire.
Overall, changes in demand, operational flexibility, and improved load planning can assist in putting together a recommendation that satisfies shifting demands, and we at Ruan will partner with you to meet you where you’re at.
An organization experiencing seasonal or economic fluctuations in demand or service
For any organization who is experiencing this, we would fully recommend participating in a transportation network RFP to help identify areas for improvement and gaps in service to avoid complacency. As part of Ruan’s network analysis during this process, we focus on evaluating many variables including delivery frequency and driver and trailer utilization.
As a dedicated provider, Ruan shares our assets and resources well throughout the organization. We operate in many markets and locations across the country and serve many of our dedicated customers in the same markets. This allows us to be prepared for any shifts in demand, whether seasonal or economic. Ruan also will build flex drivers into our customers’ models to help ensure coverage during times of surge.
For our retail customers, we always try to align sales in store with delivery times, as this is where organizations can typically experience delays. What day of the week or time of the month do items at their locations typically go on sale, and how many additional resources do we need to implement to match the service needs to support this surge in demand.
When it comes to driver utilization, we have helped many customers in the past level load their weeks, so drivers were utilized to their fullest potential with steady freight. This helps offset any wasted costs on drivers sitting idle.
Overall, when we take the time to evaluate these resources and share assets, these savings are ultimately passed on to you as the customer. We will always evaluate across our organization and see if there are any underutilized drivers to help support other areas of the business.
An organization going through an acquisition
In times of anticipated acquisitions, it’s always good to be prepared from a transportation network perspective to identify areas of existing alignment and synergy, and to also identify overlapping areas that will cause waste in the long run. When our customers go through an acquisition, the Ruan team will prioritize these areas for optimization:
- Ensure materials are being sourced from the location that makes the most sense.
- Determine driver and tractor counts and ensure they are optimized for cost and service.
- Identify consolidation opportunities to improve driver and trailer utility.
Overall, our team determines what the new resource requirements will be. Assuming geographical alignment exists between the customer and the acquired business, we often see increased efficiencies in driver and trailer utilization when combining freight and optimizing routes.
The Ruan team is here to be a resource for your organization’s next initiative. Reach out to our team for a network analysis today!