It’s no secret that shippers could supply goods to customers regularly or easily with delivery partners. They’d suffer and eventually go out of business.
A delivery partner is a person or company transporting a shipper’s products to customers. That is why shippers must take the time to find the best one for them.
According to Chris Grey, vice president of business development at SmartKargo, not all delivery partners have the shipper’s best interests in mind.
COVID-19 uncovered many issues and allowed disrupters to enter the market and do things differently to meet the needs of the consumer and shipper, according to Grey. The status quo is no longer viable.
“There are other options now, and [shippers] don’t have to do it the way they’ve always done it,” Grey explained. “It is unnecessary to stick to how things have always been done. Regarding delivery partners, we no longer have to choose between two options.”
Grey, who previously worked for a primary carrier, was able to identify the pain points of many in the industry, particularly those that work with traditional airlines.
“These big-name companies are not quick and nimble because they are so large and so old,” Grey explained. “They can’t pivot to new strategies to meet the customer’s evolving needs. They expand and change through acquisition, presenting their own challenges. And putting something new in place requires a five- or ten-year plan. That is not acceptable post-COVID. Shipper and receiver demands change more quickly than five or ten years.”
Grey observed that traditional carriers’ rates were constantly rising, increasing by 7%-15% per year. Shippers have few options with only two to choose from, so they must pay these rates or their goods will not be moved — and no one wants unnecessary shipping delays. Traditional carriers also have longer transit times, up to seven days for a ground movement, have lower on-time performance, and provide a less personable customer experience.
“Everything works against the shipper,” Grey explained. “When shippers limit themselves to only two options, they are completely removed from the driver’s seat.”
He stated that SmartKargo is challenging the status quo by offering its customers global top-of-the-line service and delivery through dedicated and strategic partnerships.
Other benefits of working with SmartKargo include no accessorial fees, improved time and transit (two-day delivery), unconventional and advantageous pricing, price certainty, flexibility, and environmentally friendly shipping practices.
Recently, the company partnered with a significant passenger airline to ship small packages (retail, pharmaceutical, manufacturing, and other goods) across the United States on behalf of its customers. The collaboration enables SmartKargo to ship on approximately 800 flights per day.
“[Airlines] have extra space,” Grey explained. “We just put our [customers’ small-parcel] packages on that flight underneath the passengers’ feet. Because it’s a passenger airline, the majority of the cost of the movement is already accounted for, so putting a bunch of [small-parcel] packages on that flight doesn’t add much to the cost. As a result, we can provide this two-day service at a reasonable price.”
With a presence in many countries and more to come, SmartKargo can keep its promise of affordable two-day shipping to its customers.
“Shippers want to meet the customer’s needs,” Grey explained. “They want to be effective and operate outside the constraints imposed by these big names. We offer options, transparent pricing, and quick service, making us an excellent alternative to these traditional carriers. And, because of our organizational structure, we can quickly adapt to changing needs.”
Grey believes that the traditional way of doing things is broken and does not benefit shippers or customers. If shippers continue to do things the same way, they will get the same old results.
“The world has changed, allowing new opportunities and disruptors to emerge,” he said. “Now is the time to take advantage of this period of transition to strengthen your supply chain and become better than you were before.”
Fillogic is overjoyed to be a SmartKargo customer.
“We at Fillogic are huge fans of what SmartKargo has built,” said Fillogic CEO Bill Thayer. “Excellent partner, team, and, most importantly, technology. Our integrations were completed in less than two weeks by the engineering teams at Fillogic and SmartKargo. We look forward to collaborating to expand into additional regions to support our growth plans.”
Over the next five years, SmartKargo plans to expand both its product and its global reach. Grey claims that the company will eventually have a presence in many more countries, with numerous additional service levels such as same-day and next-day shipping and options for its own fleet of trucks.
“This is the goal, and we intend to be seen everywhere,” Grey said.
