One of the (very few) positives to have come from the Covid pandemic has been the focus put on the global logistics industry, tasked with ensuring the smooth delivery of literally billions of packages of all shapes and sizes from supplier to purchaser globally. This service has been a lifeline for businesses in all parts of the process but crucially for the suppliers and retailers all around the world who almost instantly had their route to market cut off as lockdown was imposed.
The increased importance of the logistics industry over the last 14 months in our day to day lives has created a boom for the sector with existing players increasing in size and stature and a huge increase in the number of new players entering the market.
For the consumer – this includes suppliers, retailers and individual customers – this has meant a huge increase in choice as the sector becomes ever more competitive and benefits from the focus on pricing that this generates. For the logistics firms the increased competition means they must be at the top of their game in every aspect of the logistics process as they compete for business through service, speed, reliability, customer satisfaction and of course price.
The point at which these factors come under the spotlight most is in the “final mile” of delivery, arguably the most important mile in the entire logistics process.
For the logistics company this is both the most expensive mile as well as the mile that is most under the customers gaze. Expensive because this often involves transportation through congested streets to a difficult to access location, parking and toll charges and expensive again as this part will include the actual delivery and installation – in our world this is never a one-man job and can involve very detailed reconstruction and installation.
For the customer, the “final mile” is the most important of all because this is where they see the logistics team in action, the delivery of their precious piece and it’s positioning within their home or workplace. When the customer is asked to give a review of the service they have received, the review will be base solely on the final mile. They won’t talk about the thousands of other miles their precious cargo has travelled, they won’t talk about the quality of the warehouse it was stored in or even the beautifully crafted, secure packing crate used to protect it – no, the review will be based on the state of the cargo, the presentation and attitude of the team and the timing of delivery compared to expectation.
This focus is magnified even more for the shipping of high value products and this is where Henley Shipping have really taken a lead in the high-end logistics sector with their promise of a white glove service. The quality of service they provide through the process is second to none but since their launch in 2017 they have really grasped the importance of “the final mile”.
Henley Shipping employ teams of logistics and installation specialists for both Interior Designs and art galleries who understand the needs and expectations of their customer base as well as the significance of the “final mile”. Behind the scenes, the highly experienced Customer Services team coordinate every job to ensure a smooth process with the needs of their customers core to every decision they make.
As market leaders in their field, Henley Shipping fully embrace the absolute importance of “final mile logistics” providing a level of service that others can only aspire to.