Importance of Efficient Logistics and Supply Chain Management During a Pandemic

If at all the importance of something was realised the most, it has been the importance of logistics during a pandemic. As countries deal more and more with the negative effects of a pandemic, supply chain management acts as an aid to the crippling economy. The pandemic has affected supply chain management in many ways. First of all the number of staff at work will be very less, either because they will be sick or due to restrictions in the number of people at a workplace. Lockdowns affect the movement of goods unless of course they are essential. With the virus looming around the world the supply chain management has been affected in some way or the other. So what can be done to produce an efficient logistic and supply chain management during a pandemic?

You are all aware that in a pandemic the movement of people is restricted. And rightly so fewer people step out to go shopping. They prefer utilising online shopping options to procure goods. In these times the role of logistics and supply chain management comes to the rescue. The best logistics service providers need to efficiently work with supplier bases, including consumer-packaged-goods (CPG) makers, distributors, and co-manufacturers during the pandemic. Delivery options should be stepped up, we need to increase the location to where products are delivered, similarly we need to increase the delivery agents to be able to step up to more delivery demand.

The supply chain management in India helps in saving lives, a lot of essentials and medicines are shipped during the pandemic. But first of all you need to guarantee the life and safety of your workers. Invest in protective gear for your workers, encourage work from home as much as possible. As far as managing essentials and pharmaceuticals goes, you need to collaborate closely with your freight forwarders, carriers, and others – especially for the pharmaceutical industry.

Always be prepared, failing to prepare is one of the worst mistakes we can make in a pandemic. You should have a risk management plan in place. Customers need to be reassured that they will receive products from you even during testing times. We need to diversify supply chains geographically and develop more partnerships for better transit. Cost management is another factor to consider. We cannot simply increase rates for supply management just because we are in a pandemic. Make an agility plan to avoid transport delays. Use automation and proper inventory management systems to manage your products.

The Covid Pandemic may linger for many more years however are you going to complain and take your supply management and logistics in hiding? No, we need to be well prepared and take all efforts to make sure customers receive their products on time, your staff is safe and healthy, essentials and medicines move freely and we avoid mistakes that can be detrimental to the supply chain management. Let’s make a conscious effort to provide the best of supply chain and logistical management in the pandemic.

At Chowgule Brothers we make sure that even in tough times we deliver efficient Logistic and Supply Chain Management solutions to our partners. Contact us to know more