Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, what were once routine movements of freight have disintegrated into a never-ending series of redos and reworks. Shipments being handled by all supply chain providers had to be repeatedly touched by all organizations, doubling and tripling the workload while volume soared — a perfect storm.
The surge in volume quickly absorbed any excess capacity that might have existed in the first half of 2020. From mid-year 2020 forward, physical, human, and digital resources were pushed into overload, and this trend continued throughout 2021. Any weaknesses were laid bare.
Looking ahead to 2022, there is a growing consensus that the industry is in for more of the same.
To meet the increasing need for timely and accurate information, additional investment in technology and staffing will be required. There is no single digital solution that operates in real time. Information on whether a vessel has sailed can be captured within minutes — if not seconds — but whether your cargo was loaded onboard or was rolled to a subsequent vessel requires additional time to confirm.
In short, all organizations, importers, exporters, ocean carriers, non-vessel-operating carriers (NVOs), freight forwarders, truckers, railroads, and warehouse operators will need to find the right blend of technology and team member engagement to maximize the management and productivity of their piece of the global supply chain.
For now, we see the human element and involvement as the crucial element in pulling together all the critical data customers need to make informed decisions.