This customer is a leading provider in the renewable energy sector, specialising in the supply of solar panels, lithium batteries, and related components for both commercial and residential installations. Their operations span the country, requiring the careful handling of fragile and hazardous goods. They cater to a diverse range of clients, including solar installation companies, electricians, and large commercial developers, where timely and dependable deliveries are critical due to tight installation schedules and project timelines. Although they operate from a single office, they manage and coordinate dispatch through multiple third-party logistics (3PL) providers across all major cities, ensuring full national coverage and the ability to meet time-sensitive delivery demands efficiently.

Despite their extensive reach and nationwide operations, the company faced several key challenges in managing their freight logistics effectively:

• Fragile Goods Handling
  The delicate nature of solar panels made them highly susceptible to damage during transit, with even minor impacts leading to costly breakages and the need for replacements. This not only disrupted the company’s ability to meet strict project deadlines but also increased operational costs.
  
  Dependence on Limited Carrier Options
  Relying on a limited network of carriers restricted their ability to select the best options for various regions and freight types. This dependence often led to slower deliveries, particularly for interstate shipments, and limited their ability to manage specific needs such as dangerous goods (DG) transport.

Inefficient Freight Coordination

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• Gaps in Communication
  With a small dispatch team handling all operations, communication with the sales team and customers became strained. Constant follow-up requests for tracking information put additional pressure on their team, often resulting in delays in providing timely updates to customers.

To overcome the challenges of handling fragile goods, managing complex logistics across multiple locations, and ensuring timely deliveries, we implemented a range of tailored solutions:

• Improved Fragile Goods Handling
• We introduced a more extensive carrier network with specialised expertise in handling fragile and hazardous goods, such as solar panels and lithium batteries. By carefully selecting carriers with the right equipment and processes, we significantly reduced the occurrence of damage during transit.
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• Real-Time Tracking and Communication
• To enhance visibility and communication, we implemented real-time tracking that provided the sales and dispatch teams with up-to-date consignment information. This reduced the need for follow-ups and ensured that time-sensitive deliveries were prioritised and monitored effectively.

• Consolidation to Eliminate Partial Deliveries
• We consolidated their orders by utilising carriers capable of handling both general and dangerous goods (DG) freight in one shipment. This eliminated the need for splitting consignments, allowing time-sensitive orders to be delivered in full and on time, without any delays caused by managing different transit requirements for dangerous goods.

• Tailored Training for Efficient Operations
• We delivered targeted training to both the dispatch and sales teams, enabling them to fully leverage our system’s tracking and communication tools. This empowered the sales team to handle customer queries directly, reducing the pressure on the dispatch team and improving overall internal workflows.

• Seamless Management of Time-Sensitive Orders
• Our dedicated operations team closely monitored each shipment from booking through to completion, ensuring that time-sensitive deliveries met their designated time slots. This hands-on approach reduced delays and helped the customer maintain critical project timelines, keeping their clients satisfied.

The Result

• Reduction in Damages
• Our tailored carrier selection resulted in an 80% reduction in damage rates for solar panels and lithium batteries, significantly minimising costly replacements and ensuring timely project completion.
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• Cost Reduction

• By consolidating the carrier base and streamlining operations, the customer achieved a 15% reduction in overall freight costs, particularly for dangerous goods shipments, improving cost recovery and operational efficiency.

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• Improved Operational Efficiency
• With real-time tracking and reduced internal communication noise, the company increased their operational efficiency by 30%, allowing the dispatch team to focus on core logistics tasks while the sales team handled customer queries directly.
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• Growth in Freight Volume
• The improved service and cost reductions led the customer to increase their freight volume by 30%, entrusting more of their logistics to our management and solidifying the partnership.