Getting the best value from an international shipping container isn't simply a matter of cramming in as much stock as possible
That's why AI-driven shipping container optimisation selects the perfect mix to ensure supply while maximising revenue.
Building a shipping container for transporting stock into the country can be like a frantic game of Tetris, cramming the boxes in tight to ensure no space goes to waste. Filling every corner of the container might seem like you're getting the most bang for your buck, but AI-driven container optimisation can still deliver a significant return on investment by looking at the big picture.
Firstly, planning the perfect container layout takes time. That's time you could better spend elsewhere in the business, performing more value-adding tasks while AI crunches through all the permutations. It's the kind of complex problem-solving challenge on which AI thrives.
Secondly, AI-driven container optimisation isn't just faster and more efficient than doing it yourself. AI can also consider a much wider range of variables, tying into your supply chain management and forecasting to ensure you're shipping exactly what you need, when you need it most.
AI-driven container optimisation doesn't just prioritise those stock items which you need most. It also prioritises the use of any leftover space to ensure you're using it wisely in order to optimise your cash flow and revenue.
The optimisation tools also consider the margins on each stock item, to provide the maximum revenue from each shipment. Containers can even be packed to ensure that back order items are the first to be unpacked at the other end, to speed up delivery times and boost customer satisfaction.
There's no point in ordering far too much of something, just because it fits in the container, if it's just going to sit idle in your warehouse once it arrives in Australia. AI ensures any spare space in the container is dedicated to filling the gaps in your long-term forecasts, to reduce the likelihood of stockouts.
As always, you can set your high-level objectives and let the AI work backwards to help you achieve those goals.
Benefits
The benefits of container optimisation are significant. Our clients have seen what has traditionally been a three or four-day process reduced to half a day.
Container optimisation is about much more than the productivity boost. Customers also experience a significant reduction in stockouts and excess stock, especially businesses which ship large items like furniture.
We've seen new customers who are accustomed to losing 30 per cent of projected revenues due to stockouts caused by poor container optimisation done in Excel. They assumed there was no better way, until they discovered that AI could ensure that every container load delivers the maximum value for the business.
So, is it time for you to optimise your own shipping container efforts?
Want to know more about inventory management and replenishment? Headhereto find out how AI can help you avoid stock-outs, or here to learn all about the things you need to consider before implementing AI. You can also see our platform in action via our case studies - including how we helped a wholesale distributor reduce stock-outs by 24%.Once you’ve had your fill of content from our blog, why not drop us a line here.