Customer experience should never be limited by distance or borders
While the world may feel smaller than ever before, its circumference is still 24,901 miles and goods have to travel the same distances they always have. However they can travel with far greater ease when the right tools are used to manage their movement. Growing or diversifying a customer base often means geographic expansion, and geographic expansion comes with its own challenges.
Manufacturers, Distributors, & Retailers
A geographically diverse customer base can mean many things. It may mean that your regional carrier network can no longer provide sufficient coverage. Or it may necessitate adding additional modes (with additional complexities, like multi-stop service). And for global expansion it will absolutely mean expansion into the complex world of customs documentation. Sometimes expansion happens as a result of changing market dynamics, and where the demand is; other times it’s a highly deliberate growth strategy. What never changes, though, is the type of experience customers expect their partners to deliver.
Freight Brokers & 3PLs
In logistics services, geographic expansion can take two forms: expanding your own footprint, or keeping up with customers expanding theirs. Either way, it comes with new responsibilities and expectations. Even relatively small distances can force a change in carrier network or service offerings. While some carriers are national (and even international), many, particularly in TL, serve more limited regions. Expansion means fast onboarding and continued monitoring of new carriers. Customer expansion, likewise, may mean identifying new modes and services that allow them to provide exceptional service to their own customers. It’s all manageable, but only with the right tools.