Bridgewater Logistics, a leading South African third-party logistics provider, is helping its clients accelerate product to market, reduce transport and logistics costs, as well as significantly improve their service levels.
Quinton de Villiers, managing director of Bridgewater Logistics, says that the company’s cross-docking services are a critical component of its comprehensive transport and logistics service offering.
“Cross-docking facilitates high turn rates and reduced handling and, in so doing, significantly accelerating the delivery of product to market, while improving efficiencies in the overall supply-chain. This also holds true for durable goods, temperature-controlled, perishable and high-value/high-security products, considering the high velocity of the offering,” De Villiers says.
Noticeably, cross-docking does not require as large a footprint as traditional warehousing, while also relying on significantly less labour. In addition, reductions in transport and logistics costs are achieved by doing away with inventory charges and product rotation, complemented by major freight savings by consolidating LTL shipments into full loads.
De Villiers adds, “Another important trait of any reputable third-party logistics provider’s business model is the ability to significantly bolster existing service levels of its customers. We achieve this by shipping product in bulk and picking at our cross-dock facility. This also allows for flexibility for changes to orders further down the supply chain, while facilitating a more precise and responsive process with shorter order cycles.”
These capabilities complement Bridgewater Logistics’ extensive road transport and logistics, as well as warehousing capabilities.
By outsourcing these requirements to a seasoned service provider, the company’s clients have mitigated the need for lengthy leases and reliable and experienced labour. They also have access to cost-effective tools and equipment, while lowering the costs associated with warehousing and transport.
