IN OUR COVER STORY, JOHN HAGGERTY, VICE PRESIDENT OF
business development at Burris Logistics, stresses the importance of
communication when it comes to forging successful business partnerships. In my experience, open and honest communication is the foundation of any successful relationship. When looking for a third-party
logistics service provider (3PL), finding a partner that offers the services
you need is an essential component, of course; but I’d argue that finding
a partner organization that has people with excellent communication
skills and a company culture that values those skills is the true key to a
productive partnership.
This is never more evident than when things don’t
go right, as often happens. Disruptions can and do
occur in any business. One small glitch in a logistics
operation can ripple throughout the entire supply
chain. But when you have a partner with the ability to
act swiftly and communicate effectively, it can make
getting through the challenging times less painful.
So how do you go about finding trusted partners
with the network of people who can work in harmony
with your business and company culture? Ask the hard
questions.
Recently, I was helping my oldest child with the
college selection process. While you might not think
of choosing a college and choosing a logistics partner
as being one and the same, the processes really aren’t that different. For
my son, selecting a school that he could trust with his future forced
him to look beyond the surface questions—Does this university have
the degree I’m looking for? Do I like the size of the campus?—to more
meaningful and thought-provoking questions—Have I found the space
I need to not only grow, but thrive? Is this a good cultural fit for me?
Does this institution have trustworthy people and systems in place if I
should require support or assistance? Will I get a timely response to my
questions?
As you begin evaluating possible partners, I urge you to do the same:
Go beyond the surface questions—Does this provider offer the services
I’m looking for?—to more meaningful questions aimed at determining
whether the 3PL is likely to listen to your needs and work in harmony
with your business and your customers. Taking the time to do your
research, which often includes site visits and speaking with some of the
provider’s customers, is a time-consuming process, to be sure. But it’s
one that will bring a big payoff.
Open and honest communication
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