Shippers, importers, exporters, and owner-operators need efficiency to thrive and proper supply chain optimization. Why? Mounting pressure to do with less is everywhere. According to survey data, shared by Supply Chain 24/7, warehousing and yard management automation processes are top of mind among 31% of companies. Still, finding efficiencies within existing systems and disparate strategies has led to lost opportunities and waste. As a result, today’s companies are not quite sure how to boost their yard management system functions. Leading to problems within warehousing and distribution center yard operations further down the supply chain. Thus, it’s essential to have a few steps in your toolkit to realize efficiency through yard management solutions and how it plays into overall transportation and inventory management. 

1. Define Your Goals for Warehouse and Yard Management

Defining goals is essential for a successful and efficient warehouse and yard management system. This allows for a more organized and smoother operation of yard management workflows. Plus, it also streamlines yard inventory, yard waste rates, yard turnover rates, real-time reporting from the yard drivers, and decision-making. All these features help ensure that shippers can manage their warehouse and yard processes to best suit their needs and requirements for planning in yard checks, dock doors’ schedules, and beyond. 

2. Choose the Right Location for Your Yard and Cross-Docking Facilities

At its core, yard management is about safety and efficiency. Choosing the right location for yard and cross-docking facilities makes all the difference in your company’s success. Regardless of experience, paying attention to the yard location is essential. The yard must be suitably close to your customer base while also being positioned in a way that optimizes delivery turnaround times. Constructing effective yard layouts with dedicated parking spots for each truck can give you an edge in using yard and cross-docking facilities efficiently.

Further, this streamlines inbound and outbound movements and helps to avoid backlogs within gate management too. Having the technology to support this process is critical, but only if you first choose the right yard location. And, of course, technology must include automated capabilities.

3. Implement an Automated System to Track Transloads and Beyond

Automation is the future, and with the right logistics software suite, companies no longer have to track paperwork and transloads manually. Supra National Express values automation to track all operations as a freight and logistics company experienced in drayage and short-hauls. It is part of why we’re building the next-generation tech stack for the modern west coast importer or exporter. Implementing this automated system will increase productivity and enable businesses to be more flexible with their transport operations.

Automated software is essential for capturing data, planning gate access, and dock schedules. Such a function in the yard automates scheduling and overall management processes. Further and in today’s digital world, it is more important than ever for companies to be able to track and analyze data. Automated software helps make this tracking process easier, faster, and more efficient.

4. Use Real-Time Data to Improve Decision Making and Scheduling

Automation is integral to any freight and logistics company and relies on real-time data. Utilizing this automation in the yard management system keeps everyone in the loop and opens new opportunities. In turn, drivers and shippers know they have access to the correct information, can better prioritize downstream needs, and continuously optimize routes. Still, it all starts in the warehouse and being able to act when things can and do go wrong. That allows all network partners to operate efficiently while staying competitive.

5. Manage Exceptions and Optimize Performance With Analytics and Data

The right analytics tools can make identifying and addressing issues easier. With comprehensive data and analytics, shippers and drivers can both finally optimize performance across the entire supply chain. These cloud-based systems provide an endless stream of data for processing within advanced analytics capabilities. That information and insight will help minimize delays, costs, and disruptions while driving better customer service. 

Further, the right capabilities of your yard management software and its integrations with your full tech stack will build better drayage and short-haul efficiency.  Exception management is no longer tedious or time-consuming; start using data optimization today to remain one step ahead.

Streamline Yard Management Software Use by Partnering With Supra National Express

There will always be new challenges in freight and logistics. Organizing and managing a yard can be arduous, but when done right, it can lead to increased efficiency and success. Shippers can optimize their performance across the entire supply chain by implementing the right technology, such as automated systems, real-time data analytics, and exception management capabilities.

Partnering with Supra National Express helps streamline this process further by providing access to our next-generation tech stack for modern west coast importers or exporters. With these tools at your disposal, you’ll have the resources to make informed decisions about managing your warehouse and yard processes. Connect with our team of experts to get started today, and check out how DrayMaster can make the steps leading to your warehouse or yard easier with faster, accessible quotes too!