Unboxing Logistics

From dabbling in ecommerce as a teen to running a 3PL today, Krushna Patel, CEO at Awesome Solutions, has spent years building businesses—and he’s learned a lot about what sets the successful ones apart.In this Unboxing Logistics episode, he sits down with Lori Boyer to discuss how he discovered the world of fulfillment, his advice for those hoping to follow the same path, and what a thriving 3PL looks like behind the scenes.The secret to successful entrepreneurshipKrushna’s advice to prospective founders comes in two parts: start small, and think long-term.He explains, “There are ways to do everything at a smaller scale to test it out, get proof of concept. I think people spend too much time trying to get their version one to become the best final product ever. It's not going to be that way.”When making business goals, Krushna recommends looking to the future. “I'm setting a five-year horizon of what I want the company to look like, and then I'll shrink it down into a three-year, into a one-year, and then … monthly.”Why communication is criticalWhen asked what every 3PL should be doing from day one, Krushna answers without hesitation: “I would focus very much on communication.”He goes on to say that with so many 3PLs competing for clients, great communication is a huge differentiator. “The ones that show [they’re] reliable, [they’re] with you when you scale, that makes a huge difference. Because nobody wants to have an issue and then talk to an AI agent.”While Krushna acknowledges that simple requests can be automated with AI, he strongly believes that shippers should always have access to a human to discuss more complex issues.Clients want shipping flexibilityWhen it comes to shipping, Krushna emphasizes that flexibility is a must. 3PLs work with a wide range of clients—and each of them wants specific services. To cater to each shipper’s needs, 3PLs should offer a carrier portfolio with plenty of options.In Krushna’s words, “You want to have your net cast wide enough [to] have those different service levels for each client's requirements.”LinksConnect with Krushna on LinkedInVisit Awesome Solutions’ website

It’s a wrap! As season five of Unboxing Logistics concludes, Tim Ranagan and Lori Boyer look back at the issues that mattered most to ecommerce and operations teams this year. They revisit the standout conversations on peak season, AI, cross-border shipping, and rising costs before sharing what listeners can expect in season six.Season five’s big ideasMuch of season five centered on two ideas that kept surfacing across conversations: cost awareness and the human element. Lori noted that several experts described teams “not always sure and [not having] visibility into where they might be losing their money.” At the same time, even the most technical discussions pointed back to people and how real teams work, reinforcing that logistics decisions only succeed when the human side stays front and center.A major theme—dealing with uncertaintyAlmost every guest emphasized how much uncertainty logistics teams are managing right now. And while that can be scary, it’s also exciting.Lori describes the moment as “a stage that’s primed for opportunity and creativity,” especially for companies looking to close cost gaps or adopt new technology. What’s coming in season sixBig things are in store for next season! Lori shares that season six will feature a new carrier series designed to help businesses understand “where different carriers might fit well for your particular business model.” Additionally, listeners can expect even more human-centered conversations and timely discussions tied to industry events.LinksConnect with Lori on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/loribboyer/ Connect with Tim on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-ranagan-mba-2717bb125/ Visit EasyPost’s website: https://www.easypost.com/

Are you taking advantage of the $100 of shipping insurance included for select USPS labels? Most businesses aren’t. They don’t file claims, leaving thousands of dollars on the table. Fortunately, there’s a way to recoup lost funds without the filing hassle. In this EasyPost Insider episode, Tyler Diestel joins Lori to share everything you need to know about EasyPost’s USPS Claims service. What is USPS Claims?Tyler explains, “USPS Claims is an amazing product that makes it easy for shippers to get money back … from [USPS]. Because we have a treasure trove of data, we can tell when a package is lost or damaged. … We're able to file claims … to help our shippers recoup [their money].”Why automate claims filing with EasyPost?Many merchants don’t file insurance claims because they don’t realize that shipping insurance is included in the label price. But for others, it’s simply a matter of time. “They don't have time to figure out which of their shipments are actually eligible. They don't have time to go in and file a claim for each of those shipments. They don't have time to follow up on the progress of those claims.”For these busy logistics teams, USPS Claims is a huge time saver.How the process worksGetting started with USPS Claims is easy—you can enroll in the program right from the EasyPost dashboard. While the process is almost entirely automatic, Tyler does note that if you don’t provide product values at label purchase, you’ll need to add that information after the fact. “As we go through our claims process and identify shipments that can be filed, we will send you an email saying, there are 20 shipments that need additional info … please log into the portal [and] fill it out.”When claims are approved, the funds go back into your EasyPost Wallet for future label purchases. LinksConnect with Tyler on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tdiestel/ Learn more about USPS Claims by EasyPost: https://www.easypost.com/usps-claims 

Neurodiverse people have amazing talents that help them shine in logistics roles, but they also face unique challenges that can make it difficult to thrive in the workplace. In this Unboxing Logistics episode, Dylan Telford and Jarlath Phelan from Summit Advisory Team share their personal experiences with neurodivergence. They and Lori discuss what neurodivergent people bring to the table, how they can be themselves, and what coworkers and leaders can do to foster inclusivity.Neurodivergence in the logistics industryLori starts the episode with a surprising statistic. According to a recent study, 58% of people in the logistics and supply chain industry identify as neurodivergent—more than double what you’d see in other industries!Jarlath’s reaction to the stat? “It makes a lot of sense. There's a lot of pattern recognition [in logistics]. There's a lot of creative thinking required …  it makes total sense that that's what neurodivergent people are drawn to.”The importance of being openAccording to Dylan, the best way for neurodivergent people to work well with neurotypical coworkers—and avoid misunderstandings or conflicts—is to communicate openly.He says, “When I got my diagnosis, I learned that the more open I was, the easier it was … to be part of a community of people that's all trying to make work … as easy as it can be for everybody.” For example, after hearing feedback about talking too much, Dylan began asking coworkers to interrupt him if he was getting off track, telling them, “You need to stop me when you have enough [information].”Leadership tips for creating an inclusive workplaceJarlath and Dylan both weigh in on what logistics leaders can do to help neurodivergent employees have great experiences at work. Jarlath’s request is simple: “Just treat me as an individual.” Dylan adds that while leaders should definitely make an effort to be inclusive of neurodivergent individuals, they also need to recognize that inclusive workplaces benefit everyone.“You're not creating quiet places to work in the office for people who are neurodivergent. You're creating quiet places in the office for people who may need time that is quieter … for what they do. And that could be anybody.”LinksConnect with Dylan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dylan-telford-b7404769/ Connect with Jarlath on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jarlathphelan/ Visit Summit Advisory Team’s website: https://summitadvisoryteam.com/

Last week, Lori Boyer and Tom Butt attended Parcel Forum, where EasyPost was the official AI in logistics sponsor. In addition to presenting on AI tools, Lori and Tom got a chance to talk with shippers about the problems they’re facing—and how artificial intelligence can help. They share their takeaways in this episode of Unboxing Logistics.The AI conversationTom noticed a pattern at Parcel Forum: businesses were curious about adopting AI logistics technology, but they weren’t sure whether to make the leap.He says, “Everyone … was talking and comparing notes and saying, ‘This AI thing, is it a buzzword? How are you guys using it? When is the starting gun going to go off?’”How AI helps with shippingAI is a powerful tool for collecting and analyzing data, but its capabilities go way beyond data analysis. For example, AI tools like Luma by EasyPost can identify weak areas in your shipping operations and suggest improvements.Tom gives an example. “[You can] see if there are … delays within your carrier network. Where are those occurring? Is it pre-transit exceptions, [where] you're printing a label, but it's not scanning into the carrier network?”“AI is going to help you identify where those exceptions are and potentially make some recommendations on how to address those things.”When to get started with AIOne of the biggest mistakes Tom sees shippers make is not getting started with AI now. By waiting for other businesses to lead the way, these hesitant players risk getting left behind. On the other hand, being an early adopter gives you a competitive edge.He says, “I can tell you right now, there's not going to be a starting gun. And those that adopt AI and start to build it into some methodologies, build it into frameworks, are going to have a head start and a leg up.”LinksConnect with Tom on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tombutt/Visit EasyPost’s website: www.easypost.com

Last week, Joe Dieter and Lori Boyer from EasyPost sat down to explore EasyPost tools that help businesses navigate the complexities of peak season. In this episode, they continue their discussion.Shipping can drive growthMost businesses view shipping as a “dreaded, unpredictable cost center”—but it doesn’t have to be. Joe explains, “[Shipping can be] a strategic growth lever. Do you want to make more money this holiday season? It can actually happen through how you ship. … You can increase profits if you have the latest and greatest tools and systems. And here at EasyPost, we've worked hard to … build [them].”Innovative carriers to try this peakThe EasyPost Shipping API makes it easy to use the shipping carriers you already know and love. But Joe points out that it also provides access to innovative carriers you may not have used yet, including Amazon Shipping and Maersk Parcel.“Amazon … came in and said, we're going to do seven-day-a-week pickup and delivery. We're going to decrease the amount of surcharges. … We're going to have hassle-free claims. We're going to have lower prices across the board.”“Maersk is going to become … one of the most cost-effective ways, especially for smaller shippers or SMB shippers, to move packages within the U.S.”Expecting the unexpected with EasyPost GuardJoe perfectly sums up one of the biggest challenges of peak season: “Nothing will ever go a hundred percent perfect. It's unpredictable.”To have peace of mind, he explains, you need a solution that protects revenue when packages get lost, damaged, or stolen. That’s why EasyPost created the Guard suite of tools.“Our Shipping Insurance API [provides] the most hassle-free way to file a claim, to hold onto your money, to get a claim approved, and to have instant coverage on a parcel. Our USPS Claims program is … the safest way to ship USPS this peak season.”LinksConnect with Joe on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joe-dieter/Talk to EasyPost: https://www.easypost.com/talk-to-easypost/

Peak season shipping can get complicated. International shipping can be a major headache. Combine the two, and it might seem like stress is inevitable. But if you follow the best practices recommended by Jonathan Witt, senior partnerships manager at Sendle, your peak season cross-border shipping can be successful and stress-free.The best way to get started If your business hasn’t yet expanded to international markets, Jonathan highly recommends getting started. His advice? Start small. “You don't have to ship everywhere. You don't have to sell globally. It's probably better that you are intentional and selective with countries that you want to sell to, because you want to understand the customer base, as well as all the requirements for shipping internationally.”Avoiding customs delaysDelays lead to frustrated customers—something you don’t want to deal with during the busiest time of the year. By understanding and complying with cross-border shipping regulations, you’ll ensure your goods clear customs and arrive on time.Jonathan shares a few things to watch out for. “Why do shipments get stuck? Usually because of missing or wrong documents, [like] your commercial invoice, which has all the product information.”He continues, “Make sure that on the commercial invoice, you're associating your products with the right HS code. Make sure that you're listing the country of origin correctly in case that package does get inspected.”DDP vs. DDU—what’s best?If you’re shipping internationally, delivered duty paid (DDP), “where the buyer or the receiver has to pay all the shipping costs and duties and taxes upfront at checkout,” is generally the best way to handle things. While delivered duty unpaid (DDU) can work in some situations, it’s best to avoid surprise fees upon package delivery.As Jonathan puts it, “Being a little bit more transparent … just makes a better customer experience.”LinksConnect with Jonathan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-witt-372a65b4/Visit Sendle’s website: https://www.sendle.com/en-us

When you’re shipping perishables like produce, the stakes are high; even a one-day delay can ruin an entire truckload of food.Colby Varley, vice president and principal at Advanced Transportation Services (ATS), explains what’s going on in the perishable freight world and how logistics companies and shippers can work together to make sure every load arrives in perfect condition.The state of perishable freightThe COVID-19 pandemic shook up the freight shipping industry, and now that things have settled, loading efficiency is the name of the game. Colby explains, “[During] COVID … they were shipping whatever they could, whether it was half a truck or a quarter of a truck. They were just shipping it. Since then, that trend has reversed. Now everybody is maximizing their cube space.”But he’s seen a troubling pattern lately: certain types of produce haven’t been doing well, with some freight companies struggling to fill trucks.“[For] the Mexican grape crop, they're estimating about a 2 million box loss out there. … [If] you take 2 million boxes out of the equation, that's a lot of trucks that aren’t going to get loads. … We've had trucks every week deadheading back to California to come pick up a load because there's just nothing there."Finding your nicheColby’s advice for freight companies? Choose a specialty and stick with it. “Stay in your niche, stay in your lane, and become the expert in that field, whether you're doing dry freight, doing bulk tanker, [or] doing flatbed.”He uses ATS as an example: “The markets fluctuate all the time. But we just stay true to highly perishable food and produce.”Why top-tier service is worth the costGrowers looking for the best deal on freight shipping might be tempted to spring for a good deal. But low costs can come with risks, especially with cargo as volatile as fresh fruits and vegetables. According to Colby, great service is worth paying for.“Service is the number one thing. And we do have to charge a little bit more for that. … On any produce shipment, the difference between being one day late is the difference of that produce making it through quality control [or] not.”LinksConnect with Colby on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/colby-varley-5ba57a69/Visit Advanced Transportation Services’s website: https://advancedtransportationservices.com/