Clover Mudanzas | Logistical challenges during the Black Friday shopping season

Logistical challenges during the Black Friday shopping season

Leslie Echezuria — Sat, 03 Dec 2022 22:49:50 +0000

The dynamics of commercial planning in a logistical scenario, where a tradition that was confined to Macy’s stores in New York in the 1960s has now become a fundamental part of the supply and demand behavior of goods globally, leads to the need to channel the surge of certain commercial activities related to the upcoming Christmas season. This is the so-called Black Friday, celebrated on November 25th, which consists of a massive shopping strategy, mainly globalized.

At present, it is of vital interest not to overlook that buying and selling activities have been defined by what is known as the digital tradition, a reality of online shopping that reflects a highly competitive market situation with increasingly demanding consumers who want to adapt to a dynamic of convenient, instant, and flexible services.

Now, knowing that the Black Friday strategy has internationalized to the point of being a highly anticipated moment for a large number of consumers who want to do their Christmas shopping at very low prices, with promotions and offers that allow them to purchase a good amount of products with juicy discounts compared to their initial price, opens the doors to a reality in which it must be understood that there will be a considerable increase in activity flow in delivery companies. Likewise, understanding that, in this scenario, there will be an accentuated interest in having an excellent logistics service at the level of e-commerce and the possibility of trying to contact more than one transport company (since it is a high season) will allow for greater adaptation to this commercial reality.

The consumer will have the opportunity to combine different types of transportation with different types of shipments, having the possibility of paying for their operations through different payment methods. This is a multivariate logistics reality in which many solutions will coexist in the dynamic of supply and demand relationships.

If we delve a little into the logistical goals or objectives facing the upcoming situation, it should be taken into consideration in the first phase that, as it is an event in which the logistics sector is expected to be at one of its highest points, said sector has already started its strategies in advance, perhaps two or three months before the expected November 25th.

Here are some aspects of interest to avoid collapses and slowdowns at the supply chain level:

Designing an adequate planning program to respond promptly to the contingency of order deliveries. In this regard, financing in the short term should be redirected to market research to determine which products will be selected for sale in order to meet demand.

Detailed planning of the means of transport that must be chosen to fulfill the supply of goods to the end customer.

Fulfillment of the necessary reinforcement of warehouse, order and shipping management, as well as the treatment that must be maintained with suppliers and contact companies.

Effective communication with the properly trained human personnel or team to comply with the quality of service, understanding that the date could impose large amounts of work that will undoubtedly affect the dynamics of the supply chain.

Contrary to those estimates that foresee a significant increase in global sales and, therefore, in all logistics activity, it is also suggested that there could be a scenario of certain contraction of orders in this end-of-year season, with a significant slowdown in consumption, which will begin to be noticed in the coming weeks (estimates from the Spanish Business Organization for Logistics and Transport, UNO).

Perhaps unexpected demand peaks will be recorded during Black Friday and the holiday season. However, what is important for the deployment of this logistics activity is to always be prepared to meet customer satisfaction, understanding that the inherited traditional logic must be transcended in order to give way to the so-called omnichannel supply, which allows maximizing the activity of production and distribution centers, in response to emerging needs, making the use of stock more intelligent, to meet the full satisfaction of demand during peaks.

The construction of the Chancay megaport. Latin America, the great emerging market.

Leslie Echezuria — Sun, 27 Nov 2022 22:53:58 +0000

Before discussing the strategic importance of the so-called “Chancay megaport”, that is, its logistical value in the configuration of a world that is becoming decentralized, based on a multipolar global reality and the deepening of commercial activities between Latin America and China, “the Asian giant,” it is essential to understand that the construction of ports has as its primary objective the creation of structures that favor the transfer of passengers and goods between sea and land, and vice versa. These are infrastructures that are of vital importance for the development of logistical flows, as they are connectors of the entry and exit of goods, serving as strategic points of international production, distribution, and transportation systems.

As these are points that enable the departure and arrival of maritime transport, mentioning just one example of their logistical function, ports have a great competitive advantage in maximizing the management operations of manufactured goods, enhancing commercial processes. The tasks of loading, unloading, transfer of passengers and cargo, storage, and deposit are essential for the effective operation of the activities that make international trade possible. Their logistical function transcends even handling, manufacturing, and distribution processes, exhibiting a multifunctional character that permeates the productive and logistical sphere, expressed in tourist, industrial, and business activities that go beyond the traditional idea of a mere facilitator of modal exchange processes and globalization processes.

Before referring to the strategic importance of the so-called “Chancay Megaport,” that is, its logistical value in the configuration of a world that is becoming decentralized, based on a multipolar global reality and the deepening of commercial activities between Latin America and China, “the Asian giant,” it is essential to understand that the construction of ports has as its primary objective to create structures that favor the transfer of passengers and goods between sea and land, and vice versa. These are infrastructures that are of vital importance for the development of logistical flows, as they are connectors of the entry and exit of goods, serving as strategic points of production, distribution, and transportation systems at the international level.

As these are points that make possible the departure and arrival of maritime transport, mentioning just one example of their logistical function, ports have a great competitive advantage when it comes to maximizing the management operations of manufactured goods, enhancing commercial processes. Loading, unloading, transfer of passengers and cargo, storage, and warehousing are essential for the effective operation of the activities that make trade between countries possible. Its logistical function transcends, even to handling, manufacturing, and distribution processes, exhibiting a multifunctional character that permeates the productive and logistical sphere, expressed in tourism, industrial, and business activities, which go beyond the traditional idea of a mere facilitator of modal exchange processes and globalization processes.

To get a closer look at the activities carried out in these immense structures, it is important to know that they integrate three large areas or zones: the maritime zone, the land zone, and the connectivity zone.

The first of these refers to the physical infrastructure that makes it possible for vessels to access the port itself. The second is related to the maneuverability tasks at the dock level, the boarding and disembarkation of passengers, and everything related to equipment and mechanics of cranes, winches (lifting equipment), suction devices, pumps, and all types of storage for receiving goods. Finally, the third is related to different infrastructures that allow the operations of land transport means (railway and road transport). Specifically, it is about towing equipment for loading or unloading goods from vessels and parking lots and access roads and platforms that connect with storage areas.

The above reflects that the construction of ports translates into a type of truly costly and ambitious engineering work, which requires the deployment of planning and logistical strategies, manpower, and resources that allow the creation of facilities and equipment necessary to facilitate the transport and commercialization of goods.

Now, regarding the possibility of materializing the thesis, in which Peru is seen as the main logistics center of the Pacific in Latin America, through the operation of the Chancay Megaport (called the Shanghai of South America), under the responsibility of the Chinese company Cosco Shipping, opinions of experts begin to circulate, indicating that its construction

To make this mega port the main logistics center in South American Pacific, it is important to specify its constitution. Let’s take a look at its three main components:

● The port operating zone: composed of pier-type docks (which extend from the land to the sea, perpendicular or with a slight incline), maritime entry channels, maintenance and storage areas for containers.

● Entry complex: which includes the vehicle anteport, with entry gates and an area for customs inspection; other areas for logistics services and administrative and support offices.

● The underground tunnel: which will function as a connector between the entry complex and the port operating zone. With a length of 1.8 kilometers and a depth of 18 meters, it will form an exclusive road corridor for cargo transit, linked to port operations and integrated by three vehicular lanes, two strips for solid bulk transport, and pipelines for liquid bulk.

As can be seen, it is both a global initiative of the Chinese state and a strategic development north of Lima, which will undoubtedly constitute a fundamental ally in logistics, port and industrial matters, exhibiting a construction of great magnitude, through which an attempt will be made to move one million containers per year.

The Chancay mega port, in its two dimensions: the port and the logistics complex, adds to an advanced initiative focused on free trade, achieving greater financial integration, greater investment in infrastructure, and of course, greater connectivity of the Chinese state worldwide, whose support, in this new opportunity, is executed with the collaboration of the Peruvian government.

Latin America continues to advance as the emerging market with the greatest potential in the world. The Chancay port represents an opportunity in the continent that will positively transform commercial exchange and the development of a variety of industries, which will have alternatives to expand and accelerate their operations in the region.

Logistics activity in 4.0 companies.

Leslie Echezuria — Sun, 06 Nov 2022 23:01:48 +0000

An approach to the network of operations that are necessary to make a certain product reach the final consumer, from the place where raw materials are obtained, passing through the space destined for production; which undoubtedly implies all the transport, storage and distribution operations destined for the market, is essentially the logistics activity. Now, the logistics activities that correspond to what is being called the “intelligent company”, with updated planning strategies regarding the benefits offered by new technologies, specifically aimed at achieving maximum efficiency for the achievement of greater profits and satisfaction, and always in function of a demand that is becoming increasingly demanding, is the subject that concerns us on this occasion.

We will refer to the type of 4.0 logistics company, which is rebounding in relation to the highest levels of operability and performance. Being a company based on the principles of automation (robotics), digitization through specialized technologies in intelligent analysis (artificial intelligence), and the advancement of interconnectivity processes (Internet of Things), promote, as never before, the streamlining of productivity and business profitability. It is not uncommon to find interpretations related to the world of production, which assert that the type of 4.0 companies is considered “the fourth industrial revolution of humanity”, since they introduce intelligent systems and automations and cloud information for their functions, which replace and optimize tasks at the level of the entire supply chain.

The effort to reduce time, costs, and errors is essentially the leitmotif of 4.0 companies, since it is about optimizing the supply chain, but modifying processes to make them simpler, autonomous, and in full interconnectivity with all their parts. The aim is, with great effectiveness, to speed up shipping management, adapt production to the different needs of demand, greater efficiency through route optimization, geolocation of drivers and customers, improvement of storage and stock spaces, and automation of fee cancellation processes, remuneration, and all activities associated with administrative tasks. It is also about promoting the concatenation of procedures at the level of the entire supply chain, interconnecting production areas with other processes associated with the world of communications for the satisfaction of the needs of the final consumer, making it a co-participant (through elastic systems) in the processes of innovation and redesign of goods.

The 4.0 company accelerates the process of innovation of offered products, developing and integrating information with communication technologies throughout the value chain. From there, it creates intelligent networks that, by integrating with customers and suppliers in a flexible manner, provide great benefits, generating a type of integrated industrialization.

The following are 4 fundamental elements that allow us to understand more closely what 4.0 business activity consists of:

Implementation of Cyber-Physical Systems: broad connection between digital and physical systems, achieving a true process of integration. It is about combining the capabilities of computer systems, storage, and communication, with tracking and control processes of objects in the physical world.

Development of the Internet of Things (IoT): procedures through which effective connection of light bulbs, watches, cell phones, appliances, cars, medical devices, etc., is achieved through the internet.

Development of the Internet of Services (IoS): very similar to the Internet of Things, but this time it is about effectively connecting the internet with digitized services for companies that offer it. In the same sense, it allows creating processes that can identify and predict the right time to perform corrective or maintenance processes.

Generation of intelligent factories: creation of automated systems at the production level to turn human intervention into a less necessary task.

In addition to the above, to better understand the functioning of the 4.0 logistics company, we must mention automatic information technology, whose purpose is to recognize object information, through the processing of data related to transport, storage, and distribution. Likewise, real-time location processes (RTLS), to achieve greater traceability and tracking around the location of objects and people, and the implementation of technologies based on intelligent sensors that are capable of capturing temperature levels, humidity generation, and even measuring the concentration of ethylene in food for human consumption (fruits and vegetables mainly), avoiding that it ultimately harms the health of consumers.

As can be seen, logistics activity in the 4.0 company, a clear expression of the fourth industrial revolution, by dynamically and advancedly combining digital and physical systems, unprecedentedly drives the organization of production, distribution, and offering of goods and services, improving the quality of life of citizens in an economy that is constantly growing and that requires greater participation and integrality from consumers.

The new trends in watercrafts.

Leslie Echezuria — Tue, 27 Sep 2022 23:05:21 +0000

Before delving into the world of maritime transport, it is essential to understand that ships are an essential engineering work for the global economy. Over the centuries, they have evolved to the point of being surprisingly sophisticated, benefiting logistical activities related to passenger and cargo transport, or strictly military purposes.

Starting with the first sail or oar-powered watercraft constructions in Antiquity by Greece and Egypt (6th, 3rd, and 2nd centuries BC), through the constructions of the 17th century under the ingenuity of the English and French, who innovated with the well-known frigates and corvettes used in numerous military confrontations, or smaller vessels such as schooners and cutters used for cargo transport, especially in fishing production, up to the advances in steamships developed in the 19th century by the English once again.

At the end of the 19th century, the Germans advanced in what was called the combustion engine (internal combustion engines). More recently, specifically in the last decades of the 20th century, there were significant innovations in the United States regarding the atomic engine for speeding up the operations of merchant ships, constituting a legacy of works of great importance in terms of vessel advancements. This last element, related to the creation of engines powered by atomic or nuclear energy, has a significant aspect in that the vessel has the capacity to sail for two years without the need for refueling, in contrast to the 40-day capacity of a vessel powered by diesel engines.

It is well known that maritime transportation is a less expensive and significantly higher capacity means of transportation than land or air transportation. Although it is less speedy, companies save immense amounts of money by using it. However, it is very important that business logistics precisely determine which type of vessel is the most suitable to fully meet previously set strategic objectives. Similarly, knowing that there have been substantial improvements in the types and sizes of vessels in the last 40 years allows for an increased range of possibilities and options to meet the needs of shipping or receiving inputs, raw materials, or finished products.

For example, the most important types of ships in a scenario where greater effectiveness is desired can be mentioned:

Container ships: Responsible for transporting standard-sized containers and in ports specially equipped for them. These are vessels that can sail at high speeds (approximately 21 knots).

Bulk carriers: Unlike the aforementioned, they travel at a slower speed of approximately 13 knots. These are vessels designed to transport what is known as “dry cargo”: sugar, fertilizers, grains, coal, minerals, etc. For this type of ship, very specific ports have been built with the appropriate equipment and personnel to proceed with unloading operations.

General cargo and oversized ships: These are vessels that can transport loads that exceed the weight and size capacities of standard equipment (prefabricated pieces for the aerospace industry, construction sector, vehicles, tractors or industrial machinery, rails, cranes, among others). Since the cargo is transported outside of containers, specific regulations and rules must be complied with.

Refrigerated or temperature-controlled ships: As their name indicates, these are vessels that have the capacity to transport goods that must remain at low temperatures: fish, meats, or some liquors.

Multi-purpose ships: An innovation that has become very popular as it has the capacity to transport different types of products. With the multi-purpose transport mode, companies do not have to pay extra fees by using specialized vessels.

Focusing on the use of container ships, there are currently different types that can be appreciated. As is known, they have been designed to transport containers, facilitating the distribution processes of goods in the current globalized economy. Let’s take a look at some of them:

Ever Ace ship: Although it is an assembly in South Korea, its owner is the Taiwanese company, Evergreen Marine. Since July of last year (2021), it has been positioned as the world’s largest container ship, measuring 399.9 meters long and 61.5 meters wide.

HMM Algeciras: The second-largest container ship in the world, also created in South Korea by Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering. It measures 61.0 meters in width and 399.9 meters in length (similar to the Ever Ace). It is essentially a vessel with an advanced engine that allows for reduced carbon emissions, fully increasing its energy efficiency.

HMM Oslo: With a width of 61.5 meters and a length of 399.9 meters, it is a ship that made its first voyage in 2020 from South Korea to the United Kingdom, passing through several ports in China, Singapore, and Rotterdam, Netherlands.

MSC Gulsün: The largest container ship until 2019; (399.9 meters long and 61.5 meters wide) also produced in South Korea, by Samsung Heavy Industries, but its loading system was designed by the Finnish company MacGregor International AB. It is basically a very efficient vessel for storing cargo and for reducing global carbon emissions in the long term.

MSC Mina: Primarily used for transporting frozen or refrigerated cargo: food, beverages, pharmaceuticals, perishables, among others, is owned by the Italian company, Mediterranean Shipping Company and was built in South Korea by Daewoo Shipbuilding, Marine Engineering and Samsung Heavy Technologies. It has the capacity to transport 2000 refrigerated containers.

CMA CGM Jacques Saadé: It is known as the world’s largest container ship that runs on liquefied natural gas (LNG). Its storage capacity is 18,600 cubic meters, which allows for a round trip from northern Europe to Southeast Asia. China is responsible for its manufacturing, specifically the State Shipbuilding Corporation of Shanghai, and its owner is the French container transport company: CMA CGM Group.

More recently, specifically on April 16 of this year, the Cosco Shipping Nebula made its debut climbing at the Iberian terminal of the port of Valencia (Spain). It is known as the largest container ship that has operated in a port in the mentioned country to date and was built in the Jiangnan shipyards (Shanghai) with a length from bow to stern of 400 meters.

Knowing that new vessel projects focus on the implementation of a type of fuel capable of not emitting greenhouse gases, such as the Grimaldi Green 5Th Generation’s next-generation ships, which use lithium batteries, or the Norwegian “With Orca” zero-emission ships design, is very important, as these innovations comply with the Paris Accords, studying the possibility of reducing total annual CO2 emissions by 50% by the year 2050. In the same sense, it is good to know that future naval technology must focus on the production, supply, and refueling of hydrogen, ammonia, methanol, ethanol, liquefied biogas, electric and wind batteries, which are being developed in Europe and Asia, investigating new modes of vessels, whether larger or smaller.

In conclusion, the choice of the appropriate vessel within the framework of the strategies that must be followed to proceed with shipments of goods is essential in the design of integral logistics. This choice, understanding their diversity, will allow not only the best shipping route to be determined but also the appropriate means of transportation to preserve and optimize the status of the goods that are to be transported to other destinations.

Five tips for a successful office move.

Leslie Echezuria — Mon, 16 Aug 2021 19:25:32 +0000

Any move always requires organization, especially when it comes to the complete relocation of an office.

Usually, preparations are carried out in parallel with the company’s daily activities, as closing the doors to organize the move would imply losses.

Regardless of the reason for the move, changing offices can be a way to update new projects, better utilize space, facilitate work routines, increase comfort for workers to perform better, change the company’s image, among other decisions.

Therefore, it is important to have flexible and agile strategies that adapt to the company’s needs and contribute to making everything done in the best way possible.Here are five tips for achieving a successful move, without irregularities and without affecting productivity.

Plan calmly

Like all good projects, moving the office also requires organization. The first step would be to make a list of everything that is needed, as well as the materials that will be transported so that nothing is forgotten or lost. Apart from this list, it is also necessary to have a clear idea of the available budget, expected expenses, companies that could carry out the move, a schedule, among other details.

Choosing the right property

The key is to find a property that offers comfort, security and a good environment, within the finances of the enterprise. To avoid problems later on, it is important to look for a space that does not require many adaptations, but rather meets the needs of the business. First, one must think of a location that is appropriate for the nature of the company. It is also important to consider the clients being targeted and the facilities for partners, employees and consumers.

Include employees in the moving process

No one knows the needs related to the location and structure of their office better than the team of a company. Therefore, it is highly recommended to consult their opinion.

Of course, certain decisions must be made by executives, but establishing that dialogue will be very beneficial for the company, as well as making the team enthusiastic, more productive and willing to change.

Set the date and communicate to the interested parties

As part of the planning, a date must be established to conclude the entire moving phase. This is a way to establish and ensure that everything goes as expected.

Furthermore, it is essential to communicate the move in advance to the main stakeholders, such as customers and suppliers. Nobody should have doubts about the new location.

Hire a good moving service

Moving an office requires the hiring of transportation and other specific equipment for heavy loads. Specialized companies, such as Clover Internacional, are trained to carry out this service correctly.A quality moving service will take care of the safety and integrity of all your belongings. Computers, machines and other fragile items, such as glass tables, require care and attention when being transported.To avoid damages, malfunctions and losses of materials, it is always better to rely on a professional moving service.

What do I need to make an international move?

admin — Thu, 06 May 2021 17:38:22 +0000

Moving is typically a stressful event for people who decide to relocate their belongings to a new location. From the start with the completion of legal procedures, during the selection of items to transport, packing, and finally, checking the inventory at the destination, there are aspects to consider when carrying out any type of move.

However, moving goods from one country to another requires more attention and rigorous planning that allows actions to be oriented towards a satisfactory outcome. Beyond the obvious recommendations to study the culture, traditions, and idiosyncrasies of the destination country, there are important variables that must be taken into account for decision-making in any international move.

You may have some concerns about handling and protecting your belongings, the time it takes to transport them, documentation and permits for transporting items in both the country of origin and the destination country, insurance, guarantees of receiving belongings in the new country, and others that may arise during the process. For this reason, the first piece of advice is always to contact a moving and logistics company that provides solutions in all stages of an international move.

It is necessary, as we mentioned in previous lines, to carry out the legal procedures for personal documents and apostilles (if applicable) for recognition in the destination country. This is a process that usually takes time, and we know that time is money. So why not leave it in the hands of experts?

Make a thorough inventory of the items in the property and sort between what will be transported and what will be left behind. Later on, we will give you another tip on what you can do with the items you don’t want to take with you.

The required packaging to protect the belongings being transported must be specialized. From kitchen utensils, dishes, electronic equipment, furniture, beds, clothing, books, records, musical instruments, art pieces, everything must have specialized packaging material to guarantee their integrity throughout the entire move. This minimizes the risk of decreasing their value in case of any mishap. But if the company also offers additional insurance for high-value items, it is a compelling reason to hire their services.

It may also seem obvious to say that any item transported across borders, whether by land, sea or air, must go through a customs process that must be handled by experts in the field. For this reason, having specialized advice throughout the entire process is vital.

The time that items remain before and after the customs review process must be guarded in secure warehouses for their protection.

Ensuring the backup of your belongings with insurance may seem like a recommendation, but it ends up being a necessity. It is always better to insure the entire load.

These steps are necessary to carry out an effective international move; it seems like a difficult process to undertake without the advice and support of a company that offers comprehensive moving solutions… Yes, it truly is difficult.

That’s why at Clover Mudanzas we offer services that cover all the requirements needed for the transportation of personal and corporate goods outside our borders, from the point of origin to the destination point. We take care of all legal personal procedures, specialized packaging, storage and protection of goods at ports and airports, maritime and air transportation, customs procedures, and also our new Garage Sale service, to streamline the sale of those items you don’t want to take with you. You set the price, and we take care of finding buyers.

Although there is a belief that all of these sets of actions are usually expensive, if we see the number of steps that must be taken for the move to proceed smoothly, you will realize that it is not as expensive as it seems.