Category Archives: Blog

What's the Difference Between a 3PL and 4PL Provider

What’s the Difference Between a 3PL and 4PL Provider?

For years, third-party logistics (3PL) companies have helped businesses scale their operations globally and reduce warehousing and distribution costs. 3PL companies handle essential…
Continue reading
E-commerce Boom Demands Changes to the Logistics Industry

E-commerce Boom Demands Changes to the Logistics Industry

The e-commerce industry has exploded and continues to grow each year. The estimated size of the global e-commerce logistics industry in 2021 was…
Continue reading
Shipping dangerous goods

Shipping dangerous goods? Here’s 20Cube Logistics to bail you out!

Shipping consignment is always a challenge, but when it is classified as dangerous or hazardous, it adds another layer of complexity. Transporting dangerous…
Continue reading
7 TYPES OF SHIPPING CONTAINERS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT

7 Important types of shipping containers you should know about

Every year around 11 billion tons of goods are transported through ships. From 1931 to the present day, a great variety of multimodal…
Continue reading
Green Warehousing a trend or a need

Green Warehousing, a trend or a need?

What is the need for introducing green solutions? Supply chains account for 80% of the greenhouse gas emission and impact on air, land,…
Continue reading
LCL Shipping

What does a customs broker do? Why are they indispensable?

Businesses utilise several types of organisations to assist them in navigating the lengthy process of transporting products across borders. Freight forwarders, as well…
Continue reading
What is the difference between a freight forwarder and a customs broker

What is the difference between a freight forwarder and a customs broker?

Importers must work with a customs broker to clear a consignment for import. They can provide insight and direction as a logistics partner…
Continue reading
Effective ways to find good freight forwarder companies in Brisbane - Australia

Effective ways to find a good freight forwarding company in Brisbane – Australia?

Selecting the ideal freight forwarder for international or domestic freight forwarding is of similar importance to selecting a business partner. They must share…
Continue reading
Smaller cities become new hubs in the Indian warehousing landscape

Smaller cities become new hubs in the Indian warehousing landscape

Smaller cities become new hubs in the Indian warehousing landscape. India’s warehousing industry is ready to see a new future which is smart…
Continue reading
Port-Centric Logistics (PCL) is a newly developed concept wherein the logistics and distribution services are located at the port. This is being seen as an alternative to inland logistic channels comprising distribution centres. The integration of the supply chain has resulted in more optimised systems. The ports are no more just the receiving points. They serve as the hubs for storing goods that are being delivered to different parts of a country. Shifting future of logistics operations Traditionally, the hub-and-spoke model was successful as the logistic networks were not very complex and less congested. The goods were received at the port and transported to the distribution centre and further delivered to the customer. This resulted in inefficient transportation networks that consumed unnecessary time and cost. Through a Port-Centric Logistics model, the goods can be delivered directly from the port warehouses to the customers. The logistics have become more complex with the increasing demand for on-time delivery. All the goods and services are treated as fast-moving products as the urgency has become a norm. This is leading to the need for a Port-Centric Logistics system where ports can serve as the points of storage and not just the points of delivery. Global businesses that need to fulfil just-in-time demands can shorten the long lead-times significantly. Storing domestically consumed goods duty-free at ports can save costs. The transportation costs can also be saved through port-centric logistic setups as the goods do not need to be carried to the inland distribution hubs. In some cases, the port authorities handle the warehousing and logistics which means the availability of land and labour is not the concern of the businesses. The resource management becomes easier and cost-efficient. The logistic areas are near to the terminals, the trucks do not have to cross the city roads that helps in avoiding traffic and saves time. The containers that carry the goods from ports to distribution centres can be emptied and brought back in lesser time in case of port-centric logistics. Thus reducing the reloading time resulting in a streamlined  supply chain. Port-centric logistics also reduces the number of handling stages in a distribution channel which in-turn reduces the chances of mishandling of products. Due to shifting consumer trends and need to be ready for uncertain times like Covid-19, businesses are trying to develop more resilient supply chains. This process includes a number of techniques like dual sourcing, development of regional supply chains and near-shoring. All this is being done to optimise the ‘last mile delivery’. Popularity of Port-Centric Logistics can be attributed to the near-shoring and regional supply chains. Lastly, the Port-Centric Logistics is also helping in lowering the harmful impact on the environment that is being created in the transportation of goods. When every business is trying to embrace net zero carbon emission practices, reducing unnecessary freight miles helps in achieving the same. The future of logistics welcomes new approaches towards such supply chain solutions that are smart and efficient.

Why is the Port-Centric Logistics Model becoming popular?

Port-Centric Logistics (PCL) is a newly developed concept wherein the logistics and distribution services are located at the port. This is being seen…
Continue reading