I regularly ask myself whether logistics is simple or not.
Sometimes I find myself in situations, discussing complex states, with many subject-matter experts with just as much jargon. This usually involves complicated systems that need to exchange data with each other, real-time of course, with all sorts of difficulties arising.
Often, in difficult situations, it is wise to take a step back (figuratively), back to basics. Why are we here, what are we doing and what exactly needs to be done? This usually involves ensuring that certain goods arrive at a desired place at the desired time in the right quantity in the desired quality. No more and no less. Then logistics suddenly seems very simple again.
Of course complicated systems can help things run even better and within logistics (sub-)areas technical jargon does arise, but please let's not make it more difficult than it is. We have to do what the customer wants and, above all, what we have agreed. That makes us a reliable partner for our customers and that is what customers are looking for and want. It is simple.
Or not. When it snowed a bit in late January, the railways decided in advance to cancel all kinds of trains from the timetable. When the snow actually fell, even fewer trains started running. Replacement bus transport was not used either. That is a simple solution, but it does not make things easy for your customers. They have nowhere to go. They thought they could rely on the railways, but that turned out not to be possible. Logistics as it should not be.
When I advocate keeping things simple, I mean the solution that serves the customer. That starts with making clear agreements to lay down what we can expect from each other within what frameworks. A certain maximum response time or delivery time is nice, but that too naturally applies within a certain volume. Next, other things can be laid down that play a role in the quality perceived by the customer. The better expectations are defined, the less likely it is that misunderstandings can still arise. Then it becomes simple again.
And simple we must keep it.
Years ago, I had a lecture by a professor who said: If we describe a situation as 'complex', it simply doesn't mean anything other than that we don't understand it.
It is that simple!
