Nigerian exporters have been tasked to imbibe the culture of conducting regular risk assessments of their supply chain to identify potential vulnerabilities and develop contingency plans.
These assessments, according to experts within and outside the aviation sector, can help exporters to proactively address potential disruptions in the supply chain, such as natural disasters, political unrest, or economic instability.
The need for risk assessment process to pass thorough the analysis of each step in the supply chain, from sourcing materials to delivering finished goods was also emphasised at the CHINET cargo seminar held in Lagos.
While exporters should consider factors such as transportation routes, supplier reliability and geopolitical risks when conducting these assessments, once potential vulnerabilities have been identified, exporters were also challenged to develop contingency plans that outline steps to take in the event of a disruption.
These plans, according to experts “should include alternative transportation routes, backup suppliers and other measures that can help to mitigate the impact of a disruption. By conducting regular risk assessments and developing contingency plans, exporters can improve their ability to manage potential disruptions in the supply chain and ensure that their cargo products reach their destination on time and intact.”
The importance of investing in training programmes for employees involved in logistics operations, which can be extremely beneficial for exporters was stressed as an avenue that can help to improve employee skills and knowledge that can subsequently lead to more efficient and effective logistics operations.
Training programmes covering a wide range of topics, such as transportation management, customs regulations and supply chain optimisation when available for employees can serve as the tools they need to succeed and make exporters improve their ability to manage logistics processes and overcome challenges that may arise.
Additionally, investing in employee training can help exporters to attract and retain top talents just as employees who feel supported and valued by their employer are more likely to stay with the company long-term and contribute to its success.
According to the CHINET conference, the success of an export operation lies heavily on the efficiency and effectiveness of its logistics operations, therefore, to ensure that cargo products are delivered to their destination on time and intact, it is essential for exporters to invest in training programmes for employees involved in logistics operations.
It was also stated at the cargo conference that exporters can benefit from using data analytics tools to analyse logistics performance metrics and identify areas for improvement through collecting and analysing data on transportation times, costs and other key metrics, exporters can gain valuable insights into their logistics operations.
It was also emphasised that data analytics tools can help exporters to identify bottlenecks in the supply chain and make informed decisions about how to improve efficiency. For example, by analysing transportation times for different routes, exporters may be able to identify a more efficient route that reduces transit times and costs.
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