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From now until the end of April 2010 new members can get free trial membership on Shed 5, the leading ’small’ courier exchange site that’s big on features.
New members get completely free and no-obligation use of the full site and all its features (subject to provision of GIT), and 25 free credits for SMS text alerts, so they can see for themselves how Shed 5 can help boost profits for all couriers.
What will happen in the wold of courier freight exchanges in the next 10 years? What will they look like in 2020? Here’s my vew…
There won’t be much visible change in 2010 – there will be a slight increase in demand for sameday dedicated work because of the upturn in the economy, and this will make the exchanges and their members a bit busier.
During 2010 there will be a few small advances in exchange technology, with mobile access being improved and better integration with other online services, and at the same time more couriers will become more comfortable using mobile technology. And a few exchange sites will work together to standardise some APIs and agree XML microformats for things like GTMs, con notes and vehicles available.
By 2011 this will pave the way for a new approach where third-party applications (including mobile phone apps) are used to interface with the back-end services provided by exchanges.
This will bring about a change in the way exchanges are used. It will be common for couriers to be members of 3 or 4 exchanges, using different services from different ones depending on their preferences to meet all their business needs. New exchange owners will wake up to the fact that they don’t need to be “the next CX”, they need to focus on keeping their members happy and finding their niche in the market. If the micro-payment providers get their act together and set realistic transaction charges it will be feasible to charge for services on a per-use basis.
After that my crystal ball is looking a bit hazy so I’m not sure how things will go, except that by 2020 the UK economy will have a bigger manufacturing base than it has now, or perhaps just a final assembly and integration specialisation, with smaller businesses and a convergence between digital/electronic technology and mechanical/engineering technology to supply a growing demand in a few growth areas in consumer products. With a healthier economy JIT will be back in fashion, combined with local storage and distribution centres (a bit like Unipart), and there will be a continuing demand for short-distance small item delivery.
But in England there will be a nationalised freight infrastructure using an improved rail network and a new smaller type of container (a Europod?) being transported by driver-less bots on purpose-built tracks alongside motorways, or in tunnels under them, with trans-shipment yards at key points around the country. The whole thing will be 99% automated under computer control and with door-to-door journey times from London to Edinburgh under 3 hours.
Freight exchanges will not be needed.
From an article originally published on the Courier World forums.
1. price
Not always the best reason, but worth looking at. One of the smaller exchanges could cost just 10% of a big exchange so you can be pretty sure of covering the cost, and you can afford to join a few different sites.
2. flexibility
Most small exchanges are keen to listen to their members and if you make suggestions there is a good chance they will be adopted, so you will get an exchange that suits your requirements.
3. a smaller network
On a small exchange it is easier to get to know the other members (and get yourself known) so you can quickly build up your network of trusted contacts.
4. a different network
Many members of small exchanges are not on the bigger sites, so you will make extra contacts and have access to more work by joining them.
5. more competition
If there were only one or two big exchanges there is a chance they could get complacent and take their members for granted. With more small exchanges competing for your custom, all the exchanges have to work harder to keep their members, and everybody ends up getting a better service at better prices.
From an article originally published on the Courier World forums
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