The country’s leading logistics company launches a pioneering cross-docking solution for businesses of all sizes
The strong growth of consumer goods uptake in store shelves coupled with its logistics ecosystem highlights one important fact for businesses today: that location is no longer a limitation for them to grow their retail enterprises nationwide.
Of course, a few common road bumps have surfaced—mis-picks, inventory errors, unreliable deliveries, and high fixed costs. To get around these challenges, Filipino logistics company FAST has recently introduced Flow by FAST, an innovative cross-docking solution that drastically improves inventory accuracy, thanks to an end-to-end system-guided process, which in turn reduces the cost of bringing goods to modern trade.
“Cross-docking has been around for years, but Flow by FAST takes it to a whole new level. Our pioneering solution, the first in the Philippines, is the result of integrating FAST’s transport management system with Honeywell’s warehouse management system.”
—Manuel Onrejas, CEO-Logistics of FAST
Flow by FAST works like typical cross-docking operations, where goods are placed in temporary storage and undergo warehouse processes before being shipped out—but made better by an intelligent system designed to guide the flow of a large volume of goods using data, while providing real-time tracking, ensuring that cargo arrives on time and in good condition every time.
Flow by FAST deliveries are reliable because of FAST’s modern fleet, the largest in the Philippines, deployed following Fixed Delivery Schedules (FDS).
According to Onrejas, there are three types of business use cases that can enjoy the benefits of Flow by FAST: First, businesses with multiple warehouses and/or factories that deliver to multiple destinations and who have yet to try the benefits of a cross dock; second, businesses who have tried cross dock but have inventory errors and unreliable delivery schedules; and lastly, those who want an end-to-end solution to drive down logistics cost and avoid stockouts.
“No matter what your needs are, there’s a Flow by FAST solution that’s right for you,” Onrejas adds. “Thanks to a robust backend, you can avoid stockouts in store shelves, and you pay only for what needs to be delivered, which is a hugely better alternative to a full-truck rate.”
Aside from these high-tech logistics solutions, FAST brings to the table more than five decades’ worth of industry expertise. Founded by the Chiongbian family in the 1970s, FAST has a workforce of 12,000 plus, spread across around 300 sites nationwide, with a transport fleet of 3,500 units, over a million square meters in warehouse footprint, and a distribution network of over 100,000 stores. Throughout 50 years, FAST has collaborated with a whole spectrum of enterprises, from the largest multinational companies and Filipino conglomerates to SMEs and sari-sari stores to develop solutions in bringing products across the island.
Today, the Group is present in transport logistics, warehouse management, selling distribution, and value-adding supply chain services. Since receiving funding from CVC, the largest global private equity firm, FAST has expanded to e-commerce, cold chain, and community retail systems.
Learn more about Flow by FAST at blog.fast.com.ph
