Cross-docking services

Cross-docking is a type of service carried out by logistics providers, which increases the efficiency of supply chains. The goods are accepted and shipped to a warehouse without safekeeping services. In such scenario a warehousing facility acts as a kind of transshipment point without the long-term storage of the customer's cargo in there.

The acceptance process reduces the cost of renting a warehouse, its maintenance, personnel and simplifies the logistics process. Warehousing spaces have a specific layout for organizing cross-docking, and are equipped in a way that ensures efficient cargo acceptance processes and fast order picking.

The advantages of cross-docking are:

• reducing the delivery time of goods to the final consignee;
• ability of working with perishable goods;
• the need for a warehouse rental is reduced, hence the reduction in the need for the warehouse personnel;
• opportunity to work simultaneously with multiple customers and suppliers;
• reducing the time for picking up the goods;
• product rotation is reduced, excess inventory in stores is reduced, etc.

Cross-docking is used by chain stores, supermarkets, logistics and outsourcing companies, motor businesses and wherever a continuous flow of supplies is needed.

The disadvantages are:

• cross-docking brings profit only with large volumes of shipments;
• necessary connection with the ERP system of the supplier and the consignee, and with the WMS system of the cross-docking operator. Otherwise, legal problems may arise with the formation and the registration of the shipment.