New Year’s resolutions aren’t just for promising to hit the gym or planning to eat healthier. Businesses can use the start of a new year to set improvement goals, too. Now is the perfect time to reflect on the past, reevaluate what is working, and see where you’d like to improve.

Adam Bartell, operations manager at Intelligent Blends and an Amazon Freight shipper, has extensive experience in shipping and logistics. He shared operational insights earlier this year and is back with practical tips to help his fellow shippers improve service and speed, control costs, and increase efficiency in 2025.

Foster collaboration for more successful operations
Operations is a focal point of any business, so collaboration is essential. “Many of us in operational roles take a lot of pride in having our hand in every pot,” Bartell says. “At Intelligent Blends, operations interacts with everyone—production, sales, marketing, leadership—and I encourage other retail operation teams to do the same.”

Successful collaboration hinges on communication between departments. Using sales as an example, the sales team can provide forecasts based on promotions or product launches which can help the warehouse prepare for increased demand. Operations can also automate reporting so the sales team isn't chasing data about our inventory levels, making them more efficient.

Similarly, if other departments need a new tool or solution to make their life more efficient, operations can implement it. “If our accounting department comes to us and says, ‘Hey, we have this trivial task, can you automate it?’ We can do that for them,” Bartell says.

Don’t overlook the loading dock
The loading dock can make or break operations, but the loading, unloading, and staging of goods doesn’t always get the attention it deserves. A critical component affecting dock operations is palletization efficiency, which can maximize space on the pallet as well as at the dock and in the trailer.

Efficient palletization often hinges on having the right box types and sizes. At Intelligent Blends, the process starts with the production team and determining the boxes that will work best for their machines. Then, the operations department assesses how that compares to what will be optimal for loading on a pallet. “It has to work for both, which relates to what I said about collaboration,” Bartell says.

Once the team has settled on dimensions and figured out how to optimize pallets, they can go back to the manufacturer to find the right solution. “Sometimes, it's just an eighth of an inch that needs to be shaved off of a box, but it makes a big difference at scale,” Bartell adds. “Find a corrugate manufacturer you trust and can work with for the right solution.”

Prepare for the unexpected
Even the best-laid plans can experience disruptions, whether it is extreme weather or a flat tire. Bartell’s top tip is to create a contingency plan.

“Even if you have the most trusted freight broker, the most trusted carrier, and the most trusted small parcel representative, you need a backup plan,” Bartell says. “Having a network of providers is essential so you can lean on them if something unexpected occurs.”

From an inventory level, it is essential to have safety stock. “Every business knows that, but it's crucial to truly understand it,” he adds. “As you’re forecasting and looking at SKUs, you can say, ‘Okay, I need four weeks of cover here so if a blizzard happens, I'm good to go and have time to react.’”

Get a head start on 2025
If you’d like to work with Amazon Freight to help achieve your shipping goals in 2025, create a shipper account and get started.