We’re told it’s far better to be proactive than reactive in business and life. Just Google it. You’ll find page after page of sites like Status.net, Bizfluent, and LifeHack.

Forbes even weighed in on proactive versus reactive companies in July 2020 — smack dab in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. But the words still hold true today: “How should companies prepare for the immediate future? Basically, by accepting that the current situation is no longer exceptional, no longer simply a response to a one-off emergency, but part of the way we are going to be living for a long time. This involves a series of steps, some of which are very similar to preparing for a digital transformation process.”

It’s no different in the logistics industry, in which the supply chain can be thrown off course by any number of unpredictable events, including geopolitical tensions, extreme weather, labor disruptions, or, heaven forbid, another pandemic. For some reason, supply chain disruptions are becoming the norm rather than the exception in our increasingly interconnected world.

Thus, exception resilience must be a critical capability for modern logistics teams. To stand above the competition, the best of the best must adopt a proactive approach to transforming exception management, ensuring operational continuity and customer satisfaction.

Will 2025 Be a Year Defined by Disruptions?

Change is going to come, and in 2025, there could be a lot of it.

• President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to implement wide-ranging tariffs on foreign goods, including products from both Mexico and Canada.
• The aforementioned tariffs on our North American neighbors could portend a reworking of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).
• Contract talks between the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) came to a screeching halt again, increasing the likelihood of a second dockworker walkout at ports on the East and Gulf coasts in January. This strike could last longer — and deliver a bigger wallop to the supply chain — than the three-day work stoppage in October.

In logistics management, exceptions, such as delayed shipments or lost inventory, can significantly impact costs, customer relationships, and operational efficiency. Proactive exception management will be essential for businesses to successfully navigate whatever challenges 2025 brings.

Three Strategies to Increase Exception Resilience in 2025

For logistics services providers, exception resilience begins with implementing a modern TMS. But not any transportation management system will do. Businesses should arm themselves with the best tools available in a user-friendly TMS to be ready to proactively manage exceptions.

Leverage Real-Time Monitoring and Alerts

Visibility into supply chain operations is vital. Early detection of exceptions, such as shipment delays or inventory discrepancies, takes visibility to another level, enabling logistics teams to resolve issues before they escalate to become major problems.

Owlery’s Exception Handling module provides real-time monitoring, instant alerts, and actionable insights, helping TMS users quash supply chain hiccups.

Implement Structured Resolution Workflows

Reactive approaches to exception management can wreak havoc in the supply chain. Predefined workflows tailored to specific exception types — whether that’s weather-related or damaged goods or cargo rerouting — enable faster and more efficient resolution. That structure also reduces downtime, improves coordination across teams, and increases customer satisfaction.

Adopt Data-Driven Predictive Tools

Predictive analytics is a game-changer in exception resilience. Integrating external data sources, including weather forecasts and market trends, into logistics platforms enables teams to anticipate disruptions and adjust plans proactively.

Owlery’s Data Connection module provides critical external data integration for the most informed decision-making.

Owlery: True Integration for Resilient Supply Chains

Owlery is the premier TMS software for shippers who want to build and maintain resilient supply chains. Owlery’s right-sized logistics platform was designed to meet each shipper’s unique needs, providing the specific tools they require for a faster, more reliable, and cost-effective supply chain.

Owlery empowers shippers to:

• Manage all supply chain partners effectively and efficiently with tools that include integrated quoting and tendering for any carrier and mode, centralized data, and configurable real-time exceptions.
• Reduce total freight costs with guidance from real-time market rates, benchmarked pricing analyses, and freight bill audits.
• Automate workflows from instant bill of lading generation to load building and scheduling to dock management.
• Optimize every single supply chain key performance indicator (KPI), including cost per mile, order consolidation, and custom drill-downs.  

Make it your New Year’s resolution to be proactive rather than reactive in 2025. Get started with Owlery today.

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