Supply chain teams are the heartbeat of any business, but often get wildly overlooked.

While you may have taken the time to recruit great candidates, now is the time to assess whether you could do more for them.

The fact you’ve even opened this blog post suggests that you already know the answer…

Several steps can be taken to empower your supply chain employees and help them do more. Here are six of the best:

#1. Manage Access Control

Time is the most valuable resource at any company’s disposal. Finding ways to reduce waste is vital. The supply chain covers several settings. Efficient movement between them is key.

A cloud-based access control system aids employees by streamlining access without harming security. It is particularly useful when they are driving or when they carry bulky items. The ability to enter and exit a warehouse or other facility smoothly will save valuable minutes. Multiply this by dozens of workers and daily savings become huge.

In addition to supporting employees, you can use RFID tech to track stock and key assets more efficiently. The impact it has on an employee’s workflow is incredible.

#2. Integrate Automated Tools

Helping employees remove distractions is a great way to help them do more. Nevertheless, the reality of the situation is that tech equipment can complete tasks far faster.

Therefore, moving away from manual tasks to automation is essential. Automation within the supply chain can take many forms. In fact, you can now get entirely unmanned workspaces. Even when you still need workers, using automated stock management or packing saves time and removes mistakes. Productivity can subsequently scale greater heights than ever before.

Competitions will use automated tools, and you must follow suit. As well as empowering your employees, it is a key step towards boosting customer satisfaction scores.

#3. Improve Communication Links

By now, it should be clear that smooth communication links are required by all employees. Cultivating a positive atmosphere underpinned by colleague friendships will get things started.

However, the right tech tools are equally crucial. Fleet management systems are particularly useful as driver journeys can be managed better. Meanwhile, team messaging Apps and other forms of digital communication are very useful. Aside from preventing, working with the right tools will create a clear trail of all interactions. Confusion can be eradicated from the process.

Poor communication has a direct impact on productivity and also damages mindsets. Gaining control of the situation with better tech tools is crucial for supporting your workforce.

#4. Maintain All Machinery

Putting the right resources in place is one thing, but keeping equipment in great health is another. Fail to do this, and productivity will soon fall while staff motivation will also suffer. 

Predictive analytics is your best friend, preventing breakdowns and avoiding unscheduled maintenance. Factory machines can be tracked for performance levels to determine when replacement parts are needed. A similar approach can be used to keep vehicles in the best health. This supports efficiency and driver comfort.

They say a bad worker blames his tools. In reality, all employees will feel disgruntled if you do not repair and replace inferior facilities as needed.

#5. Invest In Training

A solid recruitment drive gives you a solid platform for getting more out of your team. Not least because great employees will inspire their supply chain colleagues. Yet, there’s still work to do.

Regular training is essential for helping them understand the latest technologies and techniques. By extending this to health and safety training, you can keep the business running smoothly. If nothing else, the investment into their development makes workers feel valued. It may also help them work towards promotions.

In addition to supporting individual development, staff training sculpts the team. Colleagues will learn to follow the same protocols, thus generating consistency. 

#6. Trust Them 

Finally, if you want supply chain workers to produce the best results, you need to let them flourish. It is impossible to micromanage every task. So, let the experts manage themselves. 

A little autonomy goes a long way in business. It removes delays caused by constantly seeking the green light on tasks. Moreover, letting your staff show their initiative within the context of the brand policies leaves them engaged. Productivity improves, mistakes become less frequent, and employee happiness soars. It also supports their continued growth in the role.

It is also one of the most effective ways to make management feel easier. Suspend less time micromanaging others and you can dedicate more time to actively driving the company on.