Success Stories: Containerization Program Delivers Enhanced Customer Experience
Household goods transportation is a major component of almost all mobility programs, representing a sizable investment and a key driver of employee experience. In the U.S., as domestic household goods programs are impacted by changing industry and workforce trends, mobility managers are looking for new solutions.
CLIENT PROFILE
Industry:
PharmaceuticalsHQ Region:
North AmericaProgram Size:
500 mobile employeesServices Provided:
- Talent Mobility Program Administration
- Policy Counseling
- Financial Services
- Compensation Services
Industry:
AutomotiveHQ Region:
North AmericaProgram Size:
4,300 mobile employeesServices Provided:
- Talent Mobility Program Administration
- Policy Counseling
CLIENT OBJECTIVES
Increasingly diverse mobile employee populations and shorter and more temporary assignments are resulting in an increase in smaller shipments, which can benefit from an approach that delivers shorter transit times and less handling. Meanwhile, a shortage of household goods drivers in the U.S. domestic transportation market, coupled with recent regulations on driving times and distances, put pressure on shipment handling and delivery resources. BGRS’s containerized solution is designed to reflect those market developments, while providing improved mobile employee experience as well as transparency into cost and delivery times for mobility program managers.
Two of BGRS’s clients were experiencing changes in their U.S. domestic household goods programs, including a growing volume of small shipments and employees seeking shorter lead times from move initiation to settling in. The clients were also looking for innovative ways to create efficiencies in other areas of the mobility service delivery, such as reduced need for temporary accommodation. By your side, looking aheadTM, managing an independent household goods supplier network and a trusted advisor, BGRS was ideally positioned to create a containerization program as an solution for:
- Effectively supporting a growing percentage of small shipments in their programs
- Delivering increased employee satisfaction during the move process due to timeline predictability and reduction in claims
- Providing increased transparency and efficiencies in other areas of the move
Clients wanted an approach to household goods transportation that reflects their changing needs, increases employee satisfaction, improves transparency, and delivers efficiencies.
BGRS SOLUTION
BGRS’s market-leading containerization program responded to all of these clients’ needs and offered additional benefits in every area of the process:
- Household goods are packed and wrapped securely and placed into a container that is shipped expediently by freight carrier
- An option to utilize self-serve tools, such as the virtual survey, further streamlines the employee experience and reduces cost and the transportation timeline.
- Delivery dates are guaranteed even during peak season; no capacity limitations or blackout dates
- Goods are delivered in 5-10 business days anywhere in the U.S. and cross-border Canada
- 30-day complimentary storage for goods in transit is offered as part of the service
- A comprehensive dashboard displays relevant costs and areas of efficiencies, such as reduced need for temporary accommodation
- Savings are demonstrated by comparing actual container shipment costs to the traditional van line model costs
BGRS’s containerization program offers guaranteed arrival dates, reduced claim rates, and shorter transit times.
RESULTS AND OUTCOMES
Both clients saw significant results with the BGRS containerization program.
One client, a leader in the Pharmaceuticals industry, had experienced recent increases in small shipments of almost 5% year-over-year, with an average weight of 3400 pounds for shipments serviced through the containerized model. Their program was also diverse geographically, with 16 key traffic lanes involving 20 states.
Over a 12-month period, the containerization program delivered improvements and savings in every area of the client’s program:
- Cost savings of 12% achieved utilizing the containerization program over the traditional van line model
- Reduction in days-in-transit from the previous average of 12 days under the traditional van line model to 7 days using the containerization program
- Greater productivity by allowing mobile employees to settle in to their new locations more quickly with approximately 3 days-equivalent additional savings for temporary accommodation.
Another client, in the Automotive industry, had household goods shipments even more dispersed geographically, with 28 key traffic lanes involving 21 states. The average size of shipments handled through the containerized program was approximately 3200 pounds.
Over a 12-month period, the containerization program generated:
- Cost savings of 12% utilizing the container program over the traditional van line model
- Reduction in days in transit from 14 with the traditional van line model to 9 days with the containerized program, with corresponding improvements in settling-in time and higher customer satisfaction ratings.
- Signifigant claims reduction compared to traditional van line model driven by less manual handling of the goods
Savings in shipment costs, fewer claims, reduced temporary living, and comprehensive reporting deliver enhanced employee experience and increased program transparency.
Combined with the peace of mind provided by guaranteed delivery dates, the predictable, secure and more optimized containerized model responds to many of the most meaningful moments during the move process and produces an enhanced experience for mobile employees. The solution simultaneously optimizes program performance for clients, with experienced increased transparency into program performance, with detailed dashboards reporting performance, efficiencies and benefits, such as an average of three days of savings for temporary accommodation.