Secured Transportation for Tobacco Products
How we master logistics for the tobacco industry. There are a few key trends in transportation and logistics in the tobacco industry:
Sustainability: There is growing pressure on the tobacco industry to reduce its environmental impact, and as a result, many companies are implementing sustainability initiatives in their transportation and logistics operations. This can include using more fuel-efficient vehicles, reducing the distance products travel, and adopting green logistics practices.
Collaboration: To improve efficiency and reduce costs, many tobacco companies are forming partnerships and collaborations with other companies in the industry and with logistics providers.
Adapting to changing consumer preferences: The tobacco industry faces changing consumer preferences, with an increasing number of people choosing an alternative, lower-risk products such as e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products. As a result, tobacco companies are adapting their transportation and logistics operations to meet the needs of these new products.
Increased use of digital technologies: Many tobacco companies are adopting digital technologies, such as GPS tracking and real-time monitoring, to improve the efficiency and visibility of their transportation and logistics operations.
Regulation: The tobacco industry is heavily regulated, and transportation and logistics operations must comply with various regulations, including those related to the transportation of hazardous materials, customs, and security.
Proper planning and visibility ensure availability
When your products are not available, people buy an alternative. The different electronic cigarette systems on the market each have their own specifications, meaning that if refills are unavailable, consumers may switch systems. With tobacco customers being very loyal to a specific brand, you may lose a lifetime customer.
Availability and speed impact the number of locations where inventory is stored. A solid transportation schedule combined with complete inventory visibility can allow companies to reduce the locations where inventory is stored.
Ahlers can assist you in determining the optimal location or locations of your warehouses and storing and distributing your products, whether through a central distribution center or a network of local warehouses. We also help customers with purchase order visibility, real time cargo tracking and advanced customized reporting.
End-to-end supply chain support
A smooth production process is also crucial for ensuring product availability. Ahlers supports tobacco companies in improving the efficiency of their factory logistics. Our logistics specialists work with your production teams on the factory floor to ensure the availability of raw materials, supplies and parts, so machines can produce what they need to when they need to. From transporting raw materials from your suppliers to your factories to distributing your products to retail outlets, we can manage and support your supply chain.
We support return logistics of devices for warranty or logistics flows for consumers switching to a new device. We ensure consumers get a replacement device and refurbish the returned device if needed. For companies that rent out their tobacco heating devices, we can support that too.
Secure transportation options for high-value cargo
When transporting cigarettes, e-cigarettes, tobacco heating systems, or vaping devices, it is essential to ensure no product gets lost or damaged during transportation. This starts with the trailers that are used. Using hard-bodied trailers is the first step.
The second step is security measures. Tobacco-related products are easy to sell on the black market anywhere, so they are in high demand. We use different methods to securely transport high-value cargo, on top of using hard-bodied trailers.
- Manned: security guards can accompany high-value shipments of cosmetics products. This can either be an (armed) security guard that rides in the cabin with the driver or a separate car with two guards that follows the truck.
- Unmanned: a more cost-effective solution is installing a security device in the truck and the trailer. You can install our Safe-T solution in the trailer. It monitors the location of the trailer, but also whether someone enters the trailer or whether there are unexpected changes in the temperature. It safeguards goods against theft and damage caused by outside weather influences.
Safe-T: your goods arrive safely, with complete visibility
A camera records what happens in the trailer, while microphones record the sound. There are sensors detecting movement in the trailer, the opening of the doors, the temperature and humidity inside the trailer, the truck’s speed, the exact location, and even the driver’s heartbeat. This allows all sorts of responses to unexpected events without the driver having to take action. Some examples:
- Geofencing technology can trigger an alarm if the truck deviates from its route.
- Temperature and humidity sensors can trigger an alarm when there is a sudden change in temperature or humidity, for example, through a hole in the trailer.
- A spike in the driver’s heartbeat can indicate that they are in danger.
- A panic button on the driver’s phone immediately alerts the monitoring center.
Our monitoring center, operating 24/7, can monitor the systems remotely. When there seems to be a problem, they can contact the driver to check in or proactively warn police, repair-or emergency services and direct them to the truck's location to stop an ongoing robbery or help a driver with a health issue.
Why let Ahlers handle your tobacco logistics?
- 30 years of experience in complex markets
- Close customer relationships with the leading tobacco players in the industry
- Tailor-made solutions
- A dedicated team of experts
- One common approach, global and local
- On-site logistics support
- End-to-end supply chain management
- Advanced technological security solution for your shipments
- Complete visibility on your inventory during transport and in the warehouse
- Advanced customized reporting and early detection of exceptions
