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Tompkins surveys
CEOs for top priorities
Over
67% target customer service as a top priority
Raleigh,
NC, June 22, 2000—According to a recent survey of
CEOs in third party logistics (3PL), customer service is their
top priority for improvement in 2000. The survey, conducted
by Tompkins Associates, the leading Total Operations consulting
firm, identified CEOs' top business challenges for the coming
months. Over 67% of survey respondents chose "improving customer
service" as a top challenge.
With the roles of warehousing, transportation and service
providers blurring, it is no longer uncommon to see organizations
taking on functions of lead logistics companies, managing
complete inbound and outbound networks and providing goods
to demand points across the entire supply chain pipeline.
3PL companies must be flexible in their dynamic and volatile
niche. With this in mind, Tompkins wanted to know what executives
saw as imperative to maintaining competitive advantage in
this changing marketplace.
Enhanced
supply chain visibility, improving operational efficiency
and employing e-commerce solutions were identified as CEOs'
next highest priorities, all at 43.5%. Responding to competitive
influences was the fifth highest priority, selected by over
41% of respondents. Suprisingly, challenges such as reducing
costs and improving overall performance measures were lower
on the list of priorities for 2000.
"Today's
3PL provider recognizes the importance of customers in this
competitive marketplace. While reducing costs and increasing
the scope of the business are certainly important, 3PLs know
-more- that meeting their customers' needs-through better
supply chain operations, employment of e-commerce solutions
and improving operations-is what will set them apart from
the competition," said Jim Tompkins, president and founder
of Tompkins Associates.
Fifty-five
percent of CEOs surveyed were from companies with over 1000
employees and $250 million in sales. The largest industry
segmentation came from the electronics and retail industry
with 14% of respondents. The automotive and industrial parts
industries followed with 13%, and 11% each came from the general
commodities and grocery industries.
For a
summary of survey findings, contact Client Relations at Tompkins
Associates and ask for "Tompkins
Associates Surveys CEOs." Client Relations can be reached
at 800-789-1257 or through e-mail at sales@tompkinsinc.com.
For more
information about Tompkins Associates de Mexico, contact Tompkins'
Global Sales team at 800-789-1257.
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