While there are many factors to consider when selecting a location for a new or expanding business, the key to a smooth transition into your new business environment is selecting the right logistics partner. Whether you'll be moving directly to your new location, partly into storage or distributing assets offsite, you need to know that the logistics company transporting your sensitive and proprietary materials will treat them with the necessary security measures and care. Here are some details to consider as you make your selection.

Third-Party Certification

Third-party organizations such as the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) certify companies that meet or exceed various industry requirements. In order to maintain certification, a business with an ISO designation must abide by the organization's code of ethics and participate in regular performance monitoring. To further ensure the credibility of a logistics partner, find out if the sales person handling your move is a Certified Office and Industrial Consultant (COIS). You want to be sure that the company you hire and its representatives are expert logisticians who you can trust to do a top-notch job.

Reputation And Stability

A company's reputation can be a good indication of what type of service you can expect. Request a list of current customers and contact some of them for referrals. Additionally, find out how the company treats their vendors. Do they pay their vendors on time and have strong relationships with them? Many companies are suffering from the current economic situation, which is why you should assess a company's financial security and ability to pay its vendors before engaging them for service. Beware of unrealistic claims from relatively new businesses. Any company claiming expertise and experience should be able to demonstrate longevity in the industry and a track record of success.

Prepared And Empowered Employees

Employees who are trained to perform at a high level are better suited to ensure your business' move will be a success. Ask about the training mechanisms and tools your logistics partner provides their employees and confirm that they are given the resources they need to deliver top-quality service. In addition to the employees' capabilities, it is important to asses the manpower available for your job. Is your logistics provider able to scale up to suit your relocation and storage needs? Can they provide asset tagging and tracking while your business is in transition? 

Company Scope

A good logistics provider should have a broad enough agency network to handle all the needs of your business, both domestic and internationally. To make sure you have a good fit, find out what types of businesses your provider specializes in and how they prepare for the transport of assets.

You should also find out what technology your logistics prospects have in place to ensure that your business' move goes smoothly. You will want to track your business' assets so it is important that the logistics provider you select has tracking mechanisms that are dependable and easy to use.

Also find out how they keep in contact with you as the move progresses — is there a dedicated team for the entire project, or a single point of contact that actively communicates with you? Your logistics team's primary focus should be to make you, the client, as successful and productive as possible.

Making Your Selection

Take the client referrals you gathered into account. It's important to get a real understanding of the service quality you can expect from your logistics provider and there's no better way than to ask someone who's already partnered with the prospect for a move. If a current client's job did not go perfectly, find out what happened and what actions the logistics provider took to remedy the situation. At the end of your business' move, you'll want to feel confident that everything went as well as it could have, and the first step is to choose your logistics partner wisely.

MaryAnn Williams is the manager of Interstate Logistics, a division of Interstate Worldwide Relocation Services, based in Springfield, Va. Interstate Logistics is a full-service provider of worldwide-integrated logistics and supply-chain solutions. For more information, visit www.interstateworldwide.com or contact MaryAnn Williams at MaryAnn.Williams@invan.com.