Logistics employees waste 4.3 hours a week due to downtime

Dutch logistics companies lose over four hours of productivity per week due to faltering equipment and systems. This downtime leads to extra stress for 36% of employees, and to 34% having to work overtime. This is according to research by software company Soti, conducted among 1,700 transport and logistics professionals worldwide.

The global transport and logistics (T&L) industry is constantly striving to improve the quality of the customer experience in terms of speed, accuracy and convenience. With the increasing intensity of moving goods from A to B, the need for advanced mobile technology to increase operational efficiency and customer satisfaction has never been more evident, states Soti.

The technology not only enables employees to communicate effectively, but apps on smartphones can also replace bulky scanners and other devices. By streamlining daily workflows, the use of mobile devices can thus play a crucial role in achieving key business goals: increased productivity, greater efficiency, on-time deliveries and high customer satisfaction.

Significantly more downtime in the Netherlands

However, the survey shows that Dutch workers waste an average of 4.3 hours per week due to downtime, which is significantly more than in all other European countries surveyed. Moreover, 36% of Dutch T&L workers waste more than five hours per week. Besides this, 28% of Dutch employees spend more than half of their time working on returns, recalls and delivery errors.

According to the survey, the proliferation of mobile apps has made the user experience more complex, resulting in an increased number of requests for IT support. Security also remains a concern, especially among employees in Mexico (71%), Canada (69%) and the Netherlands (67%). Globally, and across all functions, 58% of employees worry that customer data could fall into the wrong hands.

More than three quarters (76%) of the Dutch respondents feel they have received adequate training in storing data securely on their mobile devices. However, their biggest concern is the loss or theft of their devices; this problem is cited by 66% of them. An additional complication here is that many employees (75%) share their devices with colleagues.

Downtime causes overtime and stress

In the face of the current economic challenges, delays resulting from the loss of valuable time due to equipment downtime increase the risk of employees having to work overtime. Globally, 35% say they have to work overtime due to delays, with significantly higher rates in regions such as Mexico (43%), the US (41%) and Canada (40%). In the Netherlands, the percentage is 34%.

Moreover, equipment downtime makes almost half (48%) of employees worldwide feel stressed, which is compounded by other negative effects on employee engagement and morale. In the Netherlands, stress due to equipment downtime is lowest at 36%, but still significant. A fifth (21%) of global respondents said that downtime meant losing their preferred route. In the Netherlands, that figure is 24%.