Current Model
Concerning the current model, road and water are some of the possible modes of transport for iHerb company. The most feasible mode of transport under the current model is road transport for delivering products after they have arrived in the country. There are a few reasons why the road is the most appropriate transport mode for iHerb deliveries. First, it is the most cost-effective way to ship products over long distances. Second, road infrastructure is already in place and does not require any additional investment from iHerb. Third, a large network of drivers and delivery companies are familiar with shipping products by road (Mundi Blanco et al., 2019). Finally, it is the most reliable way to get products to customers’ homes within a short timeframe and can even offer door-to-door delivery, which can add value to the organization.
Though shipping 10 kilograms to individuals may not be uneconomical thus, the company may opt for consolidating shipping. Consolidated shipping provides a better platform to ensure that products heading to the same destination are shipped together (Mundi Blanco et al., 2019). Air transport may not be preferred since it is too expensive; water transport, on the other hand, may not be preferred since it is too slow and needs a water body to operate. The company should consider the infrastructure network, shipping cost, and weight in selecting the carrier used.
Updated Model
On the other hand, road and water are possible modes of transport for the updated model. Air is not among the modes of transport because it is not designed and suitable for transporting bulky goods. Similarly, the deliveries are done weekly by iHerb, meaning the products may not be perishable or needed urgently, thus making road and water more feasible. Water is the most viable mode of transport for iHerb’s bulky goods because it is cheap, efficient, and environmentally friendly. Moreover, water transportation is more fuel-efficient for iHerb than other forms of transportation, and it emits fewer pollutants into the atmosphere (Przybylowski et al., 2021).
Finally, waterways are less congested than roads or airports, making water transportation a more efficient means of shipping goods. Less congestion will help iHerb to deliver its products smoothly without accidents compared to road transport. Bulky goods shipping may also lead to road destruction due to trucks heavyweights (Tien et al., 2019). In selecting a carrier, iHerb will have to consider the carrier’s capacity and the medium’s availability for shipping.
In case the water bodies may not be well distributed, then intermodal transport would be of help; that is, using road transport to ensure door-to-door delivery. Considering the Covid-19 transport disruption, I would suggest that iHerb implement an updated model. This model will not affect the consumers’ operation schedule since the deliveries are done weekly. One week is enough for product delivery since many Singapore have implemented curfews, which reduces the traveling hours; therefore, one week will be enough for shipping activities.
References
Erceg, A., & Damoska-Sekulowska, J. (2019). E-logistics and e-SCM. LogForum.
Mundi Blanco, C., Galilea, P., & Raveau, S. (2019). Universal accessibility survey of transport modes. Transport Findings.
Przybylowski, A., Stelmak, S., & Suchanek, M. (2021). Mobility behavior in view of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Sustainability.
Tien, N. H., Anh, D. B. H., & Thuc, T. D. (2019). Global supply chain and logistics management. Dehli: Academic Publications.