How TAPA Can Make You Stand Out More Prominently In 21st Century’s Cruel Competition
Doing Business these days, is a game of survival. With the ever changing environment of this globe, now there is a big number of people who are putting their efforts into the supply-chain businesses. With competition on the rise, this particular field is not any much safer than any other business sector. Logistics being an important part of this chain (which is the flow of goods), has been surrounded by it’s own threats.
As firms finish producing their products and cargo starts to move out from the industries to the markets (or take any kind of distribution into consideration), soon the incident can happen in which the loaded truck full of goods gets hi-jacked, and the producing company ends up writing a big loss in its accounts book.
So much for the safety of output..?
Fortunately, a way to reduce, if not eliminate, the crimes and thefts related to distribution of items that consumers are expecting while standing at the end side of the chain, has been getting its importance increased with the passage of time. Just as there is a certification for the quality check, and covering environmental safety aspects; likewise there is a Global recognition for the movement of cargo and to guard against the logistics threats, that is called Transportation Asset Protection Association (known as TAPA for the sake of simplicity and for people to remember, like they do ISO).
For the security of the convoys, companies can certify themselves with TAPA, which allows them to fight against cargo crimes. This organization has a common goal of reducing the number of transportation related thefts from all over the world, and it operates around the globe for that matter, with key regional branches in Europe (TAPA EMEA), Asia (TAPA APAC), America (TAPA AMERICAS), and smaller groups in Brazil and Japan etc. This security is not just limited to transportation, but it covers warehousing as well.
TAPA certification audits:
For a specific company to be given the internationally recognized Asset Protection, a sequence of inspections and audits is done. The company in consideration must be carrying out its business activities with respect to the required standards, and be in accordance with the mentioned rules & regulations for it to be known as a TAPA certified company. These particular requirements are mentioned on their websites.
Doing the Gap Analysis:
This stage simply clarifies what measures the company must take in order to achieve TAPA recognition. Gap analysis points out the loop-holes preventing a firm from being a part of that security Association.
With that being said, now you can understand why some companies are on a higher scale for achieving the shipping, warehousing, and other logistics assignments of top-notch brands; while others are getting beaten up by this race of competition.
Providing easy and quick shipping solutions to firms, DHL is TAPA certified on a better extent than their other competitors, as their website explains:
DHL Express recognized for having the most TAPA certified sites in the region
A brand has to go through many phases, and the business conducts are checked back and forth for the sake of fine-tuning. DHL is a globally recognized brand, and is playing a leading role in the logistics sector. Several other websites, featuring the TAPA certification of DHL. Similarly, Expeditors International enjoys the benefits of having its name registered in the TAPA records. It is a shipping company that provides supply-chain solutions to those who seek them.
TCS couriers on the other hand, operating in four major countries that are UK, Canada, UAE, and also Pakistan, is not having its assets protected by this World-class Association. Even though TCS Express is, without any doubt, an excellent logistics company that is Globally recognized as well, but TAPA has its own set of requirements, for that reason, not every firm out there can achieve the certification easily.
Leopard Couriers is yet another firm that provides transportation services to other companies. For not having TAPA certification, just like TCS, Leopard is not in direct competition with DHL, and is limited on a shallow-water level while DHL goes on with the waves!
High-tech brands making TAPA as their checkpoints for hiring logistics firms!
An Internationally acknowledged certification can and does act as a base when firms around the world require logistics services. TAPA being a newer trend in the field of supply-chain, now draws a line showing what big companies choose and what they refuse. Any firm that hires another firm for the movement of its goods, needs some assurance on the cargo reaching the destination without any incident. This is where TAPA takes away the worries!
TAPA has developed two sets of standards: Freight Security Requirements (FSR) and Truck Security Requirements (TSR). FSR — which can be achieved at one of three levels: class A, B, and C, with class A being the highest level of security — monitors the level of security for facilities and warehouses used for storing and transporting goods.
Companies that are certified, are audited by Independent Audit Body (AIB), before reaching the adequate level of being better off, and having a significantly higher chance of being hired for the transportation, which may be regional, or world-wide.
