Logistics KPIs help you review transport services using comparable data. Punctuality, shipment issues, transit times and costs provide useful information for identifying problems and deciding what to improve.
ASCM, the Association for Supply Chain Management, discusses these metrics as tools for identifying improvement opportunities. To get started, we suggest a straightforward approach focused on four areas.
Which indicators should you monitor?
| Indicator | What it helps you assess |
|---|---|
| On-time delivery | The percentage of deliveries scheduled for a period that arrive within the agreed timeframe. |
| Shipments with issues | The proportion of shipments analysed that have damage, shortages, documentation errors or other recorded problems. |
| Transit time | The time between collection and delivery of the goods. |
| Average cost per shipment | The total transport cost for the shipments analysed, divided by the number of shipments in that group. |
Each indicator answers a different question. Reviewing them together helps assess both service performance and the resources used.
Define your criteria before measuring
To assess punctuality, record the agreed delivery deadline or time slot. Use a completed reporting period and apply the same criteria when comparing results.
For example, if 95 of the 100 scheduled deliveries arrive on time, the on-time delivery rate is 95%. This is a calculation example: interpreting it also requires understanding what happened with the remaining five deliveries.
When reviewing issues, classify their causes and distinguish affected shipments from the total number of problems. A single shipment may have several issues.
Compare equivalent operations
Group results by route, destination, service type or cargo characteristics. This helps explain differences between operations.
For average costs, apply consistent criteria to the expenses included and compare shipments with similar characteristics. You can explore this further in our article on hidden transport costs.
For transit times, also review the cases that differ most from the usual duration. An average can conceal significant delays affecting individual shipments.
Turn data into action
Set up regular reviews and choose a specific improvement: adjust an appointment, correct shipment information or strengthen coordination with the recipient. Then check whether the results change.
At Subitur, we provide transport and logistics services with personalised support. Tell us what your business needs and we will assess the right solution for your goods.