1MARKETING LOGISTICS: LOUIS VUITTON Question 3 Economic consequences of using airfreight for delivering goods at distant destinations According to the distribution system of the company, all the store managers are supposed to measure restocked requirements and newly placed orders with the company’s central logistics hub. Executives record the orders and check the availability accordingly before proceeding with the shipment by boat. However, due to the product availability issue, LVMH occasionally opt for airfreight to deliver long overdue products or to deliver in distant locations. As the availability issue is increasing rapidly, the company confronts with an escalated transport cost due to more frequent use of airfreight. As suggested by VP for manufacturing and logistics, internal issues must be solved first by clearing up the previous stocks and arranging for local manufacturing hubs to make the situation stable. In case, considering the views generated fromMcKinnon (2014),the CEO wants to opt for the suggestion given by VP for marketing and sales, to generalise airfreights for all distant destinations with the purpose of shortening delivery timings and satisfy the market demand. On the contrary, according toReinhold et al. (2013),VP for manufacturing and logistics has highlighted the potential increase of transportation costs and disturbed profitability. Apart from this, using airfreight to resolve above-mentioned issue will affect financial balance of the company. Marketing and sales department must consider the company’s current situation before suggesting such things, which involves such big monetary figures. Although, as per the study ofKontola (2014),as a businessperson to make the operation cost effective, it is convenient to choose ocean freight over air fright. Yet to make best decision, it helps to be aware of the current charges of both the shipping medium. Although, as described inPomfret (2014),airfreight has several advantages like delivering long overdue items as
2MARKETING LOGISTICS: LOUIS VUITTON early as possible and it is more reliable medium than others are. However, on the contrary, the rate of co2 emission is much higher than ocean freight as compared to the air carriers. Being environment and cost friendly too, ocean freight can be considered as a medium to deliver items in nearer destinations to balance to operational cost. By opting for this solution, the company can present themselves as environment friendly too. Further, according to the current company needs and considering these factors together decisions must be made regarding cargo shipment. In a nutshell, as stated by VP of manufacturing and logistics, the company is not ready for taking up the cost of generalising airfreight for delivering goods in distant destinations as there are several internal issues to resolve with highest priority and the it will affect the revenue on a large scale.
3MARKETING LOGISTICS: LOUIS VUITTON References Kontola, H., 2014. Design-To-Cost from the perspective of project logistics. McKinnon, A., 2014. Options for reducing logistics-related emissions from global value chains. Pomfret, R., 2014. Expanding the division of labour: trade costs and supply chains in the global economy.Australian Economic History Review,54(3), pp.220-241. Reinhold,A.,Kuhlmann,A.,Becker,A.andPhleps,P.,2013.FutureDevelopments Regarding the Air Cargo Market-A Scenario Based Analysis. Deutsche Gesellschaft für Luft- und Raumfahrt-Lilienthal-Oberth eV.