Finding ways to decrease your inbound shipping costs is always top of mind for your Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC).
While this task may seem challenging, lowering your shipping costs is more achievable than you think. Use these proven best practices to strengthen your bottom line.
Purchase Order (PO) Comment
One of the easiest ways to motivate suppliers to use your program is simply by reminding them — and purchase orders are the perfect way. Use the existing PO note or comment field on your purchase orders to remind partners to use your program account number. To start saving, ask your Information Technology (IT) and Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) departments to help insert a PO comment reminder for all types of orders. Don’t forget to include this instruction when placing phone orders with vendors.
Updated supplier list with account numbers
Tracking an updated supplier list allows you to connect more certified vendors to your surgery center. If you’re using Cardinal Health’s OptiFreight® Logistics program, certified vendors automatically ship through to your center when you use a purchase order comment. Find immediate savings when you submit your latest vendor listing with account numbers to OptiFreightCustomerCare@cardinalhealth.com.
Large freight over 150 pounds
For large freight over 150 pounds, reduce your shipping costs on freight opportunities that are often half the cost when suppliers outsource the best carrier. This also includes overlooked freight, including leased equipment, bulk orders of consumable goods, transfers of large items between facilities, copiers/printers/paper, tradeshow materials and more. Reduce shipping costs on large freight that didn’t ship through your program; allow your outsourced freight manager to work directly with carriers to lower these charges.
To find even more savings the shipping costs for your surgery center, use Cardinal Health’s no-cost freight management program. Direct shipments, especially overnight deliveries, often come at a hefty freight expense that’s typically higher than the market average. OptiFreight® Logistics can help you save an average of 30% to 50% on shipments direct from your suppliers, outside of your regular distributor shipments.1 Best of all, you can reduce your operating expenses at no cost and without impacting your patients. Learn more here.
Sources
1 Based on surgery center shipments through OptiFreight® Logistics during Jan. 1-Dec. 31, 2020. Individual customer savings may vary.