In this industry, price matters. Cost pressures continue to rise as demand for two-day, next-day, and even same-day delivery balloons across the marketplace. Yet price isn’t the only consideration involved when making decisions about how to get goods to market: Service delivery, operational efficiency, transparency, and reliability are just some of many factors that determine the success of a gateway.

The Northwest Seaport Alliance (NWSA) sees these challenges as an opportunity. As we look to 2019, we are focused on taking our gateway’s operational performance to a higher level by doubling down on our investments in supply chain reliability. We will work in close coordination and cooperation with our stakeholders to advance initiatives that enhance the quality of service that our customers experience when they choose the NWSA gateway. Such initiatives include extended gate hours of service, improved visibility of cargo as it moves through our supply chain, increased terminal and gate productivity, and continued infrastructure investments to reduce bottlenecks in the system.

As an example, this year marks the first time that trucks at both the Seattle and Tacoma harbors are required to have a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag. By using RFID technologies across our international terminals, we provide greater transparency on the movement of cargo, allowing us  to identify, and then reduce, inefficiencies.

Additionally, we are working to increase productivity levels across the supply chain whether through terminals, trucking routes, or warehousing. By coordinating more and more with our stakeholders, we can ensure adequate supplies of equipment, labor, and warehouse space.

Our vision remains clear: to be the easiest gateway with which to do business. We know that the path to success relies on taking a proactively cooperative approach, thereby allowing us to provide next-level service that benefits us all.