When the world is already in trouble due to the current Covid-19 pandemic, cargo theft may not be a big concern for people. But when the world is in a state of chaos and flux as it is now, criminals are taking advantage of the panic and using it to their advantage.
It is really surprising to see that cargo thieves are not even serious about the sensitivity of this issue, and they are trying to steal medical shipments around the world. It was recently reported in some areas that masks and medical supplies went missing from specialise medical cargo.
Director of global intelligence program, James Yarbrough recently reported that cargo crime is rising, and those bad people are now attacking risk management services. Such activities are posing a big threat to the world economy, and the pandemic affected population as well.
Cargo crime is happening in many places; a recent incident was reported from Hong Kong. The supply chains are now routed, and products are prioritized to serve the emergency conditions in different areas. The values of these supplies are also affected by considerably due to rising demands and lesser supplies. Hand sanitizers, medical masks, and toilet papers are some of the most important things that are suffering a shortage of supplies. They have now become the most attractive products for thieves. They are now finding opportunities to steal and then sell these products at a high price.
The threat landscapes are changing rapidly with the rising threats of a pandemic. The need for medical supplies and other protective pharmaceutical measures is increasing. In this scenario, security is the prime need so that the uninterrupted flow of essential supplies can be maintained to the affected people.
Reports reveal that COVID-19 impact is the biggest threat to the world, and it has posed disruption to the supply chain. BSI is trying to survey different organizations and businesses to handle the supply chain risk. The essential question at present is the production issues in China as it is one of the major sources of medical supplies throughout the world.
With the rising crises, the suppliers over there are not able to meet the demands; moreover, many of them are not reachable. The delivery schedules are disturbed to a great extent, and it is affecting businesses in other countries as well. The regulations in the hour of emergency may unsettle delivery schedules, and it may also delay the shipment unloading.
For instance, as per the new orders given by New Jersey authorities, the retail stores must shut down by 8 pm, and this scenario is opening more opportunities for cargo thieves. The shipments are running off-schedules, and they are becoming more vulnerable to various criminal activities.
Business continuity is threatened:
BSI tracked cargo crime as one potential concern for the pandemic stage in the world. But at the same time, nations need to prepare for business losses as well. Most of the enterprises around the world are not ready to handle this breakdown and supply chain failures. Many of them don’t even have solid strategies to fight the global pandemic. This scenario is not good for the world economy.
In a recent survey, it was observed that almost 54% of businesses have some continuity plan once the disease outbreak comes under control. However, the other 67% of businesses say that their plans were for some other kinds of disasters such as floods, fires, earthquakes, and hurricanes. It is just because these natural disasters have a more localized concern, and they stay for an estimated duration.
But the situation created by COVID-19 is unpredictable, and it has made contingency planning quite difficult. This situation is better named as a balloon effect where a person squeezes a certain part of the balloon, and the air passes out through some other portion. At present, there is a dramatic shift in the necessities as compared to the demands.
This phase teaches a lesson to all businesses that along with other natural disasters, they need to have a backup plan for the pandemic as well. Unfortunately, many companies are still in the first phase of planning their reaction towards pandemic. They are trying hard to safeguard their business and even life. If the virus sustains, the next phase may be difficult to define.
Businesses around the world need to plan their strategies for different scenarios, including widespread shutdowns, drop in consumer demands, and services of essential items.
The shippers also need to stay actively involved in the entire process to maintain control of the crime ratio. Shippers need to start communication with partners, suppliers, and consumers. People that can be assessed must be involved in this process.
Using warehouse software to control cargo crime:
If the cargo crime keeps on rising, not just the businesses, but the common public will also suffer a lot. In this scenario, businesses need to use the latest systems to maintain their shipments and inventory. The idea is to use warehouse software that can keep exact track of the entire process.
No matter where you are shipping your supplies, the warehouse software can provide instant updates about your products. It becomes easier to access physical locations on the go so that distribution centers, as well as warehouses, can be maintained well.
All the big and small business brands need to follow solid strategies for managing their supply chain. The best thing to know about warehouse management software is that they provide instant updates on mobile as well so that you can prevent the risks of cargo crime.
The entire world needs to stay prepared to fight the pandemic, and it is possible only if all businesses, especially those dealing with medical services, follow adequate strategies. It is essential to make long term plans for maintaining supplies as per the rising demands. If the old sources of supplies are not working, businesses need to find other options around them. The warehouse management software can help them to ensure easy control over all the supply related movements.
Author Bio: I’m Jaylin: SEO Expert of Leelija Web Solutions. I am a content manager, and the author of freeopenbook.com and a full time blogger. Favourite things include my camera, travelling, caring my fitness, food and my fashion. Email id: editor@leelija.com