Industry Insights & News

Procurement Insights: Outbound Tender Volume Index

June 4, 2024

Understanding market shifts is crucial for making informed procurement decisions. For shippers, staying updated with key metrics like the Outbound Tender Volume Index (OTVI) and the FreightWaves Tender Rejection Index (FTRI) is essential. These indices offer valuable insights into shipping demand and carrier availability, providing a comprehensive view of the market landscape and how shippers should be thinking about operational procurement.

The OTVI measures the volume of outbound freight tender requests, reflecting overall shipping demand. When the OTVI is high, it indicates a strong demand for shipping services, which can strain carrier capacity. On the other hand, the FTRI shows the percentage of tender requests that carriers reject, offering a clear indication of market tightness and carrier capacity constraints. A high FTRI suggests that carriers are reaching their capacity limits and are more selective in accepting loads.

Together, these indices help procurement professionals understand the broader market trends and their implications for carrier networks and operational procurement. By analyzing the data from OTVI and FTRI, shippers can anticipate market fluctuations, adjust their procurement strategies, and make data-driven decisions to optimize their logistics operations. This proactive approach is essential for mitigating risks, securing carrier capacity, and maintaining competitive freight rates in a constantly evolving market environment.

Explore how changes in outbound tender market share affect carrier networks, impact the transportation industry, and influence operational procurement decisions. Understand the relationship between market share fluctuations and carrier capacity, discuss the implications for freight rates and pricing strategies, and highlight the importance of data analytics in optimizing procurement processes. Whether you are a seasoned procurement professional or new to the field, this resource aims to provide you with the insights and strategies needed to navigate the complexities of the tender market effectively.

How Market Share Changes Affect Carrier Networks

Fluctuations in outbound tender market share have significant impacts on carrier capacity and availability. When a few large shippers dominate the market, carriers often prioritize their resources toward these high-volume shippers. This prioritization makes sense from a carrier's perspective as it ensures steady and substantial business. However, it can limit access to capacity for smaller shippers, creating a competitive disadvantage.

This concentration of market share can lead to several consequences. Firstly, smaller shippers may find it increasingly challenging to secure the necessary carrier capacity. Carriers, focusing on their larger clients, might allocate fewer resources to these smaller shippers, resulting in fewer options and higher rejection rates for tender requests from smaller shippers. This scenario can be particularly problematic during peak shipping seasons when capacity is already strained.

Secondly, this shift in carrier priorities can lead to increased freight rates. As carriers allocate their finite resources to large shippers, the remaining capacity becomes more expensive for smaller shippers. The supply-demand imbalance drives up prices, forcing smaller shippers to pay a premium for access to the same services that larger shippers receive at more favorable rates. This situation can squeeze profit margins for smaller businesses and complicate their budgeting and forecasting processes.

Additionally, the dominance of large shippers can alter carriers' pricing strategies. Carriers might offer volume discounts and long-term contracts to their biggest customers, ensuring loyalty and consistent business. Conversely, smaller shippers might face shorter-term contracts with less favorable terms, making it harder for them to plan long-term logistics strategies. This disparity can further entrench the market power of large shippers, perpetuating a cycle that disadvantages smaller players.

Furthermore, the broader implications of these changes on carrier networks and transportation operations are profound. Carriers may need to adjust their networks and operational strategies to accommodate the demands of their largest clients. This adjustment might involve rerouting, investing in specific infrastructure, or altering service levels to meet the expectations of high-volume shippers. While these changes can enhance efficiency for large shippers, they might reduce overall network flexibility and responsiveness, impacting service levels for smaller shippers.

Lastly, the impact of market share changes extends beyond immediate operational adjustments. It can influence long-term strategic decisions within carrier organizations. Carriers might invest in technology, infrastructure, and partnerships that cater specifically to the needs of their largest clients, potentially sidelining innovations or services that could benefit the broader market.

Fluctuations in outbound tender market share significantly affect carrier capacity, availability, and pricing strategies. The prioritization of large shippers by carriers can create capacity challenges and cost pressures for smaller shippers, influencing their operational and strategic decisions. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for procurement professionals aiming to navigate the complexities of the tender market and develop resilient and adaptable logistics strategies.

The Impact on Operational Procurement and Leveraging Data Analytics

Changes in outbound tender market share significantly impact operational procurement decisions, necessitating agile adjustments in sourcing strategies and contract negotiations. Understanding trends from key indices like the Outbound Tender Volume Index (OTVI) and the FreightWaves Tender Rejection Index (FTRI) is crucial. For example, a rising OTVI indicates increased shipping demand, which can lead to higher competition for carrier capacity. By anticipating these changes, procurement professionals can negotiate better terms with carriers before the market tightens, ensuring consistent service levels and cost efficiency.

Data analytics and predictive modeling play a vital role in this adaptive process. Analyzing OTVI and FTRI data enables procurement teams to make informed, proactive decisions that mitigate risks and capitalize on opportunities. For instance, a spike in the FTRI might indicate tightening carrier capacity, prompting teams to secure additional capacity in advance or diversify their carrier base to avoid disruptions and cost hikes. Predictive modeling enhances this capability by forecasting future market conditions based on historical data, allowing for precise planning and decision-making.

Key Procurement Performance Metrics and Strategies for Improvement

To effectively measure the success of procurement strategies, it's essential to track key performance metrics such as on-time delivery, cost savings, and supplier performance. Changes in outbound tender market share can significantly impact these metrics. For instance, a shift towards larger shippers can increase competition for carrier capacity, potentially affecting on-time delivery rates for smaller shippers. By continuously monitoring these changes, procurement teams can adjust their strategies to maintain high-performance levels, renegotiate terms with existing carriers, seek new partnerships, or implement contingency plans as needed.

Cost savings is another critical metric influenced by market share changes. As carriers adjust their pricing strategies in response to market conditions, procurement teams must evaluate and adapt their approaches to maintain cost efficiency. Supplier performance, including reliability and service quality, is also affected by market dynamics, necessitating ongoing assessment and adjustment to procurement strategies.

Agility and data-driven decision-making are essential for procurement professionals in a dynamic market. Continuous monitoring of market indices like OTVI and FTRI, combined with data analytics, enables procurement teams to develop flexible strategies that can adapt to shifting conditions. Predictive modeling helps forecast trends, allowing teams to optimize logistics operations, secure favorable contract terms, and mitigate risks.

Furthermore, fostering strong relationships with carriers and suppliers enhances negotiation outcomes, improves service levels, and builds resilience against market volatility. By integrating market insights, performance metrics, and data analytics into their procurement strategies, professionals can navigate the complexities of the tender market effectively, driving operational excellence and achieving long-term success in the transportation industry.

Conclusion: Navigating Market Dynamics in Operational Procurement

Understanding and adapting to market shifts is crucial for procurement professionals aiming to maintain efficient logistics operations and achieve strategic goals. Key metrics like the Outbound Tender Volume Index (OTVI) and the FreightWaves Tender Rejection Index (FTRI) provide invaluable insights into shipping demand and carrier capacity, enabling procurement teams to make informed decisions.

Market share fluctuations significantly impact carrier networks, creating challenges and opportunities for shippers of all sizes. Large shippers often receive prioritized service, while smaller shippers may face higher costs and reduced access to capacity. These dynamics necessitate agile and strategic adjustments in procurement practices.

Data analytics and predictive modeling are essential tools for forecasting market trends and optimizing procurement processes. By leveraging OTVI and FTRI data, procurement teams can proactively manage risks and seize opportunities, ensuring consistent service levels and cost efficiency. Monitoring key performance metrics such as on-time delivery, cost savings, and supplier performance is crucial for assessing and improving procurement strategies.

To thrive in a dynamic market, procurement professionals must embrace agility and data-driven decision-making. Continuous monitoring of market indices, combined with strong relationships with carriers and suppliers, enhances negotiation outcomes and builds resilience against market volatility. By integrating market insights, performance metrics, and data analytics into their procurement strategies, professionals can navigate the complexities of the tender market effectively, driving operational excellence and achieving long-term success in the transportation industry.

In this ever-evolving landscape, staying informed and adaptable is key. By leveraging the insights and strategies discussed, procurement professionals can optimize their logistics operations, mitigate risks, and maintain a competitive edge.

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