DIY Logistics: Hidden Costs & When to Bring in a Logistics Expert | Sengers LCA

When you're running a growing business, it's natural to try and handle everything in-house, including logistics. Many small and mid-sized companies adopt a "DIY logistics" approach in the early stages: assigning supply chain duties to office managers or even receptionists, manually tracking deliveries, and negotiating with freight providers on their own. But while this might seem like a cost-saving move, it often leads to unexpected inefficiencies and bigger problems down the line.

So what are the real costs of managing your logistics in-house? And how can you tell when it’s time to bring in external expertise, without necessarily hiring a full-time employee?

Let’s break it down.

What DIY Logistics Typically Looks Like for SMEs

DIY logistics can range from managing your own courier relationships to using spreadsheets or wrong or very basic accounting tools to track stock and deliveries. In many SMEs, logistics responsibilities are split between multiple roles that weren’t originally designed to manage supply chain operations.

This might look like:

• A warehouse manager coordinating dispatch and handling procurement.
• An admin team manually booking freight and tracking deliveries.
• Business owners juggling supplier issues in between sales meetings.

At first glance this approach may seem flexible and cost-effective. But as order volumes grow, so do the complexities and the required expertise.

Common Logistical Challenges Companies Face

When logistics is handled ad hoc, cracks begin to show. These are just a few of the logistical challenges that tend to surface:

• Inventory mismanagement: Overstocking or understocking due to poor forecasting.
• Delays and missed deliveries: Missed SLAs, late shipments, and unhappy customers.
• Rising freight costs: No strategy behind carrier selection or route optimisation. 
• Inefficiency and burnout: Staff spending time on logistics instead of core functions.
• Lack of visibility: No real-time insight into what’s happening across the supply chain.

These problems don't just impact operations, they can hurt your bottom line and customer experience too. At Sengers LCA we have seen many businesses spend a lot more on the cheaper alternative in the long run, which is why we are here to help.

The Cost of Mistakes vs. the Value of Expertise

Let’s be clear: logistics is not just about moving goods from A to B. It’s a complex, constantly shifting puzzle of systems, suppliers, timelines, and costs.

When DIY logistics goes wrong, the hidden costs pile up:

• Emergency freight surcharges to meet missed deadlines.
• Lost customers due to unreliable service.
• Excess stock tying up working capital.
• Time lost by internal staff managing avoidable issues.

In contrast, bringing in a logistics expert early can save you thousands by building systems that work efficiently from the start. But that doesn’t mean you need a full-time hire. Expertise can be outsourced to a 3pl provider that offers full-time expertise with part-time costs.

How Sengers LCA Acts as a Logistics Partner — Without the Full-Time Cost

At Sengers LCA, we work as an external logistics department — providing expert insight, cost-saving strategies, and hands-on support without the overhead of hiring in-house.

Here’s how we help:

• Logistics audits: We assess your current operations, highlight inefficiencies, and recommend smarter, leaner processes.
• Unbiased advice: We’re not tied to any carriers or software — our only goal is to improve your results.
• Fractional logistics management: Need someone to manage your logistics part-time? We become your outsourced logistics manager, giving you all the experience, none of the employment cost.

Whether you’re looking to get control of your supply chain, reduce freight spend, or simply take logistics off your plate, we’re here to help you scale with confidence. With over 20 years experience in managing freight forwarding, logistics and customs we know the challenges that businesses face.

Is It Time to Rethink DIY Logistics?

If you’re starting to feel the strain of managing logistics internally, you’re not alone and you don’t have to keep juggling it all yourself.

Sengers LCA helps businesses like yours transition from reactive logistics to a proactive, streamlined operation — without the full-time cost.

Call us to discuss a logistics audit today and find out how much your DIY logistics is really costing you.