Forms of Waste in Logistics and how you can tackle them today

Forms of Waste in Logistics and how you can tackle them today

For warehouse and operations managers, every delay, misstep, or inefficiency translates into higher costs and unhappy customers. One of the most impactful ways to boost productivity and reduce expenses is by identifying and eliminating waste. 

Waste in logistics refers to any activity that consumes resources without adding value. Below, we break down the 7 most common forms of waste in logistics and provide actionable steps to help you eliminate them. Starting today. 

Overproduction 

Overproduction is often the result of poor demand forecasting or a lack of visibility into what’s actually needed. When goods are produced, processed, or packed before the customer needs them, warehouses end up storing excess inventory that occupies valuable space and ties up capital. These items risk becoming obsolete, damaged, or expired. Neele-Vat Logistics faced this challenge in their inbound logistics. By implementing Cargosnap’s standardized inspections and real-time documentation, they gained visibility into what was coming in, when, and in what condition. This allowed them to align their workflows more closely with actual demand and reduce unnecessary processing. 

Waiting 

Waiting is one of the most frustrating wastes in logistics. It occurs when goods are stalled in the warehouse waiting for approval, staff are idle due to delays, or shipments are on hold due to missing documentation. These pauses lead to missed delivery windows and underutilized labor and equipment. DP World Santos, handling over 2,000 inspections per month, experienced significant delays caused by paper-based processes. By shifting to Cargosnap’s digital inspection system, they eliminated bottlenecks and accelerated the flow of information. Real-time access to data meant decisions could be made faster, and goods kept moving. 

Transport 

Transport waste stems from unnecessary or inefficient movement of goods, whether it's excessive driving between warehouses, or redundant handling within a facility. This not only raises fuel and labor costs but also increases the chance of damage. For Port X Logistics, managing multiple transloading operations meant goods often traveled more than they needed to. Using Cargosnap, they created clear documentation of what was moved, when, and why, allowing them to streamline their processes and eliminate unnecessary steps, resulting in faster and more cost-effective logistics flows. 

Rework 

Rework occurs when more work is done than necessary—double-checking what’s already been verified, using excessive packaging, or manually entering the same information in multiple systems. These redundant actions not only waste time but increase the likelihood of human error. SCA Logistics, for example, used to rely on handheld cameras and spreadsheets for inspections. This led to duplicate records, miscommunication, and longer handling times. With Cargosnap, they standardized their visual inspections, capturing only what was needed and sharing it automatically—eliminating extra steps while improving consistency and compliance. 

Motion 

Motion waste is the unnecessary movement of people—walking back and forth to retrieve tools, find documents, or input data. It may seem minor, but over the course of a shift or week, it adds up to significant productivity loss and employee fatigue. Big Box Containers realized they were wasting time with paper-based checklists and forms. After adopting Cargosnap, they reduced administrative work time by 38%. Their staff could now complete inspections and uploads directly from the warehouse floor using smartphones—no more wasted steps, and no more backtracking for missing paperwork. 

Defects 

Defects such as shipping the wrong product, receiving damaged goods, or losing items in transit—are among the most expensive and visible types of waste. They lead to returns, rework, claims, and customer dissatisfaction. Suzano, a leading pulp producer, used Cargosnap to document the condition of cargo at each stage of the journey. With consistent visual records, they were able to reduce cargo damage by a staggering 81%, quickly identify issues, and prevent them from recurring. 

Material Waste 

In addition to the classic forms of process-related waste, material waste is an increasingly critical concern for logistics and warehouse operations. This refers to the unnecessary use or disposal of physical resources such as packaging, pallets, shrink wrap, labels, and even damaged inventory. It often results from overpackaging, poor handling, inaccurate shipments, or a lack of recycling processes. Material waste not only drives up costs but also creates environmental and regulatory challenges that modern supply chains can no longer afford to ignore. 

Cargosnap contributes to reducing material waste in several ways. By allowing warehouse teams to document the condition of goods at each stage—upon receipt, storage, picking, and loading—it helps pinpoint where and how damage or packaging failure occurs. 

Turning waste into opportunities 

Every warehouse and logistics operation are vulnerable to waste—but with visibility, data, and the right tools, these inefficiencies can be transformed into opportunities for improvement. Whether it’s reducing overproduction, eliminating waiting time, or cutting down on packaging waste, Cargosnap gives you the insight and control to take action where it counts. Just ask the companies already using it—they’re not just cutting waste; they’re building smarter, faster, and more sustainable supply chains.