Small businesses often treat logistics as an afterthought, but I've seen how a two-day shipping delay can permanently lose a customer to Amazon. In my own supply chain, switching from a single national carrier to a mix of regional couriers cut delivery time by 30% but added 15% to cost—a trade-off that paid off for my repeat buyers. Sure, large enterprises can absorb inefficiencies, but for small retailers, every missed delivery window is a direct hit to credibility. I'm starting to think that investing in supply chain visibility tools is not optional anymore, even if the monthly fee stings for a tight budget.