Selecting Global Trade Management Software
Looking for guidance on selecting a flexible global trade management software (GTM) package that easily integrates into your supply chain strategy? Here’s some advice from Brian Hodgson, vice president of marketing and business development for Kewill Americas, Marlborough, Mass. 1. Set clear requirements and well-defined scope. Determine, for example, whether you need import or export […]
Read MoreCustomer Service: The Two Percent That Matters Most
Evidence abounds that American industry’s customer service system is broken. For example, 80 percent of companies believe they provide superior customer service – yet only eight percent of their customers report having received superior service, according to a recent Bain & Company survey. A business that is unaware of its customers’ perceptions is headed for […]
Read MoreE-Commerce Tools Can Speed Ocean Trade
In the days before e-commerce, the only way to orchestrate an ocean container shipment was to call and fax every party to the shipment. This world still exists, but it’s fast being superseded by e-commerce tools that free shippers to manage supply chain risk and efficiently serve customers instead of chasing down details and coping […]
Read MoreAll the Low-Hanging Fruit Have Not Yet Been Picked
Many retail logistics practitioners who are good at their jobs will swear to you that all the low-hanging fruit on their optimized logistics tree has already been picked. Sure, one way to face today’s challenges is to cut transportation and logistics costs. But what’s hanging on the other side of the tree in the orchard […]
Read MorePut-to-Light Loves lucy
A new put-to-light system keeps women’s activewear provider lucy on the go.
Read MoreRetail Logistics: Open for Renovation
Retailers are deploying a number of survival strategies and tactics to cope with the U.S. economic downturn.
Read MoreFast Food Logistics: Having it Your Way
Variety and freshness are paramount to keeping fast-food customers hungry for more and supply lines and inventory ripe and ready for change. Fast-food chains look to logistics service providers with a similar craving for made-to-order selectivity, quality, and service—all at an affordable cost.
Read MoreSnapshot–Food Logistics: A Lineup of Challenges
With safety and recalls, sustainability, rising costs, and infrastructure improvements the usual suspects, food companies investigate strategies for locking down supply chain management efficiencies.
Read MoreShawn Surber: Going Whole Hog
Farmers feed the world, and Shawn Surber moves the feed. As logistics manager for Premier Feeds in Wilmington, Ohio, Surber coordinates ingredient flow into three feed plants and product delivery to distributors and farmers in his region. He manages a 26-truck fleet, occasionally hopping into the driver’s seat himself. When needed, he also lends a […]
Read MoreInventions Light the Way
The public knows Thomas Edison as the man who invented the light bulb. But what Edison really invented was a system for generating and distributing electricity into cities, and eventually into rural communities. This was a gigantic and, at the time, novel undertaking. In our industry, Malcom McLean is recognized for inventing the shipping container. […]
Read MoreFor Your Eyes Only: Safeguarding EDI File Data
We all want the convenience of sharing information seamlessly across departments and business partners. To eliminate cumbersome manual processes, manufacturers share Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) documents—such as shipping notices and purchase orders—with 3PLs, sourcing companies, expeditors, and freight forwarders so that these parties have the information they need. EDI documents bring manufacturers added convenience and […]
Read MorePainting a Picture Of Private Fleet Profit
Sherwin-Williams’ private fleet integrates its dispatch system with PeopleNet to brush up on efficiency.
Read MoreTrends-August 2008
West Coast ports have endured their fair share of growing pains lately, what with congestion and capacity recurring quandaries for stateside shippers and consignees. Still, the ports are moving forward with efforts to increase throughput efficiency by spreading existing traffic across more hours and optimizing valuable port assets. PierPASS’ OffPeak program, for example, has diverted […]
Read MoreGlobal Logistics-August 2008
Logistics service providers are no strangers to handling mission-critical projects. So when natural disasters strike, they serve an important role helping first responders and humanitarian relief agencies bring food and supplies to those in need. They may also bank some valuable experience for helping commercial shippers manage their own supply chain adversities. Cyclone Nargis, which […]
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