Designers Cultivate Plant-Based Leather

Fashion designers branch out to plant-based textiles in response to growing demand for sustainable and cruelty-free products, and as supply chains seek to lower their carbon footprint. These leather alternatives are heating up: Cactus: Fast fashion company H&M is partnering with Mexico-based Desserto to create a new collection, including shoes made from cactus leather. Desserto […]

EV Power Play

The U.S. electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing sector is about to get a sales boost from the Biden Administration. The EV market has been rocking because of the continued growing interest in sustainability, especially now that the bleeding-edge vehicle phase is behind us. President Biden confirmed that EVs would get a stimulus in the not-yet-passed multi-trillion-dollar […]

Chemical Logistics on a Roll

Overcoming capacity constraints, severe weather, and cyberattacks, chemical logistics service providers combine expertise and dedication to keep shipments moving safely and efficiently.

5 Ways to Position Your Supply Chain for Retail Compliance Success

These five actions will help you meet retailers’ expectations and standards, from packaging and appointment scheduling to advanced ship notifications.

You Bet, We Still Care About Sustainability

As they erase the distractions posed by the pandemic, companies brainstorm new ideas to make their supply chains more sustainable.

Supplier Information Still a Concern

The pandemic revealed widespread problems with supplier information on a global scale. While many procurement leaders responding to the 2021 Supplier Information Study, commissioned by Tealbook, had initially vowed to invest in supply chain resiliency, almost a year after the pandemic they still grapple with issues surrounding poor supplier information: Agility: Nearly all respondents agree […]

Hailing Robotaxis for Delivery

Cruise, GM’s autonomous vehicle arm, was mainly focused on launching an autonomous ridesharing service, but may use its "robotaxis" for delivery services instead. It recently added Walmart as an investor in an extended fundraising round that grew to $2.75 billion, and had completed a delivery pilot with DoorDash in San Francisco even before the pandemic. […]

Target Practices Faster Fulfillment

Instead of using carriers to ship all its online orders, Target is building its own team of dedicated delivery personnel to get packages to customers’ doors even faster, helping the retailer compete with its e-commerce rivals, says a CNBC report. The new approach involves three companies that Target acquired: Grand Junction, Deliv, and Shipt. Target […]

Amazon Delivery Drivers, Assemble!

Amazon shoppers may soon have the option to have their orders assembled upon arrival, says a Bloomberg report. The e-commerce giant is testing the premium service as online furniture and housewares sales continue to soar and shoppers get more comfortable making big-ticket purchases online. Amazon currently offers scheduled at-home delivery to a particular room, but […]

Vertical Focus | Textiles

Dawn of the Deadstock To address pandemic-induced material shortages, economic volatility, and environmental concerns, many retailers are working to make their supply chains circular. These initiatives help the cause by reviving deadstock material—unused fabric that fashion brands typically store or destroy. Here’s how some retailers are bringing their deadstock to life: Queen of Raw: This […]

TMS: Unlocking Transportation Efficiencies

Transportation management systems are key to managing Supply chain disruptions, shifting capacity, fluctuating fuel costs and demanding e-commerce customer requirements.

What fictional character or historical figure would you put in charge of global vaccine logistics and distribution?

Tony Stark, aka Iron Man, understands how to harness business and technology to get results—even if some of the measures needed are unpopular. His attention to detail and insatiable appetite for perfection would allow him to pivot and change course when faced with gaps in the distribution process that others may fear.

Why a YMS?

Companies often overlook the yard outside their warehouses or manufacturing plants. These yards, however, can be sources of efficiency…or delays.

TMS Guide 2021

Download our NEW TMS e-book here: 2021 TMS Guide 360data www.360data.com | 920-707-3601 Product: 360data TMS Platform: Hosted on the vendor’s website, Cloud based Description: Integrates with ERP systems or operates as a standalone. Full functionality without large capital investment. 3Gtms www.3gtms.com | 203-567-4610 Product: 3Gtms Platform: Cloud based Description: Provides end-to-end transportation management and […]

Intermodal Meets the Moment

In a supercharged supply chain, intermodal’s value grows more evident than ever. These standout companies are contributing to its bright future.

E-Commerce Fulfillment: DC Strategies for Riding the Surge

The pandemic turned traditional assumptions about demand for a whole range of products on their heads. In these volatile times, how did smart fulfillment operations keep up?

Pallets Power Processes

From materials handling to retail operations, pallets support supply chains and sustainability goals.

Robots and People: Co-Evolving

Robots and people are adjusting their symbiotic relationship in logistics. Our recent robotics coverage (Feb. 2021) generated a good amount of audience feedback, most related to the growing importance and essential need for humans in logistics. It’s true that the stresses created by the virus economy spawned an increase in investing in automation to take […]

Getting a Grasp on Transport Spend

Shipping has been inexorably changed in light of COVID-19. Changes that have been slowly building for a decade are being infinitely compounded as consumers shift to e-commerce versus standard brick-and-mortar shopping. With demand for direct-to-consumer business increasing, delivering shipments to consumers quickly, at the cheapest cost, is now a necessity for companies.

Robotics Deployment Increases 3PL’s Productivity from Day 1

Locus Robotics deployed autonomous mobile robots along with actionable reporting tools and dashboards for Taylored Services. The scalable solution brought immediate gains.

Technology Must Be a Theme in 2021

The supply chain sector has always been one of tradition. Unfortunately, that has often meant that it has been slow to adopt the technology evolving around it. With a fear of the unknown, the supply chain and logistics sector has stuck to the status quo for too long, slowing the ability to evolve and reach true potential.

Streamlining Freight Bill Audit and Payment Processes

Allowing transparent, flawless communication between its transportation management system and its clients’ account payable systems, AR Traffic Consultants helps increase efficiency and lower freight costs.

Global Manufacturer Gains Visibility and Control Over Inbound Freight

Deploying the RateLinx supplier portal and TMS, water solutions company Pentair gained transparency, visibility, and control over its entire freight spend.

Auto Supplier Turns to Hub Group for Strategic Overhaul

Encompassing drayage, transload, and expedited OTR solutions, Hub Group’s comprehensive capabilities helped a leading auto supplier gain back control over its import network and key relationships.

Incorporating Sustainability into Your Warehouse Operation

From switching to energy-efficient lighting to installing solar panels, here are some tips to help you build a greener warehouse.

Maximizing Unused Vertical Space with a Vertical Lift and Mezzanine Is the Key to Better Productivity and Safety

Efficiency starts with an organized and free flowing work area. A Mezzanine and Vertical Reciprocating Conveyor (VRC) might be the perfect place to start.

Bulk Materials Handling: Conveying the Non-Conveyable

The supply chain shift to e-commerce fulfillment presents a cumbersome materials handling challenge for bulky and oversized items that can’t properly run on automated infrastructure.

The Future of Warehouse Workers

Warehouse employment has reached new highs as e-commerce sales are higher than any previous point in time. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, total U.S. e-commerce sales for 2020 increased 32.4% from 2019. In comparison, total e-commerce sales in 2019 increased 14.9% from 2018. Indeed, the COVID-19 pandemic has driven much of the existing current […]

B2B Materials Supplier Prepares for a Fast-Growth Future with a Fleet of Mobile Robots

Many companies integrating robotics seek to add them to their current warehouse layout to keep the workflow moving seamlessly. Material Bank, a B2B materials supplier, saw an opportunity to build their entire business model and warehouse around the robotic solution from the very start for even more gains. There was a specific need to find […]

Digging Up Vertical Farming Solutions

Vertical farming—in which indoor spaces are used to grow food—is forecast to increase globally, but such operations can only grow a limited number of crops to make a profit. A new automated solution, created by Swisslog, can help the industry overcome these barriers to growth with better flexibility, reduced costs, and closer proximity to consumers […]

Transportation Strategies: Weathering the Storm

While waiting for the pandemic to blow over, savvy shippers developed transportation strategies that are successful now and will protect them in times of future disruption, come rain or come shine.

Americold’s Fresh New Facility Boosts Temperature-Controlled Trade Through the Port of Savannah

The Port of Savannah is Georgia’s gateway to the world—a critical conduit moving products to and from destinations around the globe. As the largest single-terminal container facility of its kind in North America and the third fastest-growing port in the nation, Savannah faced infrastructure challenges that required an investment to strengthen cold chain capabilities for […]

Holy Ship

Vertical Focus: Confections

Chocolate Supply Chain: Bean to Bar None Consumers are more conscious about the ingredients in the chocolate they buy due to vegan diets, lactose allergies, climate concerns, and ethical spending. This increased the demand for premium products and a bean-to-bar approach to manufacturing, says Fortune Business Insights data. These trends are affecting the chocolate supply […]

What’s the supply chain buzzword of 2021?

AGILITY Companies must be nimble in their approach to logistics and warehousing operations. Corporations that embrace agility can quickly maneuver and clear roadblocks when disruptions arise. —Grant Koch Solutions & Innovation Director BDP International Over the past 12 months, we have seen disruptions within an already challenging global logistics supply chain. Traditional seasonal patterns and […]

Supply Chain: An Engine of Post-Pandemic Growth

Growth has been hard to find for consumer goods companies in recent years. The majority of food and beverage businesses, for instance, are seeing growth of less than 3% according to Accenture’s analysis. And across industry segments, growth has been trending downward for five years now, culminating in the unprecedented disruption of 2020.

A Supply Chain for the Next Normal

The fluctuating economy over the past year impacted how companies across industries responded in a pinch. Now that crisis responses have passed and the pandemic settled into a new normal, many companies are looking for ways to adapt their long-term supply chain strategy for the unexpected.

Overseeing the Shift to E-Commerce

In the midst of a global pandemic, managing peak-plus volumes, deploying automation technology, and overseeing the largest marketing initiative in GEODIS’s history is all in a day’s work for Mike Honious.

GM & Kroger: Transformers

The interconnection between advanced manufacturing, automation, and supply chain management had a boost in the past year. Part of that boost was due to the virus economy, but most was due to the genius and creativity of those seeking solutions to tough business challenges amplified by ever-evolving customer demands. Transformation. Just as the silo-crashing impact […]

E-Commerce Enters a New Dimension

Alaska: The Call of the Wild

The 49th state comes in first in logistics and transportation resilience. Alaska is a state where logistics providers are up to the challenge, offering solutions as vast as the land mass.

AI Strategy: Your Move

Artificial intelligence (AI) spending shows no signs of slowing, with 82% of decision-makers saying they’re very likely to increase their AI investment or capabilities in the next two years, says a report from Modzy. Decision-makers should consider the following factors in their AI strategy, the report says: Recognize the value. About 66% of decision-makers surveyed […]

3PLs Custom Fit Solutions

From providing seamless technology integrations to tailoring transportation networks, 3PLs reinforce supply chains of all shapes and sizes.

Supply Chain Technology: The Age of Acceleration

Fast, faster, fastest describes the pace of technology innovations hitting the market today as compared to past decades. These innovations focus on safety, visibility, flexibility, efficiency, and sustainability to help supply chain professionals compete in a changed world.

The Art of the Steal

With pandemic-induced lockdowns, e-commerce surges, and transportation restrictions in 2020, cargo theft shifted to new commodities and locations (see chart), says a BSI and TT Club report. New trends include the food and beverage sector experiencing the most theft, as well as an uptick in theft from facilities compared to 2019. In the year ahead, […]

Key Questions to Ask When Considering Predictive Analytics

The transportation industry is currently adopting advanced technologies and techniques at a rapid pace. There has been an explosion of firms touting innovative and data-driven insights and a lot of companies offering tools to support predictive analytics, such as artificial intelligence (AI) or machine learning (ML) technology.

On the one hand, this is very exciting as the widespread use of predictive analytics will play a key role in the advancement of the industry. On the other hand, this technology can be daunting for someone who knows freight and logistics, but doesn’t have a background in mathematics, statistics, or computer science.

Using Data Insights to Optimize Logistics and Transportation

Digitizing decision-making is a crucial step to leveraging data to make positive impacts in an organization. Logistics and transportation data are critical in enabling proactive decision-making that informs supply chain initiatives. Q: How does logistics data impact the rest of the organization? A: Logistics is one of the few sources of information that shows the […]

Manage Rates With On-Demand Quoting, Reverse Auction Tools

Q: Should shippers go to the spot market even when they have contracts? A: Shippers that have contracts, regardless of the mode, are seeing rates continue to climb. General rate increases are continuing in LTL and TL trucking, for example. So it’s a good idea to take advantage of the spot market for one-off loads […]

How E-Commerce Is Changing Retail; Ways to Optimize Fulfillment

Q: With the pandemic causing a huge surge in e-commerce demand, how has this peak season compared to those in the past? How has Hub Group positioned itself to deliver? A: We’ve seen a surge in e-commerce this year—both from an industry and from a company point of view. In 2019, we saw around 5% […]

What’s your best importing or exporting advice?

In order to maximize efficiencies throughout the supply chain, logistics should be viewed from 30,000 feet above and decisions should be made by considering the entire process. Imports, exports, and all modes of transportation are reliant on the connecting nodes. It’s an ecosystem where sustainability is key.

Trucking Transformation

Truckers have transformed the previously laborious process of delivering a package with innovations such as capacity-as-a-service and automated driver assist. Now, 64% of truck executives responding to an IBM survey say their future success depends on digitally reinventing themselves. This is what trucking will look like in 2030, the report says: $99.2 billion. The truck-as-a-service […]

TMS Solutions Optimize Transportation Networks and Mitigate Disruption

Q: I already have an ERP and WMS. Why do I need a transportation management system (TMS)? Can one TMS support my global operations? A: A transportation management system (TMS) focuses on optimizing the transportation segment of the supply chain. While there might be some overlap with ERP and WMS, the TMS works on the […]

Retail Optimization Through a Revamped Network

With its customer base and volumes surging, a CPG company turned to Hub Group for a dynamic solution that streamlined its handling process, increased service levels, and reduced chargebacks.

U.S. Trade Ups and Downs

Exports and imports of goods and services in the United States decreased 12.3% to $4.9 trillion in 2020, the largest nominal decrease since 2009, according to data from the U.S. Department of Commerce. Exports decreased by 15.7% while imports decreased by 9.5%. Total trade decreased as well, representing 23.6% of gross domestic product in 2020, […]

Global Logistics Reboot: A New Beginning

Global logistics moves to “the next normal” after an upheaval in product flows over the past year.

50 Orders in 6 Minutes

Kroger continues to invest in its digital business. By opening America’s first automated warehouse with digital and robotic capabilities in Monroe, Ohio, the supermarket chain can assemble a 50-item order in just six minutes. Comparatively, a Kroger employee takes 30 to 45 minutes to pick items from various areas of the store. The $55-million, 335,000-square-foot […]

2021 Global Trade Management Guide

Global trade management solutions became even more important when supply chains were disrupted with the pandemic. By connecting sourcing and logistics, GTM systems help make global trade transparent, efficient, and cost-effective.

Here are some leading GTM vendors and solutions that can help keep your global supply chain on an even keel.

USPS Steps Up Its Fleet Game

The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) invested in the most significant modernization of its fleet in three decades. It recently awarded a 10-year contract to Oshkosh Defense to manufacture a new generation of U.S.-built delivery vehicles as part of a multi-billion-dollar effort to replace the entire fleet. The new vehicles will be equipped with either fuel-efficient […]

Meat Importer Carves Out Success

The meat supply chain starts at the farm gate and goes to the dinner table, making several sea, land, and air freight connections until it arrives at a local distributor, which serves either the retail or food service (restaurant) markets, but typically not both.

Vertical Focus: Healthcare

Vaccines Prepare for Liftoff Ghana is the first country in the world to use drones to deliver the COVID-19 vaccine to healthcare facilities. COVAX, an initiative led by UNICEF, shipped 600,000 doses of the AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine from its facility in India to Ghana, using Zipline’s national drone delivery service. The goal is to deliver at […]

Can Your Supply Chain Withstand the Unexpected?

Today’s supply chain is vast, expanding to every corner of the globe. With this expansion, the threat has increased significantly due to the larger attack surface. Add to that a global pandemic and the need to protect the supply chain has never been more important.

Georgia: Where Logistics Fuels Growth

Georgia’s solid logistics infrastructure keeps supply chains moving efficiently and safely regardless of business disruption and national economic stress. These logistics providers and trade partners lead the way.

Nonautomotive Robot Orders Rove Ahead

Supply chain disruptions and workforce challenges are causing industries to accelerate their automation strategies (see chart). For example, yearly robot orders from nonautomotive sectors surpassed automotive robot orders for the first time, with sales of robotic units in North America increasing 3.5% in 2020 from 2019, according to the Robotic Industries Association. Growth was driven […]

Walmart Goes Local

Walmart plans to increase the number of local fulfillment centers across the United States, which it will build inside or near existing retail locations. This localized approach mirrors Amazon’s strategy, as both companies face off amid surging demand for online orders. Walmart opened its first fulfillment center in 2019 in New Hampshire when the retail […]

E-Commerce Enabled

To survive—and thrive—in today’s accelerated e-commerce environment, companies are reworking fulfillment strategies and supply chain networks. These providers offer scalable solutions.

Port of Long Beach Loads Up on Business

As cargo volumes surged in the second half of 2020, essential workers at the Port of Long Beach in California moved 8.1 million cargo containers—its busiest year on record. The port ended the year with a 6.3% increase from 2019. Imports rose 6.4% to more than 3.9 million TEUs, exports increased 0.2% to 475,888 TEUs, […]

Getting Into the Spirits

Craft distillers like Montanya Distillers—which produces rum from its base in Crested Butte, Colorado, where the high altitude and cool temperatures allow for flavorful aging—typically have been limited to distributing products within their own state, or perhaps a few surrounding ones. If they venture farther afield, they risk falling out of compliance with the myriad regulations governing liquor distribution across the United States.

Omnichannel Delivers, But at What Cost?

Amazon, the most successful e-commerce company of all, gained a competitive advantage through its two-day free delivery for Prime customers. Many other pure e-tailers and brick-and-mortar retailers moving to omnichannel retail—where customers engage with companies in a variety of ways, including in a physical store, or via websites and mobile apps—have followed suit to some degree.

Logistics Challenges: Small Businesses Clear the Bar

These agile small and mid-sized businesses have picked up the pace to vault over supply chain challenges, including the pandemic.

Imports & Exports: An Insider’s Guide to Getting it Right

Experts share best practices to ensure your cross-border commerce success.