Transportation Strategies to Offset Inflation
Business professionals have had a tough time navigating fluctuating logistics costs over the past two years. But hold on! There are ways to keep your balance while negotiating price increases.
Too Hot. Too Cold. Just Right.
Flowers, pharma, chemicals, and other perishable products require temperature-control solutions with various degrees of difficulty.
Carrier Success Stories
The road to a successful partnership with your transportation provider can be long. But with the right mix of dedicated service, innovative strategies, advanced technology, and old-fashioned work ethic, carriers go above and beyond to meet shippers’ unique needs. Here’s how they get the job done.
Warehouse Safety First
Keeping employees safe is every warehouse operator’s responsibility. Collision-avoidance systems, wearable solutions to improve ergonomic safety, and virtual reality training programs help reduce the risks.
Retailers Come Closer to Home
E-commerce companies are reworking the twists and turns in their distribution networks to get closer to their customers and speed delivery times by shortening the last mile.
Winter Reading Guide 2023
It’s cold outside. Why not stay inside and catch up on the latest literature that can help boost your supply chain skillset?
Industrial Real Estate Keeps the Pace…for Now
U.S. industrial leasing activity will decline in 2023, but demand will keep pace with supply for the 13th consecutive year of positive net absorption, predicts CBRE in its U.S. Real Estate Market Outlook 2023 report. Vacancy rates that remain below the 10-year average, however, will lead to double-digit rent growth, finds the report. As of […]
Polish Up That Crystal Ball
Making informed decisions that impact all aspects of the supply chain requires access to quality, actionable information. While it’s not possible to accurately predict the future, BlueGrace Logistics’ Logistics Confidence Index (LCI) examines expected revenue growth for upcoming quarters and how shippers can adjust based on those expectations. The LCI shipper survey measures expected industry […]
California Here We Come
Nearly one-third of logistics managers polled in a CNBC survey do not know how much trade they would return to West Coast ports after an International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) labor deal is reached. Negotiations between the Pacific Maritime Association and the ILWU, which represents 22,000 West Coast port workers, began on May 10, […]
Last-Mile Deliveries Grow Bigger and Bulkier
Big and bulky last-mile delivery will be one of the fastest growing third-party logistics (3PL) segments for the next three years, driven by expanding e-commerce product categories that include furniture and appliances, predicts Making it Count: Big and Bulky Last-Mile Delivery in the United States, an Armstrong & Associates report. The report estimates the 3PL […]
Robotics Demand Skyrockets
Robots are seeing a population growth. By 2027, more than 4 million robots will be installed and operating in warehouses and distribution centers. Shipments of mobile robots jumped 53% in 2022 when compared with 2021, driven by increasing e-commerce, labor shortages, and shifting manufacturing methods, finds research from Interact Analysis. The market will experience compounded […]
South of the Border Imports Boom
Driven by demand for boats, vehicles, vehicle parts, computer parts, and oil, Mexican imports to the United States rose 19.5% year-over-year in 2022 to reach $479.6 billion according to Mexico’s National Institute of Statistics, Geography, and Informatics. Some segments, such as motor vehicle parts, are returning to pre-pandemic levels. Additionally, data from project44 shows that […]
Walmart Takes to the Skies
Retailers continue to look for new ways to meet consumer demand for fast delivery. Many, including Walmart, are banking on drones. For a cool $3.99, Walmart customers who live within one mile of a participating store can now have thousands of eligible products delivered to their home via same-day drone delivery. Walmart expanded its DroneUp […]
Reviewing 2022 Shipping Challenges
How did shippers respond to challenges in 2022 and how do they plan to respond in 2023? That’s what Averitt’s eighth annual State of the North American Supply Chain Survey set out to discover. The survey asked 1,800 shippers about supply chain challenges in 2022 and measures their interest in various supply chain services moving […]
Many Supply Chains Still in the Dark
Although technology innovations help shed light on additional insights into supply chains, some knowledge gaps remain. Up to 80% of executives responding to Verusen’s 2022 State of Supply Chain Management report say they can’t digitally track the movement of direct and indirect materials across their enterprise, which suggests that many companies may lack the technology […]
Managing Supplier Risk: It’s All About the Information
What was once “nice to have” information has been defined by law. As social and environmental concerns grow, governments and related third parties are demanding, with regulatory backing, that businesses manage ethical supply chains. What can large organizations with complex supply chains do to help mitigate supplier risk?
The Costly Consequences of Bad Data
A majority of sourcing and procurement leaders say they were inadequately prepared for supply chain disruptions in 2022. This lack of preparedness is partly due to continued and overwhelming reliance on manually updated source-to-pay platforms, which seriously limit operational efficiency. Worse, inaccurate supplier data inhibits business continuity, especially as disruptions continue.
Solving the Talent Crisis
The greatest untapped talent pool in manufacturing, logistics, and the supply chain sector in the United States is women. Even though women make up almost half (47%) of the entire U.S. labor force, they make up only slightly more than one-quarter (27%) of the manufacturing workforce. This needs to change if the manufacturing industry is to have any hope of addressing the enormous talent chasm that has opened up in recent years.
Design Time: Leveraging a WMS to Furnish Homes Sustainably
By offering minimalist, modern design and quality materials, home furnishing company Oliver Space has grown to more than 100 employees over the past three years, expanding from its headquarters in San Francisco to serve six cities along the West Coast and in southwestern United States. Along the way, it has helped furnish thousands of homes.
Easing the Pain of Fulfillment and Shipping
Since its launch in 2006, Tiger Tail USA, a pioneer in muscle care and recovery, has expanded from the garage of Spring Faussett, its founder, to producing and selling tens of thousands of units.
Is Your Business Ready for Intelligent Document Processing?
The world has seen the damage a slow supply chain can do—it stunts economic growth, negatively impacts revenue, and leads to customer frustration, or worse, customer loss. Technology has been touted as the end-all to supply chain woes, but it can be difficult to determine the most beneficial solutions. Yet, one AI solution can lay the foundational groundwork for implementing future technologies: Intelligent Document Processing (IDP).
Innovation Takes a Turn at the Wheel
When it comes to meeting supply chain goals, many companies want to take a breather and buy a vowel. But with some innovative thinking, they can boost visibility, increase fulfillment operation efficiency, and streamline transportation, without losing a turn.
2023 Supply Chain Predictions: Plan Ahead & Get Organized
Supply chain leaders share predictions, tips, and notes to help you tackle the business challenges ahead.
Disruption-Busting Moves for 2023 and Beyond
During a downpour of disruptions, these maneuvers can ensure your supply chain can withstand volatility and even thrive through upheaval and inclement conditions.
IN BRIEF: New Services and Solutions
From new e-commerce solutions to RFID tags for tracking assets, here’s what’s new and notable in the supply chain.
What’s the Word? The Language of Logistics
IL breaks down the logistics terms gaining traction in 2023 (from social commerce to footprinting) as well as defines the basic concepts that keep cargo moving.
Custom TMS and Freight Management Solution Provides Industrial Distributor with Full Supply Chain Visibility
The Logistics Plus® MyLogisticsPlus™ cloud-based portal is customized to provide a direct interface with the client’s WMS for its parcel, freight, and international order and shipping processing. The Logistics Plus Freight audit and payment solution offers the client complete invoice visibility with business intelligence reporting.
GOOD QUESTION: What’s one supply chain misnomer? What would be a better term?
“Driver shortage” could be missing the mark. “Supply chain” might be overly simplistic. “E-commerce” a bit dated. Industry insiders and readers point out one supply chain misnomer and come up with a more accurate term.
A Good 3PL Partnership Starts With a Strong Systems Integration
From early involvement to robust support and continued flexibility, MD Logistics knows the fundamentals of systems integration and building a successful working relationship with customers.
2023 Inventory… Too Much? Too Little?
Inventory. That was the theme unifying both attendees and exhibitors at the 2023 National Retail Federation (NRF) convention in New York City. More precisely, everyone I spoke to was interested in load balancing inventory to serve new retail fulfillment approaches striving to catch up with the blindingly fast evolution in consumer buying habits. For retail […]
Overcoming Global Trade Barriers
Lockdowns, land wars, and rising costs had companies scrambling to keep sourcing intact in 2022. Is reshoring the key to unlocking international trade challenges?
Supply Chain Strategies: How SMBs Can Compete with the Big Dogs
Supply chain technologies unleash the power that levels the playing field and lets small and mid-sized businesses scale.
3 Ways Digital Transformation Enhances Capacity
After consecutive pandemic years, supply chains are a mess. As a result, businesses are running out of stock just as surging consumer demand drives up prices for remaining goods, contributing to record inflation and further disrupting consumer markets.
5 Ways to Strengthen and Future-Proof Your Supply Chain
In recent years, environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) practices have become a critical aspect of any company’s reputation and success. Consumers don’t care just about what they are purchasing; they also care about how the product or service gets to them. For instance, an Edelman study shows 64% of consumers worldwide will buy or boycott a brand solely because of its position on a social or political issue.
Resolving the Driver Retention Crisis
While the trucking industry has been put under further pressure by current supply chain issues, the real problem started long before the pandemic. Driver shortages were being felt as far back as 2005, according to a 2019 American Trucking Associations report.
How Verst Logistics Powers Agility and Scale Utilizing Cleo Integration Cloud
Upgrading to a modern EDI solution helped the third-party logistics company scale to meet their customer demands and improve operations.
That’s the Spirit! Partnership Brings Supply Chain Visibility Into the Mix
Non-alcoholic spirit company, Lyre’s, turned to SEKO to gain access and visibility into every part of their supply chain and root out inefficiencies. Here’s how SEKO delivered.
Powering Up a Better Supply Chain
Aggreko ensures business is always on by delivering energy anywhere it’s needed so that businesses can grow and communities can thrive. The power company found an ideal partner in RedStone Logistics.
If You Are Struggling with Freight Delivering On-Time, Partner with a Quality 3PL Freight Provider
The right third-party logistics freight provider (3PL) can help you improve on-time performance as well as achieve long-term goals using its expertise and services.
Optimizing Customer Service and Corporate Value
Q. How can a company maximize customer service and corporate value? A. The first interaction is often with the customer service department. This team makes the first impression, setting the tone for the relationship and the perception of how your brand can fulfill their needs. Suppose the experience is pleasant and productive; your credibility increases. […]
What Does the Post-Pandemic Fulfillment Model Look Like?
With both just-in-time and just-in-case strategies posing challenges, approaching e-commerce fulfillment with these four best practices is the key in 2023.
Automation: From Benefit to Necessity
Even prior to the pandemic, consumers were demanding. Since the rise of e-commerce, end users expect the ability to order what they want, when they want it, via the channels they want. Brands are adapting to this demand by offering curbside pickup, third-party delivery services, direct-from-social media purchasing, and a variety of other channels to cater to different consumer preferences.
WMS ROI: Is a New WMS Worth the Investment?
When deciding to implement a new warehouse management system (WMS), there will come a point where the return on investment (ROI) is questioned.
How Parcel Shippers Can Prepare for 2023 and Beyond
Every shipper needs to ensure they have a backup plan or an alternative carrier to deliver their packages should a strike occur. What’s more, that plan needs to be in place sooner rather than later.
2023: A Year of Opportunity for U.S. Manufacturing
Despite the global economic turmoil of the past two years, we are amidst a once-in-a-generation shift of global manufacturing footprints, and 2023 should continue to be a year of opportunity for manufacturers in the United States. This translates to a lot of sustained site selection activity in the market.
How to Avoid Paying Ransom
It is no great secret that cyberattacks are on the rise, and recent data suggests supply chains are no exception. A 2022 NCCGROUP survey shows that supply chain organizations experienced a 51% increase in attacks within the six months preceding the survey. The first step in addressing this risk is acknowledging that it exists. The good news is this should be a relatively easy step, especially compared to what comes next.
Get Closer to the Action With Onshoring
Supply chains are the lifeline of globalization. In the years leading up to the pandemic, western companies routinely outsourced production to suppliers in lower-cost economies around the world. However, the seemingly never-ending string of supply chain disruptions over the past two years highlighted the fragility of complex and dispersed supply chains.
Gaining Better Visibility: Where to Start
While the business-to-consumer (B2C) market has embraced sophisticated technology tools to enable a digital transformation across the supply chain, the business-to-business (B2B) industry has been slower to adapt, steadfast in a reliance on spreadsheets, phone calls and email.
Visionary 3PL Leadership Turns Around a Production Site for Award-Winning Performance
A case study in 3PL management that creates a positive culture, improves the partnership, and builds synergy with stakeholders at a customer’s production site.
3 Top Emerging Automated Solutions
Within the four walls of distribution centers (DCs), more automated alternatives are replacing traditional labor-intensive process and material handling strategies. Operations leaders are beginning to automate and upgrade specific aspects of their DC operations that are bowing under the weight of e-commerce pressures.
The Supply Chain: It’s Alive! It’s Alive!
In some ways, the supply chain of today is a living, breathing organism. It’s not just links and nodes on a map, but a blend of digital and/or analog data, machines, and yes, real people who are constantly moving and adapting.
Three Considerations for Choosing a Cross-Border 3PL
Whether to solve existing supply chain issues or to make good supply chains even better, many companies are now cultivating shorter supply chains that boast greater agility during disruptive circumstances. As a result, North American warehouses and distribution centers are increasingly shifting to Mexican and Canadian-based suppliers, rather than overseas counterparts, to simplify supply chains and improve fulfillment processes. While this is a step in the right direction, companies are finding that shorter and simpler doesn’t mean easier.
The Evolution of Container Chassis Provisioning
When Malcom McLean introduced the world to container shipping in 1956, it not only touched off a seismic shift in the way cargo was handled but also the equipment and infrastructure needed to support containerized operations.
Dangerous Goods: Definition, Regulations, and Classes
Companies ship various goods by land, sea, and air daily. Some are hazardous substances and pose severe effects if not handled properly. The dangerous goods regulations and guidance are strict and enforced by various government agencies and international organizations, such as the United Nations, to minimize the risk of accidents or ensure safe transport. Let’s […]
Agile Supply Chain: What It Is, Benefits, and Applications
Supply chains can be complex and sensitive. A company can’t survive without a supply chain because it needs everything from raw materials to the final product. Many companies have established an agile supply chain to manage supply better, move goods quickly, and deliver them on time. This process is fundamental to those who produce physical […]
What Is an ELD? The Benefits, Purpose, and Features of ELDs
Many businesses that operate a fleet of trucks or vehicles are required to have ELD or electronic logging devices installed in each vehicle. ELDs are intended to enhance the safety of professional truck drivers. ELDs are a convenient way to manage, track, and share data during driving and downtime. As technology continues to evolve, it […]
Transloading: Meaning, Benefits, and Challenges
Transloading is a crucial component of supply chain management, as it helps to optimize the movement of goods and reduce transportation costs. It allows logistics companies to adapt to changes in demand and unexpected logistical challenges while shipments still reach their final destinations quickly and cost effectively. Let’s look at the meaning, benefits, and challenges […]
5 Ways Logistics Managers Can Battle Inflation in 2023
With inflation at 40-year highs and a challenging macroeconomic situation, here’s how you can find stability in your operation.
What is a Straight Truck? Definition, Types, and Uses
Wondering what a straight truck is? A straight truck refers to a type of vehicle with a tractor-trailer in a fixed position. In other words, all the axles in a straight truck attach to a single frame. Usually, straight trucks look like do-it-yourself moving trucks and, in most cases, move housing supplies, boxes, furniture, refrigerators, […]
3PLs Discover Value for Shippers
Technology, service and communication will differentiate third-party logistics providers.
Preparing for a Holiday Surge in Cybercrime? Secure Digital Logistics Workflows
The holidays have become primetime for cyberattacks as more businesses shift to digital-first. Given the sensitive nature of supply chains, your logistics data could be at risk if managed across disparate channels. Here are three ways client portals can effectively manage vendor relationships while prioritizing security. 360-degree VIEW Between 2018 and 2020, ransomware attacks increased […]
We Need More Than Overtime Pay to Fix the Driver Shortage
Transportation logistics faces a conundrum. The U.S. commercial trucking industry is the foundation of our economy, yet it consistently struggles to recruit and retain drivers.
Logistics Planning: Definition, Types, Importance, and Strategies
Have you ever been to a business that looked neat and orderly at first glance, but behind the scenes it was a different story? It’s easy to present as a well-oiled machine in the front office, but if you neglect business processes at other levels, you’re in trouble. Logistics planning can help you fire on […]
Four Ways ERP Is Changing to Keep Up with Manufacturers’ Evolving Needs
Enterprise resource planning (ERP) has become a pivotal solution for withstanding today’s challenges. Here’s how the technology is evolving to ensure businesses can keep up with the current climate.
GOOD QUESTION: What’s your best customer service tip for supply chain stakeholders?
What’s the secret to pleasing customers, whether they’re consumers, your partners, or other supply chain stakeholders? These industry insiders offer their best advice.
Why a Supply Chain Management Ecosystem Is the Future of Enterprise Planning
Visibility providers are integrating with supply chain applications to give users multiple capabilities within a single ecosystem. Just like within our smartphone, these integrations are giving users the power to tailor their own ecosystem according to their needs.
IN BRIEF: New Services and Solutions
From a high-capacity orderpicker to a new nationwide reefer van network, here are some notable supply chain services and solutions that recently hit the market.
How to Ace Your Supply Chain Career
Want to be in a class of your own? These supply chain practitioners have some notes.
9 Ways to Enhance the Customer Experience
Providing a five-star customer experience is the name of the game for e-commerce and omnichannel retailers and brands. Here are some best practices to keep your customers coming back for more.
Drayage: Meaning, Importance, and Types
Large container ships move cargo from port to port across the continent. Trucks and railways move cargo within countries. Consider, however, the smaller, more intricate steps that allow freight to move between transportation modes. These smaller national movements are collectively called drayage and are crucial to shipping logistics. What Is Drayage? Drayage is a form […]
Creating a Safe, Reliable Pharmaceutical Supply Chain
Partnering with MD Logistics—an experienced U.S.-based 3PL—and global freight forwarder Nippon Express can provide a wealth of benefits to your global pharmaceutical supply chain.
Is Industrial Real Estate Recession Proof?
With industrial real estate still going strong, logistics property owners and investors wonder if their warehouses will help them weather the coming storm. Here is what to expect.
The Last Mile: Ice Cream Logistics… Licked
When it comes to frozen desserts, ice cream tops the list for U.S. consumers. Here’s how ice cream makers keep churning it out.
VERTICAL FOCUS: Raw Materials
Insight into the latest supply chain trends for raw materials.
NOTED: Supply Chain Highlights
From sustainability efforts to recent mergers and acquisitions, here’s what’s new and notable in the supply chain.
Helping Manufacturers Weather the Storm
The manufacturing sector continues to chug along, with demand and production levels hitting new highs. But economic uncertainty and inflation may soon create some clouds on the horizon.
Taking the Temperature on Sustainability
Many companies will continue to take sustainability seriously over the next 12 months. A recent Honeywell survey of 600 business leaders finds that 90% are pleased with their sustainability efforts over the prior 12 months, and 97% plan environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) budget increases in the next 12 months.
Waste Eats Away the Bottom Line
Overproduction and waste may push margins in the wrong direction. A recent Avery Dennison report finds that 8% of stock perishes or is discarded before it reaches consumers–inventory losses worth up to $163.1 billion or 3.6% of annual profits. Of the 8% waste, slightly more than half (53.8%) is lost in the supply chain before products reach store shelves.
AI and ML in Retail: Help or Hype?
Top-performing retailers are bullish on artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), with 71% of respondents to a Retail Systems Research report saying AI-enabled analytics will fundamentally change their merchandising forecasting by 2025.
Five Trends That Will Shape Logistics in 2023
Amidst concern over the economy and ongoing geopolitical issues, 2023 promises to pose challenges to managing logistics and supply chain operations. To help companies prepare for the new year, Anaid Chacón, head of product for Nuvocargo, a digital platform focused on U.S.-Mexico cross-border trade, identifies five trends to be aware of.
Turning the Tide on Turnover
The pandemic’s effect on inventory turnover was significant, but more recent data suggests that the situation may be improving for e-commerce brands.
Logistics Technology: The Unsung Hero of Convenience Commerce
As consumers embraced online ordering during the pandemic, e-commerce sales ballooned from $571.2 billion in 2019 to $815.4 billion in 2020—a 43% jump—according to a recent Census Bureau retail survey. Although online sales have cooled since the initial pandemic-driven fervor, consumers continue to drive convenience commerce, with e-commerce sales increasing 6.7% in Q1 2022. More than 20% of consumer spending from January to March occurred online.
How to Develop a Customer-centric Supply Chain
Supply chain variability creates hurdles to customer satisfaction. Prioritize the consumer experience by integrating flexible technologies and processes in your supply chain design.
Sustainability Regulations Call for Increased Visibility
Businesses have become more attuned to social and environmental issues, and it is not just because they believe it’s the right thing to do.
How SMBs Can Re-evaluate Risk
Supply chain disruption has been a major issue since the onset of the pandemic, affecting consumers’ ability to get everything from toilet paper and pharmacy items to cars and houses. At the same time, porch-pirated theft is on the rise, with around 210 million packages disappearing from porches across the United States in 2021, according to a Safewise study.
Attacks on Energy Attack You
Can you walk and chew gum at the same time? Leaders in the United States and globally cannot when it comes to balancing green energy initiatives with common sense energy requirements.
John Brewer: Building a Supply Chain Step by Step
John Brewer is director of distribution and logistics with CKE Restaurants Holdings Inc., the company behind quick-serve restaurant brands Carl’s Jr. and Hardees.
10 Tips: Matching Inventory To Demand
Demand is a constantly changing variable in any supply chain. Each time the demand tides change, retailers, wholesalers, distributors, and manufacturers must align inventory levels to meet customer expectations. Here are tips for doing it successfully.
Stay Chill
Shippers face many challenges when maintaining the cold chain for food transportation. Chill out! These solutions can help.
How to Unlock Opportunity With a Procurement Control Tower
With market volatility and sky-high inflation driving shifts in the price of oil and other commodities, it’s not surprising to see businesses adjust sourcing and inventory strategies in anticipation of future roadblocks. Plus, with consumer demand softening, many companies that largely over-indexed on orders last year are now sitting on a surplus of supply.
Driving the Automotive Industry Forward with Complete Smart Factory Solutions
Implementing smart factory solutions ensures standardization and integration of the spare parts logistics process throughout the supply chain.
Cross Docking: Definition, History, and Process
Cross docking is a shipping method that transfers goods from one transportation mode to another to get them directly from the source to their destination. Cross docking is widely used in freight transportation because it helps reduce costs and storage space, among other benefits. This article covers cross docking definitions, history, types, methods, advantages, disadvantages, […]
Combatting the Chip Shortage with Cloud Adoption
As the economy grapples with the new normal of post-pandemic buyer behavior and businesses move forward, many industries continue to experience a demand surge that has overwhelmed the supply chain. Shortages of critical components such as semiconductor chips are at an all-time high for manufacturing, transportation, and logistics.
TEU: Definition, History, and Vessel Sizes
TEU, or a twenty foot equivalent unit, is the standard measure of container capacity on a ship. In other words, it tells you how many 20-foot-long containers can fit on particular container ships. TEU is important because it allows for easy comparison of vessel sizes. For example, if one container ship has a capacity of […]
Freight Forwarding: Meaning, Stages, and Pros and Cons
Supply chain management is an integral part of any company’s efficiency. Transporting goods from one place to another can be time-consuming and expensive. The process can be complex and challenging, but if you approach it correctly, it will go smoothly and leave lasting effects on your overall business. Many companies employ third-party logistics services to […]
Retail Warehousing: Definition, Types, and Benefits
Retail warehousing is an essential part of the supply chain, especially as businesses across the United States face a significant decline in storage capacities, according to the Wall Street Journal. E-commerce ventures are also on the rise, and these online retail shops need space to store, package, and brand their inventory to get it ready […]
Export Compliance: Definition, Controls, Penalties
Export compliance regulations are the rules, guidelines, and procedures that control how goods, services, and technology move across international borders. United States export controls are primarily governed and enforced by the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC), and the United States Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control […]
The Global Food Crisis and Technologies That Help to Cope with its Effects
How technologies enable companies and governments to find the solutions to mitigate the effects of crises.
Intermodal vs. Transloading: Definitions and Process
Intermodal and transloading are two methods of shipping products. They are similar, but understanding the difference between intermodal vs. transloading can help you choose the shipping method that works best for you logistically and financially. The key differences between transloading vs. intermodal transportation are the methods of moving products. Intermodal is self-contained, while transloading physically […]
Warehousing Automation: DCs Level Up
Now that achieving efficiency is more pressing—and more challenging—than ever, distribution center operators turn to flexible automation solutions to boost productivity and optimize space utilization.