Articles
IT Matters: Logistics & Supply Chain Technology
RFID and Supply Chain Visibility: You Can’t Manage What You Can’t See
Smart companies are striving to reduce costs, improve service, and increase return on investment throughout the supply chain. Automation-based solutions can play a crucial role in meeting those goals, and many organizations consider radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology a major force in transforming global supply chain automation and visibility. It’s hard to manage what you can’t […]
Read MoreBuilding Operational Excellence Through EDI
While many companies leverage EDI (electronic data interchange) to comply with trading partner requirements, few take advantage of EDI to drive operational excellence. Limiting EDI use to fundamental transactions, such as purchase orders and invoices, leaves money on the table and misses an opportunity to strengthen customer service and overall competitiveness. Companies achieve the greatest […]
Read MoreInventory Intelligence: The Key to Unlocking Omni-channel Retailing
Omni-channel retailing–providing shoppers a seamless experience through all channels–combines the flexibility of cross-channel and mobile shopping with the revenue- and loyalty-building capabilities of a face-to-face retail experience. Because keeping availability promises is vital to omni-channel success, retailers depend on integrated IT systems. Retailers who succeed at integrating their inventory intelligence can cut costs, accelerate turns, […]
Read MoreCloudy Days Ahead for Global Logistics
Cloud-based systems are innovating the way businesses connect by optimizing functionality and establishing networks that serve as global business process hubs. They bring order to the chaos created by the hundreds of processes that occur within a supply chain each day, coordinating real-time information being shared across relevant trading partners. Without a standard business-to-business communications […]
Read MoreMaximizing TMS Resources Helps Achieve Sustainable ROI
These days, logistics managers need to achieve higher productivity levels and deliver better customer service at a lower cost, faster than their competition. Some wonder if they can achieve their goals with the resources available to them. Many organizations turn to a transportation management system (TMS) for the answer. Thanks to Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) technology, shippers […]
Read MoreRallying CFO Support for Your Supply Chain Initiatives
Chief financial officers are not accustomed to making money from the supply chain. Most CFOs, in fact, could use an education on the benefits of supply chain efficiency and visibility. So how should you approach your CFO to get buy-in for your next major supply chain visibility initiative? Present your case the right way. Here […]
Read MoreGoing Mobile: Optimizing Inventory Management
One of the easiest ways to save money in your organization is by operating efficiently and productively, with no wasted resources. Central to this strategy is having the right amount of product at the right time—no more, no less. By optimizing inventory, organizations are able to improve customer service levels up to 25 percent, according […]
Read MoreRetail Recovery Depends on an Integrated Supply Chain Strategy
Although retail sales have shown some increase in early 2011, many economists caution that spending will remain modest as long as wages stay flat and job creation weak. Even as consumers begin to loosen their purse strings, it is essential for retailers to remain cautious and operate at the most efficient levels possible to ensure […]
Read MoreWho’s Comparing Your Import Data?
If you don’t file accurate import data with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, you put your company at risk for penalties and fines, warns Kevin Shoemaker, director, global solutions for Integration Point Inc.
Read MoreTop Five Ways Warehouse Management Systems Deliver ROI
As the economy recovers, many companies are considering upgrades to their existing warehouse management systems (WMS) or deciding to invest in a WMS for the first time. All executives making these decisions want to know when they can expect to see a return on investment (ROI) for their technology selection. Here are five areas where […]
Read MoreNavigating Global Supply Chain Risks
Risk management is an essential ingredient in global logistics planning. Unexpected events such as natural disasters, political unrest, regulatory constraints, and product recalls can disrupt the supply chain and, in turn, negatively impact sales, profit, and a company’s reputation in the market. Many companies, however, are still in reactive mode when it comes to adapting […]
Read MoreManaging Labor Boosts Warehouse Operations
When up against competition, service is the name of the game, and your labor force is the most important tool you have to win business and increase profitability. Labor management tools help you determine whether your workforce is able to perform at the level necessary to deliver cost-effective service to your customers. With the data […]
Read MoreThe Power of Flexible Transportation Management
A primary concern for shippers today is how the recent economic downturn will increase transportation expenses. Capacity will continue to shrink as the economy strengthens. Many carriers are no longer in business, and with 3PL and carrier consolidation, there is concern that service offerings will be less flexible. Shippers want to reduce transportation costs and […]
Read MoreCrack the WIP for a Leaner Supply Chain
As the nation begins to emerge from the economic downturn, companies are focusing efforts on reducing costs and streamlining work to prepare for the increased demand recovery will bring. Implementing a lean culture to eliminate waste in every area of the value stream will be a key focus for many operations. At the core of […]
Read MoreCrossdocking: A New Vision for an Old Idea
Manufacturers and distributors know crossdocking—the practice of immediately converting inbound deliveries to outbound shipments—can help create more efficient supply chains. But there’s an obstacle to crossdocking that can undermine those efforts: the need for continuous, real-time shipment visibility. Without the shipper’s ability to track and trace individual parcels, shipments may be delayed, misplaced, or duplicated. […]
Read MoreGetting Off the Bench and Into Benchmarking
While watching the Cubs battle the White Sox last summer at at Wrigley Field, I realized that baseball players and supply chain professionals have a few things in common. For instance, veteran ballplayers might try to get through a game by relying on experience and talent. But, by studying strategies, statistics, and individual players, they […]
Read MoreWeb-Based WMS Solutions Drive Automotive Supply Chain Efficiency
The U.S. auto industry is facing the greatest adversity in its history. One segment of the industry, however, has thrived—aftermarket auto parts. This segment has grown exponentially during the economic downturn, as consumers have been forced to repair their aging vehicles instead of buying new ones. In an industry where specialization and customer service are […]
Read MoreWarehouse Metrics: Measure What Matters
Today’s warehouse managers often accrue massive amounts of performance data, but sometimes find they can apply little of it toward making productivity gains or customer service improvements. Instead of becoming overwhelmed with data, managers should identify and focus on the most useful metrics to gather, report, and apply. Tools or modules often found in warehouse […]
Read More10+2: Origin and Destination in Collaboration
The clock is ticking for importers struggling to become compliant with Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) Importer Security Filing regulation, commonly known as the 10+2 initiative. On Jan. 26, 2010, the interim final rule becomes mandatory, allowing CBP to begin assessing damages for failure to meet the new data-filing requirements. The key to successful 10+2 […]
Read MoreFrom Click to Curb: Earning and Keeping E-commerce Customers
For consumers who want to avoid dealing with overzealous salespeople and crowded stores, online shopping offers the perfect alternative. U.S. online sales are expected to grow from $132 billion in 2006 to $271 billion in 2011, according to a study by Forrester Research. The same report estimates that the e-commerce market segment could soon claim […]
Read More