Articles
Knowledge Base
Need Flexibility? Seek Out Full-Service 3PLs – WSI
The retail and supply chain worlds have changed—and are changing—rapidly. Soaring end-user consumer demand for same-day delivery of goods and companies’ desire for increased visibility of their supply chains are two instrumental factors in the ever-morphing industrial real estate industry. Companies want and need instant, flexible warehousing options with skilled, efficient labor to handle and […]
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Sweep the Dock for E-Commerce Insight – Transportation Insight
An e-commerce epiphany is speeding through the global supply chain from the shipping dock to the boardroom. Consumers have seized control of logistics spending, and "supply chain as we’ve known it" is not coming back. According to the 28th Annual CSCMP State of Logistics Report, "Accelerating into Uncertainty," for the first time, parcel and express […]
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The Power of Transparency: Technology and Your Supply Chain – RPM
In a world driven by new technology, industries are finding ways to work faster and smarter. Tech breakthroughs have provided businesses with new processes and improved systems that have helped to maintain or increase efficiency in one way or another. It’s time to see these same improvements in supply chain management. The transportation industry has […]
Read MoreWhy GRIs From LTL Carriers May Not Be So General This Year
Less-than-truckload (LTL) carriers have reported challenged earnings for quite some time now. Capacity has generally been pretty loose, service levels have been generally pretty high, and prices have generally stayed pretty competitive across the industry—all creating an advantage for shippers. This all may be changing. Many LTL carriers are signaling some strain in their networks […]
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Handle With Care: How to Be the Best At Fulfilling Your Clients’ Chemical Handling Needs – WSI
Chemical handling is an important function of a third-party logistics provider. If your firm is looking to source a chemical handling partner or currently handles chemicals and wants to perform better, our guide below illuminates some key factors to finding the best fit. 1. Explain your chemical business thoroughly, so potential providers know their duties. […]
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Blended Synergy: The Balance of Automation & Expertise – Unyson
Robotic Process Automation (RPA) is becoming an important innovation across many industries and is beginning to catch the attention of many supply chain professionals. The idea of robots in the workplace might conjure up likeable characters such as Rosie from the Jetsons, Vicky from Small Wonder, or Bender from Futurama. Or maybe you went directly […]
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Working Alongside Robots: No Longer Science Fiction
Working alongside robots in warehouses is the way of the present, rather than the way of the future. The recent ProMat and Automate conferences, in Chicago, featured robotics and automated materials handling equipment. “Solve for X,” the theme of the conference, emphasized the need for manufacturers, warehousing and third-party logistics companies to embrace change to […]
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Planning for the IoT and the Future of Your Supply Chain
The rise of the Internet of Things (IoT) has been noticeable across every aspect of everyday life, from controlling the lights in our homes to tracking the way we shop. It’s no surprise that it’s also having a huge influence behind the scenes of the supply chain, altering and improving processes from end-to-end to enable […]
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Shopping for a Transportation Management System: Factors to Consider
Is your organization seeking to replace its current Transportation Management System (TMS) or obtain a TMS for the first time? Besides the obvious factors, such as overall cost, functionality that meets your requirements, and the ability to integrate with your current system and trading partners, below are five points to consider when shopping for a […]
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Consumer Demand Helping Drive 3PL Industry Growth
In recent years, shippers have encountered new standards of velocity, market choice, and cost for their products. Consumers are demanding better variety and greater availability at the lowest possible cost. These demands put increasing pressure on retailers, who in turn, pass that burden on to their suppliers—further increasing complexity and intensifying pressure on supply chains. […]
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Achieving Greater Visibility and Agility
Pressure for lower FOB prices while dealing with the upward movement of production is the biggest challenge for retailers today. And all of this comes at a time when companies are under intense pressure to meet the fast-evolving demands of every-channel retail, where consumers expect a more convenient shopping experience, as well as a superior […]
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TMS Launches New Era: Control Tower Visibility
It wasn’t long ago that top executives around the world had to be convinced why they needed accounting software to run their companies. Today it is unthinkable of any company operating without accounting software to manage their company’s finances. The importance of technology in shipping is starting to reach this same critical point for most […]
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How to Reap the Benefits of Asian Free Trade Agreements
Asian governments began developing bilateral free trade agreements (FTA) in addition to region-based multilateral agreements in 2000. These bilateral agreements were viewed as easier to negotiate and provided a quicker way to open up new export markets. The growth of bilateral FTAs in this region has led to what many economists refer to as the […]
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Mastering Logistics Complexity: How to Take Control With Technology
There was a time when road distribution was either local delivery from local producers, or the ‘final mile’ delivery of goods that had been transported longer distances by rail or interstate highway first. The typical journey was either point to point or a regular circuit of collections and drops. An experienced transport manager, or even […]
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Winning on Your Terms
In an age when so many conversations begin with, "Have you heard what Amazon just announced?," wouldn’t it be nice to have your competitors worry about your latest supply chain success? It’s rather easy to become distracted by the daily activities of the world’s largest retailer. But keeping our collective eye on the ball has […]
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What Your Transportation Management System Should Provide
The transportation and logistics world is abuzz with the need for ever stronger and more diverse transportation management systems (TMS). This is apparently true for small and large shippers alike. And in today’s world of diverse rates and worldwide shipping operations, both inbound and outbound, the need grows stronger each year. So what should a […]
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Testing the Quality of Logistics-Critical Applications
Deploying applications quickly and affordably, and ensuring those systems perform as promised, will be a key to success in tomorrow’s freight and logistics sector. You no doubt recognize the need for robust apps testing. Often the challenge is finding the tools and capacity to break the testing logjam—and to accelerate your time to innovation. Software […]
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How 3PL Warehouses Can Capitalize on the Escalating Demands of Prospects and Customers
2017 is looking to be a memorable year for the warehousing industry. For the first time since the mid-2000s, 3PL warehouses are not only in demand, but in a position of strength. This will provide 3PL operators with a unique opportunity to build lasting relationships with key customers, suppliers, and retailers of their choice. However, […]
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Shaking Up the Brown Box: Big Winners in Supply Chain Evolution
With the infusion of multi-modal, multi-channel platforms, e-commerce is shaking the supply chain industry upside down. The consumer is now able to outrun the industry, and shippers are questioning their competency to continuously evolve their supply chains. To implement transformational strategies, operations teams are facing broad and deep investments in diversified technology and human resources […]
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Industry 4.0 is the X Factor that Will Transform Today’s Supply Chains
The enigmatic X Factor—that unknown element that will take supply chains to the next level. As is so often the case in our industry, there’s not just one transformative technology that will produce revolutionary change within our field, but rather many. The MHI Annual Industry Report examined the concept of the digital, always-on supply chain, […]
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