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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 […]
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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 […]
Read MoreNOTED: The Supply Chain In Brief-June 2021
Good Works Oversize air freight transportation provider Volga-Dnepr Airlines operated three charter flights to India from China, Ireland, and Germany to aid the nation during its COVID-19 crisis. Volga-Dnepr delivered more than 200 tons of medical equipment, including oxygen-storing and cryogenic containers, to various regions that experienced oxygen equipment shortages. IAG Cargo and its sister […]
Read MorePRODUCT SPOTLIGHT | Cargo Security
GT 1210 Solution: ORBCOMM’s system combines asset tracking capabilities with cargo and door sensors. The trailer tracking device identifies door opens, route deviations, and loaded/unloaded status. Real-time alarms protect cargo from theft and tampering. The solution includes a customizable application with dashboards and analytics. IntelliScan Image Capture and Retrieval: Spireon’s cargo sensing technology complements its […]
Read MoreIN BRIEF: New Services & Solutions-June 2021
Technology Trucker Tools Book It Now automated load-booking is now live within MercuryGate‘s transportation management software platform. Shippers who work within the MercuryGate application can select and populate available shipments in the Trucker Tools Mobile Driver app. The shipments are then visible to approved and available truckers as a Book It Now load on their smartphone. Manhattan […]
Read MoreScan Global Logistics and TransGroup Transition to One Brand
Scan Global Logistics (SGL) and TransGroup have become one organization under one name: Scan Global Logistics. The brand transition is a step toward a stronger global presence and will provide customers access to an extensive logistics network. The rebrand aligns with SGL’s strategy to integrate competitive and agile companies. TransGroup’s 525 full-time employees and 43 […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
Read MoreNOTED: The Supply Chain In Brief-May 2021
Good Works Yogurt maker Yoplait donated a 53-foot refrigerated trailer to Feeding America West Michigan to help address insufficient infrastructure at the food bank’s Cadillac branch. The new truck, which can hold 45,000 pounds of food, allows the food bank to safely deliver cold food products to those in need across the Northwest region of […]
Read MoreLEGACY at the Crossroads of America
As e-commerce continues to dominate the retail landscape, many logistics services providers are evolving their solutions to meet this new demand. One example is LEGACY Supply Chain, a Franklin, Indiana-based third-party logistics provider focused on e-commerce fulfillment in the United States and Canada. LEGACY recently acquired a new facility in Indianapolis, and continues to flex […]
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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 […]
Read MoreIN BRIEF: New Services & Solutions-May 2021
Technology The Gantry Robotic Intelligent Piece Picker, also known as GRIPP, from Inther, can pick from, as well as put pieces into, compartmentalized totes. Equipped with a customizable gripper, the machine can process up to 1,200 pieces per hour. Avetta, a provider of supply chain risk management software, added an intelligent supplier classification tool to the […]
Read MoreSierra Wireless Launches Acculink Cargo, A Managed IoT Solution for Asset Tracking
Internet of Things solutions provider Sierra Wireless today launched Acculink Cargo, a new managed IoT solution that companies can quickly deploy to track the location and condition of high-value and sensitive assets. Delivered as a service for a single monthly fee, Acculink Cargo leverages Sierra Wireless’ expertise in IoT devices, global connectivity, and cloud to […]
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Airbus Freighter Flies Ahead of Boeing
Expecting the e-commerce boom to continue beyond the pandemic, aircraft manufacturer Airbus aims to launch a freighter version of its A350 aircraft in 2025, flying into one of Boeing’s most lucrative markets. The decision to launch the freighter was based on customer demand for a wide-body aircraft to rival Boeing’s B777F and B767F. The A350 […]
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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 […]
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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, […]
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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 […]
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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, […]
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