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Macy’s Parades Digital Lead

Digitally mature retailers better reacted to COVID-19 disruptions, finds a study by tech company Incisiv. Based on performance along the customer journey, the study names the top North American apparel retailers in digital maturity: Overall 1. Macy’s 2. Kohl’s 3. Neiman Marcus 4. Target 5. Nordstrom 6. Ann Taylor 7. Chico’s 8. J.C. Penney Co. […]

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The Need for Shipping Speed

Consumers now make 58% of their purchases online since COVID-19 began compared to just 32% before the pandemic, and many will spend more for expedited shipping, says a LaserShip survey. The study reveals: Gen Z and millennials are more likely to shop at new retailers if expedited shipping is provided compared to older generations. 40% […]

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Easing E-Commerce Pain Points

Easing E-Commerce Pain Points

Although key logistics capabilities are needed to build and maintain successful e-commerce operations, few brands excel at them, according to a study from Geodis and Accenture Interactive. The study highlights: E-commerce acceleration: Brands estimate that e-commerce in 2020 will represent nearly half of their sales. Before COVID-19, companies were making 34% of their sales online. […]

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USMCA FAQ

USMCA FAQ

The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) replaced the North American Free Trade Agreement to drive mutually beneficial trade among the three countries. Thomas Insights answers some key questions about the agreement. Why is a North American trade deal so important? Mexico and Canada are the United States’ biggest export market, supporting 12 million American jobs and […]

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NOTED: The Supply Chain in Brief-December 2020

Sealed Deals COVAXX, which developed a synthetic peptide-based vaccine to fight COVID-19, partnered with Maersk for transportation and supply chain services to deliver the vaccine around the world once it receives regulatory approval. BMW Manufacturing selected Penske Logistics as the lead logistics provider at its South Carolina plant. Penske will help optimize inbound and outbound transportation of parts to and […]

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IN BRIEF: New Services & Solutions-December 2020

Products The new XG4 rugged mobile computer from Janam Technologies is designed for scan-intensive applications. The lightweight device is ideal for workers performing supply chain functions, including inventory management, stocking and replenishment, shipping, receiving, and cross docking. The OpteBulk from ORBIS consists of a pallet, sleeve, and top cap to keep product loads safe and secure. Allowing for maximum […]

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What’s the Holiday Sales Scenario?

The holiday retail season will play out in one of two ways—a relatively stable year-over-year sales increase of 0% to 1%, or a jump of 2.5% to 3.5%—both of which are lower than prior years, according to Deloitte. Scenario one: Consumers experience growing anxiety about their health and finances. This reinforces the current high savings […]

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California Clears the Air

California Clears the Air

To help commercial providers invest in clean truck and infrastructure technology in an effort to improve the region’s air quality, the Mobile Source Air Pollution Reduction Review Committee (MSRC) and the Southern California Association of Governments created a new match-funding program for last-mile transportation. The project comes as e-commerce increases the frequency of truck deliveries. […]

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IN BRIEF: New Services & Solutions-November 2020

Products Letting conveyors run quietly and smoothly when moving light goods, the new roller from daRoller requires just 12 g (0.026 pounds) of turning effort to start the conveyor roller. The light-running roller is built with ABEC precision bearings and a grease/oil combination for lubrication, allowing the conveyor to run easily, quietly, and smoothly. Mezzanine Safeti-Gates offers a […]

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Consumers Set Their Sights on Visibility

With COVID-19 disrupting the traditional retail model and more consumers expecting to find, buy, and receive products wherever and however they desire, the need for retailers to optimize and elevate their supply chain capabilities is imperative for maintaining sales and brand loyalty, finds a survey by enVista. Other key findings in the survey include: 87% […]

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Serving Up Sustainability

Serving Up Sustainability

PepsiCo and General Mills plan to reduce their carbon footprint during the next 10 years, following similar initiatives by food manufacturing giants such as Kellogg’s and Smithfield Foods. New York-based PepsiCo, which owns Frito-Lay, Tropicana, and Quaker Oats, aims to use 100% renewable electricity across all its company-controlled operations by 2030 and across its franchise […]

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NOTED: The Supply Chain in Brief-Nov 2020

NOTED: The Supply Chain in Brief-Nov 2020

Recognition Transportation equipment lessor Milestone Equipment Holdings received the award for Best Overall Chassis Provider in the Port of New York & New Jersey from the Association of Bi-State Motor Carriers for providing drivers with high-quality equipment and offering responsive customer service. The East Bay Economic Development Alliance honored the Port of Oakland with the […]

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Warehouse Automation Prognosis

Warehouse Automation Prognosis

While revenue for the global warehouse automation market will likely decrease in 2020, order intake will grow significantly, according to Interact Analysis’ forecast. Other predictions in the report show: Market Growth Significant market growth in 2021 as project completion dates push from 2020 to 2021. Compound annual growth rate will increase by 11.9% in 2019-2024. […]

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Untangling Supply Chain Challenges

Digitization and complexity present overwhelming challenges, finds a new Körber study. 91% of supply chain professionals cannot stay ahead of their challenges as manufacturing and fulfillment complexities continue to grow. 51% of businesses can only tackle one supply chain challenge at a time. 48% of supply chains saw complexity grow in the past year, driven […]

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Brexit Baffles Freight Forwarders

Brexit Baffles Freight Forwarders

Most freight forwarders doubt they can handle changes to the United Kingdom’s trading relationship in 2021, including new customs documentation and procedures, according to a study by the British International Freight Association. Key findings from the report reveal: Lack of understanding: More than half of freight forwarders say they have no knowledge or need to […]

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Supply Chain’s Rising Stars

“Supply chain is an untouched territory of future developments,” says Charlotte de Brabandt, megawatt winner, Rising Supply Chain Stars program. Saving more than $10 million, updating technology across 8,900 stores, explaining results from a 27-country region to top management, and increasing forecast accuracy with new digital tools are just some achievements of the latest winners […]

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Shooting for the Moon

In another step toward making the world your warehouse, the FCC awarded SpaceX nearly $900 million in federal subsidies to support broadband customers in remote U.S. areas through its Starlink satellite internet network. The subsidies are an incentive for broadband providers to bring service to underserved areas, and will be distributed in the next 10 […]

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Vertical Focus Retail-Oct

Vertical Focus Retail-Oct

Weaving Blockchain into Data Sharing Blockchain can solve the errors and inefficiencies that exist in data exchange between suppliers, retailers, and other stakeholders in the retail supply chain, according to results from the Chain Integration Project proof of concept. If retailers want to incorporate blockchain into their supply chain, the study recommends these steps: 1. […]

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