News

12 Ways of Christmas

Cold Changes

Most cold chain businesses say that taking extra measures to protect the workforce is their No. 1 issue (see chart), according to the Global Cold Chain Alliance’s survey studying the ripple effects of COVID-19. Other key findings include: Common challenges. More than 50% of respondents say that supply chain disruptions, such as keeping up with […]

Hopping on the Transformation Train

Global disruption has failed to halt shippers’ digital transformation plans: 52% of companies say they will increase their spending on digital transformation, and those concerned with economic disruption are 20% more likely to invest in digital transformation, according to a global research study from IFS. However, these numbers aren’t consistent across all geographies or industry […]

Vertical Focus: Aerospace

Boeing Fights for Flights A single Boeing aircraft is composed of more than 3 million parts, making its supply chain a massive global undertaking. Successfully managing such a complex operation requires rigorous planning years in advance to accurately predict changes in demand and adapt accordingly. How does the company do it? Partnerships: Before 2007, Boeing […]

Getting Out of the Woods

COVID-19 radically changed the workplace and how supply chains operate. Shippers that scale their technical infrastructure and put the customer first will thrive, says a study by Reuters Events and CalAmp. Other key findings include: Preparedness: Shippers say their logistics solution providers are managing the uncertainty of customer demand, scoring them an average of 72/100. […]

Food Fights

With restaurants providing only delivery or takeout during the pandemic, consumers turn to retailers and grocers to fill the gap. The impact on the food industry varies both by state and by sales channel, with fresh meat leading the increase in dollar sales (see chart), reports Hilco Global. Other trends in the report include: Food […]

Supply Chains Need Long-Term Resilience

Before COVID-19 struck, supply chains were praised for their just-in-time capabilities. Now entirely new levels of supply chain resilience are needed, according to the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals’ (CSCMP) 2020 State of Logistics Report. In 2019, the U.S. economy achieved 2.3% growth, and the logistics sector grew to $1.65 trillion in expenditures. Productivity […]

Cycling at Full Speed

We Scream for Ice Cream

Retail Responds

Retailers faced steep fluctuations in demand during the COVID-19 pandemic, and many have been forced to close or adapt to accommodate social distancing. To improve their supply chain resilience for future disruption, retailers must invest in flexibility, visibility, and automation, according to a study by WMG, the University of Warwick, and Blue Yonder. Key findings […]

Asia’s Economic Rebound

About 43% of businesses say that the majority of their global supply chains are dependent on China, and most say they won’t be able to visit those suppliers until June 2021 at the earliest (see chart), according to a study from technology platform Flexport. Asia was the first region to endure COVID-19 and reopen its […]

Postal Operators Deliver on E-Commerce

Parcels and cross-border e-commerce take precedence over traditional services, such as mail, for postal operators, according to Escher’s Future of Posts 2020 report. Operators also say they need to continuously manage growing postal e-commerce traffic, with a greater emphasis on the last mile and supporting retailers. The survey results also indicate: Postal networks adapted during […]

DHL Debuts Retail Store

DHL Express opened a new 1,500-square-foot ServicePoint retail store in Southern Florida. The facility is the first exclusive DHL-branded retail store in the United States. The international shipping service plans to open additional stores in other U.S. locations as international trade rebounds. "For years, Miami has been the up-and-coming gateway city to Latin America as […]