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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 […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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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. […]
Read MoreIndustry Insight
In its 2020 survey covering companies’ priorities and challenges related to cybersecurity, advanced technologies, succession planning, and trade developments, technology company Sikich finds: 50% of manufacturing and distribution executives say they experienced a cyberattack in the past year, but most haven’t taken important cybersecurity prevention measures. 40% say they perform data breach prevention, such as […]
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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 […]
Read MorePRODUCT SPOTLIGHT | Order Picking Solutions
PRODecant Solution: This automated solution from DLN Integrated Systems is designed for distribution facilities requiring broken case picking. It consists of a robotic system that utilizes vision technology to identify the unique specifications of a carton to automatically open and empty the contents into a tote. The tote is then routed, typically via conveyor, to […]
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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 […]
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NOTED: The Supply Chain in Brief-Sep 2020
Good Works Transfesa Logistics transported 60 shipments of humanitarian aid in July 2020, delivering 66 tons of medical equipment and necessities to vulnerable populations. The Spain-based logistics company also donated respirator masks and ozone equipment to help clean and disinfect public service vehicles. Logistics service provider Deutsche Post DHL Group provided volunteer support for the […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
Read MoreGreat Expectations
Even amid economic uncertainty, shoppers expect global businesses to maintain fast and transparent delivery, improve environmental sustainability, and keep personal data secure, according to new research from project44. Key findings from the report highlight: Fast Deliveries 83% of consumers do not expect companies to give up fast delivery in an economic downturn. 89% do not […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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Flexibility for the Win
A majority (73%) of retailers say that artificial intelligence and machine learning can add significant value to their demand forecasting processes, and more than half say it will improve other critical supply chain capabilities, finds a global supply chain study from LLamasoft. In contrast, underperforming retailers have not moved away from strategies designed to find […]
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Master Class in ROI
Large companies invested $153.4 million on average to transform their supply chain in the past three years, but only 10% of leaders became "masters" in achieving a profitable customer experience, according to a survey from Accenture. Successful companies took the following steps, according to the study: Customer-first approach. They base their supply chain strategy on […]
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Cold Storage Heats Up
Booming e-commerce and online grocery sales during the COVID-19 pandemic increased the demand for cold storage warehousing space in North America, but developers are not building fast enough to meet demand, says a new report from commercial real estate services firm Savills. Keeping up with demand: Developers are not building fast enough to meet demand, […]
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Home for the Holidays
To reduce the risk of exposure to COVID-19, consumers plan to do their holiday shopping earlier this year, a Voxware survey reports, which may bring significant challenges for distribution centers. Key survey findings include: 51% of consumers expect to start holiday shopping earlier than normal in 2020. 57% plan to have more gifts shipped directly […]
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