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Noted: The Supply Chain in Brief-June 2018

SEALED DEALS Sports nutrition bar maker Active Nutrition International GmbH launched e-commerce channels in Germany and Austria using SaaS solutions provider Descartes Systems Group’s pixi* WMS to support order fulfillment for its PowerBar and Dymatize sports nutrition brands. Mitsubishi Electric, manufacturer and marketer of electric and electronic equipment, renewed its agreement with Yusen Logistics UK […]

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It’s Supposed to Be, But ACE Isn’t Simple

Importing will always and forever be complex. Efforts to simplify some of the processes have, unfortunately, not always borne fruit. The aftermath of the overhaul of U.S. customs admissibility program – Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) – has created a heavier administrative burden on importers, not a lighter one. One has to believe the agencies see […]

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What Does World-Class Supply Chain Planning Look Like?

Omnichannel customers, increased product customization, and the emergence of non-traditional competitors all demonstrate that the old methods of brute force execution and elbow grease will no longer suffice when creating a supply chain. Relying on a “can-do” spirit is not enough—businesses must excel at operational planning across multiple dimensions to not just win, but to […]

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Supply Chain Productivity Boosters: Three Technologies Making Maximum Impact

In today’s perpetually advancing and highly competitive modern marketplace, it is vital for businesses to stay ahead of the industry and maintain an edge, starting by reviewing current processes and identifying what can be automated or require less time, labor, and costs by utilizing technology. Embracing new technological trends will streamline workflow and optimize productivity […]

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Windows Mobile Migration: Three Ways to Ensure Business Continuity and Minimize Supply Chain Disruption

Microsoft’s 2015 decision to curtail support of mobile devices included, to the company’s credit, a sustained transition period. While this provided some breathing room for supply chains dependent upon Microsoft mobile platforms to transition to alternative operating systems, the days are numbered for companies that have yet to complete the OS transition. In June 2018, […]

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UPS Doesn’t Want Your Large Items in Its Small Parcel Network

A warning to shippers was sounded during the current UPS earnings report when it was asked to explain its strategy regarding balancing volume and price. UPS Chief Sales and Solutions Officer Kathleen Gutman stressed the importance of continuously looking for pricing initiatives which align to revenue to cost to serve as well as the value […]

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Supply Chain Commentary: 4 Steps to Increasing Visibility

When companies speak of wanting more visibility within their supply chain, what they are ultimately hoping for is to have more control. To reduce supply chain complexities and gain more authority, a business must be willing to implement tools to establish a connection to its own real-time data and information throughout its network. Establishing an […]

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Invest in Logistics IT in a Grow Economy

Now is the time for all supply chain management professionals to come to the financial aid of their logistics IT. In the Information Age and the Internet of Things (IoT) era, the need for speed and flexibility in sharing accurate information both internally within your business units and externally with your customers, vendors, and suppliers, […]

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Supply Chain Commentary: How Blockchain Brings New Efficiencies

The logistics sector faces immense pressure—to be better, faster, and less expensive. A significant amount of pressure has been applied to nearly all industries by disruptive conglomerate Amazon, which has single-handedly changed expectations of consumers everywhere. While competing with Amazon represents a major pain point, it’s not the only challenge. The U.S. Department of Transportation […]

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