Articles
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Digital Health Tools Can Keep Workers Safe and Preserve Privacy
Digital tools that confirm a person’s health status can create safe work environments while also protecting personal privacy as businesses and supply chains recover from the COVID-19 disruption, according to MIT professor Alex “Sandy” Pentland, who is working on this issue with the United Nations and Club de Madrid, a consortium of former democratic presidents […]
Read MoreRetailers: It’s Time to Act
While 43% of retailers say they’re taking aggressive action to mitigate the effects of COVID-19, 38% are taking only some action, and 19% are taking a wait-and-see approach, according to Digital Commerce 360. Retailers need to take significant action, however, to address the following five issues, says the research company: 1. Consumer confidence: 97% of […]
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China’s Road to Restoration
After reporting no new cases of COVID-19 in March 2020, people are going back to work in China—but companies still face a slow return to production. Not only do China’s original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) face many challenges in resuming their production capacity, but global manufacturers also feel the impact of shortages in their supply chains. […]
Read MoreHow Shippers Are Handling COVID-19
Shippers are quickly responding to the COVID-19 outbreak, according to a survey by Echo Logistics. Shipping volumes demonstrate the resilience of companies and their ability to produce essential products during disruption, and highlight the important role transportation plays, according to Echo. Shippers’ responses shifted during just a two-week period: 28% of shippers said the virus […]
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Grape Expectations: Wine Quality Control
The global wine industry is complex and interconnected, but lacks the tools to properly optimize its supply chain. To improve transparency for producers, distributors, retailers, and consumers, IBM and eProvenance released VinAssure, a blockchain solution that tracks wines as they move from the vineyard to the end-consumer. By encouraging transparency, accountability, and rapid data exchange, […]
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Making the Move to Warehouse Work
Soaring demand for warehouse space creates a highly competitive labor environment in many markets, especially during the pandemic, says Newmark Research. The following factors are driving employees to leave their jobs and enter the warehousing and transportation sector (see chart), the report says: More space. In the second quarter of 2021, a record 423.7 million […]
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Keep Your Cool
Product damage or spoilage, which most often occurs in transit, is the No. 1 supply chain challenge for the pharma and food and beverage industries (see chart), according to a Cloudleaf survey. This highlights a great need to maintain visibility throughout a product’s journey once it leaves the warehouse. Most (87%) survey respondents in the […]
Read More3 Ways to Mitigate Supply Chain Slowdowns
As the supply chain faces factory closures and limited access to employees and logistics to move goods amid the COVID-19 outbreak, leaders can help ease disruption by focusing on their workforce, products, and costs. Gartner recommends: 1. Support Your Workforce To limit the impact of COVID-19, governments and employers instructed many employees to stay at […]
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UPS Upgrades Unmanned Drone Fleet
UPS drone delivery subsidiary UPS Flight Forward will collaborate with German drone-maker Wingcopter to develop the next generation of package delivery drones for multiple uses in the United States and internationally. Both companies will work toward earning regulatory certification for a Wingcopter unmanned aircraft to make commercial delivery flights in the United States and build […]
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Sysco Shifts Fleet to Grocery Supply Chain
Multinational food distribution company Sysco Corporation, based in Houston, launched several new grocery sector-focused initiatives in response to reduced customer demand during the COVID-19 pandemic. Sysco has one of the largest trucking fleets in the United States, with approximately 14,000 delivery vehicles consisting of tractors, trailers, vans, and panel trucks. The company employs 69,000 people. […]
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Uncorking Automation Bottlenecks
Although 57% of organizations say they’re piloting automation processes and 93% of employees are optimistic automation will make their jobs easier, digital transformation efforts often fall apart, according to a new McKinsey survey. Many companies rely on IT to drive transformation without engaging other departments, creating bottlenecks. Company size and the structure of automation efforts […]
Read MoreAmazon Shoppers Won’t Abandon Ship
Many U.S. consumers have negative feelings toward Amazon’s impact on the retail industry and the environment, according to a recent consumer survey by Convey. The negative sentiment, however, doesn’t translate to lost sales. The key to Amazon’s success is its industry-disrupting shipping. Major findings include: 25% of Americans have negative feelings about Amazon’s impact on […]
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Supply Chain Execs Brace for Global Slowdown
Supply chain industry executives anticipate a recession in 2020 amid concerns about downward pressure on global trade volumes, uncertain growth prospects, and ongoing friction between the United States and China. A recession is likely in the next 12 months, according to 64% of industry professionals surveyed for the 2020 Agility Emerging Markets Logistics Index (see […]
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Robots Arrive in Cars
North American robot unit orders increased 1.6% in 2019 compared to 2018 with 29,988 robotic units ordered, according to the Robotic Industries Association. The largest driver of the growth was a 50.5% increase in orders from automotive original equipment manufacturers and a 16.6% increase from the plastics and rubber industry. Orders to automotive component markets […]
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Transport Companies Stamp U.S. Postal Service Suppliers List
The number of transportation companies at the top of Husch Blackwell’s Top 150 U.S. Postal Service Suppliers list—an annual look at the companies with the largest supplier relationships with the Postal Service—increased in 2019. Seven of the top 10 suppliers are involved in transportation, which is one more than in fiscal year 2018. As it […]
Read MoreBlockchain Pilots Aren’t Landing
A majority (80%) of supply chain blockchain initiatives will stay at the pilot stage through 2022, according to new Gartner research. Many organizations pushed to create robust use cases for the supply chain; however, most were inspired by banking and insurance pilots, and didn’t translate to supply chain. This should not discourage supply chain leaders […]
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State of Retail Tech
Equity funding to retail tech companies slowed globally in 2019—down 31% to $45.2 billion—largely due to a slide in funding to e-commerce platforms and enabling technologies, finds CB Insights’ State of Retail Tech report, a comprehensive look into retail trends from 2019 and what to look for in 2020. Specifically, funding to supply chain and […]
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5 Steps to a Contract High
In the mid-2000s, a U.S. computer manufacturer signed a long-term contract with an overnight delivery service to transport its products. By the eighth year of the 10-year contract, both the manufacturer and carrier wanted out. But both companies knew ending the agreement would be a lose-lose. The result: two years of distrust, retaliatory measures, and […]
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Automated Materials Handling Gets a Lift
A labor market in which it is increasingly difficult to recruit, train, and retain workers is a major factor driving growth of the automated materials handling equipment market in North America, finds a report by BCC Research. The market expects a compound annual growth rate of 7.1% through 2024 and may be worth $28.7 billion. […]
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Predicting the Future of Consumer Demand
Improving demand forecasting is a priority for manufacturers—61% of respondents to a recent AIMMS report say that improving forecast accuracy is either important or extremely important for their organizations. However, only 2% of respondents are extremely satisfied with their forecasts. Many bet on new technologies such as machine learning and demand sensing to improve forecast […]
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