Articles
Takeaways
“The Great Reset”
The State of Logistics Report, produced annually for the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals by global consulting firm Kearney and presented by Penske Logistics, delivers a snapshot of the American economy through the lens of the logistics sector and its role in overall supply chains.
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The Risks of SMB Nearshoring
Small and mid-size businesses (SMBs) are embracing nearshoring to help address supplier challenges such as unreliable delivery time frames and inconsistent product quality. But switching to nearby suppliers is easier said than done.
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Shippers Gain Confidence
What can shippers expect next quarter? BlueGrace Logistics’ Q3 Logistics Confidence Index finds these key highlights: Anticipated revenue maintained a positive trend, decreasing by only 4% across all shippers surveyed. Inventory levels measured highest at neutral and therefore are not expected to expand or contract for Q3. Order volume (sentiment) increased by 5%. That suggests order volumes […]
Read MoreState of Digitization in Forwarding
The pace of digitalization in freight forwarding has accelerated since 2020, as companies increasingly invest in technology solutions to streamline operations, finds a Magaya report. However, the industry still has a long way to go to capitalize on evolving technological advancements. Many organizations still rely heavily on inefficient manual processes. The survey’s key findings include: […]
Read MoreIndustrial Sector Cools, Manufacturing Heats Up
Following record high demand and rent prices notched during the pandemic, the industrial sector’s dynamics are shifting and demand is cooling, finds a new U.S. industrial market update from Savills. Some predictions about where things are headed from here: Vacancy rates are on the rise. While the market is still historically tight, vacancy rates are […]
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Reshoring Moves Beyond the Drawing Table
Reshoring and nearshoring have finally matured into commercial realities, finds Kearney’s 10th annual Reshoring Index Report. Reshoring initiatives have become so successful that companies that took a wait-and-see approach to locating manufacturing operations in the past are now scrambling to find facilities in Mexico and the United States. But the road to reshoring is harder […]
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Technology Leads the Pack
Packaging used to be simply for protecting and identifying a product; now it helps drive sales. Smart packaging—which uses technology to enhance user engagement, product quality, and supply chain efficiency—is the latest iteration, according to Smart Packaging 2023-2033, a new report from IDTechEx. Establishing business models that utilize these technologies to unlock value for brands […]
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Air Cargo Grounded
The global air cargo market may have to hang on until October for signs of a recovery. A flood of summer bellyhold capacity on major lanes and a 4% drop in demand in April 2023 indicates challenging months ahead, according to new analysis from CLIVE Data Services, part of Xeneta. Air freight spot rates dropped […]
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Winning the Data Game
Rates shift as dynamically as the market does so it’s important for shippers to have some benchmarks in place to navigate it as cleanly—and cheaply—as possible. However, that requires investing a lot of time and focus on top of simply getting the job done right. So where can shippers go to manage all the information […]
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Trucking Gets a Tune Up
The labor shortages, supply chain disruptions, and high fuel prices brought on by the pandemic continue to reverberate in the trucking industry. To identify challenges and potential solutions, Rose Rocket surveyed trucking executives, carriers, and brokers and aggregated usage data from its transportation management system. More than half (53.5%) of those surveyed cite hiring and […]
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A Direct Hit
As retail businesses explore all their supply chain options, many find that direct-to-consumer (DTC) models may be the right approach. In fact, two-thirds of North American organizations say their investment in the DTC delivery model has increased since early 2020, according to a new Deposco report, The Rise of Direct-to-Consumer in North America. Respondents from […]
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A Healthier Pharma Supply Chain
To improve their bottom line, many healthcare providers are applying supply chain know-how to healthcare decisions. One example: Cardinal Health collaborated with Palantir Technologies to design a solution that provides health systems and hospitals with dynamic purchase decision insights. The solution uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to analyze real-time clinical and purchasing data, then […]
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Tear It Down Then Build It Up
Recent systemic supply chain challenges have forced some companies to scrap contingency plans and rebuild their supply chains from the ground up. This has created demand for relevant business interruption coverage, according to a new WTW study. The survey polled supply chain risk decision makers in industries including life sciences, semiconductors, food and beverage, agriculture, […]
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Balancing Shipping Costs with Inventory Carrying Costs
Shippers must learn how to navigate the new balancing act between just-in-time and just-in-case demands, especially as the shipping market increases in complexity. Just-in-time logistics will stay with us in the coming years, but it will be augmented by a slight increase in just-in-case inventory, depending on the industry. However, creating better resilience is far […]
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Remaining Vigilant, Post Pandemic
The supply and demand imbalances wrought during the pandemic magnified deficiencies in public and private infrastructure and investment. And although the pandemic may no longer be throwing logistics operations into upheaval, shippers should remain vigilant. With these challenges in mind, where should shippers focus their attention and what can they do to mitigate these threats? […]
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Playing Nice
Distributors and manufacturers can find themselves at odds when it comes to supply chain management. Overcoming siloed data streams, friction in workflows, and misalignment on goals can cause tension in partnerships. In worst case scenarios, these disconnects can lead to arguments, disputes, and a lack of customer focus. It pays to focus on a solution. […]
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Are Things Looking Up?
As 2023 began, the global economy focused on inflation and recession fears. Now add geopolitical tensions and domestic challenges in key markets that are slowing return to sustained growth, according to KPMG’s latest Global Economic Outlook report. Pressure on global supply chains has eased in 2023 and shipping costs have dropped, which should alleviate some […]
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Turn Up the Tech
Driven by the need to improve visibility and better manage the workforce, nearly three-quarters of supply chain leaders are increasing technology and innovation investments, finds the 2023 MHI Annual Industry Report, The Responsible Supply Chain: Transparency, Sustainability, and the Case for Business, conducted with Deloitte. Sustainability is also top of mind, as nearly half of […]
Read MoreSpecialty Retail Hits the Mark
What makes a successful retailer? To answer that question, Manhattan Associates, in partnership with Google Cloud and Zebra Technologies, examined data insight from real purchases, returns, and customer journeys across digital and physical channels to create The Unified Commerce Benchmark for Specialty Retail, a report conducted by Incisiv. The benchmark assesses retailers across 11 specialty […]
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WMS Grows Up
As technology adoption increases and ecommerce continues to grow, companies are looking to smart warehouses to meet customer demands. As a result, warehouse management systems (WMS) are poised to take off. The WMS market will see a 17.3% compounded annual growth rate—culminating in a market worth more than $51 billion by 2030—predicts an Insight Partners […]
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