Articles
Takeaways
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 […]
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Specialty 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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Keeping the Last Mile In Sight
When customers order an item, they want it delivered now. Retailers realize this, but they also have to keep costs in mind. A study FarEye conducted with Researchscape International finds that retailers with more than $100 million in sales seek to improve the top key performance indicators of on-time delivery (74%) and cost per delivery […]
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Gaining Vision in Ocean Freight’s Murky Depths
What you don’t know can hurt you. Half of ocean freight stakeholders responding to a recent report released by FourKites say they have zero visibility into their ocean freight. More than 20% still rely on manual track-and-trace processes to locate their ocean freight in the supply chain. Once that cargo hits land, the numbers get […]
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Air Cargo Gains Altitude
Air cargo levels are showing signs of rebounding to pre-pandemic levels. North American carriers reported a 5.1% decrease in demand in 2022 when compared with 2021, but capacity increased 4.2%, according to the International Air Transport Association. Comparing these figures with 2019 shows demand at 13.7% and capacity at 8.2% above pre-pandemic levels. Here are […]
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Look Ma, No Hands
As autonomous driving gains some traction, transportation companies are building partnerships to bring self-driving trucks from concept to reality. To that end, Ascend, a truckload carrier that offers middle-mile supply chain solutions, partnered with Volvo Autonomous Solutions (VAS) to test autonomous, long distance linehaul options. As part of the pilot, Ascend will pick up customer […]
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War in Ukraine Squeezes Shipping
More than one year after Russia’s initial invasion of Ukraine, global supply chains are feeling the impact. In the months after the invasion, total vessels moving in and out of Ukraine dropped from 109 in January 2022 to just two in June 2022, according to data tracked by project44. Combine the lack of vessel movement […]
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With a Little Help From My Friendshoring
For more than 40 years, economic policies encouraged companies in the developed world to move production offshore to reap the benefits of cheap labor and raw materials. But times are changing.
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Bye, Bye Barcode?
For more than 70 years, the barcode has been an integral component of nearly all supply chains. But is the ubiquitous technology taking its last breaths after Amazon announced it is developing a new warehouse reader technology?
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Snail Mail Goes Green
The United States Postal Service (USPS) is ready to deliver your mail greener and quieter. As it begins to replace its aging fleet of more than 220,000 vehicles, USPS expects to acquire at least 66,000 battery electric delivery vehicles as part of its 106,000 vehicle acquisition plan between now and 2028. As part of a […]
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Follow the Process
Process automation plays an important role in building supply chains, finds a benchmark report from Precisely and SAPinsider.
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What Keeps CEOs Up at Night?
Fears of inflation, recession, and overall slow growth are the top worries interrupting the sleep of many CEOs around the world.
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SMBs Find Ways to Compete
The business disruptions of the past few years have made it harder to optimize supply chains and forced all businesses to examine the best use of resources. It’s tough enough for large companies with deep pockets, but how are small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs) adapting?
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Industrial Real Estate Keeps the Pace…for Now
U.S. industrial leasing activity will decline in 2023, but demand will keep pace with supply for the 13th consecutive year of positive net absorption, predicts CBRE in its U.S. Real Estate Market Outlook 2023 report. Vacancy rates that remain below the 10-year average, however, will lead to double-digit rent growth, finds the report. As of […]
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