Articles
E-commerce
Thinking Inside the Unbox
Consumers today judge businesses on many things beyond product performance. Unboxing, for example, is now part of a consumer’s everyday experience. That means daily opportunities for your brand to make a positive impression. Today, 68 percent of shoppers say they are more aware of packaging than they were five years ago, according to a Kantar […]
Read MoreOnline Shoppers Turning To International Retailers
Nearly half of avid U.S. online shoppers bought items from international retailers, demonstrating the need for retailers to offer more personalized services as a way to compete against lower prices, according to the sixth annual UPS Pulse of the Online Shopper study. The UPS study found that almost all avid U.S. online shoppers (97%), made […]
Read MoreStudy Finds U.S. Retailers Lead the Way in International Expansion

The retail industry’s international expansion slowed a bit in 2016 from its strong pace of a year earlier as retailers adjusted to e-commerce and shifting exchange rates, according to CBRE Group Inc.’s 10th annual study of international retail expansion. The study found that retailers’ activity in entering new markets increased by 2 percent last year, […]
Read More3 Main Sources of Supply Chain Complexity
The concept of “less is more” does not so easily apply to supply chain management. As organizations look to increase revenues by expanding their product portfolios, they’re also introducing complexity and risk into their supply chains. While it might seem like a good idea to just reduce your portfolio overall, that’s not always an option. […]
Read MoreStudy Finds Growing Demand for Retail Click and Collect
Nearly one third of shoppers purchased products online and subsequently picked them up at a store during the 2016 holiday season, according to a study conducted by Bell and Howell. The 2017 Click and Collect Retail Consumer Preference Study reveals consumers’ preferences and behaviors when it comes to this practice. As part of the study, […]
Read MoreCommentary: How to Compete with Amazon’s Lower Free Shipping Threshold
Amazon recently announced another slash to its free shipping requirements and is now down to $25. Amazon understands their data better than any retailer in the industry. The company is quite literally built on the ability to understand and take action on data, be that customer buying patterns, price optimization, or competitive information. This move […]
Read MoreE-commerce Logistics: Warehouse Slotting and Space Utilization
Slotting – determining the locations of your SKUs in your warehouse – used to be an easy concept. But in the new world of warehousing focusing exclusively to a large degree on e-commerce sales, this is no longer simple. E-commerce sales in the United States grew to over $348.9 billion last year and it is […]
Read MoreSame-Day Delivery Powers Grocery
E-commerce Revolution
Consumers spent nearly $675 billion on groceries in 2016, and approximately 90% shopped for food and household supplies every week. Largely because of the convenience it offers, e-commerce grocery delivery saw massive growth. It is expected to continue to shake up the traditional grocery industry as online grocery sales are forecasted to account for as […]
Read MoreSupply Chain Insights: Three Key Logistics Movers and Shakers
The growth of e-commerce, technology change, and other cyclical and structural factors, such as the crisis of the shipping industry, are reshaping supply chains and have major implications for industrial property portfolios/markets according to a new research from Colliers International. The report also found the three key movers and shakers. 1. The e-tailers taking on […]
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Retailer Reduces Transportation Spend – Unyson
A retailer teamed up with Unyson to create an out-of-the-box solution for its growing supply chain.
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Finding Untapped Value in Product Returns
The little-known, but dark secret of e-commerce is this: On average, for every three packages a retailer ships, one will be an eventual return. Retailers must shift their focus to processing the continuously increasing number of returns. As retail grows more reliant on analytics, retailers are seeing previously untapped value in data about who is […]
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How Small Retailers Can Compete with Retail Giants
Q: What is the biggest thing for shippers to consider in their supply chain? A: The one constant trend is the growth in the way we reach consumers. E-commerce sales increased 15.6 percent in 2016, and there are no signs that this trend will slow in the future. Direct to consumer is here for the […]
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New Packaging Innovation Center
UPS and Sealed Air Corporation announced the opening of a Packaging Innovation Center in Louisville, Ky. The center will help solve the packaging and shipping challenges of e-commerce retailers by maximizing efficiency, minimizing waste, and reducing shipping costs. “One of the biggest challenges UPS customers have with e-commerce, and across other industry segments, is […]
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Apparel Logistics: Stepping Out in Style
Brand owners and retailers try refashioned supply chains on for size.
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How 3PL Warehouses Can Capitalize on the Escalating Demands of Prospects and Customers
2017 is looking to be a memorable year for the warehousing industry. For the first time since the mid-2000s, 3PL warehouses are not only in demand, but in a position of strength. This will provide 3PL operators with a unique opportunity to build lasting relationships with key customers, suppliers, and retailers of their choice. However, […]
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Walmart’s ShippingPass Has Ended. What Retailers Should Do Next.
The shipping wars between Walmart and Amazon are heating up. On Jan. 31, 2017, Walmart halted its ShippingPass delivery service in exchange for free two-day shipping—signaling their latest move against Amazon. As more retailers offer free shipping, today’s consumers now expect online purchases to be delivered “fast and free.” Evolving customer expectations for delivery are […]
Read MoreDownload the Inbound Logistics Planner App Today
Find the right solutions, carriers and partners to drive efficiency in your supply chain operations and enable your enterprise to navigate the twists and turns, ups and downs of the coming year. The Logistics Planner, 25 years strong, is updated this month with profiles of leaders in transportation, technology, logistics, supply chain management, education and […]
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Omni-Channel Retail: Roadmap To Profit
Omni-channel retail supply chains are forging new paths to profitability. Here’s what they look like.
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GOOD QUESTION | What’s your supply chain resolution for 2017?
“We need to double down on technology. Global supply chains are a chess match, and everyone still seems to want to play checkers with Excel spreadsheets, emails, and phone calls. I’m going to use technology to become Bobby Fischer.”
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Shaking Up the Brown Box: Big Winners in Supply Chain Evolution
With the infusion of multi-modal, multi-channel platforms, e-commerce is shaking the supply chain industry upside down. The consumer is now able to outrun the industry, and shippers are questioning their competency to continuously evolve their supply chains. To implement transformational strategies, operations teams are facing broad and deep investments in diversified technology and human resources […]
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