Articles
January 2023
Polish Up That Crystal Ball
Making informed decisions that impact all aspects of the supply chain requires access to quality, actionable information. While it’s not possible to accurately predict the future, BlueGrace Logistics’ Logistics Confidence Index (LCI) examines expected revenue growth for upcoming quarters and how shippers can adjust based on those expectations. The LCI shipper survey measures expected industry […]
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California Here We Come
Nearly one-third of logistics managers polled in a CNBC survey do not know how much trade they would return to West Coast ports after an International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) labor deal is reached. Negotiations between the Pacific Maritime Association and the ILWU, which represents 22,000 West Coast port workers, began on May 10, […]
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Last-Mile Deliveries Grow Bigger and Bulkier
Big and bulky last-mile delivery will be one of the fastest growing third-party logistics (3PL) segments for the next three years, driven by expanding e-commerce product categories that include furniture and appliances, predicts Making it Count: Big and Bulky Last-Mile Delivery in the United States, an Armstrong & Associates report. The report estimates the 3PL […]
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Robotics Demand Skyrockets
Robots are seeing a population growth. By 2027, more than 4 million robots will be installed and operating in warehouses and distribution centers. Shipments of mobile robots jumped 53% in 2022 when compared with 2021, driven by increasing e-commerce, labor shortages, and shifting manufacturing methods, finds research from Interact Analysis. The market will experience compounded […]
Read MoreSouth of the Border Imports Boom
Driven by demand for boats, vehicles, vehicle parts, computer parts, and oil, Mexican imports to the United States rose 19.5% year-over-year in 2022 to reach $479.6 billion according to Mexico’s National Institute of Statistics, Geography, and Informatics. Some segments, such as motor vehicle parts, are returning to pre-pandemic levels. Additionally, data from project44 shows that […]
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Walmart Takes to the Skies
Retailers continue to look for new ways to meet consumer demand for fast delivery. Many, including Walmart, are banking on drones. For a cool $3.99, Walmart customers who live within one mile of a participating store can now have thousands of eligible products delivered to their home via same-day drone delivery. Walmart expanded its DroneUp […]
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Reviewing 2022 Shipping Challenges
How did shippers respond to challenges in 2022 and how do they plan to respond in 2023? That’s what Averitt’s eighth annual State of the North American Supply Chain Survey set out to discover. The survey asked 1,800 shippers about supply chain challenges in 2022 and measures their interest in various supply chain services moving […]
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Many Supply Chains Still in the Dark
Although technology innovations help shed light on additional insights into supply chains, some knowledge gaps remain. Up to 80% of executives responding to Verusen’s 2022 State of Supply Chain Management report say they can’t digitally track the movement of direct and indirect materials across their enterprise, which suggests that many companies may lack the technology […]
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Managing Supplier Risk: It’s All About the Information
What was once “nice to have” information has been defined by law. As social and environmental concerns grow, governments and related third parties are demanding, with regulatory backing, that businesses manage ethical supply chains. What can large organizations with complex supply chains do to help mitigate supplier risk?
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The Costly Consequences of Bad Data
A majority of sourcing and procurement leaders say they were inadequately prepared for supply chain disruptions in 2022. This lack of preparedness is partly due to continued and overwhelming reliance on manually updated source-to-pay platforms, which seriously limit operational efficiency. Worse, inaccurate supplier data inhibits business continuity, especially as disruptions continue.
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Solving the Talent Crisis
The greatest untapped talent pool in manufacturing, logistics, and the supply chain sector in the United States is women. Even though women make up almost half (47%) of the entire U.S. labor force, they make up only slightly more than one-quarter (27%) of the manufacturing workforce. This needs to change if the manufacturing industry is to have any hope of addressing the enormous talent chasm that has opened up in recent years.
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Design Time: Leveraging a WMS to Furnish Homes Sustainably
By offering minimalist, modern design and quality materials, home furnishing company Oliver Space has grown to more than 100 employees over the past three years, expanding from its headquarters in San Francisco to serve six cities along the West Coast and in southwestern United States. Along the way, it has helped furnish thousands of homes.
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Easing the Pain of Fulfillment and Shipping
Since its launch in 2006, Tiger Tail USA, a pioneer in muscle care and recovery, has expanded from the garage of Spring Faussett, its founder, to producing and selling tens of thousands of units.
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Is Your Business Ready for Intelligent Document Processing?
The world has seen the damage a slow supply chain can do—it stunts economic growth, negatively impacts revenue, and leads to customer frustration, or worse, customer loss. Technology has been touted as the end-all to supply chain woes, but it can be difficult to determine the most beneficial solutions. Yet, one AI solution can lay the foundational groundwork for implementing future technologies: Intelligent Document Processing (IDP).
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Innovation Takes a Turn at the Wheel
When it comes to meeting supply chain goals, many companies want to take a breather and buy a vowel. But with some innovative thinking, they can boost visibility, increase fulfillment operation efficiency, and streamline transportation, without losing a turn.
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2023 Supply Chain Predictions: Plan Ahead & Get Organized
Supply chain leaders share predictions, tips, and notes to help you tackle the business challenges ahead.
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Disruption-Busting Moves for 2023 and Beyond
During a downpour of disruptions, these maneuvers can ensure your supply chain can withstand volatility and even thrive through upheaval and inclement conditions.
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IN BRIEF: New Services and Solutions
From new e-commerce solutions to RFID tags for tracking assets, here’s what’s new and notable in the supply chain.
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What’s the Word? The Language of Logistics
IL breaks down the logistics terms gaining traction in 2023 (from social commerce to footprinting) as well as defines the basic concepts that keep cargo moving.
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Custom TMS and Freight Management Solution Provides Industrial Distributor with Full Supply Chain Visibility
The Logistics Plus® MyLogisticsPlus™ cloud-based portal is customized to provide a direct interface with the client’s WMS for its parcel, freight, and international order and shipping processing. The Logistics Plus Freight audit and payment solution offers the client complete invoice visibility with business intelligence reporting.
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