Articles
Last Mile Delivery
Postal Operators Deliver on E-Commerce
Parcels and cross-border e-commerce take precedence over traditional services, such as mail, for postal operators, according to Escher’s Future of Posts 2020 report. Operators also say they need to continuously manage growing postal e-commerce traffic, with a greater emphasis on the last mile and supporting retailers. The survey results also indicate: Postal networks adapted during […]
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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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The Need for Speed: Overcoming the Final Hurdles to Faster E-Commerce Deliveries
Retailers need to address new challenges, from bolstering distribution networks to managing complexity, to continue to expand their e-commerce operations.
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True Next Day—Why It Matters
As retailers compete for the perfect delivery experience and consumers continue to pay premiums for speed and reliability, last mile delivery drives growth and profitability.
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Map Mishaps Throw Last-Mile Drivers Off Course
Nearly all last-mile delivery drivers say they would be more effective if they had better maps, according to a new report from Mapillary, a street-level imagery platform that uses computer vision to automate mapping. The delivery industry is racking up $2.5 billion in wasted salary and $611 million in extra miles due to bad maps, […]
Read MoreLast Mile Delivery Strategies During COVID-19 and Other Supply Chain Disruptions
Supply chains and carriers keep the global economy working amid the unprecedented conditions resulting from COVID-19, but they can seize up under extreme strain.
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Crossing the Final-Mile Finish Line
Total e-commerce revenue in 2020 will reach $3.52 trillion, growing year-over-year at nearly 19%, according to global tech market advisory firm ABI Research. This explosion is forcing retailers to find faster and more convenient modes to reach the final mile. Retailers will likely trade profits to continue investments in the e-commerce explosion. This growth depends […]
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Navigating Amazon’s Move into Freight
Amazon’s quiet but successful launch of a full-service freight brokerage has a number of implications for supply chain professionals—some obvious and some not so clear.
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Winning Moves for the Last Mile
With direct sales on the rise, retailers seek fast and efficient ways to deliver product over the threshold and into customers’ hands.
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VERTICAL FOCUS | Furniture
Sofa So Good What is the outlook for the U.S. furniture market moving forward? Here’s what to expect, according to Coresight Research’s U.S. Furniture Report, May 2019: A steady growth curve for the U.S. furniture industry is being driven by a strong economy. Consumer spending on furniture reached $114.2 billion in 2018, up 6.7% from […]
Read MoreTackling E-Commerce Shipping
E-commerce is quickly becoming a part of our everyday lives—putting pressure on retailers. Here are tips to help shippers keep costs down and customers happy.
Read MoreOptimizing the Last Mile
Doing last-mile logistics correctly leads to repeat business and loyal customers, but final-mile processes involve more than just a truck and driver.
Read MoreThe Sky’s the Limit for UPS With New FAA Drone Approval
On October 1st, 2019, UPS was the first company to receive approval from the Federal Aviation Administration for a broad plan to use a fleet of drones to expand its package delivery options. The milestone sets the pace for what many companies hope will become the norm in last-mile service. While other enterprises like Walgreens […]
Read MoreConsumer Demands Put Pressure on Furniture’s Final Mile
While brick and mortar stores remain the shopping venues of choice for the majority of US furniture buyers, the battleground is shifting. By 2012, 27 percent of total home furnishings revenue will come from online sales (Statista), and that share is growing at a double-digit rate. The trend has ramped up the pressure for fast, […]
Read MoreWalgreens Brings the Goods to You With New Drone Delivery Program
Walgreens is taking steps to make their customers’ experiences as seamless and stress-free as possible. In a new partnership with Alphabet’s drone service, Wing, the company will be testing a new on-demand option that delivers foods and beverages to customers. Eventaully, Walgreens hopes to incorporate over-the-counter medications into its offerings. The move comes in […]
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Japan Tests Self-Driving Delivery System
A self-driving delivery system could be the key to helping areas in Japan hit by the 2011 Fukushima earthquake.
Read MoreLast-Mile Logistics: How Sellers Can Make It a Strength and Not a Setback
The last mile, defined as the movement of items from a transportation hub to the final delivery destination often residential, is often the most challenging, costly, and technologically deficient portion of the delivery process. But as more and more consumers use e-commerce to order and ship everything from medicine to artwork, the shipping and logistics […]
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Super-sizing E-commerce Deliveries
Companies that manufacture, sell, and deliver an increasing number of e-commerce oversize goods face a unique set of challenges when delivering to homes. Delivery teams not only need access to home interiors for set-up, they must also communicate in real-time with recipients so they’re home when orders are delivered. What’s more, they need far more customer service skills than the typical delivery driver.
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Supply Chain Automation Surges
Supply chain automation is gaining ground, particularly in warehousing and middle- and last-mile logistics.
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