Articles

Logistics I.T.

Diane Fanelli

Pushing Blockchain Past the Hype

Businesses across the supply chain are finally embracing blockchain as an asset capable of unlocking tremendous value, especially as supply chains grow more globalized and susceptible to compromise. Yet many companies still approach blockchain with apprehension. Misinformation and lack of clarity loom over businesses curious about blockchain. Supply chain companies are understandably wary of having […]

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Selecting a Cloud-based TMS

Selecting and implementing a SaaS-based Transportation Management System (TMS) requires careful thought. Future users and decision-makers need to: 1. Establish clear goals and priorities in advance. Clearly understanding your priorities and goals in advance will help narrow your TMS search to only those SaaS platforms that meet your needs. Calculate the expected return on investment. […]

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What Are The Possibilities?

What Are The Possibilities?

As chief technology officer at Pilot Freight Services, Mark Baker’s mission is to lead the company through a digital transformation. “Like a lot of companies, Pilot has had some excellent technology solutions but still runs legacy back office systems using COBOL, FORTRAN, and RPG,” he says. A business that relies on mainframe-era technology can’t easily […]

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5 Ways a WMS Can Cut Supply Chain Costs

The right warehouse management system (WMS) can improve efficiency and cut supply chain costs. TECSYS, a supply chain management solutions provider, offers the following tried-and-true strategies. 1. Automate manual processes. Find every opportunity to automate repeatable and time-intensive activities, especially those prone to error. An electronic pick list is a good place to start. A […]

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3PLs, Tech Providers Empower Ethical Supply Chains

3PLs, Tech Providers Empower Ethical Supply Chains

Photo courtesy of DHL Because they are so busy watching their margins, shippers do not always spend adequate attention and resources on the ethical issues involved in their highly complex supply chains, notes Mark Smolik, vice president, general counsel and secretary, compliance officer for DHL Supply Chain, the logistics division of Deutsche Post DHL. Ethics, […]

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Companies Go for IoT

Companies will spend $434.9 billion to design, plan, build, and run Internet of Things (IoT) solutions by 2023, up from $186.1 billion in 2017, according to research company Forrester. This spending includes IoT-specific security software, platform software, service provider connectivity, application software, hardware, and professional services. Notably, Forrester predicts that spending in each of these […]

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How to Prioritize and Select Logistics Technology – SEKO Logistics

How to Prioritize and Select Logistics Technology – SEKO Logistics

Technology is the backbone of today’s logistics systems, and shippers want to make the right choices for mission-critical systems. One key question is when to outsource technology development vs. managing it with in-house resources. It can be challenging to secure internal information technology staff to focus on developing and implementing essential functions such as transportation […]

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How to Use a TMS for Shipment Visibility And Connectivity – Manhattan Associates

How to Use a TMS for Shipment Visibility And Connectivity – Manhattan Associates

Medium to large shippers may have millions of dollars of materials and inventory on the highway and often do not know exactly where it is located. Delayed shipments can have a significant economic impact on shippers and receivers, and the lack of visibility from a legacy transportation management system (TMS) into shipment status only exacerbates […]

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IN BRIEF: New Services & Solutions-November 2018

Transportation The Belgium-to-UK lane gains a new dedicated short-sea service with Samskip‘s latest offering. The service connecting Antwerp and Hull is operated by a 508-TEU capacity vessel, sailing from Associated Terminal Operators’ multimodal terminal in Antwerp on Tuesday and Saturday and ABP Port of Hull on Thursday and Monday. Airfreight shippers can take advantage of a […]

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Kristi Montgomery

IoT: Where We Are, What Comes Next

The Internet of Things (IoT) is set to disrupt all industries, including the supply chain. While excitement around this disruptive technology is enticing, IoT still has a long way to go. Supply chain executives must be thoughtful and selective when it comes to investing in it. Let’s break down some benefits and drawbacks of IoT […]

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The Key to Logistics Visibility: Connecting Things

The Internet of Things (IoT) attempted to improve logistics visibility by connecting fleets to help gain control over shipments. However, these solutions miss the mark on other logistics issues including end-to-end transport, shipment conditions other than location, stolen cargo recovery, and overall accuracy. Instead of connecting the fleets themselves, the key is to connect to […]

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An Open Ledger: Six Ways Blockchain Will Change Supply Chains

With e-commerce giants fueling a spike in shipping volumes, logistics companies need to increase efficiency, while reducing costs. One of the biggest roadblocks to doing so, is improving communication and transparency between manufacturers, freight companies, and buyers. With the global market expanding and consumer demands increasing, it is more challenging than ever to ensure quality […]

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It’s Supposed to Be, But ACE Isn’t Simple

Importing will always and forever be complex. Efforts to simplify some of the processes have, unfortunately, not always borne fruit. The aftermath of the overhaul of U.S. customs admissibility program – Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) – has created a heavier administrative burden on importers, not a lighter one. One has to believe the agencies see […]

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