Articles

Supply Chain

Paul A. Myerson

Are You Ready for Omnichannel Retail?

An omnichannel retail strategy provides a consistent shopping experience across different channels and devices, requiring your supply chain to offer a smooth, positive experience for customers—no matter where and how they interact with your brand. Some supply chain challenges to address when dealing with an omnichannel retail strategy include: Supply chain visibility. Consumer expectations are […]

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Noel Perry

What’s Driving Truck Regulation?

The trucking industry presents a rich example of the intersection between the public’s demand for safety and consumers’ demand for low-priced goods delivered when they want them. The essence of the trucking intersection is the presence of very large vehicles mixed among the very small vehicles motorists drive. Even the dumbest motorist knows that when […]

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The Supply Chain in Brief

Shovel Ready Work is underway on a multipurpose cargo berth project at Florida’s Port Canaveral that will provide the infrastructure and capabilities to handle a wider range of heavy and oversized cargo, including commercial spacecraft components. Scheduled for completion in mid-2019, North Cargo Berth 8 on the port’s north side is designed and engineered as […]

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Fleet Operators Get No ELD Satisfaction

Fleet Operators Get No ELD Satisfaction

Slightly fewer than half of fleet operators responding to a Coretex Electronic Logging Device (ELD) satisfaction survey say the mandate is good for the transportation industry. Coretex surveyed 303 U.S. trucking companies of various sizes. More than two-thirds (69 percent) of responding companies say ELDs do not improve driver satisfaction, and 33 percent indicate it […]

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Steven Pastor

Industrial Development Returns to the Rails

The United States’ inadequate supply of Class A industrial space located close to international shipping facilities adds complexity and cost to distribution networks. With sky-high land acquisition and development costs, and limited land availability around the busiest ports, companies are forced to scatter operations in several smaller facilities or pay premium prices for adequate space. […]

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A Sweet deal: Nestlé, XPO Build Digital Warehouse

Nestlé, the world’s largest food and drink company, and XPO Logistics, a global provider of transport and logistics solutions, are co-creating a 638,000-square-foot distribution center at the new SEGRO East Midlands Gateway Logistics Park in Leicestershire, UK. Nestlé will predominantly occupy the facility, a digital warehouse of the future, for its consumer packaged goods. The […]

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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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Fresh Fish Shippers Breathe Easy

Fresh Fish Shippers Breathe Easy

The world’s only approved airfreight oxygen delivery system will revolutionize live seafood transportation throughout continental Europe and the UK through an agreement between FloatPac, the owner of FishPac live seafood oxygen transport systems, and LipFish AS, based in Troms, Norway. Lipfish currently has its first 42 units on the water for delivery to Norway, with […]

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Test Riding to Reduce Carbon Emissions Along The Supply Chain

When it comes to sustainability, consumer demand doesn’t always align with reality. Consumers want their orders to arrive within days, but with minimal environmental impact. Finding ways to incorporate nimble, zero-carbon emission vehicles throughout the supply chain is often the first step in meeting both of these expectations. One solution is electric cargo bikes (ebikes) […]

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Manufacturers Take on Amazon

In response to the “Amazon effect” and today’s consumer demands, manufacturers are reprioritizing and focusing their technology investments on inventory optimization solutions (43 percent) and integrated planning and execution technologies (41 percent), according to findings from JDA Software’s 2018 Intelligent Manufacturing Survey. The survey suggests manufacturers are embracing a new retail-like role and willing to […]

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Southwest Goes Tex-Mex

U.S.-based low-cost carrier Southwest Airlines flies into the international freight transportation field with the launch of a new Houston-Mexico City route. The carrier plans to add Cancun, Puerto Vallarta and Cabo San Lucas to its network by end of summer 2018. The airline is starting with four roundtrips per day between Mexico City International Airport […]

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To 3PL or Not to 3PL?

Retailers may face significant challenges when expanding further into the online/e-commerce business. Some challenges may involve supply chain management issues. One of the largest obstacles is developing an effective fulfillment strategy. When it comes to making this decision, it is advisable to review the possible benefits of using a third-party logistics (3PL) provider. Self-performing fulfillment […]

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Finding Hidden Talent

Finding Hidden Talent

Employers worldwide are facing the most acute talent shortage since 2006, according to the latest ManpowerGroup Talent Shortage Survey. Of the nearly 40,000 employers surveyed, 45 percent are struggling to fill roles. Skilled trade workers, sales representatives, and engineers are the most difficult to find. MORE TO THE STORY: The 4 B’s of Finding Talent […]

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An American in Paris: UPS Invests in France

An American in Paris: UPS Invests in France

UPS officially opened a new 30,000-square-meter, advanced technology package sorting and delivery hub outside Paris in Corbeil-Essonnes/Évry. The new facility, which employs nearly 1,000 people, facilitates cross-border trade and enhances package delivery service in the Île-de-France area. “This $100-million advanced technology facility spans four soccer fields,” says Nando Cesarone, president of UPS International. “And it’s […]

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Mitigating Cargo Theft Risk

Cargo theft continues to be a challenge to shippers, totaling an estimated $145 million in losses each year in North America. 1. Develop a plan. Establish security procedures for carriers hauling your freight. Ask drivers not to stop within the first 250 or 300 miles of pickup unless there is a real emergency. It’s not advisable […]

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