Articles
Technology
Supply Chain Management: It’s IoT Time
Companies keep finding new ways to gain supply chain improvements with help from the Internet of Things.
Read MoreThe Wave of New Technologies in Logistics Requires Data Management Excellence
Q: Technology seems to be having its moment in the logistics space. What do things like the Internet of Things, Big Data, and Blockchain mean for shippers and logistics providers? A: These elements are becoming critical parts of modern supply chains because they allow companies to harness data they might already have, or incorporate previously […]
Read MoreShopping for a Transportation Management System: Factors to Consider
Is your organization seeking to replace its current Transportation Management System (TMS) or obtain a TMS for the first time? Besides the obvious factors, such as overall cost, functionality that meets your requirements, and the ability to integrate with your current system and trading partners, below are five points to consider when shopping for a […]
Read MoreGlobal Trade Network: A Strategic, Competitive Asset
Q: Why do companies have such a hard time embracing global trade management? A: The Amazon effect is wreaking havoc on supply chains globally. Consumers are buying online from everywhere in the world and expecting delivery in one to two days. International shipping presents real challenges for suppliers and shippers attempting to keep up with […]
Read MoreConsumer Demand Helping Drive 3PL Industry Growth
In recent years, shippers have encountered new standards of velocity, market choice, and cost for their products. Consumers are demanding better variety and greater availability at the lowest possible cost. These demands put increasing pressure on retailers, who in turn, pass that burden on to their suppliers—further increasing complexity and intensifying pressure on supply chains. […]
Read MoreGaining Visibility Through Data
Q: Data impacts the way many organizations make decisions. Can a freight audit and payment system provide added visibility? A: If shippers don’t have valid insight, they can’t make valid decisions. Data analysis and benchmarking can provide this visibility, allowing shippers to identify outliers in performance and cost. Yet most companies don’t have the technology […]
Read MoreWe’ve Been Together for 35 Years
This month marks my 35th anniversary of serving readers as editor of Inbound Logistics. That milestone gave me reason to look back while developing and editing the content for this annual logistics technology issue. Three decades ago, logistics technology primarily consisted of typewriters, pens and pencils, ledgers, paper maps, and hand-typed bills of lading and […]
Read MoreLeading Logistics Provider Closes More Business, Develops Stronger Customer Relationships
The Challenge With its growing international customer base, this global logistics and transportation service provider for the chemical and process industries recognized the need to automate its contract management and pricing process and to expand its global operations. However, the logistics team realized it would be very difficult to handle the increased number of contracts […]
Read MoreTMS Launches New Era: Control Tower Visibility
It wasn’t long ago that top executives around the world had to be convinced why they needed accounting software to run their companies. Today it is unthinkable of any company operating without accounting software to manage their company’s finances. The importance of technology in shipping is starting to reach this same critical point for most […]
Read MoreBlockchain Set to Shake Up Shipping
International trade is a maze of regulations, and mostly manual, inefficient processes that lack transparency. This is all about to radically change with blockchain technology. Shipping today is riddled with documentation, regulations, and policies that require certificates of origin, letters of credit, bills of lading, vessel manifests, and customs declarations. Blockchain converts documents, such as […]
Read More3 Steps to a Demand-Driven Supply Chain
The on-demand economy means customers expect instant gratification via immediate access and convenient delivery options. Companies must adapt and start optimizing their supply chains to stay competitive. Many companies are still supply driven, constrained by resource capacity, archaic scheduling technologies, and inefficient decision-making. Typically, these businesses match demand by increasing the supply and infrastructure to […]
Read MoreTurn to Technology to Attract the Next Generation of Workers
Supply chain stakeholders have to acknowledge the shortage of workers in the supply chain sector. An estimated 600,000 manufacturing positions in the United States are going unfulfilled due to a lack of qualified workers, according to the 2016 MHI Annual Industry Report. Additionally the survey showed that 58 percent of respondents face a significant challenge […]
Read MoreTransparency to Efficiency: How IoT Can Increase the Productivity of Your Transportation (Sponsored)
The evolution of business has rapidly increased over the last 25 years. The speed of technological advances has impacted all aspect of business, including the last bastions of manufacturing and transportation operations. Every business has looked to capitalize on technology to increase productivity and leveraging that into higher profit margins. With the Internet of Things, […]
Read MoreCarrier Network Plants Seeds of Delivery Efficiency
By cultivating a partnership with a technology-based 3PL, a fruits and vegetables distributor quickly gets fresh deliveries to customers, with full visibility.
Read MoreMost Mid-Market Supply Chains Are Under-Served
On average, mid-market supply chains ($50M to $150M) replace their supply chain providers every two to three years. The two overwhelming reasons why are because they don’t realize continuous return on investment (ROI) improvement and they lack strategic account support. Mid-market supply chain owners are caught in a conundrum: They’re too big for the small […]
Read MoreMastering Logistics Complexity: How to Take Control With Technology
There was a time when road distribution was either local delivery from local producers, or the ‘final mile’ delivery of goods that had been transported longer distances by rail or interstate highway first. The typical journey was either point to point or a regular circuit of collections and drops. An experienced transport manager, or even […]
Read MoreWinning on Your Terms
In an age when so many conversations begin with, "Have you heard what Amazon just announced?," wouldn’t it be nice to have your competitors worry about your latest supply chain success? It’s rather easy to become distracted by the daily activities of the world’s largest retailer. But keeping our collective eye on the ball has […]
Read MoreWhat Your Transportation Management System Should Provide
The transportation and logistics world is abuzz with the need for ever stronger and more diverse transportation management systems (TMS). This is apparently true for small and large shippers alike. And in today’s world of diverse rates and worldwide shipping operations, both inbound and outbound, the need grows stronger each year. So what should a […]
Read MoreHow 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, […]
Read MoreToday’s Competitive Supply Chain: Digital, Smaller, More Resilient
Historically, the supply chain and manufacturing industry has been relatively slow to embrace the opportunities presented by the digital revolution. Technology is advancing quickly, and it’s time to buck this trend. Whether it’s recognizing the crucial strategic strength and impact offered by the Internet of Things (IoT), taking advantage of the dramatic increase in automation, […]
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