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Customer Service, Last Mile Delivery, Retail Logistics, Retail, Logistics, Supply Chain
3PLs & Carriers: At Your Service
A look at the metrics that shippers and their service providers use to evaluate the quality of customer service.
Customer Service, Last Mile Delivery
The Last Mile’s Lasting Impact
From traditional heavy goods shipments to the new influx of e-commerce-fueled home deliveries, the last mile plays a crucial role in the supply chain.
Last Mile Delivery, Demand Planning, Trucking, Technology
Optimizing the Last Mile
Businesses can address the challenges of the last mile with technology, along with these directives.
Last Mile Delivery, Distribution, Fulfillment, Inventory Management, Visibility
Consumers Have the Last (Mile) Laugh
While the use of last-mile delivery has increased in the pandemic era, the process has experienced various growing pains. A new consumer survey shows customers have encountered regular delays and would like to have greater visibility of their deliveries.
Customer Service, Food Logistics, Retail Logistics, Technology
How to Ensure Delight in the Grocery Aisle
Disappointing a customer doesn’t sit well with a retailer or store associate, and that sense of frustration is something retailers should be working to prevent, starting with these strategic supply chain enhancements.
E-commerce, Last Mile Delivery, Retail
Knock, Knock! SMBs Deliver the Final Mile
Small and mid-sized manufacturers and retailers are killing it in the middle and final miles.
E-commerce, Last Mile Delivery, Retail
Last Mile Predictions and Priorities
The continued demand and expectation for last-mile delivery will require new solutions to optimize a strained supply chain.
Last Mile Delivery, Logistics, Transportation
Crawlers Conquer the Last Mile Before Takeoff
NASA's crawler-transporters do the heavy lifting for space exploration, transporting rockets and equipment to the launch pad at the Kennedy Space Center.
E-commerce, Customer Service, Fulfillment
Improving CX: Going the Extra Mile
From e-commerce fulfillment strategies to warehouse layout to inventory approaches, here are the supply chain moves that translate to significant customer experience improvements, from the supplier’s customer to the end consumer.
E-commerce, Last Mile Delivery, Retail
Amazon Delivery Drivers, Assemble!
Amazon is testing a premium service where shoppers can have their orders assembled upon arrival, as online furniture and houseware sales soar and shoppers make more big-ticket purchases online.
Customer Service, Partnership, Technology
10 Tips for Improving the Customer Experience
Your customer experience represents the primary touchpoint between your revenue and customers, so the experience you offer can make all the difference between short-lived success and true market longevity.
Last Mile Delivery, Safety, Technology
USPS Steps Up Its Fleet Game
The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) invested in the most significant modernization of its fleet in three decades.
Food Logistics, Last Mile Delivery
Pizza Pizza!
Even though the pandemic took a bite out of pizza restaurant growth, sales remain steady as businesses cook up new delivery strategies.
3PL, Last Mile Delivery, Technology
Uncorking Last-Mile Bottlenecks
To move goods to customers’ doorsteps efficiently, safely, and quickly, many companies need to overcome strained distribution networks, time-consuming manual processes, driver shortages, and urban congestion. Here are the latest last-mile innovations.
Customer Service, Partnership, Technology
Creating an Exceptional Customer Experience
If you deliver poor customer service, you’ll lose business. But you can turn things around with a serious commitment to meaningful change and work across your entire enterprise.
Customer Service, Demand Planning
Amping Up the CX
A look at some of the strategies that shippers and their 3PL partners use to provide end customers with an excellent experience.
Customer Service, Third-Party Logistics, Partnership
What Is the Best Method to Measure Customer Satisfaction?
Ruan believes in developing strong partnerships by understanding our customers’ stories and continuing to improve our service as their needs evolve. And the best way to know if we are achieving that goal is to ask them.
Last Mile Delivery, Inventory Management, Warehousing
Supply Chain Checklist for a COVID-19 World
Here are some key strategies for improving your supply chain in the current environment, as well as preparing to adapt to the uncertainties ahead.
Last Mile Delivery, Distribution, Logistics
Traffic Control
To prepare for the return of crowded streets in urban areas, cities and shippers explore alternative vehicles, apps, pricing solutions, and distribution centers to address last-mile gridlock.
Bolstering Customer Experience in the Supply Chain
3PL MD Logistics becomes an integral part of retailers’ supply chains, focusing on both its customer’s experience and their customers’ experience.
Customer Service, Supply Chain, Technology
What Is a Continuous Delivery Experience and How Has COVID-19 Increased Its Importance in the Supply Chain?
As the country and global economy begin to recover, the question on everyone's minds is: “What will re-entry into the business world look like?” As companies transition into the “new normal,” implementing a CDX solution is of the utmost importance.
Last Mile Delivery, Technology
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.
E-commerce, Last Mile Delivery, Retail
Map Mishaps Throw Last-Mile Drivers Off Course
Almost all last-mile delivery drivers say they would be more effective if their maps were more accurate—this includes better meeting delivery windows and fewer parking tickets.
E-commerce, Last Mile Delivery, Demand Planning
Last Mile Delivery Strategies During COVID-19 and Other Supply Chain Disruptions
How do supply chain disruptions like COVID-19 impact the final mile, and how can retailers adjust their strategy? Some solutions include contactless delivery, offering accessible pickup points, and easing capacity constraints.
E-commerce, Last Mile Delivery, Retail
Crossing the Final-Mile Finish Line
E-commerce revenue in 2020 will reach $3.52 trillion—this explosion is forcing retailers to find faster and more convenient modes to reach the final mile.
3PL, Last Mile Delivery, Retail
Navigating Amazon's Move into Freight
Amazon's launching of a full-service freight brokerage has a number of implications for supply chain professionals—some obvious and some not so clear.
E-commerce, Last Mile Delivery, Retail, Transportation
Winning Moves for the Last Mile
Take a look at the strategies that retailers and their service partners use to improve last-mile delivery for direct-to-consumer sales.
Customer Service, Logistics Solutions Providers, Transportation Management Systems (TMS)
Importer Maximizes Savings and Customer Service with Kuebix TMS
By leveraging Kuebix and an integration with NetSuite, equipment parts importer Summit Supply ensures every order is shipped with the quickest, least expensive option to maximize savings and service.
Customer Service, Supply Chain, Transportation
GOOD QUESTION | When choosing a logistics provider, what’s more important: cost or customer service?
Readers reveal the deciding factor in choosing a logistics provider: cost or customer service.
Customer Service, Global Logistics, Technology
Seeing Clearly: The Value of Visibility
Lost visibility into your supply chain means lost value. The good news is that the right telematics and related technologies can help maintain powerful visibility and control over even the most complex global supply chain networks in service today.
E-commerce, Last Mile Delivery, Transportation
Urban Logistics
Where the e-commerce boom intersects with urban centers, logisticians get street—and space—smart.
Five Reasons Why the Delivery Economy Is Here… Now
project44 recently surveyed 750 consumers and 500 marketing executives to better understand where brands and consumers are aligned (and misaligned) on what makes a great delivery experience. The survey uncovered five compelling trends that all point to the emergence of the Delivery Economy.
Last Mile Delivery, Logistics, Warehousing
Optimizing the Last Mile
Doing the final mile correctly leads to repeat business and loyal customers, but last mile processes involve more than just a truck and driver.
Last Mile Delivery, Supply Chain, Technology
Walgreens Brings the Goods to You With New Drone Delivery Program
In a new partnership with Alphabet's service, Wing, Walgreens will be testing a new on-demand service that delivers foods and beverages to customers via drones.
Customer Service, Supply Chain
EFW's Net Promoter Score Program Measures Customer Satisfaction
Estes Forwarding Worldwide’s Net Promoter Score Program directly supports its mission statement: to deliver the EFW Experience by exceeding expectations each and every time.
Customer Service, Logistics, Supply Chain
How Evolving Consumer Behavior impacts Global Supply Chains
The impact of evolving consumer shopping behaviors on retailers and manufacturers is the focus of a new supply chain study by DiCentral, a B2B integration services provider, along with the Center for Supply Chain Research at Lehigh University.
Last Mile Delivery, Logistics I.T., Supply Chain
Japan Tests Self-Driving Delivery System
Robot maker e-Novia is testing a self-driving delivery system in Japan to service the areas hit by the 2011 Fukushima earthquake.
Intermodal, Customer Service, Supply Chain
CRM System Brings Ease of Use and Multimodal Benefits - DLS Worldwide
DLS Worldwide’s CRM System provides customers with a simple interface in which shippers can find multimodal quoting, booking and reporting, shipment tracking, and invoice management with online payment options.
E-commerce, Last Mile Delivery, Supply Chain
Last-Mile Logistics: How Sellers Can Make It a Strength and Not a Setback
The last mile 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 sector has to move to making last mile a strength and not a setback.
E-commerce, Last Mile Delivery, Supply Chain
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.
Customer Service, Logistics, Supply Chain
The Customer Experience: The Last Mile Gets the Royal Treatment
This story examines how e-commerce retailers use last-mile fulfillment strategies to gain competitive advantage.
E-commerce, Last Mile Delivery, Logistics, Site Selection, Supply Chain
Primed for Amazon
In September 2017, Amazon announced plans to open another headquarters in North America. Called "HQ2," the facility will cost at least $5 billion to construct. Locations are going the extra mile to win the bid for HQ2.
E-commerce, Last Mile Delivery, Logistics, Transportation
The Last Mile—History Repeating As Supply Managers Face Peak Season - Crane Worldwide Logistics
To prepare for this coming shopping season, supply chain managers need to engage key stakeholders to review current logistics operations and strategically assess whether or not they are prepared to meet existing consumer expectations.
Customer Service, Logistics, Supply Chain
Use Your Supply Chain to Earn
Customer Loyalty
As businesses look for ways to improve and optimize the supply chain with customers in mind, they need to factor in elements that will allow them to leverage the supply chain in order to fuel customer loyalty.
Customer Service, Logistics, Supply Chain
Auditing Beyond Compliance
Evaluating the continuing alignment of customer requirements, acceptable associated risk and service provider capability.
E-commerce, Last Mile Delivery, Retail, Risk Management, Supply Chain
GOOD QUESTION | What’s your supply chain resolution for 2017?
Readers reveal the issues that could disrupt the supply chain…as well as their sleep.
E-commerce, Last Mile Delivery, Logistics, Supply Chain
GOOD QUESTION | What logistics concerns keep you up at night?
Readers reveal the issues that could disrupt the supply chain…as well as their sleep.
3PL, Customer Service, Third-Party Logistics, Logistics, Supply Chain, Transportation
How Specialized Transportation Can Improve Customer Service
Working with a specialized transportation provider will save you time and headaches while keeping your customers happy and costs down.
Big Data, Last Mile Delivery, Global Logistics, Supply Chain, Technology , Transportation, Visibility
Four Technologies Set to Change the Future of Logistics
Get ready for a supply chain paradigm shift. These technologies will cause shippers to rethink cost-cutting measures and rewrite logistics strategies.
3PL, Customer Service, Logistics, Third-Party Logistics, Supply Chain, Visibility
GOOD QUESTION | When choosing a carrier/supplier, what’s more important: cost or customer service?
Readers choose between cost and customer service as the most important selection criterion for a carrier or supplier.
Last Mile Delivery, Logistics, Supply Chain, Specialized Logistics
Making the Last Mile a Differentiator
As consumers expect increasingly shorter delivery windows, last-mile proximity isn’t just nice to have, it’s a must-have. Will O’Shea of XPO Logistics’ offers these tips to leverage the last mile into a competitive differentiator.
Customer Service, Logistics, Supply Chain, Trucking, Transportation
Keys to Customer Retention in a Competitive Environment
Customer retention in today’s competitive marketplace is important. Thomas Griffin of DLS Worldwide offers the keys to customer retention.
Customer Service, Global Logistics, Retail, Logistics, Supply Chain
Global Retail Expansion: The Convergence of Marketing, Customer Service, and Supply Chain Strategies
Brands who never anticipated going global are finding that they all of a sudden are, thanks to the progression of e-commerce and increasing customer expectations.
3PL, Customer Service, Logistics, Third-Party Logistics, Supply Chain
Still Pushing Your Customers Around?
Using the best logistics IT available, and partnering with world-class carriers and 3PLs, can help you find a better way towards supply chain success.
E-commerce, 3PL, Customer Service, Retail, Logistics, Third-Party Logistics, Supply Chain
Become an Extension of Your Client’s Brand
As entities responsible for brokering appropriate carrier rates, ensuring accurate quantities of orders and guaranteeing high quality of products, third-party logistics providers are extensions of companies’ brands.
3PL, Customer Service, Logistics, Third-Party Logistics, Supply Chain, Technology
3PL Customer Service Specialization
Industry expertise is the most impactful way to positively affect customer service requirements.
3PL, Customer Service, Logistics, Third-Party Logistics, Partnership, Supply Chain
Readers' Choice: Top 10 3PL Excellence Awards 2016
Year after year, the IL 3PL survey reveals the importance of great customer service to shippers.
Customer Service, Logistics, Partnership, Supply Chain, Technology , Visibility
Cloud-Based Route Planning? That Would Be Ideal!
Wholesale distributor Ideal Supply re-routed its delivery network through the cloud with the help of logistics technology provider Descartes.
Customer Service, Manufacturing
Optimizing the Industrial Purchasing Experience
An instant selling and ordering procedure could be a differentiator for industrial companies looking to boost their customers' industrial buying experience.
Last Mile Delivery, Logistics, Technology
Drones in last-mile logistics: hype or help?
Readers weigh in on the future of drones in last-mile logistics.
Last Mile Delivery, Logistics, Supply Chain, Technology , Warehousing
Trends—May 2016
Robots coming soon to a warehouse near you; The supply chain plays a key role in developing circular economies; OSA-related driver fatigue causes new safety rule proposals
Careers, Customer Service, Global Logistics, Logistics, Partnership, Supply Chain
Multinational Diversity Drives Measurable Success in Logistics Operations
Multiculturalism can be the competitive advantage that makes the critical difference in the success of your supply chain operations.
Customer Service, Cloud Computing, Logistics, Supply Chain, Transportation Management Systems (TMS), Technology
Real-Time Load Tracking: Improving Productivity and Customer Service, and Reducing Costs
A real time tracking platform helps you revolutionize your logistics operations by improving service while reducing costs.
3PL, Customer Service, Logistics, Third-Party Logistics, Supply Chain
How to Stand Out in a Crowded Marketplace
With so many choices available, varying freight, and small package shipping needs, the 3PL service offering needs to be about more than the transaction.
Customer Service, Retail Logistics, Retail, Logistics, Supply Chain
Whatever It Takes
The true measure of customer service is what team members, carriers, and supply chain partners do when something goes wrong.
Customer Service, Logistics, Supply Chain, Technology
The Value of a Positive Customer Experience
The real value of a software partner can be found in the days and weeks that come after the learning phase. Most customers are looking for a positive experience to happen after the purchase.
Customer Service, Logistics, Supply Chain
Customer Service Superstars And the Winners Are…
Three retailers explain how they use logistics and other functions to deliver outstanding customer service.
E-commerce, Last Mile Delivery, 3PL, Reverse Logistics, Logistics Solutions Providers, Logistics, Third-Party Logistics, Retail, Specialized Logistics, Transportation, Supply Chain Management
Channeling the Brick and Click Dilemma
As e-commerce continues to transform consumer behavior, retailers explore hybrid omni-channel supply chain models that deliver the best that online and in-store have to offer.
E-commerce, Last Mile Delivery, 3PL, Logistics Solutions Providers, Chemical Logistics, Logistics, Third-Party Logistics, Specialized Logistics, Technology , Supply Chain Management
Trends—July 2015
Amazon and Walmart vie for last-mile supremacy; Nevada community college establishes logistics program to meet Tesla labor demand; Industrial buyers think outside the box; Consortium establishes new chemical footprint assessment; VMI opportunities abound as shippers look to optimize inventory; study looks at the ghost economy
Customer Service, Demand Planning, Inventory Management, Logistics, Retail, Logistics I.T., Supply Chain Management
Inventory Replenishment: Why Push When You Can Pull?
Retailers are implementing technology to more accurately forecast demand.
Customer Service, Logistics, Logistics I.T., Trucking, Transportation Management Systems (TMS), Supply Chain Management, Transportation
Improving Shipper/Carrier Relationships
To help save money, shippers should build a strong relationship with their LTL carrier.
3PL, Global Economy, Customer Service, Freight Forwarders, Legislation, Public Policy, and Regulations, Logistics, Technology
The Kings of ACE
When it came time to face the ACE, HW St. John bet on an automated solution that streamlines processes and deals customers a winning hand.
Customer Service, Logistics, Supply Chain Management, Transportation
Choosing a Route Planning System
A route planning systems can drastically reduce the time it takes to plan your transportation schedule. Other benefits include lower mileage and fuel usage, decreased carbon emissions, and increased customer service.
Last Mile Delivery, Logistics, Intermodal, Trucking, Supply Chain Management, Transportation
Trucking From the Driver’s Seat
From first mile to last mile and every mile in between, truck drivers are the lifeblood of your supply chain. Meet some of these dedicated professionals.
Last Mile Delivery, Logistics, Packaging, Supply Chain Management
A DIM Future for Packaging
Inbound Logistics asked these experts to weigh in on the dimensional weight pricing changes that UPS and FedEx implemented on January 1, 2015.
Military Logistics, Last Mile Delivery, Supply Chain Management
Managing the Aerospace Supply Chain
Increases in public and private aircraft demand have aerospace supply chain stakeholders changing the way they get things done.
E-commerce, Customer Service, Retail
Service With A Demand-driven Smile
As e-commerce and ominchannel raise expectations, and consumers become more impatient, supply chain practitioners turn to technology to help them perform.
3PL, Customer Service, Logistics, Supply Chain Management
Customer Service: It’s the Thought That Counts
Technology is enabling an unprecedented level of transparency and communication to help shippers and their logistics providers understand each other's operations, and collaborate in ways that were much more difficult in the past.
Navigating Uncharted Territory
Geodis Wilson helps Alfa Laval deliver complex cargo to global destinations.
Last Mile Delivery, Demand Planning, Logistics I.T.
Avoiding Christmas Past: Use Technology to Ensure Timely Holiday Deliveries
Investments in technology might just be the way to save Christmas.
Customer Service, Food Logistics, Supply Chain Management
Leslie Dean: Serving Up FroYo Mojo
Profile of Leslie Dean, senior director, supply chain, at Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt.
E-commerce, Air Cargo, Economic Development, Customer Service, Retail, Ocean, Ports, Logistics I.T., Trucking, Transportation Infrastructure, Supply Chain Management, Transportation
Trends—October 2014
UPS makes major improvements to save Christmas; PANYNJ invests $5.5 billion to streamline port operations
E-commerce, Asia, China, Customer Service, Canada, Global Logistics, Retail, Partnership
Global Logistics—October 2014
Pilot program uses drones to deliver time-sensitive goods; Canadian government lines up two new bilateral trade agreements; Labor rights causing supply chain disruption; Using social media to understand carrier usage.
Customer Service, Global Logistics, Supply Chain Management
Uncovering Value Through Performance Metrics
Kevin Hickey, Vice President, North American Customer Service for Maersk Line outlines the benefits of performance metrics, and the impact they have on carrier relationships and ongoing improvements.
Customer Service, Distribution, Inventory Management, Manufacturing, Legislation, Public Policy, and Regulations, Retail, Supply Chain Management
From the Outside In: Supply Chain as Strategic Advantage
Executives at two leading companies weigh in on supply chain’s value to their organizations.
E-commerce, Customer Service, Education & Careers, Reverse Logistics, Retail
Bruce Kulp Scores Big
When it comes to keeping up with demand, Game Stop's Bruce Kulp doesn’t play around.
Customer Service, Partnership, Supply Chain Management
Tapping Social Media to Power Your Supply Chain
Many companies use social media to improve supply chain operations by connecting shippers and service providers.
Last Mile Delivery, Retail, Ocean, Supply Chain Management
Trends—April 2014
NRF’s Big Show unveils trends in the retail industry; Local couriers provide a solution to capacity constraints and empower same-day delivery; Ocean carrier industry beset by imbalances; Global RFID market primed for robust growth; Shippers plan for supply chain exceptions
E-commerce, Expedited Shipping, Last Mile Delivery
Same Day Delivery: The Amazing Race
Garrick Pohl of Zipments discusses how the company facilitates same-day delivery.
E-commerce, Customer Service, Inventory Management, Retail, Materials Handling, Site Selection, Supply Chain Management, Warehousing
Setting the E-Commerce Gold Standard
Chris Halkyard, chief supply chain officer for e-commerce site Gilt, discusses managing flash sale logistics.
E-commerce, 3PL, Customer Service, Retail, Supply Chain Management
Customer Service: Delivering the Royal Treatment
As evolving retail models push shopper expectations, companies explore new models for delivering great customer service.
3PL, Customer Service, Supply Chain Management
Plugging Multiple Brands Into Multiple Channels
Geodis Wilson helps integrated design technology company Dana Innovations expand its international supply chain.
E-commerce, Customer Service, Retail, Supply Chain Management
Visions of Customer Service
Companies such as Amazon show delivery speed and logistics agility provide the customer service levels retailers need to win.
Measuring Customer Service: The Up-and-Coming KPI
Customer service is improving as some shippers and their service providers work to develop key performance indicators (KPIs) that measure customer service metrics.
Weaving a New, Strong North American Presence
Third-party logistics provider (3PL) Geodis Wilson helps apparel company Desigual establish its U.S. warehousing, distribution, and retail operation, and ensure shipment visibility and tracking.
A Window of Opportunity
Window and door maker Simonton partners with Cardinal Logistics for dedicated delivery to dealers and big box retailers across the United States.
Customer Service, Partnership, Transportation Management
Jumping Through Hoops: The Importance of Vendor Compliance
Small companies face challenges in meeting the rules set out in vendor requirements manuals. Best practices help them comply with retailers’ supplier requirements successfully.
E-commerce, Customer Service, Retail, Warehousing
Superstar Service: Supply Chain Strategies Win Satisfied Customers
Retailers such as Brookstone, BuySeasons, Pet Supplies Plus, and Wayfair streamline their supply chains to deliver better customer service.
Dedicated Refrigerated Fleet Helps Food Distributor Keep Its Cool
Distributor United Natural Foods Inc. worked with third-party logistics (3PL) provider Cardinal Logistics to consolidate from a multiple carrier network for its inbound logistics transportation to a dedicated contract carriage arrangement.
Superior Service, Seven Days a Week
When Wells-Gardner Electronics Corporation outsourced its import and export shipping to Geodis Wilson, it reaped numerous supply chain benefits, such as reduced shipping times and improved shipment visibility, as well as avoiding duty and taxes.
Reliable In-Store Deliveries Fit to a Tea
Manufacturer Milo’s Tea Company outsourced its fleet to Ryder Supply Chain Solutions under a dedicated contract carriage arrangement. Benefits included reduced transportation costs, increased efficiency in managing seasonal surges, and improved fleet and driver reliability, which helped Milo’s better serve its customers.
Freight Consolidation Drives Auto Supply Chain Efficiency
Automotive component supplier IAC needed better control, visibility, and reporting to help weld its supply chain into a cohesive unit. ProTrans delivered innovation and customized solutions designed to control costs along IAC’s network.
Does Your 3PL Provide ‘Golden Rule’ Customer Service?
John Rodeheffer of Zipline Logistics outlines how to find a 3PL that delivers "Golden Rule" customer service: who treat others as they want to be treated, with honest and transparent communication.
White Glove Services: Ask for What You Need
Jerry Levy of Specialized Transportation Inc. explains how to get the best service from white-glove logistics providers.
3PL, Customer Service, Supply Chain Management
Managing a Customer-Driven Supply Chain
Logistics providers who work to understand shippers' needs help create customer service success, as illustrated by case studies involving Pep Boys, McCain Foods, and USG Corporation.
Customer Service: Who Needs it?
To survive and grow in today's demanding, competitive economy, companies must excel at both supply chain management and customer service.
Customer Service, Distribution
Nexus Distribution: A Fresh Sheet of Customer Service
When Boise Paper wanted to consolidate five Northeast region facilities into just one, it turned to Nexus Distribution for customer service excellence built on a sound implementation process.
Hyundai Merchant Marine (HMM): Plus-Sized Customer Service
Women’s apparel retailer Charming Shoppes praises the red-carpet treatment it gets from logistics partner Hyundai Merchant Marine.
3PL, Customer Service, Partnership, Supply Chain Management
What We’ve Got Here is Failure to Communicate
A failure to communicate is the primary reason that 3PL relationships fall apart, according to Inbound Logistics' annual third-party logistics survey.
E-commerce, Customer Service, Distribution, Retail
E-Commerce: Delivering the Goods
A new study from Descartes Systems Group shows the ongoing e-commerce growth and the importance of delivery performance for customers.
Last Mile Delivery, Automotive Logistics, Cloud Computing, Logistics Solutions Providers, Transportation Management
Google Searches for Last-Mile Market
Google is getting into the last-mile game with the launch of two new solutions to help fleet operators improve delivery success and optimize fleet performance through an integrated suite of mapping, routing, and analytics capabilities—Cloud Fleet Routing API from Google Cloud and Last Mile Fleet Solution from Google Maps Platform.
E-commerce, Last Mile Delivery, Retail
White Glove Services: When It's Time to Call In a Specialist
Julie Colona, Director, Forwarding Solutions and NVOCC at UniGroup, discusses why shippers might need a special commodities carrier, what to look for in a carrier, and how the business is evolving.
Customer Service, Risk Management, Technology
Supply Chain: An Engine of Post-Pandemic Growth
If the supply chain is to take on an enhanced role, companies will need to stop seeing it merely as a cost center from which to drive ever greater efficiencies.
E-commerce, Last Mile Delivery, Retail
Omnichannel Delivers, But at What Cost?
The real winners in e-commerce and omnichannel retail will be the ones who master managing their fulfillment and last-mile operations and costs.
Last Mile Delivery, Security, Technology
You've Got Drone Mail
New mailbox designs involve a technology-enabled container that receives and stores packages delivered via drone in a secure, climate-controlled box accessible only by the recipient.
Steering ArcBest with Values and Trust
Profile of Judy R. McReynolds, chairman, president and CEO, ArcBest.
E-commerce, Last Mile Delivery, Fulfillment
Revisiting 2020
This was a year like no other for supply chain and logistics management. here's what we'll remember about 2020.
E-commerce, Last Mile Delivery, Retail
DHL Shares Strategy for Peak Season and Beyond
E-commerce is up 65% year over year, and expected to surge more than 50% during the busiest peak week, according to Chet Paul, senior vice president at DHL Express; Kraig Foreman, president at DHL Supply Chain; and Craig Morris, chief information officer at DHL eCommerce Solutions.
Customer Service, Demand Planning, Transportation
Building Resilience With Dedicated Transportation Solutions
In an volatile economic environment, shippers need reliable, cost-effective solutions to meet customer demand. Dedicated transportation solutions, which mitigate capacity risk and improve on-time delivery, can offer a solution.
Last Mile Delivery, Supply Chain, Safety
Protecting Health, Safety, and Final-Mile Delivery During a Pandemic
When the pandemic hit, supply chains around the world were impacted. With a robust safety and quality program in place prior to the pandemic, Suddath was able to respond and adapt immediately to ensure supply chain continuity.
Big Data, Customer Service, Finance
Master Class in ROI
Large companies invested $153.4 million to transform their supply chain in the past three years, but only 10% became masters in achieving a profitable customer experience.
Customer Service, Demand Planning
Four Behaviors of Design Thinking
To safeguard customer loyalty and drive sustainably innovative solutions, some supply chain experts are turning to the design thinking methodology, which focuses on four crucial behaviors.
3PL, Customer Service, Demand Planning
Getting Crafty with Supply Chain Solutions
Verst Logistics helped an arts and crafts supplies company address peak season challenges and growing sales by expanding its supply chain capabilities.
E-commerce, Customer Service, Technology
How Small to Mid-Sized Businesses Can Recover Faster
On top of surging e-commerce demand, small and mid-sized businesses are facing increased shipping costs, logistical challenges, and extended shipping times. Here are a few things you can do to recover.
E-commerce, Customer Service, Retail
Agility On Demand
When you combine consumer demand for deliveries at a breakneck pace, the historically tight labor market, and the unpredictability of the global trade landscape, e-commerce businesses must be just as fast as they are flexible to succeed today’s market.
Customer Service, Retail, Technology
There's No Business Like Shoe Business
Shoe retailer Shoe Station relies on Retail Pro 9 and other technology solutions to help employees provide top-of-the-line service and ensure customer satisfaction.
E-commerce, Expedited Shipping, Last Mile Delivery
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.
3PL, Customer Service, Insurance
How 3PLs Can Minimize Claims and Help Customers Understand Liability
3PLs can become an ally for their customers in the event of a loss, damage, or delay, providing outstanding customer service and support.
3PL, Customer Service, Technology
What to Look For in a 3PL
A business looking to outsource part or all of its logistics to a 3PL should consider a variety of factors to identify a logistics provider that is part tactical service provider and part strategic business partner.
Last Mile Delivery, Technology
The 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.
Last Mile Delivery, Supply Chain, Technology
Consumer Demands Put Pressure on Furniture’s Final Mile
The battleground for competitive advantage in furniture retailing is shifting from the store aisle to the buyer’s doorstep. Companies that try to manage the complexity and cost of final-mile delivery without the aid of technology are not giving themselves the best chance of success.
E-commerce, Customer Service, Supply Chain
Building Brand Love
Supply chain efficiencies can support brand strategies in key ways.
Customer Service, Supply Chain, Technology
Can Your Supply Chain Turn on a Dime?
New and noteworthy in the supply chain.
Last Mile Delivery, Supply Chain, Warehousing
Supply Chain Automation Surges
Supply chain automation is gaining ground, particularly in warehousing and middle- and last-mile logistics.
Is Process Killing the Customer Experience?
Companies fixating on a single process frees people’s time and energy for other tasks, but established processes can cease to be a means to an end and become ends in-and-of themselves.
Last Mile Delivery, Logistics, Supply Chain, Trucking
The New Era of Smart City Logistics - MHI
The continued migration of people to cities and increase in online shopping will generate more freight deliveries to and within urban areas. Let’s talk about your company’s futureproof strategy to meet the challenges and opportunities of smart city logistics head-on.
Last Mile Delivery, Logistics, Supply Chain, Technology
Will Same-day Production and Delivery of Replacement Parts Become Standard?
Same-day production and delivery is possible if communications between production and logistics is fully automated. A live experiment showed the path of an urgently needed replacement part as it moved from the initial order through production to final delivery: all in a single day.
Customer Service, Logistics, Supply Chain, Transportation Management Systems (TMS)
Large Multi-National Seeks Global Supply Chain Visibility
Rust-Oleum selected Celtic International, Transplace’s intermodal business unit, to provide intermodal and over-the-road transportation services for domestic shipments between its own facilities as well to its retailer customers.
Last Mile Delivery, Logistics I.T., Technology
Using Actionable Real-Time Visibility to Impact the Consumer Experience
Utilizing technology has become vitally important to improving both last-mile delivery and the end consumer’s experience with a brand.
Air Cargo, Last Mile Delivery, Expedited Air, Robotics, Wind Logistics
Drones: Ready for Takeoff
The latest drone innovations include wind farm duty, last-mile stints, and an end-to-end middle mile cargo system.
Customer Service, Inventory Management, Sustainability
Rowenta Irons Out Inventory Challenges
Rowenta's sustainable product design, massive global inventory stock, rapid delivery of repair parts, and 3D printing technology combine to drive supply chain operations supporting an incredible commitment to customer service.
Last Mile Delivery, Distribution, Retail
Pool Distribution Increases the Speed to Market for Fast-Fashion Giant
From line haul to the last mile distribution center, from intake to proof-of-delivery processes, SEKO Logistics streamlined workflows for a fast fashion giant.
Health Care Logistics, Customer Service, Technology
Is the Healthcare Supply Chain Ready for the Netflix Effect?
How big transportation is impacting global economics and mid-size businesses—an expert’s view on Uber Freight’s acquisition of Transplace.
Last Mile Delivery, Supply Chain, Visibility
Survival of Companies Depends Entirely on Managing Supply Chain’s 5 V’s
As supply chains continue to grow in complexity, here are the 5 V's that should top priority lists.
E-commerce, Last Mile Delivery, Retail
Handle with White Gloves
As consumers become increasingly comfortable buying over-sized goods online, manufacturers and retailers partner with white-glove, last-mile delivery services to make in-home set-up and assembly a first-class experience.
Careers, Customer Service, Distribution
Sylvia Wilks: Kicking the Tires
In her previous role managing supplier relationships at Starbucks, Sylvia Wilks learned what good customer service really looks like. Now that she supplies customers at TireHub, she knows how to meet their expectations and build the national tire distributor’s customer-centric culture.
Customer Service, Partnership, Technology
Rolling Out a Major Product Transition Across the Globe
C3 Solutions prepared to shift all users from their Adobe Flash product version to a brand new HTML5 platform, a comprehensive project with a firm and non-negotiable deadline
E-commerce, Customer Service, Technology
Easing E-Commerce Pain Points
Although key logistics capabilities are needed to build and maintain successful e-commerce operations, few brands excel at them, according to a study from Geodis and Accenture Interactive.
3PL, Customer Service, Partnership
Partnering with a Logistics Specialist Brings Major Benefits
Thomas Griffin, president at DLS Worldwide, discusses how partnering with a large, experienced logistics company can offer technology, agility, and customer service benefits.
E-commerce, Cross-border Trade, Last Mile Delivery
Postal Operators Deliver on E-Commerce
Parcels and cross-border e-commerce are taking precedence over traditional services for postal operators, who continuously manage growing postal e-commerce traffic.
E-commerce, Expedited Shipping, Last Mile Delivery
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 is key for growth and profitability.
E-commerce, Customer Service, Fulfillment
Streamlining E-Commerce Fulfillment
Ten tips every digital retailer needs to know to streamline their e-commerce fulfillment process.
E-commerce, Customer Service, Retail
How Is Coronavirus Impacting E-Commerce?
As coronavirus continues to spread globally, new ramifications are revealed daily. How is the virus impacting e-commerce operations and the supply chain, and how can retailers respond?
Customer Service, Technology , Supply Chain Management
The Secret Behind the Best Supply Chain Transformations
Here are the top three ways data analytics and AI can transform your supply chain.
E-commerce, Customer Service, Technology
The CX Files
This story looks at elements that produce excellent customer service and at some of the technology tools companies use to help them deliver excellent service to their customers.
Pharmaceutical Logistics, Customer Service, Supply Chain
Scaled 3PL Solutions Heal Pharma's Supply Chain
A large pharma company teams up with Hub Group to achieve compliance with the best service at a reasonable cost.
Last Mile Delivery, Retail, Supply Chain
VERTICAL FOCUS | Furniture
What is the outlook for the U.S. furniture market moving forward? Here's what to expect.
E-commerce, Expedited Shipping, Last Mile Delivery
Tackling E-Commerce Shipping
E-commerce is quickly becoming a part of our everyday lives – putting pressure on retailers. Here are tips to help e-commerce shippers keep costs down and customers happy.
Customer Service, Sourcing/Negotiations, Supply Chain
Leading a Supply Chain With Dogged Determination
A profile of Matt Cantatore, COO of Ollie, a national service that delivers healthy, high-quality pet food that it sells direct-to-consumers.
Customer Service, Logistics, Supply Chain
The Hassle Quotient: A New Formula for Industry Domination
This article first introduces Jim Bramlett’s Hassle Quotient score and how the internet has changed how companies compete, then focuses on how the Hassle Quotient applies to transportation and logistics.
Customer Service, Retail Logistics, Retail
How Retailers Earn 5-Star Reviews
This story explores some of the ways retailers use customer service to build customer loyalty, both in stores and in the e-commerce channel.
Last Mile Delivery, Logistics, Supply Chain, Warehousing
12 Ways to Increase Supply Chain Velocity
This article recommends 12 strategies companies can implement to speed product flow in the supply chain.
Last Mile Delivery, Logistics, Supply Chain, Transportation
Facing the Crowd
Innovations in logistics technology are making it possible to apply crowdsourcing long used for product design or marketing feedback in ways that are solving new problems that include final mile delivery of groceries and e-commerce orders to homes and businesses.
Last Mile Delivery, Logistics, Transportation
New York City Introduces Off-Hour Deliveries Program to Combat Congestion
New York City Department of Transportation is keen on collaborating with shippers, transporters, and receivers to rethink their delivery schedule and shift to off-hour deliveries (OHD) with the goal of targeting 900 business establishments by the end of 2019.
Customer Service, Inventory Management, Logistics, Supply Chain
Tuning Into Supply Chain Orchestration
The trends affecting supply chains require an agile approach.
Last Mile Delivery, Logistics, Supply Chain, Technology
In Iceland, There's No Place Like Drone
Drone technology company Flytrex, in partnership with Aha.is—Iceland's largest online marketplace—launched 13 new routes for an autonomous on-demand urban drone delivery service to serve nearly half of Reykjavik.
Last Mile Delivery, Logistics, Supply Chain
Last-Mile Technology Needs a Radical Rethink
Without great delivery route planning and scheduling, all the smart, powerful technology invested in grinds to a halt at the final hurdle.
Last Mile Delivery, Logistics, Supply Chain
Checking In: The Last Grimy Mile
Are last-mile deliveries being left to ununiformed, lightly skilled, newly hired Uberesque drivers, despite technology upgrades and changing consumer demands?
3PL, Customer Service, Fulfillment, Supply Chain
15 Key Questions to Ask Before Choosing an Outsourced Fulfillment Partner
Is outsourcing your fulfillment the best option for your business? Here are 15 important questions to ask a potential partner.
Customer Service, Supply Chain, Supply Chain Management
Supply Chain Commentary: Five Challenges to Embrace and Channel into Business Advantages
Here’s how to navigate disruptions in the supply chain and turn them into new opportunities.
Last Mile Delivery, Retail Logistics, Retail
How E-Tailers Can Reduce Return Rates for Large Items
By following these steps, e-tailers can lower return rates, increasing profits and creating happier customers.
Big Data, Customer Service, Supply Chain, Technology
Supply Chain AI: This Time It’s for Real
While Artificial Intelligence is not a new concept, what has changed is the power of computing, cloud-based service options and the applicability of AI to supply chain and logistics.
Last Mile Delivery, Logistics, Supply Chain, Technology
Drones: Most Likely to Succeed
A new class of drones can speed inventory counts, administer life-saving medicine, anticipate your caffeine needs, and keep golfers on course.
E-commerce, Last Mile Delivery, Lean, Retail, Supply Chain
Store Delivery Keeps Retailers in the Game
The fulfillment part of multi-channel e-commerce is tricky; store delivery is one possible last-mile option.
E-commerce, Last Mile Delivery, Logistics, Packaging, Supply Chain
E-Commerce Supply Chains in 2018: Millennial Consumers Most Concerned With Speed and Affordability of Deliveries
The e-commerce space is evolving quickly, and retailers must take care to consider consumers' shifting expectations, especially when dealing with younger shoppers.
Expedited Shipping, Last Mile Delivery, Logistics, Supply Chain
How Small Businesses Can Win at E-Commerce
If you’re a small business trying to establish yourself or grow in e-commerce, you know it can be an uphill battle. That doesn’t mean you can’t compete.
Intermodal, Customer Service, Logistics, Supply Chain, Rail, Transportation
Increased Capacity and Flexibility
E-commerce, Customer Service, Retail, Logistics, Supply Chain
Shipping and Delivery: How to Get it Right
Executing against the wrong e-commerce strategy – or not having a strategy at all – is a recipe for higher costs and lower customer satisfaction levels and can have a major negative impact on your business.
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