Supply Chain

How 3PLs Support Omnichannel Retailers Through Uncertain Times
March 8, 2023 at 11:55 am

E-commerce and brick-and-mortar retailers are caught in a vortex of clamor about inflation, a potential economic downturn, and what some expect to be a shopping slowdown. At the same time, research shows there’s reason to be hopeful. Even if shoppers pump the brakes on spending, retail sales are still likely to increase some 4 percent…

New Supply Chain Due Diligence Laws Necessitate Full Visibility and Transparency
March 6, 2023 at 1:03 pm

Germany’s new supply chain law is likely to be a precursor to even stronger regulations to come. In January, the country implemented one of the world’s most extensive supply chain laws, the German Supply Chain Due Diligence Act (LkSG), which requires large companies to monitor their supply chain for both human rights and environmental abuses.…

Online Retailers Zero in on Last-Mile Profitability in 2023
March 2, 2023 at 12:48 pm

For online retailers, the last mile is a critical element to the customer’s overall brand experience, covering the entire spectrum from website browsing to purchasing a product and, finally, to receiving a delivery. While the last mile is critically important to the customer’s brand experience, it contributes an estimated 53 percent to the total shipping…

Want to Achieve True Operational Agility? Start by Asking These 3 Questions
February 28, 2023 at 4:38 pm

Consumers are tightening budgets in preparation for a softer economy, shifting how often they shop and what they shop for in effort to maximize their spending power. Pair this shift with financial market instability, ongoing supply chain pressures, and the continued need for an elevated omnichannel shopping experience, and it’s no wonder retailers are looking…

Report: Amazon Opening More Ultrafast Delivery Sites
February 27, 2023 at 4:35 pm

Amazon.com is reportedly expanding ultrafast delivery options and devoting more resources to facilities and services structured to deliver packages to customers in less than a day, according to a Feb. 26 report in The Wall Street Journal. The expansions are happening at a crucial point for Amazon, which faces competition for fast delivery options while CEO Andy…

Target to Spend $100M on Supply Chain Hubs to Speed Up Order Delivery
February 23, 2023 at 5:14 pm

Target announced this week that it will spend $100 million to build a larger network of supply chain hubs to speed up and lower the cost of delivering online orders. The retailer plans to have at least 15 of the facilities, dubbed sortation centers, by the end of January 2026. It already has opened nine…

How Your Business Can Implement Cost-Effective Logistics Operations
February 22, 2023 at 4:36 pm

E-commerce is fast becoming the lifeblood of the retail economy. In 2021, the e-commerce industry generated $5.2 trillion worldwide, with a 56 percent increase expected by 2026. With statistics like these, it's no surprise that e-commerce has become a driving force for businesses of all sizes. However, serious blind spots threaten that profitability. Entering the next…

Retail’s Headaches Can Be Alleviated With Automation
February 15, 2023 at 7:17 pm

In 2022, 69 percent of Americans shopped online, and 25 percent of Americans shop online at least once per month. It's estimated that digital spending grew by about 6.1 percent in 2022 compared to the year prior. The most recent data shows consumer spending rising this past holiday season as well, a positive sign for the…

From Supply Chain to POS: Lessons Learned at NRF 2023
February 14, 2023 at 10:30 am

Each year, NRF: Retail's Big Show acts as the curtain-raiser for some of the retail industry’s most advanced and innovative technology solutions. While 2022’s event saw NRF’s return to New York’s Javits Center, attendee turnout remained unusually low due to the world being in the early stages of the post-pandemic recovery. However, 2023 saw attendee…

Logistics Preparation and Response to Weather Emergencies for Shippers
February 9, 2023 at 12:13 pm

It seems like every week this winter there's an announcement about a closed freeway due to a blizzard and South Florida is still cleaning up the devastation caused by hurricane Ian, especially when it comes to the supply chain. With today’s climate changes and challenges, it’s very likely that other weather emergencies like hurricanes, tornadoes,…