Supply Chain

One effect of the global pandemic was the elevation of supply chain management from a back-office business function to a C-level strategic priority. As we begin 2025, all indicators suggest that for most industries, including retail, optimizing the supply chain to meet the needs of a post-pandemic world is more than ever a priority. To…

While the unprecedented supply chain disruptions of the past few years have slowed, several pressure points continue to impact industry leaders, including heightened inflationary costs, increased sustainability expectations, and emerging technologies that require strategic investments to remain competitive. But what do these influences look like across the supply chain? Here’s a breakdown of these challenges…

The International Longshoremen Association's (ILA) strikes may be paused until January 2025, but the disruptions are far from over. For retail warehouses, in particular, the impact is being felt at a critical time during the peak holiday season. With key issues still up for debate and supply chain disruptions continuing to impact warehouses across the…

Walmart will pay independent delivery drivers new financial incentives to pick up online orders at its U.S. stores and deliver them to shoppers during the holiday season. The move is part of Walmart's strategy for boosting sales to upper-income households and competing with e-commerce rival Amazon.com, which is selling more everyday essentials to shoppers that…

This holiday season will bring some unusual stressors for brands, especially those that don’t wield the same negotiating power as the biggest retail names. And with the peak season fast approaching, brand decision-makers need to prep quickly to make sure their inventory plans and logistics operations are synchronized and primed to ensure a seamless customer…

In recent years, delays and disruptions in the global supply chain have wreaked havoc on product lead times and threatened total paralysis for industries. Bottlenecks due to global conflict, shipping container shortages, never-before-seen port congestion, lack of infrastructure, and limited transport capacity and skilled labor are just a few examples of the chaotic economic environment…

The recent U.S. dockworker strike has been resolved for now, but brands must remain vigilant against unexpected delays that can impact holiday deliveries. One thing that's certain is uncertainty. Factors such as natural disasters, labor disputes, transportation disruptions, customs delays, and global supply chain issues can all impact delivery timelines. The possibilities are endless. This…

Who cares about supply chain transparency? Today’s consumers. In addition to great deals, readily available products, and seamless shopping experiences, they also want to be informed about the products they purchase. They want to know where their items come from, how they were made, who made them, and under what working conditions. According to one…

A massive dockworker strike at seaports on the U.S. East and Gulf coasts is expected to wreak havoc on global supply chains and the economy, reports CNBC. Workers at ports stretching from Maine to Texas went on strike early Tuesday in a dispute over wages and automation. The action, which is likely to have severe…

As we endure peak hurricane season and catastrophic climate events grow more frequent, supply chains are increasingly vulnerable to climate-related threats. From earlier and stronger storms to unpredictable weather patterns, the impact of these environmental changes is unavoidable. And while we’ve already seen how weather disasters can wreak havoc on supply chains, chaos isn’t inevitable.…