Supply Chain

Upstream Automation: The Missing Piece of the Supply Chain Puzzle 
July 11, 2023 at 9:39 am

Changing consumer habits in the virtualized post-pandemic world have transformed the e-commerce industry. With more consumers taking advantage of online ordering and in-store pickup options, e-commerce demand is expanding and the mix is changing rapidly, leaving some retailers struggling to adapt. Not to mention, as Amazon.com continues to dominate the fast-paced retail industry with its…

How to Get Started With Green Logistics 
July 10, 2023 at 11:54 am

E-commerce and online deliveries are at an all-time high, with sales increasing 20-fold since 2000, according to the EPA. Consumers embraced delivery for safety during the pandemic, and they’re finding that the convenience is keeping delivery just as popular today. With this demand, consumers are also paying attention to the environmental impacts of delivery on…

Building Trust on First-Class Delivery and Fulfillment in the Last Mile
July 6, 2023 at 11:36 am

Over the last few years, the norms of commerce, work and everyday life have been turned upside down, prompting customers and brands to re-establish how they connect. With 94 percent of customers saying that how they're treated influences their decision to buy from a company, it’s never been more critical to get the experience right.…

3 Strategies for Maximizing the Potential of Last-Mile Retail Technology
July 5, 2023 at 12:54 pm

Imagine a shopper is getting ready to throw a party to celebrate their child’s college graduation. They may shop around several retailers' stores and websites before ordering new backyard furniture for the event. If the retailer that the shopper chose delivers the furniture after the party, the shopper will likely avoid that retailer in the…

Amazon to Partner With Local Small Businesses for Order Deliveries
June 28, 2023 at 12:33 pm

Amazon.com plans to tap thousands of U.S. small businesses, from bodegas to florists, to deliver its packages by the end of the year, Axios is first to report. On Monday, the e-commerce giant will start actively recruiting existing small businesses in 23 states including Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, California, Florida, Iowa, Indiana, Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North…

Boom or Bust? How Brands Can Automate in an Endless Channel Environment
June 27, 2023 at 10:54 am

Today’s brands are enjoying a once-in-a-century gold rush predominantly sparked by rapid digital growth and a discernible willingness on the part of consumers to take their shopping experiences, even those once thought to be sacred to brick-and-mortar retail, into an e-commerce environment. Add to that a seemingly endless number of sales and distribution channels —…

How Direct-to-Consumer Brands and Retailers Can Fix These 4 Costly Inefficiencies
June 22, 2023 at 12:08 pm

Direct-to-consumer (DTC) brands and legacy retailers are looking to increase profitability, and they can do so by improving operational processes and reducing inefficiencies. Focusing on profitability should, in theory, always be the case, but it is especially true today as economic headwinds have retail executives focused on operational cost-savings more than growth. DTC brands are…

Amplifying the Food Retail Value Chain With IoT-Enabled Connectivity
June 21, 2023 at 1:39 pm

The integrated use of IoT sensing and monitoring devices across the food retail supply chain has opened a myriad of new opportunities for organizations to minimize loss and enhance operational agility – both of which were strenuous pain points in the past. Connectivity is worth its weight in gold in an era of uncertainty where…

Ikea’s Chief Supply Chain Officer on Driving Transformation
June 15, 2023 at 10:54 am

Ikea has set its sights on the U.S. in a new way: While the company has 52 retail locations in the country, it’s investing $2.2 billion to add more U.S. stores, expand its omnichannel options, and improve the customer experience for American shoppers. Speaking at the Home Delivery World conference in Philadelphia on Wednesday, Ikea's…

Labor Dispute Affects West Coast Port Operations, Impacts Retailers
June 7, 2023 at 3:42 pm

Dockworkers at West Coast ports are disrupting international trade, according to the Pacific Maritime Association. Two of the six marine terminals at the Port of Long Beach remained closed during the day shift Monday, as “operators of those terminals made the decision to close based on operational needs, and will reopen for the evening shift,”…