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World Cup Nets Big Numbers
1 million fans in the stands. 2 billion TV viewers. 32 teams. 64 matches. It all adds up to scoring a logistics planning goal at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.
Read MoreNews & Trends Impacting Manufacturing
The Myth of the Summer Slowdown Manufacturers have long believed that buyers also ramp down during the summer. Though that was true in the past, in today’s digital-driven, ultra-competitive global supply chain, procurement teams can’t afford to take any time off. In fact, data on the buying activity on the Thomas Network at Thomasnet.com finds […]
Read MorePreparing for the Digitization of Logistics
By 2019 there could be 224 million digital shoppers in the United States, and according to research by McKinsey, about 70 percent of those shoppers will choose the cheapest form of home delivery. Why? Because of increased consumer preferences and the evolution of warehouse-to-home delivery systems. As we move beyond traditional deliveries and into a […]
Read MoreSwitching Gears: Positioning Your Business to Take Advantage of Tax Reform in Your Financial Reporting
It could be the best of times – or the worst of times – depending on how you incorporate certain elements of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) into your financial reporting. With proper planning and forecasting, businesses across the manufacturing and logistics industries may reap substantial benefits under the new tax law. However, […]
Read MoreGaining Control: Why European Time Slot Management Makes Sense in the United States
Inefficiencies at the dock can cause long lines of trucks outside a warehouse, congestion on access roads, delayed deliveries, and long driver wait times, all with the potential of accruing steep detention fees. European logistics managers deal with these inefficiencies—resulting from space constraints and too few docks for trucks—on a regular basis. Typical European shipper […]
Read MoreDriving Your Shipping Business Forward With Analytics
Inbound logistics is a complicated affair, carefully managing the movement of raw materials, components, and finished inventory throughout the production process before it goes out into the wider supply chain. Shipping in particular can be very costly, so great effort is put by shippers into ensuring vessels operate at capacity and as efficiently as possible. […]
Read MoreHumans Are What’s Wrong with the Global Supply Chain
Most business is driven by an incentive to grow. The global supply chain follows a different narrative. Growth costs more than is affordable for the steamship line whose business it is to transport cargo, and there’s no way for these carriers to differentiate from competitors. Instead, carriers cut their costs and increase their margins. The […]
Read MorePreparing for the Rough Road Ahead: Taking a Long-Term Look at How the Driver Shortage Is Affecting LTL
According to the American Trucking Associations (ATA), the industry expected a driver shortage of more than 50,000 at the end of 2017. Unfortunately, it’s projected to only get worse. By the ATA’s projections, the shortage could extend to more than 174,000 drivers by 2026. Here are some of the leading factors affecting the shortage and […]
Read MoreTech Drives Trade Growth, Say Upbeat SMEs
Small and mid-size enterprises (SMEs) struggling for equal footing in the global economy increasingly look to cross-border trade for growth, seeing technology as a way past obstacles in shipping and compliance, according to new research from Shipa Freight. Shipa Freight’s global study of 800 SMEs from developed and emerging markets shows smaller companies are remarkably […]
Read MoreThe Key to Logistics Visibility: Connecting Things
The Internet of Things (IoT) attempted to improve logistics visibility by connecting fleets to help gain control over shipments. However, these solutions miss the mark on other logistics issues including end-to-end transport, shipment conditions other than location, stolen cargo recovery, and overall accuracy. Instead of connecting the fleets themselves, the key is to connect to […]
Read MoreSMEs Reveal Global Trade Obstacles
Small and mid-size enterprises (SMEs) face numerous international trade obstacles, finds a Shipa Freight study. Forty-two percent of respondents say the costs of shipping abroad are too high, or they lack an accurate picture of costs, while 40 percent find it difficult to understand documentation requirements. A significant minority say their cargo has been held […]
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Ports Too Busy to Worry About Trade Tensions
Despite trade tensions, port business in the United States and Asia is booming, reports the latest Global Kuehne + Nagel Indicators (gKNi). U.S. ports are experiencing increased container volumes, with heavy traffic in Los Angeles, Long Beach, and New York/New Jersey, according to real-time data collected by LogIndex, part of the Kuehne + Nagel Group. […]
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10 Ways to Drive Supply Chain Performance With Big Data
Is more always better? When it comes to a shipper’s supply chain and big data, more data doesn’t necessarily equate to better productivity. How you leverage and utilize the influx of data is what’s key. Use these tips to utilize big data to drive performance in their supply chains. 1. Eliminate silos. With various divisions […]
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IoT, Robotics, Machine Learning to Transform the Supply Chain
Transport and logistics businesses are investing in Internet of Things (IoT)-based smart technologies to help them take advantage of the wealth of opportunities the Fourth Industrial Revolution offers. The sector is prioritizing IoT, machine learning, and robotics to increase efficiencies across the supply chain, according to research data collected by Inmarsat, a provider of global […]
Read MoreWhat Drives Supply Chain Investment?
Trying to keep up with customer expectations is driving retailer investment, while agility and innovation are driving manufacturers’ investment in their supply chains, according to a joint survey of supply chain executives from JDA Software and KPMG LLP. The 2018 Digital Supply Chain Executive Survey conducted by Incisiv finds one force remains constant across manufacturers […]
Read MoreDigital Logistics: From Trend to Norm
Microsoft has entered a partnership with ocean carrier OOCL to develop artificial intelligence (AI) in shipping, with the goal of helping Microsoft better understand and predict shipping patterns and variables. This partnership comes at a time when traditional players in the logistics sector have worked to streamline and automate wherever possible in hopes of becoming […]
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The Logistics Long(er) Run
The current expansion phase for U.S. industrial and logistics real estate appears poised to surpass the typical lifespan of an economic cycle due to demand from e-commerce companies, according to a new report from CBRE. U.S. economic cycles tend to run for seven to eight years. Yet the current expansionary cycle, which started in 2009, […]
Read More5 Ways Warehousing is Going Green
The future looks bright for warehousing. This is especially true when it comes to taking a green approach to procurement and manufacturing. Eco-friendly warehouses present a tremendous upside for the planet and for your pocket. If you are interested in these revolutionary changes, now has never been a better time to act. Tom Reddon, of […]
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News & Trends Impacting the CPG Supply Chain
What’s The Difference? CPG, or consumer packaged goods: merchandise that customers frequently use up and replace. Examples include food and beverages, cosmetics, and cleaning products. DG, or durable goods: merchandise that is not consumed or destroyed in use and is generally not replaced until the merchandise experiences a problem. Examples include cars, appliances, and furniture. […]
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