As hard as it is to believe, the year is already more than half-way over. Which makes this the perfect time to look back at what have been the most popular Logistics Viewpoints articles for the first half of the year. It’s nice to see a wide range of topics on the list, as well as the variety of authors on the list. All three regular contributors (Steve Banker, Clint Reiser, and myself) are included, as well as a number of guest posts from our sponsors. Not surprisingly, the top article was on key trends to watch in 2017; we will have to re-visit that article to see how these trends panned out. So, without any further ado, here are the most popular Logistics Viewpoints articles so far this year.
- Key Supply Chain Trends to Follow in 2017 by Steve Banker
The problem with trends is that they are like a freight train gaining speed; everyone can see the train, but at what point do you say the train is really moving at speed? With that in mind, here are the trends I’m following, the predictions I am making, or if not a prediction, the inflection points I am paying attention to… - Amazon’s Latest Take on Drone Deliveries: Fantasy or Reality by Chris Cunnane
Amazon has won a patent for a flying warehouse or fulfillment center that will deploy drones to deliver parcels. Basically, the plan for Amazon is to have a blimp or airship of some sort hovering at an altitude of around 45,000 feet, stocked with lots of products. When an order is placed, a drone will fly down from the floating fulfillment center and deliver the item within 10 minutes… - 2017 Regulations Update: Top 4 Issues Affecting Trucking this Year by Jason Craig (C.H. Robinson)
Recently, I had the pleasure of being a guest on Dave Nemo’s Road Dog radio show. We recapped some of the big stories in trucking regulations in 2016 and discussed the issues coming up in 2017. Here are the top four issues I will be following in 2017… - Supply Chain 2017: Important Transportation Trends and Challenges by Frank McGuigan (Transplace)
There’s never a dull moment in the supply chain. That statement seems especially true thus far in 2017. We’re just over two months into the new year and there is already a myriad of questions about the market, the business landscape and how companies will be affected going forward… - JDA’s Exciting New Supply Chain Product Strategy by Steve Banker
JDA Software is a leading provider of supply chain software. Last week, JDA’s user conference – JDA Focus – took place. Usually, the first thing I do when I get to a big supply chain show like this is pull out the agenda and look for well-known companies that are speaking on how they are using supply chain solutions to improve their capabilities… - Why Supply Chain Talent Management Needs to Be a Top Priority by Angie Freeman (C.H. Robinson)
The well-known business adage that people are a company’s most important asset has taken on new significance in the supply chain industry over recent years. Companies have always needed smart, motivated professionals to design, build, and manage their supply chains. But in today’s ever-changing, complex global landscape, professional talent has become even more important as a competitive differentiator… - Amazon to Take On FedEx and UPS by Steve Banker
The flying warehouse patent that Amazon recently announced is pie in the sky. Nor does much progress appear to being made toward drone deliveries. But the news that Amazon plans to build its first air cargo hub at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Airport is based on sound economics. When the 2-million-square-foot facility opens, it will reduce the company’s dependence on UPS and FedEx… - Why RFPs Don’t Work for Transportation Management Systems by JP Wiggins (3Gtms)
To help you deliver freight at the lowest cost that meets customer requirements, a transportation management system (TMS) has to learn and understand the complexities of your particular business. This level of intimacy, however, is often not appreciated by first-time TMS purchasers. I see many companies make their TMS vendor selection as if they were buying accounting, HR or other back office software – and this approach is typical when finance leads the selection or corporate buying processes are followed… - A New and Better Way to Manage Freight Trucking Risk? By Clint Reiser
I was recently informed of the new start-up company named TransVix that is developing a US trucking futures exchange market. Admittedly, my logistics research is focused more on warehousing than on transportation. However, I do have a solid understanding of both logistics and financial markets, and of financial derivatives such as forward contracts and futures… - Logistics in 2017: The year of drones and data streams by Sian Hopwood (BluJay Solutions)
Technology in the 21st century evolves at a frightening pace. The newest innovations have a lifespan measured in months. No sooner have businesses accommodated a new technology than it is superseded. The companies that adapt to each rapid change are the only ones which stand a chance of survival – it soon becomes hard to compete without the latest technological ability…
So those are the top 10 articles so far this year. It will be interesting to see if the these articles continue to be the most popular or if some of our more recent (or future) articles can overtake them. Check back in late December to find out.
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