As the saying goes, all good things must come to an end. And for me, that day is today. After 10+ years of writing the weekly news roundup, as well as a bi-weekly column for Logistics Viewpoints, today is my last day at ARC Advisory Group. Over these 10 years+ I have learned a lot […]

A few weeks ago, I wrote about Kernel, a New York City startup from Chipotle Mexican Grill founder Steve Ells, which uses a robotic arm to flip plant-based burger patties and a conveyor belt to move dishes along the assembly line. Humans put on the finishing touches and package the meals for customers to pick […]

Even though a few soccer and rugby matched have already taken place, the 2024 Summer Olympics officially kick off today, as Snoop Dogg carries the Olympic torch through the streets of Saint-Denis. With 10,500 athletes representing 205 National Olympic Committees, there are a few athletes and storylines that I will be keeping a close eye […]

Note: Today’s post is part of our “Editor’s Choice” series where we highlight recent posts published by our sponsors that provide supply chain insights and advice. This article comes from Joan Lim, Senior Manager, Product Marketing at Oracle and looks at the intersection of autonomous supply chains and sustainability. I attended MODEX in March and saw the latest advancements […]

Robotic Process Automation (RPA) refers to process automation that combines process steps with decision models or business rules with little to no human oversight. It is typically applied to high-volume transactional processes with limited variation and clearly outlined business rules or decision models. Today’s article is the fifth part in a series featuring surveys from APQC on […]

Note: Today’s post is part of our “Editor’s Choice” series where we highlight recent posts published by our sponsors that provide supply chain insights and advice. This article comes from Greg Quirk, Product Marketing Manager at Kinaxis and looks at AI in supply chains. Data is the lifeblood of AI in the supply chain. Without sufficient data, […]

Robots are everywhere these days, but sometimes it still takes a little while for people to get used to them. Warehouse automation is one area where robots have become the norm, with autonomous bots roaming aisles, toting boxes, and getting closer to picking and packing individual items. We have also seen autonomous bots on our […]

Note: Today’s post is part of our “Editor’s Choice” series where we highlight recent posts published by our sponsors that provide supply chain insights and advice. This article comes from Solvoyo and looks at the importance of a control tower. Effective supply chain planning is crucial for maintaining competitiveness and ensuring customer satisfaction in today’s fast-paced […]

Last Thursday was the Fourth of July, and cities and towns across the country celebrated with fireworks displays to the oohs and aahs of large crowds. And while professional fireworks displays are generally safe, for the average person, setting up your own show can be very dangerous. In 2023, roughly 9,700 people were injured by […]

Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour continues to sell out arenas around the world. The tour kicked off in March 2023, and will end in December of this year, with Swift crisscrossing her way around the globe. The tour has clearly been successful, but just what does success look like when it comes to dollars and cents? […]

For thousands of years, humans have been searching for the mythical “fountain of youth.” While appearing in the writings of Herodotus (5th century BC), in the Alexander romance (3rd century AD), and in the stories of Prester John (early Crusades, 11th/12th centuries AD), the legend really grew when it became associated with Spanish explorer Juan […]

Note: Today’s post is part of our “Editor’s Choice” series where we highlight recent posts published by our sponsors that provide supply chain insights and advice. This article comes from Carlos Díaz Madero, Subdirector Marketing at netLogistiK, and looks at the key trends that are transforming supply chain management. In an ideal world, ensuring the immediate availability […]

The boys are back! Sixteen years to the day, the Boston Celtics are once again NBA champions after dismantling the Dallas Mavericks in five games. The Celtics have been on the cusp of a championship the last few years, but the naysayers continued to say that Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown could not coexist. But […]

Acronyms abound when it comes to supply chain. AT Logistics Viewpoints, we cover a wide range of these acronyms, including AS/RS, DOM, GTC, SCP, TMS, and WMS to name a few. Over the last few years, another acronym has been showing up on the radar: ESG. ESG stands for environmental, social, and governance, and is […]

July 4th, or the Fourth of July as its known colloquially, is a day for barbecues, fireworks, parades, and for 16 of the last 17 years, watching Joey Chestnut decimate the competition at the Nathan’s Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest. The lone blip in the last 17 years was in 2015 when Matt Stonie […]

Got pollen? Me too. While I have only recently developed allergies, they generally have not been to bad. Until this year, that is. Every morning, there is a thick blanket of pollen on my car, patio furniture, and everything else outside. The Boston area has been hit especially hard, as a thick layer of pollen […]

Autonomous technology continues to make an impact on the supply chain. The autonomous supply chain, as I am writing about it here, applies to moving goods without human intervention (to some degree at least). While there is plenty of talk about autonomous transportation, including drones and self-driving trucks, warehouse automation is at the forefront of […]

Early this week, basketball legend and all-around great guy Bill Walton passed away after a battle with cancer. Tributes came pouring in from past and present NBA players, broadcasters, fans, and the surviving members of the Grateful Dead. While that last bit may surprise you, Bill Walton was one of the biggest Deadheads around. He […]

Last week I attended the Blue Yonder ICON conference. My write-up gets into all of the great things I saw while at the show. But there is an underlying benefit to work travel sometimes – watching movies on my flight that I might not otherwise have time for. On my flight to Dallas, I finally […]

This weekend the PGA Championship, the second of the 4 Majors, is taking place in Louisville, KY. Heading into the tournament, all eyes were on Scottie Scheffler, the world’s number 1 ranked golfer, winner of four of his last five tournaments including the Masters, and one of the favorites to win his third major. This […]

I am writing this from the Gaylord Texan in Grapevine, TX while attend the 2024 Blue Yonder ICON conference. I believe this is my 10th time attending ICON, and every year it is worth the visit. This year’s conference brought together nearly 2,000 attendees for thought-provoking sessions, networking and learning opportunities, and a concert with […]

People buying tickets online for concerts, sporting events and other live events in Minnesota will be guaranteed more transparency and protection under a new bill signed into law Tuesday by Gov. Tim Walz. The law, which has been dubbed the Taylor Swift bill, was prompted by the frustration Democratic Rep. Kelly Moller felt at not […]

I was hoping that my news roundup would lead off with a comment about Boston sports going two for two in the playoffs. After Wednesday night’s blowout of the Miami Heat, the Celtics won their opening round series and had me in a good spot. So it all rested on the shoulders of the Bruins, […]

When it come to smuggling, drug dealers are taking things to a while new level. Colombian drug smugglers are disguising cocaine as “fake coal” within major bulk consignments to try to dupe port surveillance operations, according to a new report. Anti-narcotics investigators have uncovered substantial amounts of the disguised drugs in the past two years […]

I am coming to you from the sunny confines of San Diego, CA where I am attending the 2024 Körber Elevate conference. This is my first time attending Körber Elevate, and it did not disappoint, with over 800 attendees, 60 thought provoking sessions, and lots of networking and learning opportunities. The theme this year was […]

After months of anticipation, the day is finally here. On February 4 at the 2024 Grammy Awards, Taylor Swift announced that she would be releasing a new album, which had secretly been in the works for two years. The album, The Tortured Poets Department, was released overnight. But in a shocking twist, just two hours […]

The Masters: a tradition unlike any other. And a golfer unlike any other is looking to make history this weekend at the annual golf tournament played at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia: Tiger Woods. Actually, Woods is looking at 2 records this weekend, one of which is more attainable than the other. Woods […]

The Great North American Eclipse is coming. A total solar eclipse will take place at the Moon’s ascending node on Monday, April 8, 2024. A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between Earth and the Sun, thereby obscuring the image of the Sun for a viewer on Earth. A total solar eclipse occurs when […]

Across the globe, companies continue to pledge to reduce their emissions, capture their emissions, and help to reduce the negative impacts of climate change. For many companies, this process begins with an overhaul of their manufacturing processes, looking at ways to promote sustainable manufacturing. Sustainable manufacturing is one step in the process of building sustainable […]

In the early morning hours of April 26, at approximately 1:35am, a cargo ship leaving Baltimore Harbor struck the Francis Scott Key Bridge, triggering a catastrophic collapse of the 1.6-mile-long span. The collapse sent vehicles and people plunging into the water. According to a Coast Guard memo, a harbor pilot and an assistant aboard the […]

As Steve Banker wrote earlier this week, robots are everywhere. At MODEX this year, 33 exhibitors had the word “robot” or “robotics” in their title, and almost all the large material handling vendors and systems integrators that don’t include that word in their title were also displaying bots. But it’s not just at shows like […]

Note: Today’s post is part of our “Editor’s Choice” series where we highlight recent posts published by our sponsors that provide supply chain insights and advice. This article is from Scott Mullins, EVP of Operations and COO at Lucas Systems, and looks at self-distribution in healthcare systems. Self-distribution is an increasingly popular option for healthcare systems to […]

St. Patrick’s Day is this Sunday, and consumers are doing more than just wearing green – they are spending lots of green as well. According to its annual survey, the National Retail Federation (NRF) indicates that consumers plan to spend a record $7.2 billion — or an average of $44.40 per person — on the […]

At the ARC Industry Leadership Forum in February, I had the opportunity to sit down with Rick Rys, Director of Consulting at ARC Advisory Group, to discuss the electric power supply chain. I asked Rick to give some deeper insights on a few key points. First, what are the overall supply chain issues make power […]

Spring Forward! This weekend is Daylight Savings, or as the parent of any young child calls it, “one of the worst weekends ever.” Daylight savings (DST) is the practice of advancing clocks to make better use of the longer daylight available during summer, so that darkness falls at a later clock time. It is a […]

Yesterday was February 29th, meaning that 2024 is a Leap Year and yesterday was Leap Day. Leap years exist because while the world follows a 365-day Gregorian calendar, it actually takes Earth 365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes and 46 seconds to orbit the sun, according to NASA. While that is rounded down to the […]

A few weeks ago, I sat down to speak with Mike Noble, SVP of Technology and Jonathan Mitchell, Director of Software Services at Open Sky Group. In this conversation, we discussed seeing your supply chain through a new lens, and how this can help to achieve improved visibility. Specifically, I asked Mile and Jonathan to […]

Wednesday, February 14 was Valentine’s Day. And according to the National Retail Federation, the holiday returned to its romantic traditions, with total spending on significant others for the holiday expected to reach a record $14.2 billion (the actual numbers won’t be available for a few weeks). Over half of consumers (53 percent) plan to celebrate […]

With two young daughters who undeniably identify as Swifties, the football playoffs have become a big deal in our house. While they both generally enjoy watching football, things get a lot more interesting when the Chiefs are playing. My youngest daughter just yells for them to throw the ball to Travis Kelce on every play […]

Supply chain sustainability has become a very hot topic, but for a lot of people, there is uncertainty around its meaning. Now, more than ever, companies and countries are looking at their overall carbon footprint and trying to establish a path to be more environmentally friendly. A few ways companies can begin to offset their […]

Today is Groundhog Day, a day that lets us know if we will endure six more weeks of winter or enjoy an early spring. In some sort or another, Punxsutawney Phil has been predicting the weather since 1890, and let’s just say that his record is iffy at best. During the “ceremony,” which begins well […]

I have often written about legal issues and battles in California, as the state has been in the news for its warehouse and trucking emission rules, independent contractor rules for gig workers, and union disagreements at ports. Well, this week, I saw a new story about a bill in California that is turning heads. If […]

Last week I attended the annual National Retail Federation (NRF) Big Show in New York City. This year, nearly 40,000 attendees comprising 6,200 brands from all over the world headed to the Javits Center to see what new solutions and innovations software and hardware suppliers had in store for 2024 and beyond. The usual themes […]

I spent the beginning part of the week in New York attending the NRF Big Show. It was a very busy show, with more than 35,000 attendees walking the floors of the Javits Center. I certainly saw a lot of exhibitors touting their AI capabilities, especially when it came to more informed decision making across […]

This was a very interesting week as we saw a number of long-lasting partnerships come to an end. As a New England Patriots fan, this season was certainly disappointing, as everything seemed to go wrong, except for landing a top-3 draft pick in 2024. In a move that was not surprising, but still seems so […]

Often times at Logistics Viewpoints, we like to look to the future and highlight the key trends that we see in a given market, or make predictions about what technologies will emerge as game changers in the new year. Just last week, my colleague Clint Reiser wrote an article about the top logistics and supply […]

Later this month the nominees will be announced for the 2024 Oscars. One category that has always been interesting is Best Adapted Screenplay. This is the award for the best screenplay adapted from previously established material, including novels, stage plays, musicals, short stories, and TV series. The list of winners over the years has been […]

As hard as it is to believe, another year is coming to an end. This was certainly another interesting year from a logistics and supply chain standpoint, as we saw the emergence of generative AI take center stage. We also saw a lot of technological advances in transportation, warehousing, supply chain planning, robotics, and last […]

Christmas tree prices are rising. This is to be expected, as everything gets more expensive every year. The big question is how much more expensive will my tree be this year, and why? The majority of experts agree that natural Christmas tree prices will be about 10 to 15 percent higher this year than last […]

I saw an article recently about a cargo flight headed to Belgium from New York that had to turn around mid-flight. Now, these types of things happen for a variety of reasons, but in this instance, it was something I had never heard of before. A horse escaped from its stall and was loose in […]

Note: Today’s post is part of our “Editor’s Choice” series where we highlight recent posts published by our sponsors that provide supply chain insights and advice. This article is from Patrick Byers, DevOps Engineer at Lucas Systems, and looks at cybersecurity planning frameworks. It is important to have a robust incident response plan in place for your […]

To say that Black Friday weekend shopping was a success would be an understatement. In fact, to kick off the holiday shopping season, a record 200.4 million shoppers hit the stores and the internet to capitalize on Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals, according to a survey by the National Retail Federation. The turnout topped […]

Note: Today’s post is part of our “Editor’s Choice” series where we highlight recent posts published by our sponsors that provide supply chain insights and advice. This article is from Patrick Byers, DevOps Engineer at Lucas Systems, and looks at fortifying warehouse and distribution centers against cybersecurity attacks. The warehousing and distribution industry is highly reliant on […]

Black Friday and Cyber Monday are in the rear-view mirror and the holiday shopping season is in full swing. That means that the holiday shipping season is in full swing too. The National Retail Federation (NRF) has issued its annual forecast, anticipating that retail sales will grow between 4 percent and 6 percent in 2023, […]

“Stand your butt up!” These aren’t the words we are used to hearing at a Senate hearing, but that’s exactly what we heard earlier this week. Oklahoma Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R), who happens to be a former mixed martial arts fighter, nearly came to blows with the president of the Teamsters at a Senate hearing […]

Note: Today’s post is part of our “Editor’s Choice” series where we highlight recent posts published by our sponsors that provide supply chain insights and advice. This article is from Descartes Systems Group and looks at how companies can reduce lead times with real-time data. As so many of us were made aware since the […]

People will steal just about anything these days. I saw an article this week about criminals in the Mediterranean that are stealing olives due to the surging price of olive oil. Warehouse break-ins, accounting scams, and oil tampering are on the rise in the olive growing regions of Greece, Spain, and Italy. But thieves are […]

The notion of going green is a hot topic as companies and countries look at their overall environmental impact and search for ways to be more sustainable. Companies can begin to offset their carbon footprint by taking a deeper look at their supply chain, including product packaging, energy efficiency, alternative fuels, route optimization, and returns […]

The Beatles are back! The Fab Four have released their first song since 1995, Now and Then, which will officially be their final song. Obviously, it is not a new collaboration between the foursome, what with John Lennon’s assassination in 1980, and George Harrison’s passing in 2001. The song was built using a demo track […]

Note: Today’s post is part of our “Editor’s Choice” series where we highlight recent posts published by our sponsors that provide supply chain insights and advice. This article is from James Canham-Ash at Manhattan Associates and looks at the ongoing cost-of-living crisis. The latest research from Manhattan shows that 89% of consumers have altered their […]

Next Tuesday is Halloween, a night when kids don costumes and go trick or treating, and parents open their wallets for all sorts of Halloween fun. Total Halloween spending is expected to reach a record $12.2 billion, exceeding last year’s record of $10.6 billion, according to the National Retail Federation’s annual survey conducted by Prosper […]

The leaves are changing, the mornings and nights are getting cooler, Halloween is less than a week away, and Amazon, Target, Walmart, and Best Buy have launched holiday kickoff deals. That means that we are getting ready for the annual holiday logistics bonanza. The National Retail Federation (NRF) has issued its annual forecast, anticipating that […]

As the saying goes, an apple a day keeps the doctor away. Or is it an Apple Watch keeps the doctor away? While the smartwatch has been able to track your steps and activities over the years, Apple’s Time in Daylight feature uses the watch’s ambient light sensor, as well as its GPS and motion […]

Have you ever heard of paraskevidekatriaphobia? It’s likely that only the ultra-superstitious have herd of the term, which is a fear of Friday the 13th. Like many superstitions that have evolved over time and across cultures, it is difficult to pinpoint the precise origins of Friday the 13th. But one source mentioned the unlucky nature […]

Note: Today’s post is part of our “Editor’s Choice” series where we highlight recent posts published by our sponsors that provide supply chain insights and advice. This article is from Michael Balint at Solvoyo and looks at the fresh produce supply chain. Recently, I was at my local grocery store for my weekly shopping trip […]

The holiday season is the busiest time for package theft, as more and more items are delivered. For the 2023 holiday season alone, it is anticipated that between 850 million and 950 million packages will be delivered. This makes the season a prime target for package theft. However, it is a problem year round, and one that many people have had to deal with.

Most of us learned when we were kids how important trees are for our world. We were brought up believing that most of the oxygen that we breathe comes from trees, which is one reason the rainforests need to be preserved. Well, this is only partly true. According to National Geographic, only about 28% of […]

The holiday rush is coming, and Amazon announced that it will start its holiday promotional season early with the second annual Prime Big Deal Days sales extravaganza kicking off Tuesday, October 10. Not surprisingly, other retailers followed suit with their own online deal days / weeks, including Walmart, Target, and Best Buy. As shipping costs, […]

In the United States, there are a lot of billion dollar industries, led by hospitals, pharmaceuticals, commercial banking, life insurance, and petroleum wholesaling to name a few. However, there is probably one industry that most of us would not think of in this list: the cargo theft industry. According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau […]

Over the last few months, I’ve heard the term greenwashing over and over again. Greenwashing is a form of advertising or marketing spin in which green PR and green marketing are deceptively used to persuade the public that an organization’s products, aims and policies are environmentally friendly. A notable example of greenwashing is when McDonald’s […]

Note: Today’s post is part of our “Editor’s Choice” series where we highlight recent posts published by our sponsors that provide supply chain insights and advice. Today’s article comes from Descartes and looks at how EDI can streamline supply chain operations. For those unsure of what EDI is, it stands for electronic data interchange, is […]

At its annual event, Apple unveiled the new iPhone 15 lineup. And while the company touted upgrades such as better cameras, better processors, and smaller borders around the screen, the big news was the charging port. The new version of the iPhone will drop the company’s proprietary Lightning port in favor of European-mandated USB-C ports. […]

Note: Today’s post is part of our “Editor’s Choice” series where we highlight recent posts published by our sponsors that provide supply chain insights and advice. Today’s article comes from Greca Manuzzi, Senior Expert Product Marketing at Kinaxis, and explores breaking down silos in material and transportation planning. In the fast-paced VUCA (volatility, uncertainty, complexity […]

Last week I attended FourKites Visibility 2023 in Chicago, IL. The conference as a whole was fantastic, from the location and networking events to the conversations I had and sessions I attended. This was the largest conference that FourKites has put on to date, with nearly 800 customers, partners, prospects, and thought leaders descending on the […]

As Labor Day approaches, I can only think about kids going back to school. And when I think of going back to school, I think of a rite of passage that most kids enjoyed: watching the Price is Right on a sick day. Earlier this week, longtime host of the Price is Right, Bob Barker, […]

Note: Today’s post is part of our “Editor’s Choice” series where we highlight recent posts published by our sponsors that provide supply chain insights and advice. Today’s article comes from Kyle Franklin, Senior Solutions Consultant, Lucas Systems, and looks at warehouse distribution errors. Being a veteran of the warehouse industry throughout my career has given […]

A transportation management system (TMS) helps companies move freight from origin to destination efficiently, reliably, and cost-effectively. The primary reason companies buy a TMS is for freight savings. These freight savings can be attributed to simulation and network design, load consolidation and lower cost mode selections, and multi-stop route optimization. As freight costs have continued […]

“Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.” This quote is often attributed to Albert Einstein, but apparently, he never actually said it. However, for one man in Maryland, none of that matters. The 65-year-old Accekeek, Maryland man bought 15 identical tickets for the same lottery drawing. Normally, this would […]

Day in and day out, my newsfeed is full of headlines about companies that are looking to make sustainability an integral part of their business. It’s good to see these companies recognizing the impact of climate change, and changing their policies, sourcing, and manufacturing practices to reduce emissions. According to the United Nations, climate change […]

Long live rock! At the beginning of this week, I took a “boy’s trip” with my son and my dad to Ohio to check out the Football Hall of Fame and the Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame. Both venues were incredible, and it was an amazing bonding experience for the three of us. The […]

Happy birthday hip-hop! Hip-hop is a genre of music that originated in the Bronx in the early 1970s by African Americans, having existed for several years prior to mainstream discovery. Hip hop originated as an anti-drug and anti-violence genre, while consisting of stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping. To celebrate the 50th anniversary of […]

When looking at over the road transportation, there are first mile, middle mile, and last mile deliveries. First mile is a trip to a local or regional transportation or distribution hub. The middle mile connects a distribution hub on one side of the country to a hub on the other side. And last mile involves […]

Twitter is now X? I’m sure a lot of us were confused by this announcement over the last couple of days. First and foremost, Twitter has an iconic logo (which also fits the verb of posting on the platform) that is up there with the Nike Swoosh, Channel’s interlocking C’s, McDonald’s golden arches, and Apple’s […]

Note: Today’s post is part of our “Editor’s Choice” series where we highlight recent posts published by our sponsors that provide supply chain insights and advice. Today’s article comes from Open Sky Group and helps to decipher some myths around buying a WMS. Buying a warehouse management system (WMS) is a big decision. Many people […]

Seven years ago, I wrote that Cyberdyne Systems’ Skynet division was working on teleportation capabilities that will eliminate the need to wait for products to ship entirely. While still in the early stages of development, the emerging technology will instantly transport an item once it is picked at a warehouse or store to your living […]

Note: Today’s post is part of our “Editor’s Choice” series where we highlight recent posts published by our sponsors that provide supply chain insights and advice. Today’s article comes from Matt Elenjickal, Founder and CEO at FourKites, and looks at redefining real-time visibility. When you look at the real-time supply chain visibility market of several […]

Supply chain sustainability can mean a lot of things to a lot of people. As I have written about before, supply chain sustainability, or the notion of going green, is a hot topic as companies and countries look at their overall carbon footprint and look for ways to be more environmentally friendly. A few ways companies […]

The marijuana supply chain is an interesting market to follow. Like any agricultural product, there are ebbs and flows to its supply and demand. However, there is one caveat in the marijuana supply chain that makes things a bit trickier: in most states, cannabis products can only be sold and consumed within the state that […]

I have yet to jump on the metaverse bandwagon, but I see more and more companies offering “virtual experiences” to the masses. For those unfamiliar with the metaverse, it is the emerging 3-D-enabled digital space that uses virtual reality, augmented reality, and other advanced internet and semiconductor technology to allow people to have lifelike personal […]

Not surprisingly, many CEOs have their share of secrets. For Tesla CEO Elon Musk, one of those secrets might be a driving mode that enables hands-free driving in Tesla vehicles. The hidden feature, aptly named “Elon Mode,” was discovered by a Tesla software hacker known online as @greentheonly. The anonymous hacker has dug deep into […]

Note: Today’s post is part of our “Editor’s Choice” series where we highlight recent posts published by our sponsors that provide supply chain insights and advice. Today’s article comes from Matt Boland at Koerber Supply Chain, and examines how technology can help improve on time in (OTIF) performance. In the supply chain, OTIF stands for […]

Two months ago, I assumed this was going to be championship week for the city of Boston. The Bruins were coming off a historic season with an NHL all-time best 65 wins and 135 points. The team was so dominant that the Carolina Hurricanes, who finished with the league’s second-best record, were a full 13 […]

Last week, I sat down to speak with Chris Jones, Executive Vice President, Industry and Services at Descartes Systems Group about sustainable home delivery.  Home delivery and sustainability are two topics that I have written about quite a bit in the last few years, and Descartes just released its home delivery sustainability consumer sentiment study, […]

All week in the Boston area, and really the greater Northeast, there has been a smoky haze blanketing the sky. The cause: dense smoke from wildfires burning in Quebec. Around 75 million people in the United States are experiencing dangerous air conditions because of the smoke, with officials urging them to limit time outdoors and […]

A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to speak with Kushal Nahata, Co-Founder and CEO at FarEye. In this conversation, Kushal and I talked about the complexities of last mile delivery. I asked Kushal to give some deeper insights on a few key points. First, what are some things companies can do to reduce […]

Ever since I was a kid, cartoons showed me that dogs like to bite the mail carrier. I always assumed this was just a joke. And for the most part, it is just that – an ongoing joke. But, more than 5,300 Postal Service employees were attacked by dogs while delivering mail last year. Aggressive […]

Last night, I took my 13-year-old son to see the movie Air, which tells the story of how Nike pursued basketball rookie Michael Jordan in 1984 to sign with the company. That move, and Michael Jordan’s incredible talent and business acumen, has turned the Jordan brand into a multi-billion-dollar business. For my son, he loved […]

I have written about drones a lot here in the past, and all the practical (and often times impractical) applications they have been used for. I saw an interesting story earlier this week about how a police department in a small Maryland city is using drones in its effort to thwart illegal dirt bike riding […]

I’ve often wondered what happens to clothes that can’t be sold. And I’ve covered this before when thinking about the “Championship” clothing of a team that lost. But it turns out, unfortunately, that there is so much more material waste in this world that we never think about. A mountain of discarded clothing, including Christmas […]

I spent the better part of last week in Las Vegas, NV attending the Blue Yonder ICON customer conference. This was the first time I have attended a Blue Yonder conference in person since 2019, which feels like a lifetime ago. The conference certainly did not disappoint, as there were hundreds of sessions, interesting keynotes, […]

At the ARC Industry Leadership Forum in February, I had the opportunity to sit down with John Delligatti, Director of Digital Supply Chain Transformation at SDI, to discuss the pandemic, Maintenance, Repair and Operations (MRO), and the future of supply chain management. I asked John to give some deeper insights on a few key points. […]

I’m back after a quick family vacation to New Orleans. The trip was amazing, as we experienced a zipline swamp tour, a second line parade on our street, the opportunity to see the greatest clarinet player in the world (Doreen Ketchens), as well as a full culinary tour of the city. While it was a […]

Note: Today’s post is part of our “Editor’s Choice” series where we highlight recent posts published by our sponsors that provide supply chain insights and advice. Today’s article comes from Eric Mcpherson at Open Sky Group and looks at a WMS budget and preparing for implementation. When you begin researching Warehouse Management System (WMS) software, […]

A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to speak with Asena Yosun Denizeri, Vice President, Retail Solutions at Solvoyo. In this conversation, Asena and I talked about autonomous planning in supply chain. I asked Asena to give some deeper insights on a few key points. First, give me a little background on Solvoyo for […]

Note: Today’s post is part of our “Editor’s Choice” series where we highlight recent posts published by our sponsors that provide supply chain insights and advice. Today’s article comes from the team at Coupa and explores an agile and resilient supply chain. When it comes to supply chains, the last few years have exposed real […]

Interest in autonomous vehicles continues to grow, but so do safety and practicality concerns. There have been stories of autonomous vehicles crashing which seems to set the industry back every time. But this week, there was an unlikely culprit to slow down autonomous vehicles: Karl. To clarify, Karl is the name given to San Francisco’s […]

Note: Today’s post is part of our “Editor’s Choice” series where we highlight recent posts published by our sponsors that provide supply chain insights and advice. Today’s article comes from the team at KNAPP and explores the use of warehouse robotics. Does this sound familiar to you? Customers want their goods ASAP as competition and […]

According to the annual survey released by the National Retail Federation’s (NRF) and Prosper Insights & Analytics, consumers plan to spend a collective $24 billion on Easter this year, up from $20.8 billion in 2022 and the previous record high of $21.7 billion in 2020. The survey indicates that 81 percent of Americans will celebrate […]

Digital transformation is a term that is thrown around a lot, and people have different ways to interpret what it means. Essentially, digital transformation is the integration of digital technology into all areas of a business. ARC Advisory Group, where I work, publishes an analysis of the 25 manufacturers with the most mature digital transformations. The […]

We have seen companies look at different ways to deliver orders to customers, and bikes have become more commonplace in busy cities for this reason. But Walmart is looking at bikes in a different way. In the spring of 2022, Walmart created a new position among the roughly 15,000 employees who work at its headquarters […]

A transportation management system (TMS) helps companies move freight from origin to destination efficiently, reliably, and cost-effectively. The primary reason companies buy a TMS is for freight savings. These freight savings can be attributed to simulation and network design, load consolidation and lower cost mode selections, and multi-stop route optimization. As freight costs have continued […]

A few weeks ago I wrote that Little Brown Bakers, the manufacturer behind Girl Scout Cookies, is warning of unforeseen supply issues that will be impacting both manufacturing and distribution of its treats. The company said that digital orders could take longer than normal to fulfill due to unforeseen supply chain shortages, but in-person distribution […]

Happy St Patrick’s Day! It’s a day to wear green, and apparently, spend some green as well. Every year, the National Retail Federation conducts a survey on St. Patrick’s Day spending. This year, 61 percent of consumers plan to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, up from 54 percent in 2022 and the highest in the history […]

Harriet Tubman Day is an American holiday in honor of the anti-slavery activist Harriet Tubman, observed on March 10, and in the U.S. state of New York. Observances also occur locally around the U.S. state of Maryland. After Juneteenth became a federal holiday, there are growing calls for this day to also be observed at […]

According to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, nearly three years after Covid-19 was declared a pandemic, supply chains are back to normal. Actually, when looking a bit closer at the numbers, supply pressures actually fell below normal. Zero marks the historical average, and changes in either direction mark standard deviations from that trend. […]

Women’s History Month is an annual declared month that highlights the contributions of women to events in history and contemporary society. It is celebrated during March in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia, corresponding with International Women’s Day on March 8, and during October in Canada, corresponding with the celebration of Persons Day […]

Note: Today’s post is part of our “Editor’s Choice” series where we highlight recent posts published by our sponsors that provide supply chain insights and advice. This article is from Natalie Walkley, Director of Product Marketing OMS at Koerber. Despite becoming commonplace in commerce in recent years, companies have yet to unlock the full competitive advantage […]

For Amazon employees, it’s time to get back on the train. At least at Amazon corporate, that is. In October 2021, Amazon adopted a flexible approach to let managers of individual teams decide how many days corporate employees would work in the office. But the times are changing. Last week, the company announced that three […]

One of the most difficult and expensive aspects of the supply chain is last mile delivery. However, from a customer experience standpoint, it is also the most memorable and possibly important. Last mile delivery has become an increasingly hot topic, as companies look at ways to optimize final mile deliveries. There are a variety of […]

A big story earlier this month was the reported Chinese spy balloon. From January 28 to February 4, a Chinese-operated high-altitude balloon was seen in North American airspace, including Alaska, western Canada, and the contiguous United States. On February 4, the U.S. Air Force shot down the balloon over U.S. territorial waters off the coast […]

Note: Today’s post is part of our “Editor’s Choice” series where we highlight recent posts published by our sponsors that provide supply chain insights and advice. This article is from Descartes and it discusses the pitfalls to avoid when choosing a Transportation Management System (TMS). The logistic environment is demanding and new challenges keep on […]

Last month I wrote about my return to the NRF Big Show. As a quick recap, a crowd of nearly 37,000 people flocked to the Javits Center in New York City to see what new solutions and innovations software suppliers had in store for 2023 and beyond. This year, the recurring theme was all about […]

For the second straight year between the conference championships and the Super Bowl, Tom Brady has announced his retirement from the NFL. This time, however, he says it is for good. As a Boston fan, Tom Brady forever changed my sports landscape. He brought the region its first championship since 1986, against a team that […]

The US Department of Transportation (DOT) has mandatory drug tests that any safety-sensitive employee must complete. Truck drivers are routinely tested during their employment for a variety of drugs, ranging from marijuana, cocaine and methamphetamine to oxycodone, morphine and ecstasy. One drug that seems to be missing from the DOT’s list is fentanyl. Fentanyl is […]

Last week I returned to the National Retail Federation (NRF) Big Show for the first time in 3 years. A crowd of nearly 37,000 people flocked to the Javits Center in New York City to see what new solutions and innovations software suppliers had in store for 2023 and beyond. The usual themes were still […]

Survey Says: 86% of Consumers Willing to Delay E-commerce Delivery in Favor of Sustainability Note: Today’s post is part of our “Editor’s Choice” series where we highlight recent posts published by our sponsors that provide supply chain insights and advice. This article is from Logistyx looks at the findings from a recent survey on sustainability. […]

For the first time since 2020, I was back in New York City for the NRF Big Show. And a big show it was, with over 35,000 people on hand to see the latest innovations in retail technology. One of the more interesting things about NRF is the large-scale displays on the exhibitor floor. There […]

Note: Today’s post is part of our “Editor’s Choice” series where we highlight recent posts published by our sponsors that provide supply chain insights and advice. This article is from Open Sky Group and offers tips for removing wasted time in your operations. “Time keeps on slippin, slippin, slippin…” That’s an opening line from a […]

World records are such an interesting thing. My kids, for example, are always interested in getting their hands on the newest Guinness Book of World Records, and seeing what kind of crazy things are in there. I feel like I can remember sifting through the first world record book I got my hands on with […]

In early November, my colleague Steve Banker wrote an article looking at the top supply chain trends for 2023 and beyond. Unlike some of the other trends articles we have covered at Logistics Viewpoints, which take a deeper dive into technology and application specific trends, this article looked at the top trends executives need to […]

As the saying goes, new year new you. And for many people that means making significant changes on January 1. An emerging trend over the last few years has been “dry January” where people abstain from alcohol for the first month of the year. For the makers of non-alcoholic beer, wine, and spirits, this is […]

Note: Today’s post is part of our “Editor’s Choice” series where we highlight recent posts published by our sponsors that provide supply chain insights and advice. This article is written by Atakan Kantar & Doğa Kurt from Solvoyo, and examines the ongoing trend CPG companies going direct-to-consumer (D2C). The trend of CPG companies going direct-to-consumer […]

As hard as it is to believe, another year is coming to an end. This was certainly another strange year, but the in-person conferences I usually look forward to were a mixed bag this year. I attended my first in-person conferences and attended a number of virtual ones as well. And the jury is still […]

The chip shortage has been one of the hottest topics in 2022. I read an article earlier this week that broke it down pretty succinctly. At the beginning of the year, the global chip shortage had become so dire that large industrial companies were taking scarce chips out of washing machines to plug them into […]

When it comes to executing mode-specific freight moves from origin to destination efficiently, reliably, and cost-effectively, transportation execution and visibility solutions play a critical role. Transportation execution solutions allow shippers to connect to multiple carriers and then tender, track, and pay in the system.  Visibility solutions allow real-time asset tracking across the entire distribution network.  This […]

As we continue to move towards a sense of normalcy following nearly three years Covid-related disruptions, another yearly tradition is moving back to the old way. That’s right, when you visit Santa at certain malls or stores, there will no longer be plastic partitions or chairs set up six feet away from the jolly guy. […]

Note: Today’s post is part of our “Editor’s Choice” series where we highlight recent posts published by our sponsors that provide supply chain insights and advice. This article is from Emerge and offers tips for trucking companies to decrease their insurance premiums. The number of accidents in the trucking industry is up, and so are […]

This is our last weekly news roundup before for the Thanksgiving holiday. It’s hard to believe that we are getting ready for stuffed turkey, mashed potatoes, and pumpkin pie. So, what does the 2022 Thanksgiving holiday look like? In a recent NielsenIQ survey, 91 percent of consumers indicated they are planning on celebrating US Thanksgiving […]

Note: Today’s post is part of our “Editor’s Choice” series where we highlight recent posts published by our sponsors that provide supply chain insights and advice. This article is from Chetan Chaudhari at GEP and examines the ongoing aluminum can shortage. This shortage is the culmination of various ongoing issues – geopolitical tensions related to […]

Halloween is in the rearview mirror and Black Friday is on the horizon. As such, retailers and logistics providers are gearing up for the annual holiday logistics crunch. The National Retail Federation (NRF) has stated that holiday spending is expected to be healthy even with recent inflationary challenges, and it forecasts that holiday retail sales […]

The countdown is officially on for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. In 9 days, the host country will take on Ecuador in the first match of the group stage. This marks the first time that the World Cup will not be played in its traditional timeframe of June and July. Instead, due to the […]

There are certain movies that are simply iconic. These are the movies that everyone has seen, everybody can quote, and if it is on TV and you’re flipping through the channels, you will always watch it. Office Space fits this category for me. And now, Walmart is reviving the 1999 cult classic with a new […]

At the end of September, I attended FourKites Visibility 2022 in Chicago, IL. As the tagline said, I was there to learn, connect, and be inspired. Those were certainly three things that happened. I was also fortunate to moderate a panel that explored a partnership approach to supply chain optimization. In that panel, I spoke […]

Note: Today’s post is part of our “Editor’s Choice” series where we highlight recent posts published by our sponsors that provide supply chain insights and advice. This article is from Can Buyuk at Solvoyo and examines the benefits of vendor collaboration. When it comes to business, companies aim to maximize their own objectives, such as sales and […]

Happy Friday, and happy October 28th. This is my favorite time of year. The leaves are changing colors, with vibrant reds, oranges, and yellows popping off the trees. The mornings are cool and crisp, and the afternoons warm up, which makes spending time out side that much more enjoyable. Fall sports are in in full […]

Artificial intelligence has been applied to just about every supply chain application imaginable, including transportation management and execution, demand planning, supply chain planning, warehouse management, and order management. It has also been embedded in autonomous trucks, robots, and drones for navigation. There are myriad applications outside of the supply chain world as well. A few […]

The network effect is at the heart of supply chain transformation. Essentially, the network effect exists when all components of the supply chain technology ecosystem work together to improve the performance of the end-to-end supply chain. A yard management system (YMS) is an integral component of this technology ecosystem.

Note: Today’s post is part of our “Editor’s Choice” series where we highlight recent posts published by our sponsors that provide supply chain insights and advice. This article is the second installment from Ben Smeland, Senior Software Engineer, at Lucas Systems, and continues to explore gamification in the warehouse. In our first post on the use of […]

While the Halloween season is just getting started, retailers are clearly looking ahead. This past weekend, I decorated my house with my kids with our usual Halloween flare: skeletons, spiders, skulls, gravestones, and the ever-present flying bat. But for retailers, Halloween is mostly in the rearview mirror (except for the candy sales and last-minute costumes), […]

Earlier this week, I read a sobering report from the national Retail Federation (NRF) regarding shrink. For those unaware of the term, shrink is an accounting term used to describe when a store has fewer items in stock than in its recorded book inventory. Factors contributing to shrinkage include employee theft, shoplifting, administrative errors, vendor […]

Note: Today’s post is part of our “Editor’s Choice” series where we highlight recent posts published by our sponsors that provide supply chain insights and advice. This article is from FarEye and examines the challenges around last mile delivery. With the continued growth of e-commerce, last mile delivery has become more important than ever for […]

Last week I attended FourKites Visibility 2022 in Chicago, IL. It was nice to be back at an in-person event, networking with peers, learning from subject matter experts, and taking in the sights and sounds of Chicago. As the tagline said, I was there to learn, connect, and be inspired. I’d say that the conference […]

It’s hard to believe that Halloween is just five weeks away. And as consumers are beginning to think about their Halloween plans, retailers and manufacturers are looking much farther ahead to the holiday season. One key part of this is to determine holiday hiring (see below). Another is getting a product strategy in place. And […]

Note: Today’s post is part of our “Editor’s Choice” series where we highlight recent posts published by our sponsors that provide supply chain insights and advice. Today’s article is from Ahmad Jiwani at Coupa and looks at supply chain design. How often do you revisit and update your supply chain designs? Once a year? Once […]

At the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, supply chain disruption became a common phrase in the media. In truth, it went well beyond what was being reported in the newspapers and on TV. Supply chain disruption became a key talking point for just about everyone. As a supply chain analyst, I know that I instantly […]

Earlier this week, I was listening to Morning Addition on WBUR Boston. One of the guests was discussing the new words that were added to the Merriam Webster dictionary in September. In all, 370 new words were added. When many people use a word in the same way, over a long enough period of time, […]

Supply chain disruptions have brought about an age of innovation. From a transportation standpoint, this has included major technological advancements. Last week, I gave the keynote presentation at the Dangerous Goods Symposium, sponsored by LabelMaster and the DG Exchange. In my presentation, I highlighted five key transportation trends that are changing supply chains from a […]

Fall is here, hear the yell, back to school, ring the bell. These are the opening lines from one of my favorite songs, especially this time of year. And while it is not officially fall yet, summer vacation is over, and my kids are back to school and starting fall sports. That means a quiet […]

Note: Today’s post is part of our “Editor’s Choice” series where we highlight recent posts published by our sponsors that provide supply chain insights and advice. This article comes from Ben Smeland, Senior Software Engineer, at Lucas Systems, and looks at gamification in the warehouse. While labor woes are spurring many organizations to accelerate their […]

Note: Today’s post is part of our “Editor’s Choice” series where we highlight recent posts published by our sponsors that provide supply chain insights and advice. This article is from Logistyx Technologies and looks at cloud multi-carrier parcel management systems. Not too long ago, if you were implementing a multi-carrier parcel management system, you had to […]

A few weeks ago, I wrote that Hershey would fall short of meeting demand for the Halloween and Christmas holiday seasons this year, blaming a scarcity of raw ingredients and difficulties in securing suppliers. Well, it’s not the only chocolate producer facing a shortfall. Mars Wrigley has confirmed that it is facing a temporary shortage […]

Note: Today’s post is part of our “Editor’s Choice” series where we highlight recent posts published by our sponsors that provide supply chain insights and advice. This article is from KNAPP and looks at innovations in e-grocery. Food retailers are predominantly depending on central fulfillment centers (CFC) and micro fulfillment centers (MFS) to process their […]

Note: Today’s post is part of our “Editor’s Choice” series where we highlight recent posts published by our sponsors that provide supply chain insights and advice. This article is from GEP and look at the impact of EV boom on the oil & gas market. The rising popularity of electric vehicles (EV) is not only […]

In May, I attended the Kinaxis Kinexions event in San Diego, CA. At the conference, I was fortunate to see a presentation from Brent Wilson, Senior Vice President of Global Supply Chain at Qualcomm. I was also able to interview Brent after his session to get a little more insight on how Qualcomm dealt with […]

Some spices are meant to be grown and used year-round. Personally, I’m a fan of a few that I grow in my garden, such as mint, basil, and chives. Then there are the store-bought standbys, such as oregano, onion granules, garlic granules, and the basis of almost all recipes (along with salt), pepper. Using salt […]

Note: Today’s post is part of our “Editor’s Choice” series where we highlight recent posts published by our sponsors that provide supply chain insights and advice. Today’s article comes from Emerge, and looks at how to create full truckload budgets in a volatile market. One of the more difficult activities that logistics executives have to […]

Note: Today’s post is part of our “Editor’s Choice” series where we highlight recent posts published by our sponsors that provide supply chain insights and advice. This article is from Kirk Carlsen, Director of PLM Product Marketing at Oracle, and looks at the importance of IoT. During my time as a professional cyclist, I learned […]

I read earlier this week that pressure on the supply of critical materials will continue to mount as road transport electrification expands to meet net-zero ambitions. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), demand for electric vehicle (EV) batteries will increase from around 340 GWh today to over 3500 GWh by 2030. In a recent […]

One of the most difficult and expensive aspects of the supply chain is last mile and home delivery. However, from a customer experience standpoint, it is also the most memorable and possibly important. Autonomous last mile deliveries are part of the answer to the e-commerce boom that we are experiencing. I have already written about […]

Supply chain disruptions continue to lead to product shortages around the world. Somehow, Halloween is (sort of) right around the corner, and a lack of raw ingredients for candy are making things more scary than a haunted house. I read earlier this week that Hershey said it would fall short of meeting demand for the […]

Toy companies are always looking for the next big thing. And for Mattel, that next big thing might be Space X. Mattel inked a multiyear deal with Elon Musk’s SpaceX to create a line of toys inspired by the space venture, the companies announced Wednesday. “As space exploration advances more quickly than ever before, we […]

Chameleon carriers have been around for decades, and while the FMCSA is trying to crack down on the practice, it is not an easy task. In 2021 alone, the FMCSA granted 109,340 new carrier authority applications. But with advanced technology, the FMCSA can now use automated risk-based assessments to help identify chameleon carriers.

The future is here. Literally. And I’m not talking about the future of home delivery with drones or robots (more on that later). Today, July 22, 2022, is George Jetson’s birthday. As in the actual day he was born. The futuristic cartoon is set in the year 2062, where 40-year-old George Jetson lives with his […]

Supply chain disruptions are continuing to occur for a variety of reasons. Weather delays can affect shipping lanes, manufacturers face product shortages, demand continues to spike for certain products, containers are difficult to acquire, and the trucking industry faces a driver and capacity shortage, just to name a few. One issue that does not get […]

School is out for the summer and kids are playing outside. Part of that could be due to a shortage in video game consoles. Nintendo is struggling to break out of a frustrating sales slowdown, selling 33 percent fewer units of Switch game systems in the April-June quarter than a year ago in Japan due […]

This weekend marks the 246th anniversary of Independence Day, which celebrates when the thirteen colonies were no longer subject (and subordinate) to the monarch of Britain, King George III, and were united, free, and independent states. During the American Revolution, the legal separation of the thirteen colonies from Great Britain in 1776 actually occurred on […]

Supply chain sustainability is incredibly important to the future of our planet. And while it can be a money-saving opportunity from a transportation standpoint, there are more important issues at hand. Ideally, the UN Sustainable Development Goals and Science Based Targets will co-exist with a clear vision to reduce greenhouse emissions and make a better future for us all. Thankfully there are thousands of companies that are investing in the future and making supply chain sustainability a priority.

Note: Today’s post is part of our “Editor’s Choice” series where we highlight recent posts published by our sponsors that provide supply chain insights and advice. This article is from Alfred Hille at Descartes, and looks at supply chain resilience during waves of disruption. In today’s world where major global trade disruptions are more the […]

And just like that, once again, the Gronk spike is on its way out. Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end, Rob Gronkowski announced his second retirement this week. However, Gronkowski’s agent told ESPN’s Adam Schefter that he wouldn’t be surprised if his client could be coaxed out of retirement for a second time by Buccaneers quarterback […]

This Sunday is Father’s Day, and consumers across the country are apparently ready to celebrate. According to the annual consumer survey released today by the National Retail Federation and Prosper Insights & Analytics, approximately 76 percent of US adults are expected to celebrate Father’s Day. And to celebrate, they will spend. Consumer spending this Father’s […]

Note: Today’s post is part of our “Editor’s Choice” series where we highlight recent posts published by our sponsors that provide supply chain insights and advice. This article is from Wayne Snyder at Blue Yonder, and looks at the intricacies of the ever-growing same-day delivery market. The same-day delivery market is forecast to double over […]

Over the last couple of years, as the Covid pandemic has changed the way consumers interact and shop with retailers, brands, and consumer goods companies, last mile delivery has become increasingly important. Customer expectations for expedited delivery are becoming more commonplace, in both the B2B and B2C world. And as the lines continue to blur […]

Supply chain shortages have caused prices to rise globally on just about every consumer good imaginable. And mangoes are no exception. Apparently, this is the time of year when south Asians living in Calgary get excited for a treat that is partly about nostalgia, partly about re-connecting with their homeland, and partly about the sweet, […]

One of the issues with electric cars thus far has been the life of the battery. And this doesn’t just apply to how long can a vehicle go on a single charge; it also applies to the actual life of a battery, as a new battery can cost upwards of $25,000. Researchers at Tesla have […]

Note: Today’s post is part of our “Editor’s Choice” series where we highlight recent posts published by our sponsors that provide supply chain insights and advice. This article is from Manhattan Associates and looks at the changing nature of retail. Making predictions about the future of retail – or anything – can be a fool’s […]

As my colleague Clint Reiser wrote about a few months back, warehouse labor has been in the news quite a bit lately. Of course, virtually everyone relied upon direct-to-consumer fulfillment at some point during the COVID-19 lockdowns, placing widespread reliance on warehousing capabilities. In the longer term, warehouse labor has been increasingly in high demand […]

We’ve all been talking about the looming supply chain talent shortage for quite some time. We are seeing it now in terms of truck drivers and warehouse workers, and Walmart is an example of a company that has been trying to get ahead of these shortages by offering higher wages and on-the-job perks. But I […]

Last week I attended Kinaxis Kinexions ’22 in San Diego, CA. This was my first in-person event in over two years, and it did not disappoint. You could feel the energy in the air as 450+ people seemed to really enjoy being back at an in-person event. We were also joined by over 1,500 people […]

After more than two years, I finally traveled for a conference again. I was in San Diego for Kinaxis Kinexions, and it was a great trip (I will have a full recap of the conference next week). And I have to say, that while it was weird to be in a room with 400 other […]

At some point, it seems we all have the need for speed. That being said, would you go over 280 MPH in a car? Better yet, would go over 280 MPH in a 3-D printed car? Well, according to Czinger, a Los Angeles-based boutique hypercar manufacturer, that is about to be a possibility. According to […]

Note: Today’s post is part of our “Editor’s Choice” series where we highlight recent posts published by our sponsors that provide supply chain insights and advice. This article is from Longbow and looks at the ongoing labor shortage and supply chain visibility. Over the past 20-22 months, we have experienced worldwide disruptions that have altered […]

E-commerce continues to grow, and as a result, customer expectations are changing. The customer does not expect a similar experience across channels. Instead, they are seeking out a brand experience that allows them to interact through multiple channels during the shopping journey. In the end, it all comes down to whether or not they can […]

Have you ever had one of those mornings where you’re a little groggy and you accidentally pour orange juice into your cereal instead of milk? Cereal ruined, right? Well, maybe not. Even the orange juice specialists at Tropicana admit that OJ might not be the ideal choice for mixing with cereal, but in honor of […]

This past Monday marked the first normal Boston Marathon since 2019, as the 2020 marathon was canceled due to the Covid pandemic, and the 2021 marathon was shifted to October with a smaller field. And what a race it was. In the professional women’s division, Peres Jepchirchir of Kenya and Ababel Yeshaneh of Ethiopia dropped […]

Robots continue to be a larger part of global supply chains. When it comes to deploying robots, warehouse technology is more established, as the use of robots within warehouses is set to grow significantly. Warehouse labor shortages will continue to be the main growth driver for autonomous mobile robots. But there are other use cases […]

Note: Today’s post is part of our “Editor’s Choice” series where we highlight recent posts published by our sponsors that provide supply chain insights and advice. This article is from GEP and look at the impact of the SEC’s climate disclosure proposal. With so much current focus on sustainability and climate change, it should not […]

A couple of years ago, I mentioned that the robot uprising had reached the retail store. Well, now the uprising has reached your local coffee shop, and baristas everywhere should take notice. This week, Panera Bread announced that it would pilot Miso Robotics’ new automated coffee brewing system. Since its founding in 2016, Miso has […]

Anyone that has seen the movie Forrest Gump remembers the music montage of Forrest running across the country. At one point, a truck splashes mud all over him, and a t-shirt salesman hands Forrest a yellow shirt to clean his face. Forrest wipes his face, returns the shirt, and says “have a nice day.” It […]

A couple of weeks ago, I attended Körber Supply Chain’s Elevate User conference. While it was originally scheduled for San Diego, the ongoing Covid pandemic pushed it online once again this year. My colleague, Clint Reiser, wrote about Körber’s ongoing supply chain transformation, highlighting the company’s three main focus areas for 2022: 1) investments in […]

For the last decade or so, my wife and I have had a running joke about how she loves the Foo Fighters but doesn’t know any of their songs. The truth is, there are a lot songs that, when she hears them, she always asks “who sings this?” In the end, it is the Foo […]

Last Friday marked the 32nd anniversary of the largest art heist in the world. In the early morning hours of March 18, 1990, two men, disguised as police officers, talked their way into the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston, where they blindfolded and tied up the two security guards, and made off with thirteen […]

I am continuing to work on my latest Transportation Execution and Visibility Systems study, which looks at the total size of the market, the forecasted growth through 2026, and the leading suppliers across a number of categories including industry, region, customer size, and mode. One thing that has become abundantly clear over the last few […]

It is always interesting to see emerging technologies tackling new issues. At this year’s South by Southwest in Austin, TX, 3D printing is being shown in a whole new light. Icon, an Austin-based construction startup focused on 3D-printing technology, is showcasing one of its newest 3D-printed homes, dubbed “House Zero,” in East Austin. The project […]

When the Covid lockdown first hit, retail stores closed their doors, and consumers went online to order essential supplies. As the lockdown continued, and parents were running out of ideas of things to do with their kids, many turned to an old favorite that the kids could do independently or with their parents: Legos. The […]

A few weeks ago, I wrote an article on the benefits of time slot management. In that article, I highlighted the importance of the network effect on time slot management and related technologies, as well as the main benefits of a time slot management application. Time slot management helps to organize warehouse resources to prepare […]

The name Lillie Elizabeth McGee Drennan probably doesn’t ring a bell, but as we enter March, which is Women’s History Month, it is a name worth knowing. Lillie Elizabeth McGee Drennan was the first licensed female truck driver and trucking firm owner. As a young woman, she started the Drennan Truck Line with her husband […]

Last week, I had the opportunity to speak with Eddie Capel, CEO of Manhattan Associates. During our conversation, Eddie and I spoke about the changing nature of global supply chains in the face of the ongoing Covid pandemic as well as the continuing surge of e-commerce. I asked Eddie to give his insights on a […]

When the final whistle blows, and the new Super Bowl champions are crowned, the players are immediately wearing “Super Bow Champion” t-shirts and hats. While printing operations have been greatly improved, clearly there is no way that these items are printed on-demand. Instead, they are printed ahead of time, for both teams. But what happens […]

Super Bowl weekend is finally here. And while I have no vested interest in the game, I am certainly looking forward it. And from the sounds of it, more people are looking forward to it this year than last year. Maybe it’s because Tom Brady isn’t playing. Maybe it’s because people want to see an […]

When it comes to keeping trucks on-time at a warehouse or distribution center, technology plays an essential role. Transportation management systems and real-time visibility solutions have generated the majority of attention for streamlining the process of getting a truck to the dock, loading or unloading it, and getting it back on the road. However, an […]

It’s hard to believe that after so many years, a legend of Boston has officially called it quits. A post earlier this week on Facebook read “After decades of brotherhood, touring the world and making great records together, we have decided to no longer continue on as a band. Above all, we want to express […]

Earlier this week, David Ortiz got the call from the Baseball Writers Association of America that he was the lone candidate elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. I could not be happier for him. Ortiz was a larger-than-life figure in the Boston sports scene for 14 years, with more memorable moments than anyone other […]

Note: Today’s post is part of our “Editor’s Choice” series where we highlight recent posts published by our sponsors that provide supply chain insights and advice. This article is from Manhattan Associates and looks at the growth of quick commerce. Quick commerce, rapid delivery, serving the ‘instant needs’ market. Call it what you’d like, but […]

Transportation execution solutions allow shippers to connect to multiple carriers and then tender, track, and pay in the system.  Visibility solutions allow real-time asset tracking across the entire distribution network.  This enables improved estimated arrival times of goods. The transportation execution and visibility systems (TES) market has seen significant growth over the last few years […]

There has been a lot of buzz around facial recognition software lately. And this buzz has come down on both side of the issue, from the benefits off facial recognition software to the dangers and privacy concerns. I just read about a different take on facial recognition software that uses artificial intelligence in a little […]

Note: Today’s post is part of our “Editor’s Choice” series where we highlight recent posts published by our sponsors that provide supply chain insights and advice. This article is from FarEye and examines the challenges around big and bulky deliveries in 2022. As online retail continues its impressive growth, consumers and retailers alike are realizing […]

Note: Today’s post is part of our “Editor’s Choice” series where we highlight recent posts published by our sponsors that provide supply chain insights and advice. This article is from Asena Denizeri & Anil Gurbuz at Solvoyo and examines the challenges around supply chain planning for 2022 and beyond. Since the start of the Covid-19 […]

Robots are everywhere these days, from warehouses to stores to even restaurants. And while there are some concerns about whether robots will take the place of their human counterparts in a number of industries, the owners of a restaurant employing four robot servers said it is a resounding “no.” Amy, Ella, Will, and Josh are […]

Last week, Clint Reiser published an article highlighting our 2022 supply chain predictions. While we have published predictions about supply chain technology trends at the beginning of the year in past years. This year we have decided to lead with our predictions about the broader supply chain function. While we look ahead to the future, […]

Note: Today’s post is part of our “Editor’s Choice” series where we highlight recent posts published by our sponsors that provide supply chain insights and advice. This article is from Audrey Dong, from KNAPP, and looks at e-commerce in China and the impact of Singles Day. E-commerce in China has developed rapidly in the past […]

Welcome back! And while a new year has donned, the same supply chain issues and trends continue to unfold as we enter 2022. One of the biggest trends and areas of interest is around autonomous vehicles (see the TuSimple news below). The technology that is driving autonomous vehicles continues to improve, and as my colleague […]

It is really feeling like the holiday season, as we got our first dusting of snow in the Boston area this week. And the holiday season means that once again another year is coming to an end. This was certainly another strange year, as the in-person conferences I usually look forward to were once again […]

Cargo theft continues to be a problem, especially around the holidays. And I don’t just mean the winter holidays; cargo theft typically spikes during any holiday season where businesses may be closed for an extra day or two. But what exactly is cargo theft? I found a very detailed definition on the Texas Department of […]

Black Friday is in the books, and unsurprisingly, it was a big one. According to the annual survey by the National Retail Federation (NRF) and Prosper Insights & Analytics, nearly 180 million Americans shopped during the five-day holiday shopping period from Thanksgiving Day through Cyber Monday. This exceeded initial estimates by more than 21 million […]

Halloween is in the rearview mirror and Black Friday is on the horizon. As such, retailers and logistics providers are gearing up for the annual holiday logistics crunch. The National Retail Federation (NRF) has forecast that holiday sales during November and December will grow between 8.5 percent and 10.5 percent over 2020 to between $843.4 […]

There was a lot of anticipation around electric vehicle start-up Rivian going public. On the second day of trading, the company’s shares spiked, surpassing both Ford and General Motors by market cap. While it is still well below the market cap of Tesla, Rivian’s valuation topped $100 billion. The valuation means Amazon’s 20 percent stake […]

The wine industry has been hit hard in the US over the last couple of years. Pre-pandemic, this was mostly due to droughts and wildfires, which ravaged the West Coast, and destroyed millions of acres of vineyards. For 2021, there has been another hiccup, which the wine industry may refer to as the great supply […]

A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to speak with Pervinder Johar, CEO of Blume Global. During our conversation, Pervinder and I spoke about the changing nature of supply chain management, especially in the face of the ongoing Covid pandemic. I asked Pervinder to give his insights on a few key points. First, what […]

Who doesn’t remember their first phone? For my parents, it was a rotary phone at a stand-alone point in the hallway. For my wife, it was a see-through 80’s phone that gave her the freedom to talk to her friends every night. For me, it was a clunky cellphone that would cause me to butt-dial […]

We’ve all heard the news that storage containers are increasingly more difficult to come by, and as a result, this could impact the upcoming holiday season. But just how scarce are they? The spot rate of booking a 40-foot container from Shanghai to Los Angeles hit $10,229 the first week of August, up 238 percent […]

Last week I had the opportunity to speak with Ken Fleming, President at Logistyx Technologies. In our conversation, Ken spoke about some of the findings from a recent survey Logistyx conducted on cross-border holiday spending, as well as some larger trends around the state of parcel shipping. I asked Ken to give me some deeper […]

I just read an interesting article about Chris Johnson, former top sales executive at Apple and CEO of JC Penney. It seems that Mr. Johnson is on a quest to “remake the retail world” as he takes his new company public. The company in question is Enjoy, and it runs mobile retail stores for its […]

A few week ago, I wrote an article about the transformative nature of the plant-based meat supply chain. Over the last few years, Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods have been creating meat substitutes that promise to eat “more like meat.” Fast food chains around the country have been introducing meatless burgers, and now Burger King […]

Tom Brady is coming back to Foxboro. Unfortunately, he is not coming back in a Patriots uniform. Sunday night will mark Brady’s first appearance as a Buccaneer against his old team, and his first visit to Gillette Stadium since leaving the club after the 2019 season. Not only that, but he only needs 68 yards […]

A big part of sustainability initiatives includes the use of ethical sourcing. Ethical sourcing is the process of ensuring that the products made are obtained through responsible and sustainable methods. While we have seen more companies promoting ethical sourcing, does the consumer really care?

Good help is hard to find. And finding good help has become increasingly difficult as the Covid pandemic has caused labor shortages across a number of industries. One industry that has been hit hard is the restaurant industry, where owners and managers are having an incredibly difficult time finding servers. One Connecticut restaurant is taking […]

Over the years, sustainability has been increasingly embraced by consumers and brands alike. For many, this has caused them to re-examine the foods that they eat. In recent years, there has been tremendous growth in the plant-based meat market, with new entrants joining those that have been around for decades. The plant-based meat supply chain […]

Taco Bell continues to be innovative in its efforts to get tacos into its customers hands. A few weeks ago, I wrote about a Taco Bell franchisee that is building a new restaurant that the chain said will be the fastest way to get its food: a two-story, technology-heavy unit with four drive-thru lanes dubbed […]

It’s hard to believe it has been twenty years since the terrorist attacks on the US. In some ways it seems so long ago as so much has changed in the world. And in other ways, it feels like it was just yesterday. I can remember exactly where I was, how I heard about it, […]

When it comes to real-time visibility, the market is becoming more important and more robust than ever before. Billions of venture capital dollars of investment are being poured into companies that can integrate real-time visibility data with transportation to provide a more informed ETA for shippers and carriers. The need to know where products are, […]

This weekend is Labor Day, which is usually the final week of summer vacation. However, given the late nature of the holiday, my kids went back to school this week. It’s amazing how quickly the summer came to an end. I almost feel like we didn’t even have enough time for back-to-school shopping. But apparently, […]

Note: Today’s post is part of our “Editor’s Choice” series where we highlight recent posts published by our sponsors that provide supply chain insights and advice. Today’s article is from Lucas Systems and highlights the ways to reduce warehouse travel. Labor is the single largest operating cost in most DCs and warehouse travel often accounts […]

When it comes to managing your freight spend, there are a few options to consider. The three traditional methods are the use of a transportation management system (TMS), transportation execution system (TES), and managed transportation services (MTS). Ultimately it comes down to whether shippers want to manage their freight spend in-house or outsource it. A […]

Getting a parking ticket is always a frustrating experience. Last weekend, I took my kids to this cool skate park under the Zakim Bridge, parking at North Point Park in Cambridge. We got back to the car about 2 minutes after our meter expired, only to see the parking enforcement officer driving away and a […]

Note: Today’s post is part of our “Editor’s Choice” series where we highlight recent posts published by our sponsors that provide supply chain insights and advice. Today’s article is from GlobalTranz and looks at the difficult decision of transitioning in-house logistics to managed services. The supply chain is evolving, and the standards used for managed […]

Note: Today’s post is part of our “Editor’s Choice” series where we highlight recent posts published by our sponsors that provide supply chain insights and advice. Today’s article is from FourKites and examines ocean trends for 2021. 2020 was a tumultuous year for supply chains, and 2021 has certainly followed suit. With summer winding down, […]

This summer has been an interesting one weather-wise in the Boston area. In June, we experienced more than one heat wave, which is defined as three or more days in a row where the temperature reaches 90 degrees Fahrenheit or above. As a ridiculously hot June came to an end, we experienced a prolonged period […]

Note: Today’s post is part of our “Editor’s Choice” series where we highlight recent posts published by our sponsors that provide supply chain insights and advice. Today’s article is from FarEye and highlights the importance of last mile optimization. Online retailers need to work hard to please e-commerce customers in this advanced digital age. The […]

Grocery delivery is not a new phenomenon. In fact, it’s been around for more than 3 decades, although the ongoing pandemic has certainly lifted the market to new heights. However, I should clarify that when I say grocery delivery, I am talking about e-commerce grocery delivery. The home delivery model has been around for a […]

For the US Women’s National Soccer Team, the 2020 Tokyo Olympics were supposed to be another Gold Medal event, as it entered with a 44-match unbeaten streak. That streak came to an end in its first match, a 3-0 loss to Sweden, which happened to be the last team to defeat the US. And while […]

I am working on my latest Transportation Execution and Visibility Systems study, which looks at the total size of the market, the forecasted growth through 2025, and the leading suppliers across a number of categories including industry, region, customer size, and mode. As I mentioned in an earlier post on the growth drivers for the […]

Who wouldn’t like to go to space? For billionaires, it is now a reality instead of a rhetorical question. As my colleague Steve Banker pointed out earlier this week, billionaire egotism trumps sustainability, as Richard Branson, Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk, and others battle it out to get to space first. Earlier this week, Jeff Bezos […]

Much like the Olympics were pushed off for a year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, so too was the 2020 UEFA European Football Championship, commonly referred to as UEFA Euro 2020 or simply Euro 2020. This was the 16th Euro Championship, a quadrennial international men’s football championship of Europe. And the final, which was played […]

I am wrapping up my Transportation Management Systems market study which looks at the total size of the market, the forecasted growth through 2025, and the leading suppliers across a number of categories including industry, region, and customer size. A key piece of the study is looking at the key drivers for TMS growth from […]

The kick-off to the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan is just two weeks away, after being postponed last summer due to the Covid-19 pandemic. During a normal Olympics, millions of spectators flock to venues to watch over 300 events unfold over the course of two-plus weeks. However, this year, like most everything during Covid, […]

Note: Today’s post is part of our “Editor’s Choice” series where we highlight recent posts published by our sponsors that provide supply chain insights and advice. Today’s article is from Kinaxis and explores the TikTok Effect. Or, why you need  demand planning for going viral on social media. Overnight, millions of people are clamoring for […]

A few years ago, I took a family vacation to Copenhagen, where the autonomous train system brought joy to my whole family. One of the things we had planned to see while we were there, but never got around to, was the six forgotten giants, by recycle art activist artist Thomas Dambo. Fast forward three […]

Marisa Brown, Senior Principal Research Lead, Supply Chain Management at APQC (American Productivity & Quality Center) recently gave a presentation at ARC Advisory Group’s Supply Chain Forum. In her presentation, Ms. Brown examined supplier risk during a crisis, supply chain disruption, supply chain risk, and how organizations can shift from surviving to thriving. The following article highlights […]

States continue to push for residents to sign up for the Covid-19 vaccination. In Massachusetts, the state is rolling out the Vax Express this week, which is a partnership between the MBTA and private health startup CIC Health. The program will use an MBTA commuter rail train to create a rolling vaccination site that will […]

Note: Today’s post is part of our “Editor’s Choice” series where we highlight recent posts published by our sponsors that provide supply chain insights and advice. Today’s article is from GlobalTranz and explores white glove services in transportation management. In logistics, not all shipments are equal. There are tiers for rates, mode, and freight class, […]

Supply chain sustainability is increasingly important for the future of business and the world as a whole. Companies are investing more money into sustainability initiatives, seeking to reduce waste and carbon emissions. As we’ve written about a number of times before, global companies are looking at various initiatives when it comes to sustainability, including energy […]

Note: Today’s post is part of our “Editor’s Choice” series where we highlight recent posts published by our sponsors that provide supply chain insights and advice. Today’s article is from Lucas Systems and highlights the benefits of machine learning in the warehouse. Real-world uses of AI in business have exploded in the past decade, but […]

Sometimes, you need to add a little color to make people happy. After World War II, Brussels was in a state of depression. Pierre Draps, founder of Godiva Chocolates, had the company’s delivery trucks painted pink, a color that soon became synonymous with spreading happiness during a dark and difficult time. As we have written […]

Often times, a shot and a beer go hand in hand. And President Biden is making sure the American public knows this; although this is not the traditional shot and a beer you are probably thinking of. The White House has partnered with Anheuser-Busch offering free beers if the country reaches its goal of getting […]

Note: Today’s post is part of our “Editor’s Choice” series where we highlight recent posts published by our sponsors that provide supply chain insights and advice. Today’s article is from Open Sky Group and highlights the need for a smarter transportation management system. Dodge ball. Mention the game and almost everyone has something to say. […]

From a historical perspective, transportation management systems are all about freight savings. However, with the ongoing pandemic, and the resulting capacity crunch, TMS is trending more towards cost mitigation rather than savings. Manhattan Associates unveiled its latest TMS, Manhattan Active Transportation Management, last week during the company’s virtual user conference. Manhattan Active TM was redesigned […]

Amazon has continued to grow its logistics network over the last few years, adding more branded trucks, airplanes, and drones. But the company is not happy with just owning logistics; it continues to expand its Prime benefits. And now, Amazon has added Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) to its portfolio. On Wednesday, Amazon announced it would acquire MGM […]

Sometimes when a company has too many similar options it can cause a lot of confusion. This appears to be the case for Amazon as it has expanded its grocery options over the years. For Amazon customers, things could certainly be a bit overwhelming as they tried to decipher the difference between Amazon Go, Amazon […]

Note: Today’s post is part of our “Editor’s Choice” series where we highlight recent posts published by our sponsors that provide supply chain insights and advice. Today’s article is from Blume Global and highlights why air freight forwarders must help industry increase air cargo visibility. Adversity forces innovation, especially for those resistant to change. With […]

Two adjectives that often describe the most successful supply chains are adaptive and resilient. An adaptive supply chain is one that is able to respond quickly to changes and disruption, and the ensuing changes to demand. A resilient supply chain is able to recover quickly from these disruptions. These terms perfectly describe the Asian Paints […]

Today, May 14, marks 221 years since the 6th United States Congress recessed. It met at Congress Hall in Philadelphia, PA and in Washington, DC from March 4, 1799, to March 4, 1801, during the last two years of John Adams’ presidency. What makes this Congressional recess importance is the fact that it was the […]

Mother’s Day is this weekend, and consumers appear ready to shower mothers with more gifts than ever before. According to the National Retail Federation (NRF), which has been conducting an annual survey on Mother’s Day spending since 2003, as more people are getting vaccinated and stimulus checks are being distributed, consumers are going all out […]

Supply chain sustainability and the concept of “going green” continues to drive a lot of operational initiatives and innovations as companies and countries look at their overall carbon footprint and look for ways to be more environmentally friendly. There is of course a system of checks and balances for global corporations when looking at supply […]

The Noid is back. For those unfamiliar, let me explain. In 1986, when Domino’s Pizza was pushing its 30-minute delivery timeframes, it introduced the Noid in its advertising campaigns. The Noid, wearing a red skin-tight suit with rabbit ears, was a “physical manifestation of all the challenges inherent in getting a pizza delivered in 30 […]

Thirty-six years ago today marks either one of the greatest marketing blunders or success stories of all-time, depending on how you look at it, of course. Concerned that it was losing market share to other soft drinks, and the fact that in some blind taste tests consumers preferred the sweeter taste of Pepsi, Coca-Cola changed […]

Last month I participated in Oracle’s Perfect Delivery Virtual Summit, along with Matt Leonard from Supply Chain Dive, Marcelo de Matheus from Tramontina, and Mohamed Absar from DP World. The point of the virtual summit was to discuss how streamlining the order-to-fulfillment process achieves perfect delivery, improves customer loyalty, and reduces costs. Below are some […]

We are truly living in the smart era; we have smart phones, smart TVs, smart cars, smart appliances, and really just about any other smart item you could imagine. And now, the smart face mask is set to become a reality. In January, game hardware company Razer unveiled what was then called Project Hazel during […]

Over the last year, we have seen shortages of almost everything you can imagine. The most famous shortage, of course, was the toilet paper shortage, which was really more about a shift in usage and panic buying than production. We have also seen shortages of semiconductor chips, shipping containers, and even test monkeys (seriously). And […]

Ashok Vantipalli, Vice President of IT, recently spoke at ARC Advisory Group’s Supply Chain Forum. Mr. Vantipalli works for TireHub and discussed the company’s ongoing digital transformation efforts. They have implemented a variety of supply chain applications to build out the business model, with the mantra of “crawl, walk, run.” They are currently in the walk […]

Note: Today’s post is part of our “Editor’s Choice” series where we highlight recent posts published by our sponsors that provide supply chain insights and advice. Today’s article is by Jim D’Addario, Director of Product Marketing SCM at Oracle, and highlights where to get started on the journey to the perfect delivery, How do you […]

Spring brings about a plethora of annual traditions. For example, yesterday was Major League Baseball’s opening day, which turned into a rainout for my hometown Red Sox. Another yearly tradition is the emergence of annual cicadas, which are found in every US state. This year, however, the annual cicadas will be joined by periodical cicadas, […]

We have certainly seen a large number of companies looking to offset their greenhouse gas emissions and reduce their carbon footprints. A lot of this effort comes down to more sustainable sourcing, which tends to make environmental-conscious consumers happy. But for consumers, it is often difficult to measure the climate impact of what we eat. […]

Three years ago, my colleague Steve Banker wrote an article about the Amazon supply chain, asking if it was the most innovative in the world. In the article, he wrote about Amazon Relay, the acquisition of Whole Foods, Amazon the carrier, and the expansion of its warehousing capabilities. As the world is in year two […]

In April of 2005, just a month after completing my first half marathon (and vowing I would never run a full marathon in my life), I went to the finish line at the Boston Marathon and saw Team Hoyt for the first time. Team Hoyt consisted of father and son duo Dick and Rick Hoyt. […]

Note: Today’s post is part of our “Editor’s Choice” series where we highlight recent posts published by our sponsors that provide supply chain insights and advice. Today’s article is from Logistyx Technologies, and highlights some of the reasons a company would want to implement a cloud multi-carrier parcel management system. Not too long ago, if […]

This past Monday was International Women’s Day, a global holiday celebrated annually to commemorate the cultural, political, and socioeconomic achievements of women. It is also a focal point in the women’s rights movement, bringing attention to issues such as gender equality, reproductive rights, and violence against women. This year’s theme is “choose to challenge” and […]

As part of ARC Advisory Group’s Supply Chain Forum last month, I had the opportunity to speak with Kathleen Geraghty, Vice President of North American Sales at ToolsGroup. During our conversation, we touched on a number of topics around the supply chain planning market. You can watch also the full interview below. Specifically, I asked […]

After nearly a full year of panic, I feel like I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. With more vaccines available, and Massachusetts expanding its eligible pool of those waiting to be vaccinated, I am getting closer to breathing a sigh of relief. This week alone, both my parents and […]

A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to speak with Nil Durak, Chief Operating Officer at Solvoyo as part of ARC’s Supply Chain Forum. In this conversation, Nil and I spoke about the big picture of supply chain digital transformation, as well as taking a deeper dive into the supply chain planning market as […]

Note: Today’s post is part of our “Editor’s Choice” series where we highlight recent posts published by our sponsors that provide supply chain insights and advice. Today’s article is from Omer Ucar at Solvoyo. It was mid-March when my flatmate and I burst into a panic as the first cases of COVID-19 were officially announced. […]

Earlier this week, ARC Advisory Group held its 2021 Supply Chain Forum. Titled Accelerating Digital Transformation in Supply Chain & Logistics, the virtual event brought together thought leaders and practitioners to discuss digital transformation and the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on global supply chains. Of course, companies mean different things when they use the […]

ARC Advisory Group engaged in an informative discussion with Derek Gittoes, VP Supply Chain Management Product Strategy at Oracle, as part of ARC’s Digital Supply Chain Forum. Derek recently authored an article on Logistics Viewpoints describing recent advancements in logistics predictability through the application of machine learning. And we thought this to be a great […]

Today is the first day of the Lunar New Year. In case you are not totally familiar, here’s a quick breakdown. The Lunar New Year, which is also called Spring Festival, marks the first full moon of the lunar calendar and generally takes place between January 21 and February 20. The dates of the New […]

The Super Bowl is here, and for what seems like the yearly norm, Tom Brady is playing once again. But this time, things are different for a number of reasons. First, and most obvious, is that Brady is not playing for the Patriots. Instead, he will lead the Tampa Bay Buccaneers into battle against the […]

Tom Brady has done it again. But like everything else in the world, it’s different this time around. For the first time in his career, Brady was not under center for the New England Patriots this season. Instead, he opted to move south this past off-season to take over the reigns for the Tampa Bay […]

One of the most expensive parts of e-commerce has taken on a whole new meaning over the last 12 months: returns. The COVID-19 pandemic led to a surge in e-commerce sales that could not have been predicted. Starting in May, monthly e-commerce sales soared beyond a normal holiday season, with no signs of slowing down. […]

With the ongoing pandemic, all of life’s big events are different, even on the global stage. On Wednesday, Joe Biden was officially inaugurated as the 46th president of the United States. The logistics around the event were difficult, but again they were different. The biggest difference this year was the size of the crowd. Normally, […]

It’s that time of year again: Girl Scout Cookie season. Although, in recent years, the season has really been extended to a year-round event as you can buy them online. But there is still the initial rush when consumers can buy them from their local troop. Of course, the coronavirus pandemic is shifting things as […]

I recently completed my latest study on the transportation execution and visibility solutions market. Transportation execution allow shippers to connect to multiple carriers and then tender, track, and pay in the system.  Visibility solutions allow real-time asset tracking across the entire distribution network.  This enables improved estimated arrival times of goods. These solutions do not […]

Welcome back. I hope everyone had a relaxing holiday season and was able to get some much-needed rest. I know I certainly did. And luckily, unlike a large number of people out there, all of my Christmas packages arrived on time (although there were a few close calls). According to new data, while UPS, FedEx, […]