Final mile logistics is attracting a lot of interest for many reasons, but the most obvious is the growth in e-commerce markets. While companies have opportunities to gain new customers by offering more buying and delivery options, these often same-day home deliveries do not come without challenges. In fact, final mile deliveries can be among the most expensive transportation segments in a supply chain. There are costs associated with scheduling times for appointments. If a […]
Read More →
Archive for Guest Commentary
It seems no matter where we look these days, robots and other uses of artificial intelligence are not hard to find. From our cars and smart appliances to Alexa and Siri, the rise of AI technology has permeated our daily lives and is changing the way we operate. Warehouses and distribution centers are no exception. In recent years we’ve seen a dramatic increase in intelligent automation across the supply chain, a necessity to keep up […]
Read More →High demand for flatbed shipping is rolling mightily into the peak periods of summer, continuing to drive historic supply issues across North America. While it’s difficult to predict how long it will last, what is predictable is that unprecedented demand of flatbed shipping will disrupt the typical cycles and seasonal trends we’ve come to expect, and make securing supply even more difficult as the market and carrier demographics remain fragmented. Understanding what’s behind the demand surge […]
Read More →Just this week, forecasters warned that the 2018 hurricane season could be more active than usual, unfortunately as busy as the stormy 2017 season that brought unprecedented damage to many areas. What does this have to do with the supply chain? Shippers know all too well that the strain on truck capacity and supply chain resources continues to have an impact, and the overall capacity issue will remain for the long-haul. A wait-and-see approach by […]
Read More →With the advancements made in GPS-based real-time tracking of commercial transportation over the last several years, visibility has become a hot topic again. Today, we can know the location of our freight on an almost instant basis and even get accurate predictions of when it will arrive. Recently, I was with a large retail customer who is interested in adding this capability to the visibility solution that they successfully deployed years ago. I am pretty […]
Read More →You could call it the perfect capacity storm, as a number of the same challenges that U.S. domestic shippers are encountering are also impacting cross-border logistics in Mexico. In addition to factors such as the ELD mandate and recent extreme winter weather conditions, the upcoming peak produce shipping season in Mexico is set to put additional pressure on capacity and create unexpected costs for carriers and shippers alike. So, how can cross-border shippers combat some […]
Read More →In today’s increasingly fast-paced world, visibility and access to information are critical to supply chain management. This point is acknowledged in a recent white paper produced by The Journal of Commerce, “The Road Ahead.” One technology that is proven to increase supply chain visibility is a transportation management system (TMS), and both shippers and logistics providers seem to agree. According to the report, 52 percent of shippers and 21 percent of logistics providers rank TMS […]
Read More →The transportation industry is currently facing a number of daunting challenges. New government policies and regulations and a worsening driver shortage are forcing transportation specialists to reevaluate and change their business practices. Thankfully, there are a number of new technologies available to help the industry get back on the right track. Driver Scarcity Over the past year, the U.S. has experienced moderate economic growth, which has resulted in more products being shipped. Although the uptick […]
Read More →Charter Sponsors
Platinum Sponsors
Gold Sponsors
Supply Chain Brief
Voice – The Interface Between Supply Chain Tech and Humans
It’s the era of the new consumer. We must adapt supply chains rapidly to meet customer expectations. Trends like reverse logistics, same-day-delivery and mobility result in new business models, stressed logistics systems and deconsolidating networks. We’re also in the midst of a shrinking talent pool. Competing with rising wages and attractive employment alternatives for this generation is pivotal in landing the top talent. How do we handle this? By evolving our operations with the tools […]
Read More →