Most companies are familiar with the federal, state and local rules and regulations established by departments of transportation for outbound HAZMAT shipments. HAZMAT returns, on the other hand, introduce a new and much less reliable player into the game: the consumer. When a consumer needs to return items that qualify as HAZMAT, they must follow the same established rules and regulations – and those rules and regulations must be provided by the retailer accepting the return shipment.
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Archive for Reverse Logistics
As e-commerce returns volume continues to skyrocket alongside continued growth of online shopping, top shippers are challenging the notion of returns as a cost of doing business they must accept. In some cases, in fact, a lot can be done to counter the growth of returns from an operational perspective, and many of the world’s biggest retailers have identified game-changing insights by looking at the returns process more critically. In 2020 and beyond, look for […]
Read More →Product recalls are a regular occurrence, making the headlines on a monthly, even weekly basis. They affect not only the consumers of potentially harmful products, but also manufacturers, retailers, transportation providers, and others throughout the supply chain. However, with a reliable technology platform and transportation network, shippers can mitigate the impact of widespread issues across supply chain functions and get operations back on track more quickly. Recalls can vary from a few thousand pounds of […]
Read More →Two steps forward – one step back. This old catchphrase is fitting for the current state of ecommerce and reverse logistics. The constant growth and rapid evolution of ecommerce is heightening the volume of returns. In 2016 alone, the ecommerce return rate was 30 percent, compared to under 10 percent of brick and mortar sales (Invesp). Retailers recognize that this number is quickly, and inevitably, rising. Yet, most treat reverse logistics as an afterthought, focusing […]
Read More →Omni-channel continues to be one of the hottest trends in supply chain management today, basically touching every software application you can imagine. In order to truly be omni-channel, retailers and brand manufacturers must provide a unified brand experience for their customers. This is true for all three major phases of the customer journey – before, during, and after the sale. The key is to use all available channels in a complementary way, using the specific […]
Read More →As a concerned parent, I certainly pay more attention to product recalls now than, say, six years ago. But it also seems like product recalls are making the headlines a lot more often these days. This is due in large part to contamination outbreaks in the food and beverage industry. These recalls are often voluntary, as the producer discovers E. coli or other food-borne illnesses in their products. However, if the company refuses to recall […]
Read More →Canada-Mexico trade continues to heat up thanks in part to the growing number of company’s near-shoring operations to North America, particularly to Mexico, from Asia. The rising cost to produce in Asia, as well as the cost of ocean and air transportation continuously rising, port congestion and demand on speed to market are all contributing factors. Not only is Mexico becoming a preferred country for manufacturing specific commodities like flat screen TV’s and medical devices, […]
Read More →It’s hard to believe another year is coming to an end. There have been many highs and many lows this year, and an awful lot of newsworthy items to keep you abreast of. We wrote about numerous mergers and acquisitions, new technologies and innovations, customer success stories, drones, overnight delivery, port congestion, drones, 3PL’s, robots, shale oil, drones, omni-channel, warehouse management, transportation management, and, of course, drones (did I mention drones?). As much fun as […]
Read More →The need for track and trace capabilities in industries such as food and beverage, manufacturing or automotive industries is obvious: the threat of contamination or recalls impacts public safety, and the responses to those events are highly regulated. Organizations need to know what goes into their products and their location at all times. But increasingly, companies in other industries are taking a fresh look at the need for advanced tracking and tracing capabilities that are […]
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Supply Chain Brief
5 Challenges Retailers Face This Holiday Shopping Season
My to-do list has included one incomplete item since mid-September, one glaring blank spot where a big green checkmark belongs. That to-do item is “Start Christmas shopping.” Typically, my efforts toward buying holiday gifts for friends and family begin near the end of November, coinciding with the American Thanksgiving holiday. Rarely have I attended a Black Friday event on the day, but the commercials and promotions really get me into the holiday shopping mood. This […]
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