Logistics

The Growing Impact of IoT on Supply Chains

March 2, 2016

Analyst Insight: The growth of IoT (the Internet of Things) will impact supply chains dramatically in the long run. Increasingly instrumented and connected manufacturing plants, warehouses, vehicles, and the products themselves will provide very precise, real-time 'X-ray vision' into what is happening in the plant, on the road, and in the field. - Bill McBeath, Chief Research Officer, ChainLink Research

Giant Steps Needed for Distribution Footprint Optimization

March 2, 2016

SupplyChainBrain

Analyst Insight: Suppliers competing in a global market grapple with several factors that are pushing them to redesign their distribution footprints. A boom in mergers and acquisitions, increasing delivery demands, and a shift in the locations of supply sources are all converging, requiring reconfigurations of the single or multi-echelon networks of warehouses and cross-docks used to "hub and spoke" products in a cost-effective manner to customers while ensuring the appropriate level of required customer responsiveness. - Michael Albritton, Director, AlixPartners

APIs: Let the Transition Begin

March 1, 2016

SupplyChainBrain

Analyst Insight: At the start of 2016, one quest remains unchanged: how to take cost out of the transportation process. The focus on greater efficiencies and visibility is critical for a well performing supply chain. Shippers, 3PLs and carriers need to embrace new data visibility solutions that reduce costs, serve customers more effectively, and improve operating performance for everyone. APIs are one such solution that will continue to gain traction. - Karl B. Manrodt, Professor of Logistics and Supply Chain Management, Georgia College & State University

Exploiting Digital Business to Transform Consumer Products Companies

February 29, 2016

SupplyChainBrain

Analyst Insight: Digital business creates new opportunities for consumer packaged goods companies to transact directly to their end consumers. Digital business is information-enabled business that employs an abundance of new information in ways that better service customers. Bottom-line digital business offers the potential to transform the way that CPG companies interact with and serve their customers allowing them to create new operating models that tighten the bonds with their end consumer, which has the potential to transmogrify the CPG industry. - Dwight Klappich, Vice President, Supply Chain Research, Gartner

Removing Organizational Silos Positions You Best to Meet Omnichannel Challenges, Study Says

February 29, 2016

JDA

Only 18 percent of CEOs say they have eliminated operational silos and are delivering seamless omnichannel shopping experiences for their customers. This means that the majority of retailers surveyed are still operating in silos, which is taking a toll on retailers' profitability and ability to create a seamless shopping experience for customers.

So Your S&OP Initiative Isn't Working Out? Here's Why

February 29, 2016

Robert J. Bowman, SupplyChainBrain

A lot of companies are falling short in their efforts to derive full value from the sales and operations planning (S&OP) function. But the main reason for their failure might surprise you.

Time to Step It Up, 3PL Providers!

February 26, 2016

SupplyChainBrain

Analyst Insight: Third-party logistics providers (3PLs) will no longer be able to squeeze the wages and benefits of their warehouse workers for cost savings. In the past, 3PLs came in with a lower hourly rate and a lower benefit package, with a mix of contract and full-time employees. The savings from this strategy, along with design improvements, workflow and systems, enabled the 3PL to present a value proposition with a lower cost for operation. - Valerie Bonebrake, SVP, Business Solutions, Tompkins

China's Domestic Supply Chain Undergoes Mighty Transformation

February 26, 2016

SupplyChainBrain

Analyst Insight: The demand for increased efficiency in China distribution is driving some incremental improvements in supply chain. Growth is on the rise for domestic transportation, localized supply chain IT solutions are experiencing revenue growth, and the amount of automation installed in new facilities is on the rise. Changes are also happening in real estate and there is an increase amongst importing and exporting. - Jim Serstad, Managing Director Asia, Tompkins International

Maybe Container Shipping News Isn't Quite So Bad After All?

February 26, 2016

Maritime Executive

The latest Container Shipping Forecaster from Maritime Strategies International reports "flickers of improvement" in February after an opening to the year which saw 1.3 million TEUs of capacity idle, freight rates struggling and the charter market on its knees.