Logistics

The Brave, New World for Shipping Lithium Ion Batteries by Air

March 16, 2016

Bob Richard, Vice President, Regulatory Compliance, Labelmaster

Has your company seen all the headlines about shipping lithium ion batteries by air? How are you supposed to keep up with what's compliant and what is not? Here's a concise overview on the lithium ion battery air transport regulations that will be effective April 1, along with a preview of what might be expected later in 2016.

Drop in Spot Rates on East-West Ocean Routes Lowest in Five Years

March 16, 2016

Drewry

The World Container Index's composite index, an average of spot freight rates on 11 global East-West routes connecting Asia, Europe and the U.S., reached a record low of $701 per 40-foot container recently.

CPG Companies Without Digital-Specific Strategies 'Face Stagnation and Share Loss'

March 16, 2016

BCG and GMA

Today's consumer packaged goods companies are facing a winner-take-all world in which about half the sales growth - more in certain categories and markets - is coming from digital channels. Companies have to earn their online market positions with new approaches and skills tailored to digital sales, says a report released by The Boston Consulting Group and the Grocery Manufacturers Association.

3PLs Take Note: Relational Contracting Is on the Rise

March 15, 2016

SupplyChainBrain

Analyst Insight: Anyone doing business in today's economy knows that "business happens." The dynamic pace of business means the contract you sign today may not be the right contract for tomorrow. This is why academics, lawyers, and judges are starting to argue for more relational contracts where good ethics are embedded into the overall intent and framework of a commercial contract. When that happens, relational contracting could become a welcome "new normal." - Kate Vitasek, faculty member of the University of Tennessee's College of Business Administration, and principal author of six books on the Vested business model and methodology.

Careful Evaluation of Global 3PLs Needed as Merger Activity Accelerates

March 15, 2016

SupplyChainBrain

Analyst Insight: The overall market for U.S. 3PL providers has surpassed $116bn after six consecutive years of expansion. The 3PL market has expanded in all but one of the last 10 years, with a recession-fueled decline in 2009 the only blemish. At the same time, global corporations are striving to consolidate the number of logistics providers they work with to obtain more services from fewer providers. - John Johnson, Senior Content Specialist, Gartner Supply Chain

Cost Savings of Mega-Vessels Often Offset by Higher Port Expenses, Study Shows

March 14, 2016

Drewry

Drewry, the global shipping consultancy, has carried out a simulation study of the operational and financial impacts on lines, terminal operators, ports and other supply chain stakeholders as vessel size increases up to and beyond 18,000 TEU (twenty-foot equivalent units, the standard metric used to measure a ship's cargo carrying capacity). The study results suggest that the economies of scale, that have been a key feature of the liner industry, may be running out.

Container-Weighing Rule: And You Put the Load Right On ... Who?

March 14, 2016

Robert J. Bowman, SupplyChainBrain

Just who's responsible for weighing that ocean container? After several years of thrashing out a rule to combat the problem of misdeclared weights, regulators and rulemaking bodies still can't seem to agree.

Going Global - Going Local

March 11, 2016

SupplyChainBrain

Analyst Insight: Transportation management technology is the fastest-growing segment of the supply chain technology market. Firms that relied on third parties want to take more control. From global supply chains to adding more advanced services such as home delivery, companies need to improve logistics performance and costs, making this an active technology sector. - Ann Grackin, CEO, ChainLink

Profitable Home Delivery - A Prerequisite in Omnichannel World

March 11, 2016

SupplyChainBrain

Analyst Insight: Too many retailers, wholesalers and manufacturers are in a race to the bottom, when it comes to what they charge for shipping. This is not sustainable over the long run. Those that create their own granular, real-time intelligence about where they hold inventory, understand total fulfillment costs, and have the ability to dynamically steer customers to the most profitable options, will be able to satisfy and attract customers, while creating profitable order deliveries. - Bill McBeath, Chief Research Officer, ChainLink Research

Last-Mile Fulfillment

March 11, 2016

SupplyChainBrain

Analyst Insight: The orchestration of processes and information for the procurement of goods to the "last mile" delivery to the customer is a required competency in today's direct-to-consumer marketplace. The convergence of supply chain execution systems is a goal that many enterprises have yet to achieve. While some like Amazon and Walmart are well on their way, others have yet to begin the development of their strategic road map. – David Meyers, Principal - Supply Chain Technology, Tompkins International