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Companies that focus on strategic sourcing can generate substantial economic value not just by eliminating waste, reducing costs and improving administrative efficiency, but also by building stronger supplier relationships that can make them more competitive, profitable and nimble. There are many valuable metrics that can help you better assess your company’s performance at the sourcing / procurement level.
In a recent Forbes article , three common supply chain weaknesses are highlighted: Being reactive rather than pro-active. Lack of visibility. Lack of accountability. The behavioural weaknesses – lack of pro-activity and accountability should be no surprise to me or the readers of my blog. As t he S&OP mindset study I conducted with Supply Chain Movement in 2017/2018 show similar results.
Controlling spend is normally a top priority of procurement executives. I routinely ask this question: “What percent of spend flows through your systems?”. Under 50% is a common response. In studies that I have read, the best companies in the world have about 65% of spend under management. I believe the primary reasons fall into two categories: Systems in place.
Anyone who has done demand planning knows it is extremely complex, with forecasting challenges and rapidly shifting consumer demand, often exacerbated by seasonality, new product introductions, promotions, and myriad causal factors (e.g. weather, social media). The good news is that these characteristics make demand planning a perfect fit for artificial intelligence solutions.
The $53 trillion manufacturing economy in the US is undergoing a major automation paradigm shift due to Artificial Intelligence (AI). Thanks to new practical frameworks, automation projects that were once impossible or inefficient to implement are now being fast-tracked, and robotics automation is becoming increasingly relevant to a growing number of users and scenarios.
Blockchain technology represents one of the most significant advantages that supply chain leaders can utilize to improve logistics and reduce freight spend. As an immutable ledger, blockchain technology, while promising for outbound freight management, has unique implications for inbound logistics management. Shippers need to understand the use of blockchain for inbound logistics management, including where.read More.
Crowdsourcing apps, same-day delivery, and ecommerce trends continue to impact last mile delivery expectations. With this ever-changing landscape, cost-effective management of the last mile has become a challenge that needs a broader view. Last mile home deliveries were once considered special handling services because they were infrequent and required special considerations to deliver a product to a consumer’s home.
Crowdsourcing apps, same-day delivery, and ecommerce trends continue to impact last mile delivery expectations. With this ever-changing landscape, cost-effective management of the last mile has become a challenge that needs a broader view. Last mile home deliveries were once considered special handling services because they were infrequent and required special considerations to deliver a product to a consumer’s home.
Challenges like the driver shortage, capacity crunch, increased final mile delivery expectations and rising freight prices have shippers looking for ways to improve their supply chains. The solution to these problems is to implement a transportation management system (TMS). A robust TMS can speed up logistics operations, reduce waste and improve the company’s bottom line. […].
Humans yearn for a glimpse of the future. This yearning is why people visit oracles, study the stars, consult shamans, get their palms read, stare into crystal balls, turn over tarot cards, and/or study the writings of seers like Nostradamus. Business leaders are not immune to this compulsion; but, their methods for divining the future are different.
Demands of consumers are expanding, and the capabilities within an e-commerce WMS will empower supply chains with more data and ways to connect to consumers. Supply chain leaders that wish to stay competitive with Amazon and Walmart need to understand the challenges of e-commerce and the steps necessary to guarantee e-commerce WMS success, such as.read More.
Based on the top Talking Logistics posts and videos this quarter, it’s clear that transportation management remains a hot topic of interest — everything from how to navigate the twists and turns of the market to how to leverage transportation management systems (TMS) and emerging technologies to drive continuous improvement. Even our most popular post, which dealt with excess inventory and yard management, had a transportation bent to it.
After companies have secured a steady foothold in the domestic market, it’s time to consider the next strategic growth step: which, for many, is expanding the company’s reach globally. With so much to gain, companies must make sure their business infrastructure is ready to scale—especially the supply chain. Outsourcing supply chain management is a vital […].
Walmart recently made headlines when it toughened delivery demands for its suppliers. Reporting on this development, Jennifer Smith ( @jensmithWSJ ) and Sarah Nassauer ( @SarahNassauer ) write, “Looking to cut inventory while meeting e-commerce demands, the retailer wants more of the goods it orders delivered on time and in full. … Walmart also is changing how it penalizes suppliers when they make partial deliveries, an effort to make sure products are on shelves when needed, a parti
Sustainability initiatives and efforts to “go green” are trending through every industry and many are focusing on the supply chain. There are innumerable reasons why companies are prioritizing sustainability. These reasons range from everything from worries about climate change, the need to save money and streamline operations, to increasingly eco-friendly customer bases and the need to […].
Have you seen the video of the chimpanzee using Instagram? Here it is in case you missed it: Here's a video of a Chimpanzee using Instagram. It's eye-opening. [link] pic.twitter.com/d9AjhfPNN1 — Daniel Sinclair (@_DanielSinclair) April 25, 2019. Honestly, this depressed the heck out of me. All of us, with smartphones in hand, swipe and click, swipe and click, mindlessly turning into chimpanzees.
“What should we do about the tariffs?” There’s no straightforward answer — every leader has a different expectation. CFOs want numbers. COOs want action. CEOs want strategy. And supply chain and procurement leaders need to be ready with the right response — fast. That’s why GEP has created a simple three-part framework that will help CPOs and CSCOs brief the board and C-suite with clarity and confidence.
"Increased exposure to labor exploitation, terrorism, corruption and natural disasters must be a consideration for companies making changes to their supply chain, and best practices must be maintained in order to prevent threats to business continuity," says BSI.
Bridget McCrea, editor at Logistics Management Magazine, brings to life an very interesting story about how trailer yards have become a vey important part of inventory visibility across the supply chain. To illustrate her story, she writes about Cummins, Inc. and how PINC Yard Management System was a game changer for the heavy manufacturing company.
I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change. A few years ago I saw the Off-Broadway musical, I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change. This simple but hilarious musical follows couples through stages of their relationship from dating, to marriage, to raising children and into the twilight years. The final scene highlights that an underlying feature of successful relationships is change.
As online sales become increasingly popular, the growth of e-commerce has impacted every part of the supply chain, and material handling equipment (MHE) and fleet services are no different. With more and more brands looking to develop their e-commerce capabilities, their needs for moving and handling inventory are shifting as well. For companies to meet the rising demand for direct-to-consumer orders, MHE offerings must become more innovative.
Speaker: Andrew Skoog, Founder of MachinistX & President of Hexis Representatives
Manufacturing is evolving, and the right technology can empower—not replace—your workforce. Smart automation and AI-driven software are revolutionizing decision-making, optimizing processes, and improving efficiency. But how do you implement these tools with confidence and ensure they complement human expertise rather than override it? Join industry expert Andrew Skoog as he explores how manufacturers can leverage automation to enhance operations, streamline workflows, and make smarter, data-dri
We all know planning is important. Benjamin Franklin once declared, “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” While that concept seems straight forward, supply chain planners are faced with a constellation of articles talking about sales & operations (S&OP) planning, demand planning, integrated business planning, periodic planning, continuous planning, concurrent planning, and the list goes on.
The world of logistics is increasingly driven by technology , with artificial intelligence, big data, the Internet of Things (IoT) and automation among the biggest logistics trends today. As warehouses embrace technology to optimize the supply chain and reduce fulfillment costs , many companies are considering making the move to an automated warehouse.
Companies invest considerable time and effort putting together request for proposals (RFPs) for software solutions, evaluating different features and functions, and ultimately selecting a solution. But what happens after the initial implementation and go-live is completed? How does the vendor-customer relationship continue to deliver value? That’s the main question I discussed with Stacie Vroman, Business Product Owner at BluJay Solutions , in a recent episode of Talking Logistics.
Retailers know the clock is ticking–legacy SAP Commerce support ends in 2026. Legacy platforms are becoming a liability burdened by complexity, rigidity, and mounting operational costs. But modernization isn’t just about swapping out systems, it’s about preparing for a future shaped by real-time interactions, AI powered buying assistants, and flexible commerce architecture.
Earth Day (April 22nd) is a celebration of commitment to creating a safer, healthier and cleaner world, making it a natural time to reflect on the power and value of sustainable procurement programs. Over the past several years, f ew topics have been as critical for global corporations as sustainability – investors, consumers, executive teams and other organizational stakeholders have realized that corporate responsibility doesn’t just build a better world, but also drives financial value.
As supply-chain design and management struggles to live up to modern-day business imperatives, enterprise decision makers have turned their gaze toward the inefficiencies plaguing it.
What is Remote-Insourcing? Sounds like an oxymoron, right? Not anymore. Remote-Insourcing isn’t outsourcing—it’s a revolutionary staffing model that lets our clients fill key entry-level positions with top-tier, loyal, long-term talent, integrated seamlessly into their businesses—just like local employees but without the turnover or W2 HR hassles. With under 4% unwanted attrition, you train once and keep the same team for years.
The use of predictive analytics in supply chain operations rose by 76% from 2017 to 2019 , according to survey data. 30% of respondents said they were using this technology today, compared to just 17% two years ago. This number will likely increase going forward – 57% said they aren’t using predictive analytics now, but plan to in the future. Warehouse construction in the United States finally outpaced demand over the past three months.
The world of supply chain processes is evolving. The days of handling all needs in a warehouse are both inefficient and fail to meet customers’ basic expectation for omnichannel service. Supply chain leaders faced with the prospect of evaluating the use of a fulfillment center vs. warehouse need to understand the challenges in making a strict decision, their differences, and how to choose the right fulfillment facility for your organization’s needs.
In the last few years, the eCommerce sector has seen a shift in what drives buyer behaviours. Where previously consumers looked for quality packaging and fast delivery, they are now prioritising convenience, experience and quality when making online purchase decisions. The ever-changing perspectives on how consumers shop and interact with your brand are the reason there is a major push towards omnichannel strategies for businesses.
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