All Articles - Inbound Logistics

5 Ways Logistics Managers Can Battle Inflation in 2023

With inflation at 40-year highs and a challenging macroeconomic situation, here’s how you can find stability in your operation.

What is a Straight Truck? Definition, Types, and Uses

Wondering what a straight truck is? A straight truck refers to a type of vehicle with a tractor-trailer in a fixed position. In other words, all the axles in a straight truck attach to a single frame. Usually, straight trucks look like do-it-yourself moving trucks and, in most cases, move housing supplies, boxes, furniture, refrigerators, […]

3PLs Discover Value for Shippers

Technology, service and communication will differentiate third-party logistics providers.

Preparing for a Holiday Surge in Cybercrime? Secure Digital Logistics Workflows

The holidays have become primetime for cyberattacks as more businesses shift to digital-first. Given the sensitive nature of supply chains, your logistics data could be at risk if managed across disparate channels. Here are three ways client portals can effectively manage vendor relationships while prioritizing security. 360-degree VIEW Between 2018 and 2020, ransomware attacks increased […]

We Need More Than Overtime Pay to Fix the Driver Shortage

Transportation logistics faces a conundrum. The U.S. commercial trucking industry is the foundation of our economy, yet it consistently struggles to recruit and retain drivers.

Logistics Planning: Definition, Types, Importance, and Strategies

Have you ever been to a business that looked neat and orderly at first glance, but behind the scenes it was a different story? It’s easy to present as a well-oiled machine in the front office, but if you neglect business processes at other levels, you’re in trouble. Logistics planning can help you fire on […]

Four Ways ERP Is Changing to Keep Up with Manufacturers’ Evolving Needs

Enterprise resource planning (ERP) has become a pivotal solution for withstanding today’s challenges. Here’s how the technology is evolving to ensure businesses can keep up with the current climate.

GOOD QUESTION: What’s your best customer service tip for supply chain stakeholders?

What’s the secret to pleasing customers, whether they’re consumers, your partners, or other supply chain stakeholders? These industry insiders offer their best advice.

Why a Supply Chain Management Ecosystem Is the Future of Enterprise Planning

Visibility providers are integrating with supply chain applications to give users multiple capabilities within a single ecosystem. Just like within our smartphone, these integrations are giving users the power to tailor their own ecosystem according to their needs.

IN BRIEF: New Services and Solutions

From a high-capacity orderpicker to a new nationwide reefer van network, here are some notable supply chain services and solutions that recently hit the market.

How to Ace Your Supply Chain Career

Want to be in a class of your own? These supply chain practitioners have some notes.

9 Ways to Enhance the Customer Experience

Providing a five-star customer experience is the name of the game for e-commerce and omnichannel retailers and brands. Here are some best practices to keep your customers coming back for more.

Drayage: Meaning, Importance, and Types

Large container ships move cargo from port to port across the continent. Trucks and railways move cargo within countries. Consider, however, the smaller, more intricate steps that allow freight to move between transportation modes. These smaller national movements are collectively called drayage and are crucial to shipping logistics. What Is Drayage? Drayage is a form […]

Creating a Safe, Reliable Pharmaceutical Supply Chain

Partnering with MD Logistics—an experienced U.S.-based 3PL—and global freight forwarder Nippon Express can provide a wealth of benefits to your global pharmaceutical supply chain.

Is Industrial Real Estate Recession Proof?

With industrial real estate still going strong, logistics property owners and investors wonder if their warehouses will help them weather the coming storm. Here is what to expect.

The Last Mile: Ice Cream Logistics… Licked

When it comes to frozen desserts, ice cream tops the list for U.S. consumers. Here’s how ice cream makers keep churning it out.

VERTICAL FOCUS: Raw Materials

Insight into the latest supply chain trends for raw materials.

NOTED: Supply Chain Highlights

From sustainability efforts to recent mergers and acquisitions, here’s what’s new and notable in the supply chain.

Helping Manufacturers Weather the Storm

The manufacturing sector continues to chug along, with demand and production levels hitting new highs. But economic uncertainty and inflation may soon create some clouds on the horizon.

Taking the Temperature on Sustainability

Many companies will continue to take sustainability seriously over the next 12 months. A recent Honeywell survey of 600 business leaders finds that 90% are pleased with their sustainability efforts over the prior 12 months, and 97% plan environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) budget increases in the next 12 months.

Waste Eats Away the Bottom Line

Overproduction and waste may push margins in the wrong direction. A recent Avery Dennison report finds that 8% of stock perishes or is discarded before it reaches consumers–inventory losses worth up to $163.1 billion or 3.6% of annual profits. Of the 8% waste, slightly more than half (53.8%) is lost in the supply chain before products reach store shelves.

AI and ML in Retail: Help or Hype?

Top-performing retailers are bullish on artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), with 71% of respondents to a Retail Systems Research report saying AI-enabled analytics will fundamentally change their merchandising forecasting by 2025.

Five Trends That Will Shape Logistics in 2023

Amidst concern over the economy and ongoing geopolitical issues, 2023 promises to pose challenges to managing logistics and supply chain operations. To help companies prepare for the new year, Anaid Chacón, head of product for Nuvocargo, a digital platform focused on U.S.-Mexico cross-border trade, identifies five trends to be aware of.

Turning the Tide on Turnover

The pandemic’s effect on inventory turnover was significant, but more recent data suggests that the situation may be improving for e-commerce brands.

Logistics Technology: The Unsung Hero of Convenience Commerce

As consumers embraced online ordering during the pandemic, e-commerce sales ballooned from $571.2 billion in 2019 to $815.4 billion in 2020—a 43% jump—according to a recent Census Bureau retail survey. Although online sales have cooled since the initial pandemic-driven fervor, consumers continue to drive convenience commerce, with e-commerce sales increasing 6.7% in Q1 2022. More than 20% of consumer spending from January to March occurred online.

How to Develop a Customer-centric Supply Chain

Supply chain variability creates hurdles to customer satisfaction. Prioritize the consumer experience by integrating flexible technologies and processes in your supply chain design.

Sustainability Regulations Call for Increased Visibility

Businesses have become more attuned to social and environmental issues, and it is not just because they believe it’s the right thing to do.

How SMBs Can Re-evaluate Risk

Supply chain disruption has been a major issue since the onset of the pandemic, affecting consumers’ ability to get everything from toilet paper and pharmacy items to cars and houses. At the same time, porch-pirated theft is on the rise, with around 210 million packages disappearing from porches across the United States in 2021, according to a Safewise study.

Attacks on Energy Attack You

Can you walk and chew gum at the same time? Leaders in the United States and globally cannot when it comes to balancing green energy initiatives with common sense energy requirements.

John Brewer: Building a Supply Chain Step by Step

John Brewer is director of distribution and logistics with CKE Restaurants Holdings Inc., the company behind quick-serve restaurant brands Carl’s Jr. and Hardees.

10 Tips: Matching Inventory To Demand

Demand is a constantly changing variable in any supply chain. Each time the demand tides change, retailers, wholesalers, distributors, and manufacturers must align inventory levels to meet customer expectations. Here are tips for doing it successfully.

Stay Chill

Shippers face many challenges when maintaining the cold chain for food transportation. Chill out! These solutions can help.

How to Unlock Opportunity With a Procurement Control Tower

With market volatility and sky-high inflation driving shifts in the price of oil and other commodities, it’s not surprising to see businesses adjust sourcing and inventory strategies in anticipation of future roadblocks. Plus, with consumer demand softening, many companies that largely over-indexed on orders last year are now sitting on a surplus of supply.

Driving the Automotive Industry Forward with Complete Smart Factory Solutions

Implementing smart factory solutions ensures standardization and integration of the spare parts logistics process throughout the supply chain.

Cross Docking: Definition, History, and Process

Cross docking is a shipping method that transfers goods from one transportation mode to another to get them directly from the source to their destination. Cross docking is widely used in freight transportation because it helps reduce costs and storage space, among other benefits. This article covers cross docking definitions, history, types, methods, advantages, disadvantages, […]

Combatting the Chip Shortage with Cloud Adoption

As the economy grapples with the new normal of post-pandemic buyer behavior and businesses move forward, many industries continue to experience a demand surge that has overwhelmed the supply chain. Shortages of critical components such as semiconductor chips are at an all-time high for manufacturing, transportation, and logistics.

TEU: Definition, History, and Vessel Sizes

TEU, or a twenty foot equivalent unit, is the standard measure of container capacity on a ship. In other words, it tells you how many 20-foot-long containers can fit on particular container ships. TEU is important because it allows for easy comparison of vessel sizes. For example, if one container ship has a capacity of […]

Freight Forwarding: Meaning, Stages, and Pros and Cons

Supply chain management is an integral part of any company’s efficiency. Transporting goods from one place to another can be time-consuming and expensive. The process can be complex and challenging, but if you approach it correctly, it will go smoothly and leave lasting effects on your overall business. Many companies employ third-party logistics services to […]

Retail Warehousing: Definition, Types, and Benefits

Retail warehousing is an essential part of the supply chain, especially as businesses across the United States face a significant decline in storage capacities, according to the Wall Street Journal. E-commerce ventures are also on the rise, and these online retail shops need space to store, package, and brand their inventory to get it ready […]

Export Compliance: Definition, Controls, Penalties

Export compliance regulations are the rules, guidelines, and procedures that control how goods, services, and technology move across international borders. United States export controls are primarily governed and enforced by the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC), and the United States Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control […]

The Global Food Crisis and Technologies That Help to Cope with its Effects

How technologies enable companies and governments to find the solutions to mitigate the effects of crises.

Intermodal vs. Transloading: Definitions and Process

Intermodal and transloading are two methods of shipping products. They are similar, but understanding the difference between intermodal vs. transloading can help you choose the shipping method that works best for you logistically and financially. The key differences between transloading vs. intermodal transportation are the methods of moving products. Intermodal is self-contained, while transloading physically […]

Warehousing Automation: DCs Level Up

Now that achieving efficiency is more pressing—and more challenging—than ever, distribution center operators turn to flexible automation solutions to boost productivity and optimize space utilization.

Air Cargo Capacity Comes Back

For more than two years, demand for air cargo vastly exceeded supply. But now, at the end of 2022, air freight capacity is approaching pre-pandemic norms. What happens now?

Expedited Carriers Guide 2022

With enterprises running just-in-time and e-commerce accelerating customer expectations, shipment speed is more urgent than ever. From managing time-sensitive medical shipments to meeting last-minute capacity needs, shippers seek fast services, at reasonable costs.

These carriers can answer your need for speed. Offering same-day and next-day options, ground expedite and air charter solutions, to name a few, the carriers on this list can handle tight timeframes, specialized equipment needs, and mission-critical shipments.

GOOD QUESTION: Is supply chain globalization in retreat? Why or why not?

Industry insiders reveal if there has been a pullback on supply chain globalization amidst volatility and disruption.

Devanning: Definition, Process, and Benefits

Devanning is a process of warehouse and logistics management that uses digital technology to systematically unload loose items and shipping containers from a vehicle’s load space. Container devanning involves loading and unloading cargo using a sealed container and heavy-duty equipment like counterbalance forklifts to manage the entire operation. When goods devan at the destination, companies […]

Customs Clearance: Meaning and Process

International trade can be complex and time-consuming, but it is crucial for businesses that import or export goods to understand one of the most critical steps in the process: customs clearance. Customs clearance is the procedure you must follow to legally import or export goods across international borders. The process can be daunting, but this […]

Capacity Planning: Meaning, Strategies, and Process

Capacity planning is an excellent way to increase corporate productivity. Capacity planning helps you identify potential areas for growth, which boosts investment returns, and maintains good employee morale. Planning your resource capacity is helpful when you manage several projects because it improves your chances of accomplishing them on schedule and within budget. Using capacity-based planning […]

Reverse Logistics: All You Need to Know About What It Is

If you’re a retailer or e-commerce seller, you need to know about reverse logistics, also known as reverse logistics flow. Reverse logistics is a supply chain management system used to manage the return of products that were originally sent out with an order. Here’s what reverse logistics is, why it is essential, pros and cons, […]

Pumpkin Spice Pandemonium

Pumpkin spice mania is a fall tradition in the United States. Here’s how seasonality blended with limited supplies jacks up demand.

Business as Unusual

A new IBM survey of 1,500 chief supply chain officers (CSCOs) reveals that supply chain leaders have accepted their fate: Business will continue to be anything but typical for the immediate future. The main focus for CSCOs now is to prepare for what happens next.

Nearshoring Picks Up Steam

All of the global supply chain snafus that have taken place over the past two years have caused many manufacturers to reexamine their supply chain and production networks. The question they all seem to be asking is: Should we bring production closer to consumption? A new report from Accenture indicates that answer is “yes.”

Acquiring Minds Want To Know

A new report by Barclays Corporate Banking finds that nearly half of all UK logistics businesses are likely to make an acquisition in the next 12 months as they look to expand operations and become more competitive—the highest figure recorded in the survey’s 10-year history.

Manufacturers Feel the Disruption Burden

Supply chain disruptions over the past 12-18 months—including shipping delays and parts shortages due to truck driver issues and congested ports—have heavily impacted manufacturers (see chart). That’s the consensus of Deloitte’s new study, Meeting the Challenge of Supply Chain Disruption, which was conducted in partnership with Manufacturers Alliance. (see chart).

How Macy’s Avoids Inventory Glut

Retailers across the country are struggling with inventory pileup due to 2021’s massive supply chain delays. Unloading these previous-season goods has become a top priority for the upcoming holiday and winter season. But Macy’s is singing a different tune: the retailer managed to avoid most of this inventory glut, and reported to the Wall Street Journal that more than half of its offerings for the holiday season will be new.

Land Of The Lost And Other Peak Season Challenges

A whopping 92% of merchants surveyed by UPS Capital report costly impacts to their business as a result of lost, stolen, or damaged shipments. Half of merchants say they lost $50,000+ in the past year.

VERTICAL FOCUS: Automotive Aftermarket

Here’s a look at supply chain trends in the automotive aftermarket space.

Expedited Delivery: Technology Makes it Happen

When customers want it NOW, technology makes it click by delivering increased visibility, optimized loads and routes, data-sharing, and digitized documents.

IN BRIEF: New Services and Solutions

From a lighter refrigerated truck body to a new U.S.-Korea airfreight service, here are some notable supply chain services and solutions that recently hit the market.

Intermodal vs. Multimodal: Definition and Advantages

Shippers save money and time by choosing multimodal and intermodal transportation. While both methods use many transportation modes, they differ in who is responsible for your shipment. Even though it might be easier to work with just one shipping company, it is often more cost-effective to leverage the knowledge and services of more than one. […]

E-Commerce Business Owner Perspective: Joining Forces with Fulfillment by Amazon Businesses

Partnering with firms that leverage Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) helped take our business to the next level.

CEO Interview: Leading With Candor and a Dash of Empathy

While she thrives on the fast pace of transportation and logistics, Nicole Glenn also knows how to slow it down when it comes to growing her company thoughtfully.

Freight Brokers Definition: What They Are and What They Do

If you are a shipper, you know how crucial it is to ensure that your precious cargo moves safely between cities and countries worldwide. There is nothing as stressful as watching your goods get stuck at customs because you don’t have the proper paperwork, or worse, never making it to their destination due to bad […]

NOTED: Supply Chain Highlights

From philanthropy initiatives to recent mergers and acquisitions, here’s what’s new and notable in the supply chain.

Winning in a Contract Market

Freight market volatility keeps us on our toes, and we can expect that to continue. Many carriers are shifting their focus from spot to contract freight, which creates a fantastic opportunity for shippers to optimize their supply chain by adapting their carrier strategy. Here are some proven practices for doing so.

Four Tips to Strengthen Cybersecurity

Supply chain problems continue to dominate headlines across the globe. In response, companies seek ways to increase visibility to help build more resilient supply chains. However, increasing the pace of digital transformation opens up an array of vulnerabilities that cybercriminals actively take advantage of. Shoring up cyber defenses is critical for logistics providers and shippers in particular, where a breach can have significant consequences.

Supply Chain Strain: How to Navigate Disruption

Now that we’ve been in a pandemic for more than two years, it’s funny to look back at our optimism at the beginning. We expected brief supply chain interruptions and thought that things would be back to normal in a few short months. Then we realized it could drag on for a year or more. But almost three years?

Becoming a Demand-Driven Enterprise

The key to becoming more agile when responding to demand signals is overcoming data and decision-making siloes that impact your ability to deliver. Here are 10 ways you can start to optimize your operations to become more predictive and proactive.

Robots: Walmart Advances, Amazon Retreats

When faced with anticipated fall-off in consumer purchases, Walmart leans into new robotic solutions. The retailer also re-tasks existing store infrastructure by attaching market fulfillment centers (MFCs)—compact warehouses inside, or tacked onto, retail stores to help fulfill pickup or delivery orders. It gets inventory closer to the customer and amps delivery velocity to serve consumers […]

Digital Supply Chain Technology Investments Spurred by Disruption

Supply chain leaders can drive impactful, lasting transformation within their organizations. Here are the digital solutions garnering attention and investment.

3PL Warehouse Rapid Deployment and Adaptation

How to easily configure business processes to meet customer-specific requirements.

Why You Should be Spending More on Your Pallets

Sometimes, finding a way to operate more efficiently forces a company to examine processes that haven’t changed for decades. Take the pallet. This simple, but crucial, item ensures stable loads and are essential to moving goods throughout the supply chain. They’re typically made of wood and are inexpensive—maybe about $15 per pallet. This may not seem cost prohibitive, but with up to 2 billion pallets in use in the U.S. alone, businesses must examine ways to reduce this cost without cutting corners.

On Manufacturing Pessimism

“Given current economic trends, it’s understandable that manufacturers’ optimism is declining. Yet, increased demand offers some promising news. To keep up, business leaders should diversify their material suppliers and challenge logistics providers to find ways to tighten delivery times. And, to address employee shortages, companies must revisit their talent strategies and implement comprehensive recruitment and […]

Rail to the Rescue?

When the supply chain turns volatile and the trucking market grows tough, can these alternatives to over-the-road transportation save the day?

NOTED: Supply Chain Highlights

From net-zero carbon initiatives to recent mergers and acquisitions, here’s what’s new and notable in the supply chain.

What’s the Most Valuable Logistics Brand?

The answer is UPS, according to the 2022 Brand Finance Logistics 25 report. With a brand value of $38.5 billion, UPS has held on to the top spot as the most valuable logistics brand in the world. Since last year’s report, the company’s brand value has increased by 28%.

Get Ready for the Hype

Industry buzz usually surrounds the release of a new Gartner Hype Cycle, and the 2022 Hype Cycle for Supply Chain Strategy is no different. The annual findings detail important changes in which strategies, technology, and workflows are making an impact. Along the continuum are these categories: Innovation Trigger Peak of Inflated Expectations Trough of Disillusionment […]

Uncle Sam’s Infrastructure Spending, Explained

With several key federal bills that bring dollars to logistics and transportation infrastructure passing recently, it can be hard to keep track of which funds are going where—and what it all means for supply chain and manufacturing professionals. Commercial real estate firm Savills breaks it down: Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act: Signed into law by […]

Against All Odds, Trade Going Strong

“Resilient” seems to be the key word to describe global trade today. Despite myriad challenges—the aftermath of the pandemic, inflation, the war in Ukraine, a rocky stock market—global trade is persisting at strong levels, according to the latest DHL Trade Growth Atlas, published by DHL and the NYU Stern School of Business. The report maps […]

Full Kitting: Process, Benefits, and Types

Kitting is a beneficial process that brings together individual components for assembly. It’s an essential step in the manufacturing process where every component is gathered for assembly, saving time and money. Kitting processes take place before the assembly line, gathering the components that are used to make the complete product. However, kitting can mean different […]

Consignment Inventory: Definition, Advantages, and Disadvantages

Talk to any retailer and they will tell you without a doubt that there is a certain amount of risk that results from purchasing traditional inventory. This is because when retailers stock their products, they usually hope that they will sell enough to get a profit before their stock expires. However, this will not always […]

Keeping the Supply Chain Running in Ukraine

Since 2020, the business landscape has been full of crises for 3PLs operating in Europe. First a worldwide pandemic, now a war between Russia and Ukraine. Keeping a supply chain operating efficiently is challenging in the best of times, but how can companies best respond during game changing disruptions? Yuriy Ostapyak, a Ukrainian-born U.S. citizen and COO for Logistics Plus joined the Inbound Logistics podcast to discuss his company’s response to these challenges.

IN BRIEF: New Services and Solutions

From a cobot-based palletizer to an AI-driven warehouse management tool, here are some notable supply chain services and solutions that recently hit the market.

What is a Certificate of Compliance? Meaning, Requirements, Examples

A certificate of compliance is a document that certifies that a product or system meets the requirements of a safety regulation or standard. It is typically used in shipping and logistics to ensure that products are safe for transport and meet the destination country’s requirements. Certificate of compliance examples in logistics include documents such as […]

VERTICAL FOCUS: Agriculture/Bulk Agriculture Commodities

AG Outlook: Mixed Both clear skies and stormy weather are in the forecast for the agricultural sector. That’s the mixed-bag conclusion from a September 2022 panel discussion at the Ag Outlook Forum in Kansas City, Missouri. The panel of experts—including Kip Tom, former ambassador to the U.N. Food & Agriculture Organization, and Daniel Whitley, administrator […]

Becoming a Successful Female Mentor in Male-Centric Industries

Countless published articles talk about the importance and value of mentorship, and we heard many of these voices during Women’s History Month in March. Many of these articles strike home at the essence and reasons why mentorship is especially critical for professional women in the workforce.

The Trucking Industry By-the-Numbers: The Long Haul

As the engine of the U.S. economy, the trucking industry carries around 11 billion tons of freight per year, keeping goods moving and the supply chain humming.

The Future of the Supply Chain is Cloudy

We hear a lot about the cloud these days. The cloud (public or private) refers to software and services that run on the Internet instead of locally on your computer. There is a good chance that the majority of business data will eventually reside in the cloud.

You Can Add Value to Your Brand Through Last-Mile Delivery

Retailers in a post-COVID world know better than anyone that growing their business by diversifying what they offer is a surefire way to solidify customer loyalty. In today’s highly competitive retail environment, delivery as a brand extension is a critical differentiator.

Moving to a Cloud-First Strategy

The benefits of cloud computing are driving many companies to adopt a cloud-first strategy. System migrations can be complex and intimidating, but with some preparation, your transition can be straightforward. Here’s how to start your cloud journey.

Anne Meyrose: Filling the Gap

Anne Meyrose is vice president, logistics control tower with Gap Inc., the apparel company behind the Athleta, Banana Republic, Gap, and Old Navy brands.

IL Good Question: If you could invent one tool to help you do your job better, what would it be?

Readers reveal the yet-to-be-invented tools that would be supply chain game-changers as well as the most recent innovations starting to make their jobs easier.

Tackling Trucking Turnover

Conventional wisdom says that the trucking industry suffers from a driver shortage; however, the real issue might not be a lack of drivers willing to take the job, but rather those who stick with it. Low pay, long hours, compliance concerns, out-of-pocket expenses, and parking scarcity can combine to lead established drivers to say enough is enough and look for new job opportunities.

WMS Enables Automation Orchestration for High-Volume E-Commerce Fulfillment

Case study in leveraging a warehouse management system to get the most out of a substantial, physical automation investment, in an existing distribution center.

Case Study: Maintenance Equipment Maker Paves a Road to Business Intelligence

For more than a century, E.D. Etnyre & Co. and its sister company BearCat Manufacturing have built industrial equipment that helps cities, towns, and other organizations maintain and preserve millions of miles of asphalt roads. You’ll find the companies’ beefy rigs in countries across the globe.

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