Logistics Viewpoints

NOVEMBER 25, 2024

In 2017, a strategy consultant was hired to do a top-to-bottom assessment of the Boston University procurement program. They recommended a change in leadership. Randall Moore was hired as the new chief procurement officer in May. He took the job after receiving assurance from BU’s chief financial officer that there would be sufficient headcount where needed.

Boston 254

Boston Purchasing Skills Sourcing Strategies Sourcing 254

Logistics Viewpoints

NOVEMBER 20, 2024

In today’s interconnected global economy, sustainability within supply chains and logistics has become a necessity rather than an option. Regulatory demands, rising consumer expectations, and global challenges such as climate change and social inequality have made sustainable practices a strategic priority. For senior leaders, understanding and integrating the three pillars of sustainability—environmental, social, and economic—into supply chain strategies is essential.

Waste Reduction 232

Waste Reduction Sustainability Supply Chain Design Software Resource Reduction 232

Logistics Viewpoints

NOVEMBER 20, 2024

Just in time for the holidays, the Ship It Zero campaign is bringing visibility to the impacts of dirty ocean shipping caused by mega retailers all year round but especially as they ship their goods during the holiday season. The campaign has announced the release of its 2024 Retailer Shipping Decarbonization Progress Reports , which calls upon IKEA, LG, Samsung, and Home Depot to improve their performance by 2025 when the next round of Ship It Zero Report Cards are expected.

Shipping 225

Shipping Resource Reduction Buyer Training Cargo 225

Logistics Viewpoints

NOVEMBER 19, 2024

With the chaos of the 2024 holiday season descending, the National Retail Federation predicts U.S. ecommerce spending in November and December will increase 8%-9% over 2023, translating to $295.1-$297.9 billion in sales. In addition, the holiday shopping period between Thanksgiving and Christmas this year is 26 days—five days shorter than in 2023—potentially creating additional headaches for online vendors and their delivery partners attempting to fulfill a greater volume of orders in less time.

Resource Reduction 170

Resource Reduction Price Reduction Cost Reduction Strategies Vendor Strategies 170

Logistics Viewpoints

NOVEMBER 18, 2024

YMX Logistics, a premium provider of integrated yard logistics operations, and Orange EV, a leading manufacturer of electric yard tractors, both dedicated to advancing sustainable yard operations, today announced a collaborative effort, beginning with the deployment of twenty (20) electric terminal trucks at distribution and manufacturing sites across North America.

North America 218

North America America Cost Reduction Strategies Logistics Network Optimization Software 218

Logistics Viewpoints

NOVEMBER 18, 2024

Schneider Electric has been working to simplify its supply chain over the last few years. This French public multinational was selected as having the best global supply chain by a leading analyst firm. Corporate Knights also ranked the company the most sustainable company in its peer group and the 7 th most sustainable company overall. Schneider Electric’s supply chain operation is of great interest to other practitioners.

Supply Chain Design Software 228

Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Design Supply Chain Software Supply Chain Planning Software 228

Logistics Viewpoints

NOVEMBER 13, 2024

As automation continues to evolve in logistics, two technologies are becoming central to modern delivery methods: autonomous drones and autonomous vehicles. Both are advancing through operational trials led by companies like Amazon, UPS, Alphabet’s Wing, Tesla, and TuSimple. However, each technology serves different purposes within logistics, and the question remains: Which will ultimately shape the industry’s operational structure?

Logistics Network Optimization Software 266

Logistics Network Optimization Software Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Network Software 266

Logistics Viewpoints

NOVEMBER 12, 2024

Dexory, the robotics and data intelligence company announced it has closed an $80 million Series B funding round. The round was led by DTCP, with participation from Latitude Ventures, Wave-X and Bootstrap Europe, along with existing investors Atomico, Lakestar, Capnamic and several angels from the logistics industry. As part of this investment, DTCP’s Michael Rager joins Dexory’s board of directors.

Logistics Network Optimization Software 159

Logistics Network Optimization Software Security Optimization Software Supply Chain Software 159

Logistics Viewpoints

NOVEMBER 11, 2024

Toyota Motor Corporation (Toyota; NYSE: TM) and Joby Aviation, Inc. (Joby; NYSE:JOBY), a company developing electric air taxis for commercial passenger service, announced that Toyota will invest an additional $500 million to support the certification and commercial production of Joby’s electric air taxi, with the aim of realizing the two companies’ shared vision of air mobility.

Logistics Network Optimization Software 245

Logistics Network Optimization Software California Manufacturing Sustainability 245

Logistics Viewpoints

OCTOBER 25, 2024

October 21st – 24th Supply Chain & Logistics News Round Up This past week, I returned to the Tampa Bay Area to visit family and see the lasting effects of back-to-back hurricanes. Words cannot fully capture the extent of the devastation left behind, and it will take months for the surrounding counties to recover from the aftermath in Milton and Helene.

Supply Chain Planning Software 223

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Software Logistics Network Optimization Software Waste Reduction 223

Logistics Viewpoints

OCTOBER 24, 2024

5000 developers are working on product enhancements and extensions to the SAP spend management suite. This is the largest area of investment for the company outside of ERP. With that level of investment, one would expect an aggressive product buildout. At SAP Spend Connect Live, held October 14-16 in Las Vegas, SAP did make several significant product announcements.

SAP 235

SAP Procurement Solutions Manufacturing Procurement Procurement Analytics 235

Logistics Viewpoints

OCTOBER 23, 2024

Implementing Digital Product Passports (DPPs) within an organization involves a detailed and strategic process. This requires a thorough readiness assessment, selection of appropriate technology, and careful integration with existing business processes. Each step must be approached methodically to ensure a successful and secure implementation that meets regulatory requirements and enhances operational transparency.

Resource Reduction 237

Resource Reduction Vendor Strategies Inventory Reduction Price Mitigation Strategies 237

Logistics Viewpoints

OCTOBER 18, 2024

The Körber Innovation Center showcases a full-scale, end-to-end setup of Körber’s advanced parcel and postal sortation handling equipment, trusted by the nation’s largest multinational supply chain companies to efficiently sort and deliver commercial mail and packages to end customers. Its strategic location on Körber’s Dallas site, which houses the company’s engineering, manufacturing, and warehousing teams and facilities, enables the space to feature the latest machine hardware and software up

Dallas 176

Dallas Texas Innovation North America 176

Logistics Viewpoints

OCTOBER 20, 2024

Amazon is making significant investments in nuclear energy, focusing on Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) as part of its goal to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2040. Following recent clean energy initiatives by Google and Microsoft, Amazon has partnered with X-energy to bring over 5 GW of new nuclear power online by 2039. The company plans to deploy SMRs at multiple locations, including four 80-MW reactors at Columbia Generating Station and a potential 300-MW plant near Dominion Energy’s North

Washington 199

Washington United States Supply Chain Planning Software Logistics Network Optimization Software 199

Logistics Viewpoints

OCTOBER 21, 2024

President Obama signed the Affordable Care Act into law in 2010. The new law meant that the way medical systems operated had to change. Expanded health insurance coverage led to increases in the demand for care. The ACA led to a move away from fee-based services and toward compulsory value-based payment initiatives. This lowered hospitals’ margins and created an impetus for hospital chains to begin to tackle costs, but to do so in a manner that did not compromise patient outcomes.

Negotiating Skills 216

Negotiating Skills Supply Chain Design Software Manufacturing Procurement Agile and Lean Supply Chain 216

Logistics Viewpoints

OCTOBER 18, 2024

October 14th – 18th 2024 Supply Chain & Logistics News Yesterday, I landed back in the States from my autumn getaway. While I was away, I visited Barcelona and enjoyed the beautiful architecture, temperate weather, delicious cuisine, and affordable wine. For today’s round-up introduction, I decided to investigate the reasons behind the cheap and tasty wine.

Price Reduction 228

Price Reduction Inventory Reduction Cost Reduction Strategies Supply Chain Planning Software 228

Logistics Viewpoints

OCTOBER 17, 2024

Harvard Business Review recently published an article, “ To Build Resilience, CEOs Need to Become Supply-Chain Experts ”. They noted the fact that companies whose leaders had supply chain experience took a more proactive approach to addressing potential supply-chain challenges, and in leveraging the supply-chain function to generate new business opportunities.

Manufacturing Procurement 236

Manufacturing Procurement Supply Chain Planning Software Material Savings Supply Chain Design Software 236

Logistics Viewpoints

OCTOBER 16, 2024

Autonomous delivery vehicles (ADVs) are bringing significant changes to last-mile logistics, an essential component of the supply chain. With the rising demand for faster and more cost-effective deliveries, ADVs are becoming a viable solution to a variety of logistical challenges. For professionals in logistics and supply chain management, understanding the implications of this technology is crucial, as it has the potential to fundamentally change the way goods are transported and delivered.

Logistics Network Optimization Software 244

Logistics Network Optimization Software Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Planning Software Optimization Software 244

Logistics Viewpoints

OCTOBER 15, 2024

India’s growth story can continue if it streamlines and effectively manages its supply chain like the iconic dairy brand Amul that recently entered the US market. Amul formed a strategic partnership with the Michigan Milk Producers Association (MMPA) to facilitate its US product launch. MMPA is responsible for the collection and processing of milk, while the Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF), which operates Amul, oversees marketing and branding initiatives.

Optimal Sourcing 256

Optimal Sourcing Modeling Supply Chain Optimization Supply Chain Planning Software 256

Logistics Viewpoints

OCTOBER 14, 2024

During my current supply chain planning market research, I have received briefings from several SCP companies. All are investing in artificial intelligence. Many say that they are using generative AI, a type of AI that can create new content and ideas, as part of their journey toward autonomous planning. Autonomous planning is a type of planning that takes humans out of the planning loop.

Supply Chain Planning Software 232

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Planning Procurement Analytics Scenario Planning 232

Logistics Viewpoints

OCTOBER 11, 2024

Supply Chain & Logistics News Round-Up (October 7th – 11th) This past week, I’ve been playing tourist in London, one of my favorite cities in Europe. I visited the British Museum and paid extra to see their “Silk Road” exhibit. The exhibit featured dozens of items, articles of clothing, and mementos dating back to the era of the Silk Road.

Price Reduction 261

Price Reduction Vendor Strategies Waste Reduction Resource Reduction 261

Logistics Viewpoints

OCTOBER 9, 2024

As businesses face tighter regulations on product safety, sustainability, and ethical sourcing, Digital Product Passports (DPPs) are becoming crucial for navigating these challenges. Today’s regulatory environment requires companies to comply with local laws and international standards that often differ across regions. DPPs provide a streamlined, digital way to document a product’s lifecycle, making it easier to ensure compliance and improve transparency.

Waste Reduction 211

Waste Reduction Sourcing Strategies Supply Chain Design Software Demand Planning Software 211

Logistics Viewpoints

OCTOBER 7, 2024

Computer Vision can be used to improve process adherence in the warehouse Flymingo is an Israeli computer vision company that identifies supply chain mistakes in operating processes in existing warehouse camera feeds. This is the only supply chain software company that the industry analyst firm ARC Advisory Group knows where AI Vision is core to the solution.

Supply Chain Design Software 210

Supply Chain Design Software Modeling Software Logistics Network Optimization Software Supply Chain Software 210

Logistics Viewpoints

OCTOBER 4, 2024

Logistics Viewpoints (09/30/2024- 10/04/2024) As a Florida native, hurricanes are a familiar part of life, shaping the experiences of millions who call the southern coastal regions home. Among the most devastating storms in the last century, Hurricane Helene ranks in the top five deadliest. It unleashed severe flooding across unexpected areas of the Carolinas, submerging coastal homes under record-high water levels.

South Carolina 232

South Carolina Logistics Network Optimization Software Supply Chain Planning Software Logistics 232

Logistics Viewpoints

OCTOBER 2, 2024

The Ecosystem Today The logistics ecosystem is being transformed by the rise of connected vehicles equipped with IoT sensors and data-driven technologies. Connected vehicles, following standards like the SAE J3016, which defines the six levels of vehicle automation, are becoming a crucial part of logistics operations. These vehicles collect and transmit real-time data on location, speed, fuel consumption, and cargo conditions, enabling more dynamic decision-making.

Warehousing 260

Warehousing Logistics Network Optimization Software Inventory Management Software Supply Chain Planning Software 260

Logistics Viewpoints

SEPTEMBER 30, 2024

Steve Banker, after a ride along in an autonomous truck from TORC In 2022, Torc Robotics – a provider of autonomous trucks for the middle mile – and Daimler Truck, who is the majority owner of Torc, held an event for journalists and financial analysts at a Torc facility in Albuquerque. At the time, some of Torc’s competitors were claiming that they would have fully autonomous trucks on the road as soon as 2023.

San Antonio 226

San Antonio Albuquerque Company Los Angeles 226

Logistics Viewpoints

SEPTEMBER 27, 2024

Supply Chain & Logistics News Round-Up Sept 23rd- 27th This week I was busy attending various Climate Week NYC events, allowing me to step outside my usual bubble of supply chain and sustainability. I attended multiple events focused on the built environment, embodied carbon, digital decarbonization tools, and storytelling. I now better understand the weight of our decisions today and the impacts they carry into the future.

Supply Chain Planning Software 232

Supply Chain Planning Software Logistics Network Optimization Software Supply Chain Software Alaska 232

Logistics Viewpoints

SEPTEMBER 25, 2024

IoT: Powering the Future of Digital Product Passports The Internet of Things (IoT) continues to impact how industries track products and manage data. This network of devices enables seamless, automatic data collection from physical objects in near real-time. IoT sensors attached to products monitor various parameters such as temperature, humidity, location, and other factors critical to a product’s lifecycle.

Internet of things 252

Internet of things Real-time Visibility Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Network Software 252

Logistics Viewpoints

SEPTEMBER 23, 2024

Warehousing is an essential part of the global supply chain. Warehousing plays a critical role in the success of businesses across various sectors. It would be nice to know how many warehouses there are and how fast these numbers are growing. Because of e-commerce, it is believed that the number of warehouses in the US is increasing quickly and that there are more but smaller warehouses.

Warehousing 256

Warehousing Manufacturing Procurement Real Estate Third Party Logistics 256

Logistics Viewpoints

SEPTEMBER 20, 2024

Supply Chain & Logistics News 09/16-09/20 Next week I will be attending my second Climate Week NYC. Climate Week NYC was created in 2009 by the nonprofit “Climate Group.”It is one of the key summits on the international calendar and has been driving climate action forward since it was first launched. Climate Week NYC brings together international leaders from business, government, and civil society to showcase the unstoppable momentum of global climate action.

Supply Chain Planning Software 249

Supply Chain Planning Software Logistics Network Optimization Software Waste Reduction Supply Chain Software 249

Logistics Viewpoints

SEPTEMBER 19, 2024

Over the last two decades, there has been a significant focus on increasing the speed of supply chain planning solutions. Technology advancements in hardware, cloud, and in-memory computing fueled this increase, followed by the boost from automation, machine learning, and AI. Additionally, software vendors continuously invest in tuning the performance of their algorithms and models.

Supply Chain Planning Software 234

Supply Chain Planning Software Scenario Planning Supply Chain Software Supply Chain Planning 234

Logistics Viewpoints

SEPTEMBER 18, 2024

As the pressure mounts yearly for the chemical industry to become more sustainable, more companies are defining net-zero objectives and clear decarbonization plans. Major chemical companies have set clear plans to heavily reduce their carbon footprint by 2030 and reach net-zero by 2050. The industry will certainly go through deep changes in the upcoming decade to achieve this.

Chemicals 169

Chemicals Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Software 169

Logistics Viewpoints

SEPTEMBER 16, 2024

In August, a federal judge ruled that Google had illegally maintained a monopoly in online search. The Department of Justice is considering breaking up Google to remedy its monopoly on the search market. Last Monday, September 9 th , a second trial starts. Google has faced complaints about how it dominates the online advertising market. The concerns stem from software known as Google Ad Manager, which websites around the world use to sell ads on their sites.

Logistics Network Optimization Software 227

Logistics Network Optimization Software Purchasing Skills Expense Reduction Price Reduction 227

Logistics Viewpoints

SEPTEMBER 11, 2024

5G is playing an increasingly significant role in logistics, where data transfer speed and security are crucial. With faster, more reliable connectivity, logistics systems are becoming more efficient and automated. Supply chains can now handle larger amounts of data in real time, allowing for quicker decision-making. Connected vehicles, including autonomous trucks and delivery drones, are becoming integral to logistics operations, as 5G enables seamless communication across the supply chain.

Logistics Network Optimization Software 261

Logistics Network Optimization Software Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Network Software 261

Logistics Viewpoints

SEPTEMBER 10, 2024

The logistics landscape is constantly changing, and the debate between flexible and fixed warehouse automation is heating up. With the rise of e-commerce, omni-channel retail, and unpredictable consumer behavior, businesses face a pivotal choice: stick with rigid, fixed automation systems, or embrace the dynamic adaptability of flexible automation solutions, which can include autonomous mobile robots (AMRs).

Warehousing 231

Warehousing Logistics Network Optimization Software Logistics Demand Planning Software 231

Logistics Viewpoints

SEPTEMBER 9, 2024

Kearney research shows that the more companies invest, the bigger the average ROI Investments in supply chain firms and technologies represent 15-20% of total venture capital investments, according to a recent report by the management consulting firm Kearney. The supply chain is already an investment priority, but these investments are poised to increase.

Supply Chain Design Software 256

Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Software Logistics Network Optimization Software 256

Logistics Viewpoints

SEPTEMBER 6, 2024

Within the next week, New York will be bustling with people attending fashion shows, brand events, and participating in Fall 2024 Fashion Week. Some of the biggest and emerging brands will showcase their work to the media and the public. This will be a major opportunity for media outlets to produce stories and for companies like Temu and Shein to observe closely.

Supply Chain Planning Software 264

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Software Logistics Network Optimization Software North Carolina 264