The adoption by logistics providers of modern-day technology is a case of applying digital solutions to an analog world.By its nature, logistics is intensely physical: trucks, trailers, ships, trains and warehouses. There’s nothing “virtual” about it — the only thing that ope

While COVID-19 posed great threats to all business in all sectors, it garnered particular fear in the industrial and logistics real estate sector, and for good reason. As news circulated about the surge in Wuhan, China, a known manufacturing hub that is one cog in a much greater machine, reasons for

American scholar Warren G. Bennis once said about the future of manufacturing: “The factory of the future will have only two employees, a man and a dog. The man will be there to feed the dog, and the dog will be there to keep the man from touching the equipment.&r

Over the last 12 to 18 months, global manufacturers have seen unprecedented disruption to their supply chains. The COVID-19 pandemic, trade wars, new trade treaties such as the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, rising labor rates in China, intellectual property theft, human rights concerns and

Only a year ago, the mere mention of a “virus” would have evoked in many people’s minds the image of a sick computer. Now, with the word having shed its metaphorical skin, and a literal virus posing a deadly threat to humans the world round, it’s robots to the rescue.That, at

With over two billion cups consumed each day, coffee is by far the world’s most popular drink. Almost every country has its unique take on the caffeinated drink, and many go to great lengths to create the perfect cup of joe.Not only does coffee play a role in the routines of families across th

Most industry professionals can agree that supply chains today are more forward thinking than ever in their history. With the right data and analysis, we can forecast more accurately, plan more precisely and create optimally efficient strategies. But even the best-laid plans can go astray. No a

Drawing on data from 14,000 retailers globally, Criteo found that online sales were 30% higher in the Americas, and 17% higher worldwide, during the two weeks from June 15 to 28, compared with the pre-pandemic average from February 2 to 14. The numbers suggest that consumers who were compelled to sw

Already a multi-billion dollar problem for the global food industry, the chaos caused by COVID-19 is allowing new opportunities for fraudsters to profiteer — undermining consumer trust in the food they purchase. Food fraud has long been seen as one of the most pernicious threats to global

Supply-chain excellence enhances shareholder value because it controls the firm’s heartbeat — the fundamental flow of materials and information from suppliers to customers. But accomplishing that goal isn’t easy.In traditional organizations, the supply chain absorbs 60% to 70% perc

Manufacturing is evolving in response to COVID-19. New requirements that limit onsite workers are forcing manufacturers to change the way they operate, and pushing them to move jobs into digital environments for the first time. It’s a necessary pivot, but also a fundamentally different approac

The regents of the University of California have expanded their groundbreaking patent-infringement lawsuit against major retailers and suppliers of innovative filament LED light bulbs, naming one retailer and four manufacturers as additional defendants in the action.The regents allege that plaintiff

For many years, pharmaceutical companies have struggled to track products through the supply chain. This drawback has made it easy for counterfeiters to introduce fake drugs into the market.To counteract the problem, a new system for tracking and tracing drugs is needed. Researchers believe blockcha

Managing a business through the coronavirus pandemic is undoubtedly challenging, but not all companies have been devastated. In fact, this year has offered opportunities for positive change and growth. For many, that's meant an acceleration toward digital technologies and cost-effective aut

As the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) nears full implementation, affected organizations are scurrying to ensure they'll pass the certification process.The goal is simple: organizations must meet minimum cybersecurity standards, and in doing so, they do their part to improve na

While traditionally the goal of sourcing has been to identify and award a supplier that best meets the business requirements and is the most cost effective, in 2020, the game changed dramatically. As companies have had to navigate unprecedented supply and demand chain challenges, they’ve had t

Retail commerce is changing all the time. Long gone are the times when supply chains resided outside the consumer consciousness and products existed in a virtual vacuum, magically appearing at stores without provenance or other contextual stories and experiences that people could tap into. In f

The holiday season is a time for gift-giving and spending time with family and loved ones. But if you work in retail, it can mean something very different.Many boutique owners find themselves busier than ever during the holidays. Most years, the season means long lines at malls, loads of crowds

The healthcare industry has relied on a just-in-time (JIT) distribution model for more than a decade. While JIT helped the industry control costs and reduce waste, the processes and technology systems supporting it were unable to meet the demands of a global pandemic.The first wave of COVI

Today’s computers have the equivalent of human eyes, ears, mouths and limbs. Why not noses as well?If it’s information, it can be digitized. And smell is no exception. Aryballe is a French software company that draws on artificial intelligence and machine learning to mimic the human sens