The COVID-19 pandemic has required many organizations to rewire their supply chains at short notice — and an overwhelming majority of businesses have no intention of returning to the status quo. As e-commerce booms like we’ve never seen before, so will growth in the final-mile sector. He

The economic toll of the COVID-19 pandemic is incalculable. The World Bank estimates the world economy shrank by 4.3% in 2020, a setback matched only by the Depression and the two world wars.Every country polled in Western Europe has seen an increase in late payments, according to the Payment Practi

Imagine you just bought a new robotic vacuum cleaner. After doing your research and purchasing the best available option, you can’t wait to bring your new gadget home and get effortlessly clean floors. To your amazement, it not only vacuums your floors, but it also does the laundry, washes you

In the battle between the U.S. and European Union over subsidies for aircraft manufacturers, wine producers and importers have become collateral damage.The U.S. has been sparring for years with the EU over the latter’s $22 billion in subsidies for Airbus, which is jointly owned by Germany, Fra

Like many industry peers, the challenges of 2020 forced growth on service organizations. We saw new open mindedness, increased flexibility and innovative strides in digital solutions and workforce management.Here are three predictions for the year ahead.Servitization Surge The concept of s

For decades, the industrial equipment sector has been a hub for mergers and acquisitions: Danaher Corp. has acquired hundreds of businesses since 1984; Honeywell International Inc. this year snapped up Ballard Unmanned Systems and Rocky Research after closing the deal on Rebellion Photonics and a le

It’s not uncommon for high-value items to sell out upon release, causing nationwide shortages as consumers eagerly await the next shipment. Few would have expected the same to occur for dry pasta and canned goods, but that was the result of the COVID-19 pandemic: a mad dash by consumers to acq

Supply chains are working harder than ever to evolve and adapt to current market challenges. COVID-19 was a wakeup call for procurement teams who failed to invest in the tools and resources necessary to protect their supply chains. Their lack of visibility led to an uncoordinated response, which was

The bill of lading is one of the most important documents in the logistics industry. It protects the needs of three major parties in a transaction — shippers, carriers and retailers — throughout all stages of the process. Physical BOLs, however, increase drive and dwell time, and can lea

Retailers had their hands full this last holiday season. A solid start to shopping was welcome news, but better-than-anticipated sales were just part of the story. As was expected, e-commerce drove the gains, and that means this year’s seasonal returns volume will be especially heavy.Retailers

The pandemic has rapidly increased demand for delivery. Deloitte predicted that e-commerce holiday retail sales would grow between 25% and 35% from November 2020 through January, compared with 14.7% in the prior year. Walmart announced three Black Fridays, and many other retailers were pushing e-com

The new year is finally here, and it’s time for retailers emerging from a shaky peak season to reflect and plan for what’s ahead. Though uncertain, these are the trends we’re counting on for the coming months. A lingering COVID economy. It’s now clear that COVID-19 will

As vaccines roll out more broadly, and countries begin to get the coronavirus under control, attention will turn to the recovery and a return to normal operations. The supply chain will play an integral role in this effort, and will itself emerge in a different shape, with COVID-19 leaving a lasting

The impact of COVID-19 has been monumental. Just as the pandemic transformed every aspect of our personal lives, from the way we live to how we eat and grocery shop, it also upended supply chains across every industry. With three-quarters of businesses reporting negative or strongly negative impacts

If you went to a restaurant with four friends and only two of you got your meals, would you consider that a success? What if your flight from New York to Los Angeles landed in Kansas? As a consumer, you wouldn’t visit that restaurant again and buy eight meals to compensate for the restaurant o

Logistics has never been more relevant than it is right now as the U.S. works to distribute COVID-19 vaccines. This alone has produced a new batch of talent that is interested in the innovation currently happening to meet these challenges and the opportunity to work in an industry that is truly esse

Smart partnerships and relationship management are critical to every supply strategy, but the supply-chain contract is what counts when questions arise or things go wrong. Contracts set expectations, guide the resolution of disputes, and outline how and when the parties’ obligations end. Getti

Over the years, supply chains have become increasingly complex, especially as logistics volumes have continued to grow. In fact, moving a single package through a supply chain today may require more than 200 interactions, and involve an average of 25 people around the world.These complexities, coupl

Even as e-commerce captured a progressively larger slice of retail sales over the years, many consumers continued to do their grocery shopping in physical stores. Attempts in the early dotcom era to sell food and other grocery items over the internet, by ambitious startups like Webvan and Peapod, sp

A Pacific Northwest contractor recently was slapped with substantial fines for failing to ensure the safety of its workers. State regulators say the business has a history of providing inadequate protection in areas where workers could fall.The contractor has been ordered to pay more than $100,000 i