The COVID-19 pandemic has fueled the impetus for many organizations to accelerate plans for new technologies and processes. Adapting is the name of the game today, and through a combination of automation, creativity, and tech investments, we’ve seen these innovations drive operationa

Manufacturers of consumer goods faced enormous challenges as the coronavirus pandemic forced shutdowns and slowed commerce to a halt. Consumer demand changed, as spending slowed and shifted toward online shopping, placing strains on manufacturers’ supply chains. As vaccines begin to get into t

The U.S. Federal Reserve implements monetary policy primarily in two ways: the federal funds rate and open market operations. The federal funds rate is the target interest rate set by the Fed at which commercial banks borrow and lend excess reserves to one another overnight. Lower rate targets mean

Online sales of home furnishings have exploded during the coronavirus pandemic. That’s the good news. The bad news is that the surge in e-commerce has exposed serious deficiencies in a venerable industry’s supply chain.What furniture retailers lost from store closures due to nationwide l

In a time of increasingly unpredictable consumer demand, traditional supply chains are struggling to keep up. In response, businesses need to weed out outdated components and obsolete practices, while moving toward a more agile system.Organizations that are still employing traditional methods will s

There are some changes we experienced in 2020 that are here to stay. By all accounts, the rise of e-commerce is one of them.Customers new to online shopping at the start of the coronavirus pandemic experienced a level of convenience they’d never known before. Now, up to 40% intend to continue

The coronavirus pandemic exposed a fatal flaw in the delivery industry that existed long before the hampered vaccine rollout: an inability to scale fleets quickly and affordably during demand surges. COVID-19 created an immediate change in not just our everyday lives, but the everyday way we sh

The challenges of 2020 hold serious implications for supply-chain compliance and risk in 2021. Last year tested every American business, and presented challenges on a scale that we haven’t seen previously. Many businesses had weeks, if not days, to make critical decisions in order to keep thei

As we begin a new year, it’s essential to reflect and learn from our experiences. In 2020, COVID-19 caused retailers and shoppers alike to adapt to new shopping experiences, including curbside pickup and drop-ship. In 2021, we’ll see a continued transformation of omnichannel buying behav

No industry has remained untouched by the digital transformation induced by lockdown restrictions, with the grocery market, in particular, witnessing an accelerated online shift. Grocers are in a prime position to capitalize on the changes in purchasing behavior, as Americans dine out less and cook

Efficient and up-to-date equipment is vital to the supply-chain sector, but acquiring these tools often challenges small- to mid-sized businesses. Companies have to consider cash flow needs, flexibility, tax impacts and other factors — with heightened economic uncertainty amid the global

The effects of COVID-19 have forced many companies to reimagine their operations. Between increased orders, customer inquiries, shipping delays, government regulations and remote workforces, supply-chain disruptions are becoming commonplace in the new normal.How can business leaders restore stabilit

Climate change poses a considerable threat to humanity, and is not just a problem that should be left for future generations. If greenhouse gas emissions are not almost entirely eliminated by 2050, the world will face catastrophic consequences with regards to global temperature. While many industrie

COVID-19 vaccines were developed at an astonishing rate — not just one but two, with a third on the way. Unfortunately, the distribution effort hasn’t happened with the same speed or seriousness of purpose.From the beginning, the vaccine rollout lacked focus and direction, resulting in w

Hector Padilla comes from a long line of Southern California truckers, but it wasn’t until going to school and dabbling in aviation that he decided to follow in the family tradition. “I realized my dad was making way more money than I was, with less effort,” he says.Now 36, Padilla

Following are PeakSpan Capital LLC’s research and observations on the supply-chain and procurement software space, with 10 predictions for 2021.1. Knowing, managing and communicating with suppliers has never been more important. The COVID-19 global pandemic was a wakeup call for many supply ch

Effective supply chains are all about alignment. The more closely suppliers are able to work with distributors, the easier it will be for both parties to eliminate costly inefficiencies, adjust to changing market conditions, and secure growth.Too many companies, however, take a siloed approach to su

The manufacturing and logistics industries have faced complex and rapidly changing conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Businesses in the U.S. found themselves in uncharted territory when the outbreak hit in early 2020. Supply lines became strained, as businesses and healthcare providers scrambl

The challenge of securing increasingly complex, flexible, and responsive supply chains has grown enormously over the past year. Pandemic pressure has stretched and strained supply chains, forcing businesses to rapidly identify and build new routes, form fresh partnerships, and ensure a steady flow o

The world of business has finally figured out what seems intuitive: diversity matters. Motivated by ethical concerns, as well as the conviction that a more demographically representative company is more effective, firms are actively trying to address long-held gender and racial imbalances.While this