ECOMMERCE

Sustainability is Solved

Supply chain sustainability is a complicated problem with solutions that are….complicated. Herein lies the true essence of sustainability conversations taking place amidst final mile leaders today. Ecommerce business owners continue to seek out final mile providers who align with their values and sustainability is all the rage. Not only that, but a sustainable supply chain is also often an efficient supply chain. Take a peek at the snapshots below to see how brands are implementing sustainability as part of the solution.

Quick facts: 

• L’Occitanes have all but eliminated air bubble delivery packaging. No more jumping on bubble wrap? We’re devastated too.
  
  
• Walmart is slashing fuel and C02 emissions by decreasing overall driving distance for final mile vehicles. It takes fuel to make a final mile thing go right - but not too much fuel.
  
  
• FreshBox Farms is quenching the earth's fire with indoor vertical farms, (look it up on Google) minimizing water use and reducing food waste.

Put plainly: 

“Investing in automation and localization are key factors in increasing final mile sustainability.”
     -Linda Rosencrance, Tech Target Contributor

READ MORE

LOGISTICS

Mo' Money Mo' Bots

Where are all the people? This is the repeating, resounding question employers across the nation are asking themselves. Ecommerce and final mile are no exceptions. Consumer demand is driving the bus for faster fulfillment solutions. How are ecommerce and final mile businesses keeping up without cloning their workforce? The answer: Robots.

Quick Facts: 

• Who knew Wall-E and Bumblebee would be voted: Most Collaborative Teammate?
  That’s right, robots continue to be finetuned to collaborate with warehouse employees. Helping sort small parcels into bins and totes is just one of their many skills endorsed on LinkedIn.
  
  
• It’s not a shocker anymore! Peak seasons are increasing year over year in the ecommerce industry, thus, driving demand for warehouse automation.
  The kicker: it’s easier to automate robots than people.
  
  
• The competition for that warehouse job is steep out there folks.
  Robots can scan, pick, and place ten parcels per minute. Now try saying that ten times fast.

Put plainly: 

“We imagine over the next five to ten years that robotics as part of the DCL operation is going to be even more important. As we integrate more systems, we’re going to go from one robot system to multiple robot systems, and the vision right now is to have as many as 10 to 20 robots.”
    -Brian Tu, DCL Logistics

READ MORE

FINAL MILE

Hold on to Your Hats, Peak Season Surge is Coming

The country is open, the supply chain is flexing, and the ports are packed. Shock fills the room. The question remains, what can ecommerce business leaders watch out for? As the old adage goes: failing to plan, is planning to fail. Let’s take a closer look at how ecommerce businesses can prepare for the peak:

Quick Facts: 

• Did we really think things would ever balance out following a pandemic year of chaos? Think again. The economy is trending up, people are finally getting vaccinated and still spending as if another stimulus check is coming.

• With higher import levels, ecommerce businesses across the country are seeing new orders grow, and an increase in demand. Consumers are coming out of the woodwork and more entitled for the best delivery experience ever. Can you imagine how they would respond if Amazon shutdown?

• Not everyone wants to get back to work, or go anywhere. Instead, you can find consumers staying in, ordering delivery, and, yes, watching Netflix. This is fueling labor shortages everywhere, igniting port congestion, and tightening over-the-road capacity. What can we do? Key words: efficiency and patience. Leave no stone unturned when it comes to preparing for the unique set of challenges we will face in 2021.

Put plainly:

“The challenge for carriers this Peak Season is going to be getting their on-time percentage up to a level where shippers can count on it to build up their supply chains.” 
     -Todd Tranausky, VP of Freight Forecasting

READ MORE