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Report: Reverse auctions on the rise among younger procurement professionals

Modern reverse auction platforms can provide visibility into suppliers beyond their bid amount and offer benefits like cost savings, reduced negotiation times and price testing the market.

Reshoring index down 3rd year in a row

Manufacturers aren't coming back to the U.S., preferring instead to diversify to other lower-cost manufacturing countries, according to a report from A.T. Kearney.

Kroger targets Atlanta for its next automated fulfillment center

The grocer’s fourth Ocado-powered automated fulfillment center will open just south of the city in 2021.

Commerce Department seeks comment on online counterfeits

The department is looking for recommendations on how best to stop the sale of fraudulent items through online third-party marketplaces. 

Report: 'Insider threat' emerges as new risk in cargo theft

88% of insider acts involved permanent staff, with the primary motivation being financial gain, according to BSI and TT Club.

Opinion

Stop worrying about robots — the future lies between humans and automation

Warehousing will benefit from combining the efficiency and time-savings of robotic picking with human strategic thinking to drive businesses forward.

DHL: 60% of businesses haven't fully implemented an e-commerce strategy

Despite recognizing its importance, the majority of B2B and B2C enterprises surveyed said they were falling behind on implementation due to constantly shifting consumer expectations, limited resources and other factors.

A third of supply chain pros use robotics, but cost and ROI remain barriers

The adoption of robotics in the warehouse could take off when the technology masters the ability to take over picking, one expert said.

Nestlé develops recyclable paper packaging for Yes snack bars

The Swiss company may eventually use it for Kit Kat bars and other products, according to Reuters, once they can get a sufficient amount of the specially coated material.

Textile sourcing from India, South Korea grows with trade war underway

Sourcing from China went up also, but large jumps in other countries are likely signs of buyers seeking alternative supply sources to avoid tariffs. 

UP intermodal customers subject to new fees for no-shows

The new fees demonstrate the trade-off for shippers that comes with more exact and efficient rail service — trucks need to show up when they say they will.

California Senate could hand port automation approvals to the state

The bill says the State Lands Commission, which would take on the task of approving projects, should consider potential job losses when deciding whether an automation project should be approved. 

UPDATED: July 10, 2019 at 9:59 a.m.

Amazon's momentum in medical supply chain slowing, poll finds

A UBS poll of hospital purchasing managers found providers are allocating a smaller percentage of such purchases to the retail giant this year compared to 2018.

Publix updates sourcing standards for sustainable seafood

For fisheries that don’t meet the standards, Publix will work with the supplier to sponsor sustainability efforts through its Fishery Improvement Project.

Report: Volkswagen pursues joint ventures with suppliers to secure EV production

Automakers looking to transition to electric vehicles face challenges sourcing lithium and cobalt needed to produce a sufficient quantity of batteries.

Amazon workers plan Prime Day strike in Minnesota

The stoppage would fall on the first day of the sales event and follow recent walk-outs at the same facility as workers press for better conditions. 

UPDATED: July 8, 2019 at 11:52 a.m.

Long-term contracts leave US pork suppliers out of tariff aid

Many American producers will see no benefit from a government purchase contract since the affected farmers already have long-term contracts with JBS, the processor that won the bid.

The latest supplier insurance trend: A rainy day freight fund

Many suppliers are preferring emergency slush funds over backup inventory stock when it comes to dealing with unexpected events.

Hapag-Lloyd to add 13K new reefers to its fleet

The new order brings the carrier's reefer capacity to 210,000 TEUs at a time when consumer demand has driven the need for more cold transport. 

Magnitude 7.1 earthquake closes roads in Southern California

Roads around the epicenter in Ridgecrest, California, reopened Saturday afternoon with temporary repairs, but more aftershocks are expected this week.

Trucking demand, spot rates fall year-over-year in June

The sinking demand could be an important indicator of upcoming economic trends.

With rail volumes as a guide, economic outlook sours

Railroad volumes have been shakier in 2019 than 2018 after a tumultuous winter plagued by flooding in the Midwest and trade uncertainty as tariff threats come and go.

Walmart to invest $1B in China logistics

A 1 million-square-foot warehouse in Dongguan, China, is the opening salvo of the retailer's decades-long investment plan in the country, which will entail at least 10 more warehouses over the next 10-20 years. 

The complexities of 'Made in America'

Maker Katie Stack explains the difficulties of being a small business owner during a game of political chicken over tariffs. 

Nestlé launches open blockchain pilot to track milk

The food company announced a commitment to pursuing a fully transparent supply chain in February and cites its partnership with OpenSC as a means of publicly verifying its progress.