Robotics efforts from Amazon, Alibaba highlight e-commerce's automated future

Amazon's new robots increase automation within fulfillment centers while Alibaba is focused on last-mile delivery as they look to optimize operations.

By Edwin Lopez • June 14, 2021

25% of online restaurant orders in 2020 were for delivery: report

Restaurants offering their own delivery reported 44% of orders for this channel compared to 12% of orders at brands that exclusively used third-party aggregators, according to a Paytronix study.

By Julie Littman • June 8, 2021

Explore the Trendline➔

Inside the trends affecting logistics management

The demise of the de minimis exception, trade tensions and tariffs are among the new challenges logistics managers are facing.  

By Supply Chain Dive staff

4 types of billion-dollar weather events tested supply chains in 2020

The combination of a record year for natural disasters and the pandemic magnified disruptions to shippers, carriers and everyone in-between.

By Shefali Kapadia , S.L. Fuller • June 1, 2021

Instacart launches 30-minute, last-mile delivery service

Algorithms will determine delivery windows based on factors such as the distance from the store, basket size and personal shopper availability, the company said.

By Jeff Wells • May 28, 2021

FedEx piles on peak surcharges with increases set for June

Now is "not the best time to be a shipper," one consultant said.

By Matt Leonard • May 24, 2021

Walmart boosts inventory, extends lead times to account for supply chain delays and stockouts

The retailer increased inventory 16% and is adjusting its fulfillment network as e-commerce sales grow.

By Matt Leonard • May 19, 2021

DoorDash grapples with driver shortage, delayed deliveries

The company worked to improve its network efficiency, expanded its marketing to gain more drivers and improved conversion rates to help overcome the impacts of a delivery courier shortage.

By Julie Littman • May 18, 2021

Series: When supply chain and marketing intersect

The supply chain and marketing departments have historically been disparate. But that's changed as supply chains have entered the public eye.

May 18, 2021

Amazon embarks on 75K hiring push to accommodate logistics growth

The retailer is offering competitive pay and sign-on bonuses, as well as COVID-19 vaccine incentives.

By S.L. Fuller • May 14, 2021

Retailers double tech investments to make supply chains faster: report

The enhancement of supply chain and omnichannel capabilities continues to drive funding as retailers approach a post-pandemic world, according to CB Insights.

By Maria Monteros • May 13, 2021

Logistics meets marketing: Fast and free shipping promotions need supply chain on board

Data sharing between the departments maintains low costs and customer loyalty.

By Jen A. Miller • May 13, 2021

Suez jam, recalls pile on Peloton's supply chain costs

Expedited shipping allowed Peloton to deliver more products and reduce its inventory backlog, but it chipped away at margins.

By Shefali Kapadia • May 7, 2021

Walgreens rolls out 2-hour delivery nationwide

The pharmacy chain, which already partners with several third-party firms for delivery, expands e-commerce options in a push to reach more online shoppers. 

By Catherine Douglas Moran • May 6, 2021

Kroger pilots drones for last-mile grocery delivery

The grocer, along with partner Drone Express, will begin making deliveries this spring in Ohio and then expand to California in the summer.

By Jeff Wells • May 4, 2021

Amazon's logistics build-out yields more data, accurate delivery estimates

The investment is expensive, but the company says it has resulted in better information on delivery patterns, which it passes on to customers in the form of delivery time estimates.

By Matt Leonard • April 30, 2021

Starbucks says it will help distribution partners struggling with labor shortages

Delayed or disrupted fulfillment from distribution centers to stores are possible if Starbucks-delivery partners can't find the labor they need to move goods.  

By A.B. Brown • April 30, 2021

Amazon's in-garage grocery delivery expands nationwide

Amazon is marketing the service as a way to keep deliveries safe from theft, damage and weather.

By Catherine Douglas Moran , Jeff Wells • April 29, 2021

Amazon insources logistics with a growing network of delivery stations

Once the expansion is completed, "there won't be an ounce of soil in America that Amazon can't reach with its own fleet," one analyst said.

By Matt Leonard • April 27, 2021

Chipotle focuses on supply chain 'wild card'

Amid discussions of carbon neutrality and a quickly evolving fast casual landscape, the CFO said the chain remains committed to its agricultural suppliers.

By Jane Thier • April 27, 2021

Patent Pending: Amazon plans for packing with the right fit, eBay says buses are for drones too

Supply chain innovators apply to patent what they see as important tools for the future. Sometimes they're brilliant. Sometimes they're funny.

By Matt Leonard • April 22, 2021

California's warehouse boom faces pushback from local communities

Supply chains have an insatiable demand for logistics space close to consumers. But not all cities welcome an influx of industrial facilities and trucks.

By Gary Wollenhaupt • April 21, 2021

Walmart invests in autonomous vehicle startup Cruise

The venture will help the retailer's goals of developing a last-mile delivery system that's fast, low-cost and scalable. 

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • April 19, 2021

Fridge No More puts 15-minute delivery to the test in the US

The company is now offering grocery delivery in two New York City neighborhoods, with plans to expand across the city by building 40 or more tiny fulfillment hubs. 

By Jeff Wells • April 16, 2021

How the pandemic impacted demand at FedEx, Clorox and C&S Wholesale

Companies across industries began to shift operations in early 2020, as signs pointed to changes in demand and consumer habits.

By Matt Leonard • April 14, 2021

Final-mile challenges, transport costs cloud supply chain optimism

Nearly 70% of respondents in a GlobalTranz survey said they had trouble finding transportation partners to meet growing demand for final-mile delivery.

By Shefali Kapadia • April 14, 2021