Patent Pending: Amazon imagines dynamic parcel sorting, Walmart's idea for route planning

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 • Aug. 27, 2021

Air cargo carriers shift operations as Shanghai disruption drags on

Changes due to disruption at Shanghai Pudong International Airport have already affected at least one major shipper.

By Max Garland • Aug. 26, 2021

Explore the Trendline➔

Retail Supply Chains

Retailers are making operational investments and adjustments to maintain supply chain resilience. Here’s how.

By Supply Chain Dive staff

What retail executives are saying about widespread supply chain bottlenecks

From air shipping to ship charters to price increases, industry players are managing chaos at ports and throughout the global production network every way they can.

By Ben Unglesbee • Aug. 26, 2021

UPS delivers COVID-19 vaccines via temperature-controlled drone

Drones provide a speedy logistics option for time- and temperature-sensitive vaccine doses.

By Matt Leonard • Aug. 25, 2021

How a recent acquisition changed Maersk's US warehouse network

Visible Supply Chain Management's locations in parts of the country like Georgia, Utah and Memphis will help Maersk build up its e-commerce fulfillment network and scale up two-day shipping.

By Matt Leonard • Aug. 24, 2021

Walmart to sell delivery capabilities as a new line of business

The Bentonville, Arkansas, retailer is inching more towards becoming a service provider, not only to consumers but to fellow merchants as well.

By Maria Monteros • Aug. 24, 2021

Shanghai airport terminal closure leads logistics firms to expect cargo delays

China has implemented strict measures to contain the spread of COVID-19, leading to strains on already-limited air cargo capacity out of the country.

By Max Garland • Aug. 23, 2021

Shortages and other challenges across liquor supply chain throw a wrench in summer rebound

"We’re at the mercy of the supply chain," said the CFO of Brown-Forman, the maker of Jack Daniel's and Woodford Reserve. 

By A.B. Brown • Aug. 19, 2021

USPS shippers need 2-day notice of disruption to avoid hectic peak, watchdog says

The Postal Service didn't announce embargoes and volume redirections during the 2020 peak season early enough for mailers to adjust, the agency's inspector general said in an audit.

By Max Garland • Aug. 18, 2021

Warehouse employment hits new record after monthslong dip

There were 1.44 million workers in the warehouse and storage industry in July, according to preliminary data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This surpassed the previous record high set in November.

By Max Garland • Aug. 17, 2021

FedEx outlines peak surcharges for Ground, Express that will extend into 2022

FedEx's volume surge shows no signs of abating, and the company is already setting $0.60 per-package surcharges for some home deliveries beginning Jan. 17, 2022.

By Max Garland • Aug. 16, 2021

Lesson learned: Pitney Bowes to focus more on lightweight parcels as capacity grows

The fulfillment company said yes to as many customers as possible in 2020. But upon reflection, CEO Marc Lautenbach said the strategy did not lead to higher profits.

By Max Garland • Aug. 12, 2021

USPS boosts sortation capacity, plans surcharges ahead of peak season

Postmaster General Louis DeJoy said USPS is adding facilities and equipment "at a magnitude not endeavored here in a long time."

By Max Garland • Aug. 11, 2021

Industry group releases contactless delivery standard to increase safety, reduce dwell

The Consumer Brands Association found contactless delivery practices, like using electronic bills of lading, reduced average dwell time from 66 minutes to 23 minutes.

By Max Garland • Aug. 10, 2021

Making the world go 'round: Circularity in supply chains

Consumers count sustainability as a top priority for products, packaging and delivery.

By Rachel Kenyon, Senior Vice President, Fibre Box Association • Aug. 9, 2021

Under Armour on alert for product cancellations as sourcing challenges mount in Vietnam

A resurgence of COVID-19 in the country has Under Armour uneasy, but company execs said their diversified sourcing base adds resilience.

By A.B. Brown • Aug. 6, 2021

Schneider's intermodal customers face 70% uptick in dwell time

The company aims to add up to 3,000 containers this year to help flow through clogged intermodal networks.

By S.L. Fuller • Aug. 4, 2021

Mission Impastable: An improbable supply chain success story

Dan Pashman dreamed of making his own pasta shape. Then, the pandemic hit. Here's the story of how he persevered to create cascatelli despite sourcing and logistics hurdles.

By Jen A. Miller • Aug. 3, 2021

From sapling to pure-play LTL: The story of XPO Logistics under Jacobs

Bradley Jacobs is a relentless numbers man and a serial entrepreneur. And he's one thing neither XPO nor GXO can replace.

By Jim Stinson • Aug. 2, 2021

Hasbro, Mattel lean on supply chain teams to minimize effects of costly ocean freight, port congestion

The toymakers said challenges in ocean shipping were among the leading factors of cost inflation, but their supply chain teams found ways to navigate the disruptions.

By Edwin Lopez • Aug. 2, 2021

5 charts show Amazon's growing logistics network as it puts inventory closer to consumers

Amazon doubled down on its commitment to expand supply chain capacity on its latest earnings call. And in 2020, its capital expenditures were more than three times greater than those of Walmart.

By Matt Leonard • Aug. 2, 2021

Amazon rushes to boost fulfillment capacity as it plays 'catch-up' to demand

Amazon doubled its fulfillment network size in 18 months. It was still not enough to meet demand for one-day delivery. (And peak season is yet to come.)

By Max Garland • July 30, 2021

Tractor Supply plans to add 3 distribution centers in 5 years, accelerate supply chain investments

The new facilities will play a part in Tractor Supply's goal to offer one-day delivery to 99% of its customers by leveraging stores and distribution centers.

By Edwin Lopez • July 30, 2021

Shippers struggle to land carrier space despite preparing for peak early

The looming capacity crunch and other challenges throughout the order-to-delivery process mean retailers not already preparing for peak will have a bumpy holiday season, experts say.

By Max Garland • July 29, 2021

Walmart offers its omnichannel capabilities to other businesses

The retailer has partnered with Adobe to give small and mid-sized retailers access to its pickup and delivery technology.

By Maria Monteros • July 29, 2021