How the pandemic changed retail supply chains

Whether sales were up or down, retail supply chain leaders knew one thing was clear: Strategies had to change.

April 26, 2021

Panasonic buys Blue Yonder for $7.1B as pandemic heightens data demand

The deal combines Blue Yonder's software and planning technology with Panasonic sensors, hardware and IoT devices.

By Shefali Kapadia • April 23, 2021

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Top 5 stories from Supply Chain Dive

Here’s how companies are navigating rising costs, network changes and logistics disruptions across global supply chain networks.

By Supply Chain Dive staff

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

Warehouse rents rise, vacancies fall as import surge strains port markets

Without more construction, rental rates will continue to soar, one CBRE leader said.

By Matt Leonard • April 21, 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

Bed Bath & Beyond revamps supply chain with a tech stack and 4 warehouses

Regional distribution centers are the first step in cutting down store replenishment time from a "noncompetitive" 35 days to under 10 days, the COO said.

By Shefali Kapadia • April 20, 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

Retail supply chains and consumers are at a crossroads with returns

Do retailers need a C-suite position to manage reverse logistics?

By Kaarin Moore • April 19, 2021

Consumer-level data helps retailers understand demand and align merchandising and marketing

Use precision consumer data to align retail inventory planning and maximize bottom-line results.

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

Photos: A look at how UPS eVTOLs could shake up logistics

A small, electric aircraft that can take off and land vertically at distribution and sortation centers will enable faster delivery speeds.

By S.L. Fuller • April 15, 2021

9 charts show the highs and lows of supply chains in Q1

By the end of March 2021, supply chains had spent more than a year fighting the fires of the pandemic.

By Shefali Kapadia , Matt Leonard • April 14, 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

Conagra incurs $15M in supply chain costs to keep up with demand

The company bypassed the distribution network it normally relies on and instead shipped directly from the plant or a single distribution center to the customers.

By Matt Leonard • April 13, 2021

How the pandemic drove retailers to on-demand warehousing

Supply chains had a front-row seat to volatility over the last year, and a need for more flexible operations.

By Matt Leonard • April 12, 2021

Lamb Weston reports higher transport costs after pivot to spot trucking

The company usually relies more on rail for moving inventory from factories to distribution centers, but changes in production schedules necessitated a more flexible transportation option.

By Matt Leonard • April 9, 2021

CH Robinson gives shippers self-serve data on supply chain emissions

The broker, along with the EPA and MIT, developed a standardized way to measure carbon output and assess sustainability analytics.

By S.L. Fuller • April 8, 2021

URB-E turns to electric bicycles to make grocery delivery more efficient

The company operates a fleet that tows cargo carts holding up to 800 pounds through the streets of New York City and has more cities in its sights.

By Sam Silverstein • April 8, 2021

Cascading effects of Texas winter storm bump up spot rates

Spring is here, and the polar vortex of mid-February is in the rearview mirror. But impacts on the spot market linger.

By Jim Stinson • April 7, 2021

4 tools to fight fraud, counterfeits and cyberattacks in the COVID-19 vaccine supply chain

Visibility technologies and real-time data provide one version of the truth in a rapidly-built supply chain.

By Deborah Abrams Kaplan • April 7, 2021

Gap designs fulfillment system to prioritize 'most valuable' customers

Delivery speeds will be tiered as gold, silver and bronze, which the CEO said would help manage costs.

By A.B. Brown • April 6, 2021

Chewy boosts automated fulfillment network through new warehouses and retrofits

The e-commerce company plans to open its second automated fulfillment center in Q2 and a "limited catalog facility" in Q3.

By Matt Leonard • April 5, 2021

Boston Dynamics stretches into warehouse game with material-handling robot

The bot, named Stretch, automates the truck unloading process at an expected rate of 800 cases per hour.

By Matt Leonard • March 30, 2021

Postal Service does more harm than good by prioritizing package delivery

The timely and efficient delivery of mail is essential for keeping the U.S. economy humming and supply chains efficient, the author writes.

By Paul Steidler • March 30, 2021