Why 70% of facilities may deploy wearables in 5 years

Tech worn on workers can cut down on errors, improve efficiency and unlock employee potential.

By Jen A. Miller • Aug. 7, 2018

4 types of autonomous mobile robots, and their warehouse use cases

Numerous types of autonomous robots are roving warehouses today, with common goals: Drive efficiency and save labor costs.

By Craig Guillot • Aug. 7, 2018

Explore the Trendline➔

Inventory Management

Read how retailers and brand manufactures are rethinking inventory management as an effective strategy against tariffs.

By Supply Chain Dive staff

Lack of capital biggest barrier to automation adoption

While automation carries many soft benefits for companies, it could take months or years before ROI is realized.

By Shefali Kapadia • Aug. 7, 2018

Northwestern plans AI, robotics initiatives for retail

The university will launch a Retail AI Lab and Retail Robotics Initiative to boost training, research and pilot projects on modern technologies.

By Edwin Lopez • Aug. 7, 2018

Walmart to test grocery-picking robots

Alphabot, specially built for the retailer, will work with employees at the Salem, New Hampshire, store to speed fulfillment of pickup orders. 

By Jeff Wells • Aug. 6, 2018

Tariffs, production shifts create 'unfortunate condition' for Harley-Davidson

Shifting demographics and trade regulations have forced changes on the "115-year-old great American company."

By Shefali Kapadia • Aug. 2, 2018

Logistics companies, Asian nations reap benefits of trade war

While some companies are struggling to figure out the best approach to overcome disruptions created by tariffs, other companies may be reaping the benefits of this turmoil.

By Rich Weissman • Aug. 1, 2018

Zara taps into stores for e-commerce fulfillment

The fast-fashion retailer sped up production and supply chain logistics years ago.

By Daphne Howland • Aug. 1, 2018

Wheels up: How Delta uses RFID to ensure a smooth supply chain

Delta's foray into RFID for logistics began in 2012 — and has yet to lose steam.

By Deborah Abrams Kaplan • July 31, 2018

Are companies turning inventory faster?

A majority of the top supply chains defined by Gartner both this year and last year turned products more quickly in 2018, but that did not always define improvement.

By Edwin Lopez • July 31, 2018

How an 11-day truck strike in Brazil hurt Unilever's top line

The consumer goods retailer saw its revenues fall 0.6% and sales decline up to 9% due to the strike.

By Edwin Lopez • July 31, 2018

Oracle launches new store-driven inventory service

The new cloud-based platform aims to give retailers and their associates greater visibility into warehouse and store network inventory.

By Dan O'Shea • July 30, 2018

Returns: Record-breaking Prime Day's aftermath

Suppliers and retailers must prepare for a surge in consumers returning goods — or risk products turning into "dead money."

By Craig Guillot • July 26, 2018

BOPIS 'superconsumers' spend $40 more in stores

New research from OrderDynamics identifies a group of the most active online shoppers as aggressive users of all channels, including brick-and-mortar.

By Dan Alaimo • July 26, 2018

How Mercy Health consolidated its supply chain

Facing rising costs and inconsistencies, health systems are strengthening efficiency by vertically integrating their supply chains.

By Nicole Ault • July 24, 2018

Process improvement — not cost savings — drive AI adoption

The use of robotics and artificial intelligence is an "inevitable evolution," and businesses who ignore it will quickly fall behind the curve. 

By Shefali Kapadia • July 24, 2018

'Tally' robot learns to read RFID

Simbe Robotics' CEO said retailers asked him for the improvement to the front-of-store inventory bot, which before could only use computer vision.

By Edwin Lopez • July 20, 2018

4 strategies suppliers are using to handle reverse logistics

New policies, strategies and data processes are emerging to handle the mass volumes of returns now arriving at facilities.

By Craig Guillot • July 17, 2018

Patterson's new supply chain initiatives could turn around lackluster sales

The dental company's new initiative aims to increase operational and supply chain efficiency but may have unintended consequences.

By Kate Patrick Macri • July 17, 2018

ERPs a top challenge to growth of electronic payments

Electronic payments help lower costs and keep suppliers happy, but the technology's lack of interoperability with existing software is hindering adoption.

By Edwin Lopez • July 17, 2018

Supply chain woes leave Boeing, Airbus struggling to deliver

Booming demand in the airline industry is squeezing suppliers and creating shortages of crucial components such as engines and wing assemblies.

By Gary Wollenhaupt • July 17, 2018

Furniture retail starts to feel the 'Amazon effect'

While the industry has been slow to advance, increased demand and competition is driving innovation, keeping manufacturers on their toes.

By Barry Hochfelder • July 16, 2018

Automation puts supply chain workers at high risk for exploitation

For businesses, juggling efficient automated facilities with the livelihood of workers is a balancing act. 

By Shefali Kapadia • July 12, 2018

Target expands Drive Up to all 50 states

The mass merchant said the service now reaches 1,750 stores.

By Daphne Howland , Ben Unglesbee • Updated Aug. 30, 2019

It's time to reboot S&OP

A dose of technology plus supply chain collaboration may be the awakening that is missing to achieve better forecasting.

By Rich Weissman • July 10, 2018