Pandemic pushed manufacturers to greater analytics adoption: survey

Forecasting is one specific analytic area of interest for manufacturers who have seen demand swing dramatically throughout the pandemic.

By Matt Leonard • Dec. 15, 2020

Sam's Club equips its fulfillment operations with robotic pickers

The retailer has adopted the use of GreyOrange autonomous mobile robots in its new Southern California fulfillment center for e-commerce orders.

By Gary Wollenhaupt • Dec. 15, 2020

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

Peak season fulfillment fuels BOPIS growth at Walmart, Target

In a rare vulnerability for Amazon, research is piling up that customers want omnichannel services for shopping and returns.

By Daphne Howland • Dec. 14, 2020

Coronavirus vaccine distribution by the numbers

Millions of doses, thousands of flights, hundreds of cold storage locations — and one race to vaccinate the world.

By Matt Leonard • Dec. 14, 2020

Pfizer's coronavirus vaccine is FDA-authorized. How the supply chain has been preparing for this moment.

Federal officials have been meeting with distribution partners since the summer to participate in table-top vaccine delivery exercises.

By Matt Leonard • Dec. 11, 2020

FedEx, UPS collaborate on VIP treatment for coronavirus vaccine deliveries

FedEx Express Regional President of the Americas Richard Smith noted that peak-season volume will largely travel on the company's Ground network while the vaccines will use its Express operation.

By Matt Leonard • Dec. 11, 2020

How supply chain sustainability efforts withstood 2020

This year was a key deadline for many emissions-reduction goals, and the pandemic put pre-planned projects to the test.

By Emma Cosgrove • Dec. 11, 2020

Transport groups request vaccine priority for supply chain workers

The industry's call echos the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices' proposal that essential transportation workers receive the vaccine after healthcare personnel.

By A.B. Brown • Dec. 10, 2020

Vendor ransomware attack disrupts DSW's inventory management

The impact of cyberattacks on retailers and their vendors is even greater during this digital-first period brought on by the coronavirus pandemic.

By Emma Cosgrove • Dec. 10, 2020

G-III builds dropshipping capacity as the role of apparel wholesaler shifts

The wholesaler is hiring dedicated talent and searching for real estate as lean retail inventories make dropshipping "an essential need," the CEO said.

By Emma Cosgrove • Dec. 9, 2020

Why analysts say the time is right for XPO to become 2

External factors and CEO Bradley Jacobs' endgame makes this move "smart," one expert said.

By Jim Stinson • Dec. 9, 2020

Supplier of the year: 3M

The supplier is making more N95 respirators than ever before. Pre-pandemic surge capacity and a focus on real-time visibility enabled the quick shift.

By Shefali Kapadia • Dec. 9, 2020

Company of the Year: Target

Target's digital sales increased 141% in Q1 and 195% in Q2. And as online orders grew, so did the share fulfilled from stores.

By Emma Cosgrove • Dec. 9, 2020

The Supply Chain Dive Awards for 2020

From Target to 3M, these are the companies and executives that shaped supply chains during this unprecedented year.

By Supply Chain Dive Team • Dec. 9, 2020

CBRE: Holiday sales expected to generate $70.5B in returns

The capacity constraints 3PLs are facing during peak season have been widely reported, but expanded networks are expected to benefit retailers when it comes time to process returns through warehouse networks.

By Matt Leonard • Dec. 8, 2020

Why smart factories are the future of supply chain resilience

Smart factories are coming into focus as businesses put more resources behind productivity and efficiency, the author writes.

By Adam Mussomeli • Dec. 8, 2020

FedEx will partner with McKesson on vaccine distribution, expand cold storage locations by 28% in 2021

Vice President Mike Pence said Thursday the federal government believes it is days away from beginning to distribute "tens of millions" of vaccine doses.

By Matt Leonard • Dec. 4, 2020

LaserShip ups automation in NYC region as national carriers refuse pickups

The role of regional carriers in the e-commerce landscape has grown in 2020 as national carriers are stretched to their limits and institute surcharges to compensate.

By Emma Cosgrove • Dec. 4, 2020

A tale of hand sanitizer: How the ethanol supply chain pivoted for COVID-19

Raw material inputs for hand sanitizer were plentiful. But manufacturing capabilities, government regulations, packaging and tankers are a different story.

By Deborah Abrams Kaplan • Dec. 3, 2020

Nestlé to convert operations to 100% renewable energy in $3.6B emissions-reduction plan

As part of the plan, the company will work with its farmers and suppliers on regenerative agriculture practices.

By Christopher Doering • Dec. 3, 2020

Bed Bath & Beyond works to catch up to decades of supply chain modernization in 3 years

Starting with what one analyst called a "primitive" supply chain, the retailer has nowhere to go but up. 

By Emma Cosgrove • Dec. 2, 2020

Eli Lilly adopts automation to process COVID-19 tests in line with pharma industry trend toward robotics

A manual lab-based operation at Eli Lilly was accustomed to 50 samples daily. By mid-March, that number had reached 15,000.

By Matt Leonard • Dec. 1, 2020

Micro-fulfillment: Where it works for supply chains — and where it doesn't

The model offers close access to consumers, but executing it can be a challenge, especially without technology to track and manage decentralized inventory.

By Jen A. Miller • Dec. 1, 2020

Walmart to lay off more than 1,200 in omnichannel reorganization

The retailer announced in a July internal memo that layoffs were imminent. Executives said new positions in the supply chain would open as a result of an ongoing attempt to blend store and e-commerce operations.

By Emma Cosgrove • Nov. 30, 2020

FAA: First flight for coronavirus vaccine distribution takes off

Airports and logistics providers are assessing infrastructure and conducting tests to prepare for the mass shipment of vaccines.

By Matt Leonard • Nov. 30, 2020