Fastest retailers fulfill orders in fewer than 2 days

The average time for the top 10 retailers improved 18% over last year.

By Lisa Rowan • Dec. 20, 2019

2019 holiday returns could reach $41.6B: CBRE

Optimizing the returns process is especially important for retail categories where the value of goods depreciates quickly, like apparel. 

By Matt Leonard • Dec. 20, 2019

Explore the Trendline➔

Inventory Management

Read how retailers and brand manufactures are rethinking inventory management.

By Supply Chain Dive staff

Amazon expands its free return policy

The e-commerce giant will accept label- and box-free returns on select items at more than 5,800 locations, reducing the number of pickups from drivers.

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Dec. 19, 2019

Trump administration lays out plans to import drugs from abroad

Drug importation as a policy has a long history, but has been rejected in the past over concerns about supply chain security and regulatory resources. 

By Ned Pagliarulo • Dec. 18, 2019

Investment in Hong Kong warehousing market falls 52% amid protests

The value of investment in the market fell to $719.9 million, down from $1.5 billion during the same period in 2018, a report from Real Capital Analytics found. 

By Morgan Forde • Dec. 18, 2019

Target leans on data science to increase fulfillment speed, reduce stock-outs

A year after the retailer began testing algorithms to increase fulfillment velocity, out-of-stock levels decreased 40%.

By Roberto Torres • Dec. 18, 2019

Poor inventory management weighs down the apparel industry

Tariffs and changing tastes may be challenges, but they don't explain the inventory management flaws underlying the modern apparel industry.

By Emma Cosgrove • Dec. 17, 2019

Boeing halts 737 Max production, suppliers brace for impact

The aircraft manufacturer said it would prioritize the delivery of the 400 planes it currently has in storage.

By Matt Leonard • Dec. 17, 2019

How Celect optimized Urban Outfitter's e-commerce fulfillment

The analytics company built an algorithm that doesn't just consider shipping cost, but also the risk of lost sales when fulfilling online orders from brick and mortar locations.

By Matt Leonard • Dec. 16, 2019

Ahold Delhaize to invest $480M in US supply chain integration

The move toward self-distribution will encompass warehousing, transportation and procurement, resulting in $100 million in annual savings and better product availability for customers, Ahold Delhaize USA CEO Kevin Holt said.

By Emma Cosgrove • Dec. 11, 2019

How RFID can enable omnichannel

The technology provides better visibility into a retailer's inventory, which is vital as companies expand into omnichannel offerings.

By Matt Leonard • Dec. 10, 2019

How BOPIS brought Big Lots' e-commerce into the black

In August, Big Lots' CEO thought the retailer's fledgling e-commerce offering would reach profitability sometime after 2019. BOPIS changed the math.

By Emma Cosgrove • Dec. 10, 2019

Carbon conscious suppliers are high performers across the board: CDP

A leading myth in sustainable sourcing is that supplier requests to change energy sourcing or decrease emissions will be costly, and passed onto the customer. Evidence suggests that doesn't have to be the case.

By Emma Cosgrove • Dec. 9, 2019

Company of the Year: Nike

Nike's acquisition of demand-sensing startup Celect this year was the culmination of years of progress toward agile manufacturing and inventory visibility, resulting in an industry-leading supply chain.

By Morgan Forde • Dec. 9, 2019

Business Decision of the Year: FedEx, Amazon break up

Unexpectedly, FedEx decided not to renew its Express and Ground contracts with Amazon this year in a bid to take on the broader e-commerce market.  

By Morgan Forde • Dec. 9, 2019

Sustainability Plan of the Year: Target's full-scope emissions goals

This year, Target set ambitious carbon emissions reduction goals and committed to bringing suppliers along for the ride, increasing the impact of its work toward a more sustainable supply chain.

By Emma Cosgrove • Dec. 9, 2019

The Supply Chain Dive Awards for 2019

From Nike to UPS, these are the companies and executives that shaped supply chains this year.

Dec. 9, 2019

Resilience Plan of the Year: Williams-Sonoma's trade war strategy

At the beginning of 2019, retailers either waited to see what would happen with the increasingly sunny U.S.-China trade negotiations, or they prepared for the worst. Williams-Sonoma prepared and it paid off. 

By Emma Cosgrove • Dec. 9, 2019

Discovering hidden profits to fund talent acquisition

Fund the new warehouse and trucking hires you need by decreasing operating costs like energy.

Dec. 9, 2019

Patent Pending: Lineage Logistics tackles vehicle tracking, IBM's idea for order fulfillment

Supply chain innovators apply to patent what they see as important tools for the future of supply chains. Sometimes they're brilliant. Sometimes they're funny. Every week, we'll share a few.

By Matt Leonard • Dec. 6, 2019

Ulta delays second 'fast fulfillment center' until 2021 after sales slowdown

The site was due to open next year as part of a plan to bring the beauty retailer's shipping speed down to two days for all orders.

By Emma Cosgrove • Dec. 6, 2019

Ikea teams up with Optoro to reduce reverse logistics waste

The partnership will encompass 10 Ikea distribution centers, 50 retail stores and its customer support center in the U.S., with the potential to expand to other markets in the future.

By Morgan Forde • Dec. 6, 2019

Dollar General to open 5th warehouse in fresh distribution overhaul

Growing ahead of schedule, the DG Fresh Program's fifth warehouse will bring the program to one third of Dollar General's network by the end of 2019.  

By Emma Cosgrove • Dec. 6, 2019

CMA CGM launches global alternative energy coalition

The group will work on an industry-wide inventory of technologies and near-term progress made on eco-friendly ship propulsion to encourage cooperation and progress in the industry.

By Morgan Forde • Dec. 5, 2019

Amazon vs. Ikea and the battle for inner-city warehouse space

With space at a premium, how are online giants making the most of urban warehouses — and how can traditional big-box retailers compete?

By James Beale • Dec. 3, 2019