25% of small firms say Amazon, Walmart drive shipping strategy: report

The "Amazonification" of retail, driving consumer expectations toward faster and seamless delivery, has become a struggle for smaller firms hoping to keep pace, a report from uShip found.

By Morgan Forde • Jan. 9, 2020

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➔

AI in Supply Chain Management

Warehouse automation, logistics management and procurement processes are just a few of the ways companies are using AI to streamline their supply chains.

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

Amazon bans 3rd-party sellers from using FedEx Ground to ship Prime orders

Amazon cited a "decline in performance" across FedEx Ground and Home services, blaming the carrier for delivery delays this peak season. The ban will last until performance improves.

By Morgan Forde • Dec. 16, 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

Package deal: What holiday delivery can tell us about the future of retail

Cyber Monday was the biggest shopping day on record in the United States. But someone has to deliver all those products. 

By Kaarin Moore • Dec. 16, 2019

Walgreens, Kroger form group purchasing organization

Despite sparse precedent, it's not too difficult to imagine that either Kroger or Walgreens would want more buying power since their combined revenue is still dwarfed by giants like Walmart and CVS Health. 

By Emma Cosgrove • Dec. 12, 2019

Big cities, rural areas could experience high holiday package delays

The average delivery delay rate across the U.S. is projected to be 9% this year, with some areas surpassing 16%, per a LateShipment.com report.

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Dec. 11, 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 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

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

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

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

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

Amazon, DHL, UPS gear up to test cargo bikes in New York City

City officials hope the use of cargo bikes will result in reduced congestion, improved air quality and a safer environment for pedestrians. Logistics companies say it will be easier to find parking.

By Matt Leonard • Dec. 4, 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

John Deere keeps inventory low, forecasts more cost cutting in 2020

Low inventory levels across agricultural product segments is part of a cost-cutting strategy the company hopes will protect it from continued uncertainty in the industry — along with factory layoffs and corporate buyouts. 

By Emma Cosgrove • Dec. 2, 2019

Dollar Tree adds executive to take aim at inventory shrink

CEO Gary Philbin suggested tighter inventory allocations were in order, along with a new executive to address loss.

By Emma Cosgrove • Nov. 27, 2019

Best Buy launches e-commerce pickup in 175 New York UPS, CVS locations

Roughly 99% of Best Buy customers now live in a ZIP code where next-day delivery is available — up from 80% last quarter, according to CEO Corrie Barry.

By Morgan Forde • Nov. 27, 2019

Decathlon's vertical supply chain approach thrives overseas. Will it work in California?

After conquering the rest of the world, the French sporting goods company is up and running in the U.S, but not without supply chain challenges. 

By Amanda Loudin • Nov. 26, 2019

FedEx expects to move more than 33M packages on Cyber Monday alone

In addition to record package volumes on Monday, Dec. 2 , FedEx expects to more than double its daily average package volumes for the following two Mondays.

By Morgan Forde • Nov. 25, 2019

Seasonal retail workers attracted to flexible work options, report says

Robust hiring forecasts preceded a holiday hiring season that began as early as August for some retailers.

By Valerie Bolden-Barrett • Nov. 25, 2019

Patent Pending: Nike's ship-from-store concept, Walmart's autonomous locker

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 • Nov. 21, 2019