Switching from barcode to RFID can save on labor cost, product loss

When a denim manufacturer in Turkey began using RFID, it realized thousands of euros in monthly savings. 

By Matt Leonard • Oct. 29, 2019

Warehouse or store? Picking the wrong place to unpack can cost you

Retailers can see "considerable savings" if they unpack case packs at a distribution center before shipping the product to the final store, though the model creates higher picking and facility labor costs and is incompatible with cross-docking. 

By Matt Leonard • Oct. 22, 2019

Declining price of IoT sensors means greater use in manufacturing

The average price of an IoT sensor has declined from $1.30 in 2004 to $0.44 in 2018. Microsoft expects there will be 36.13 billion connected IoT devices by 2021.

By Matt Leonard • Oct. 14, 2019

Fulfillment models can make or break retail profits

Fulfilling online orders from a store location had the highest fulfillment cost but the lowest delivery cost, in a recent study.

By Matt Leonard • Oct. 8, 2019

10% growth in industrial robotics expected in 2020

The top five markets for this technology are China, Germany, Japan, South Korea and the United States, according to an analysis by the International Federation of Robotics.

By Matt Leonard • Sept. 30, 2019

More tech means higher labor productivity in the factory: survey

Moving toward "smart factory" status can help manufacturers increase their output, labor productivity and other metrics, according to a study by Deloitte.

By Matt Leonard • Sept. 23, 2019

Grouping orders by SKU can save picking time, speed up fulfillment

A group of researchers worked with a Hong Kong-based logistics service provider to create a system that helped reduce average per item pick times by more than 70%.

By Matt Leonard • Sept. 16, 2019

Amazon's inventory value up 25% as it begins next day shipping

Target, Walmart and Home Depot have all seen inventory grow compared to the same period last year, but none by as large a percentage as Amazon.

By Matt Leonard • Sept. 10, 2019

Warehouse robotics companies raise hundreds of millions in VC funding

When Amazon acquired Kiva in 2012 it opened up the robotics market to new competitors. Those new firms have since raised millions as e-commerce companies recognize the value of robotics for operations.

By Matt Leonard • Sept. 3, 2019

With predictive maintenance, operators seek improved uptime

An additional benefit of predictive maintenance is the ability to lower spare parts inventory and rely more on vendors for inventory management.

By Matt Leonard • Aug. 26, 2019

3D printing can reduce lead times and inventory, but it's not for everything

More than 40% of 1,300 3D printing users cited lower lead times as a benefit of 3D printing in a recent survey.

By Matt Leonard • Aug. 19, 2019

4 ways to monitor the cold chain inside the warehouse

The grocery and food sectors are leading in the adoption of cold chain monitoring, but companies must balance the cost of new technology with ROI, especially for low margin products like produce. 

By Matt Leonard • Aug. 9, 2019

Choosing the right fulfillment option is about weighing cost and speed

Target is fulfilling a majority of online orders from its stores, but that strategy may not be the ideal choice for every retailer.

By Matt Leonard • Aug. 6, 2019

Retailers look to outsource more e-commerce fulfillment

Consumer expectations are driving retailers to fulfill orders more efficiently and accurately, requiring a strategic approach that may involve a hybrid of insourced and outsourced fulfillment operations. 

By Matt Leonard • July 30, 2019

Textile waste has increased 811% since 1960

More clothing is being purchased than ever before, but these items are worn fewer times, leading to skyrocketing waste. 

By Matt Leonard • July 23, 2019

Industrial water use down nearly 43% since 1985

The United States Geological Survey credits regulations for the drop in water use in industrial and public supply over the last decade.

By Matt Leonard • July 16, 2019

A third of supply chain pros use robotics, but cost and ROI remain barriers

The adoption of robotics in the warehouse could take off when the technology masters the ability to take over picking, one expert said.

By Matt Leonard • July 9, 2019

Report: Supply chains cause 40% of food waste in North America

As companies and countries move forward with plans to reduce food waste, they'll need better data.

By Matt Leonard • July 2, 2019

IT line items grow by millions as supply chains seek efficiency, speed

Warehouse owners are increasingly investing in top-of-the-line warehouse management systems along with cloud-based technology to help their operations run more efficiently.

By Matt Leonard • June 25, 2019

Devices are a 1st step to warehouse automation

Warehouse professionals currently see automation as a way to augment or assist human workers, but full automation is expected in the near future.

By Matt Leonard • June 18, 2019

Inventories grew by $123.7B in first quarter

This was the third straight quarter in which inventories grew by tens of billions of dollars as companies import goods ahead of tariffs.

By Matt Leonard • June 10, 2019

53% of manufacturers see increased margins with dropshipping

Beyond better margins, respondents to a recent survey reported dropshipping improved the relationship between manufacturers and retailers.

By Matt Leonard • June 4, 2019

Majority of warehouse workers make more than $12 per hour

In current labor conditions, operations managers must offer better benefits than their competitors to attract and retain talent. 

By Matt Leonard • May 28, 2019

Report: Adoption of wearable operations tech to reach 90% in next decade

Experts predict wearable tech, including head-mounted displays and augmented reality tools, will be the new norm in warehouses by 2028.

By Matt Leonard • May 21, 2019

Warehouse employment highly concentrated in urban areas

There are tens of thousands of open jobs in the logistics sector, but a look at the latest county-level data shows many warehouse jobs are highly concentrated in urban areas.

By Matt Leonard • May 14, 2019