Technology
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Walmart boosts last-mile delivery tech with M&A
The retailer's move to acquire the 5-year-old app startup JoyRun presents more evidence that Walmart's last-mile strategy continues to diversify.
By Emma Cosgrove • Nov. 23, 2020 -
Raley's
IDC: Pharmaceutical industry ups inventory levels as OTIF rates fall
Before the pandemic, the on time and in full rate from suppliers was generally above 80%. Now, pharmaceutical companies are looking for ways to avoid shortages.
By Matt Leonard • Nov. 17, 2020 -
sestovic/E+/Getty via Getty Images
Deep DiveThe emerging wave of procurement and spend-management technology
Historically paperbound processes are advancing from automation to intelligence. But first, procurement departments must address data and culture change.
By Gary Wollenhaupt • Nov. 12, 2020 -
Permission granted by Schneider Electric
Schneider Electric invests $40M in supply chain upgrades to prepare for post-pandemic demand
Schneider is introducing new capabilities and production lines that will allow it to work with fewer suppliers by finishing some of its own inputs — with added capacity to construct some components entirely in-house when necessary.
By Emma Cosgrove • Nov. 12, 2020 -
Permission granted by Ahold Delhaize
Ahold Delhaize tackles a $480M supply chain overhaul during a pandemic — and Thanksgiving
The grocery group is forging ahead with an insourcing transformation amid a busy time in a tumultuous year. What could go wrong?
By Emma Cosgrove • Nov. 12, 2020 -
Courtesy of Walmart
Walmart taps self-driving vehicle startup Cruise for autonomous deliveries
In addition to adding Cruise to its self-driving vehicle roster, Walmart has tested autonomous delivery vehicles from Nuro and autonomous middle-mile logistics with Gatik.
By Tatiana Walk-Morris • Nov. 12, 2020 -
Courtesy of PepsiCo
PepsiCo pilots micro-fulfillment tech for e-commerce orders
The pilot facility outside Chicago will expedite the picking process while requiring less floor space than traditional picking, according to PepsiCo.
By Emma Cosgrove • Nov. 11, 2020 -
Vendor negotiations cut IT spend without slashing company initiatives
"There's always negotiation leverage available to you, even with a very deeply-embedded vendor where maybe there's even no competitive swap out option," a Forrester analyst said.
By Katie Malone • Nov. 09, 2020 -
Courtesy of Uber
Uber scales up grocery delivery operations to compete with Instacart, Shipt
Uber's foray into the competitive grocery delivery space earlier this year is emerging as a pillar of the company's ongoing effort to evolve from its ride-hailing roots into a multifaceted logistics organization.
By Sam Silverstein • Nov. 06, 2020 -
Courtesy of Zoom
ColumnVirtual procurement is here to stay. And that's not a bad thing.
Most of our vendor relationships have always been remote, and the use of virtual tools creates deeper relationships that improve the negotiation process.
By Rich Weissman • Nov. 05, 2020 -
Coupa buys Llamasoft in $1.5B deal
The deal puts procurement and supply chain technology under one umbrella at a time when businesses are prioritizing a close alignment of supply with demand.
By Shefali Kapadia • Nov. 05, 2020 -
Permission granted by Chewy
Inside Chewy's first automated fulfillment center
Priorities around worker safety, cost structure and warehouse efficiency guided how the pet e-tailer built its tech stack in Archbald, Pennsylvania.
By Emma Cosgrove • Nov. 03, 2020 -
Permission granted by Tyson Foods
Deep DiveMeat processors expedite robotics plans as pandemic ups pressure
The future of meat manufacturing could include 3D scanners and automated cutting. Tyson, Smithfield, Cargill and JBS are looking to increase automation.
By Lillianna Byington • Nov. 02, 2020 -
Permission granted by FedEx
FedEx readies for 'peak on top of peak' with 4 tech investments
The logistics company provided a look behind the curtain on Thursday during its Peak Innovation Showcase, highlighting sensors, data and automation that will help manage holiday parcel volumes.
By Matt Leonard • Oct. 30, 2020 -
Norfolk Southern works to woo shippers with 'truck-like' offerings
Norfolk Southern specifically highlighted its recent joint venture, Rail Pulse, which is an effort to improve rail visibility by increasing the use of telematics.
By Matt Leonard • Oct. 29, 2020 -
Courtesy of ThredUp
Supply chain visibility is 'awfully low,' but improving it can aid operations goals
A recent survey found that 40% of supply chain leaders plan to increase their investment in real-time visibility, which one expert said could help with omnichannel and forecasting.
By Matt Leonard • Oct. 27, 2020 -
Why carrier data is key to solving intermodal's visibility issues
Recent research stresses the importance of data availability and quality. But a panel of experts said carriers aren't always willing to share.
By Matt Leonard • Oct. 23, 2020 -
Lillianna Byington/Supply Chain Dive
How Ferrero uses data to monitor stock, reduce food waste
The confectionery giant is working with software company Alloy to improve the efficiency of its operations by cutting down on overstock and out of stock items.
By Lillianna Byington • Oct. 20, 2020 -
Rangel, David. [photograph]. Retrieved from https://unsplash.com/photos/4m7gmLNr3M0.
Supply chain pros embrace AI for forecasting, inventory despite limitations during pandemic
Rigid systems that don’t respond to rapid market shifts and a lack of reliable data frustrated respondents in a survey from Secondmind.
By Matt Leonard • Oct. 13, 2020 -
CMA CGM reboots e-commerce site following cyberattack
The reinstatement of the website came just two days after the Federal Maritime Commission posted the carrier's request for a 60-day filing exemption.
By Matt Leonard • Oct. 12, 2020 -
Danielle Ternes / Supply Chain Dive
ColumnPatent Pending: Toyota's plan to manage autonomous cross docking
Supply chain innovators apply to patent what they see as important tools for the future. Sometimes they're brilliant. Sometimes they're funny.
By Matt Leonard • Oct. 08, 2020 -
H&M
H&M plans to scale machine learning to bolster logistics, forecasting
The retailer is building a platform called Yggdrasil, which will give teams across the organization access to centralized data.
By Roberto Torres • Oct. 06, 2020 -
Courtesy of Ryder
KeepTruckin partners with Uber Freight, brokers on real-time visibility
Carriers can choose to share their KeepTruckin location data with brokers who can then access it for the length of the trip and relay the information to shippers.
By Matt Leonard • Oct. 06, 2020 -
Telematics firm Transflo buys Microdea as shippers demand digital documentation
The acquisition allows Transflo to process more data from shippers, carriers and 3PLs, which feeds into its artificial intelligence system.
By Jim Stinson • Oct. 06, 2020 -
Samoilov, Yuri, yuri.samoilov.online/. (2014). "System Lock" [Photograph]. Retrieved from Flickr.
The pandemic opened cybersecurity gaps in the supply chain. How do managers close them?
Attacks on climate control IoT sensors could destroy food, pharmaceuticals or eventually a coronavirus vaccine at a time when these supplies are critical.
By Morgan Forde • Oct. 05, 2020
