Technology: Page 2

Coupa says increased focus on spend management has led to RFP uptick

The pandemic is driving procurement departments to get a better grasp on cash flow, spend management and sourcing risk. 

By Shefali Kapadia • Sept. 10, 2020

Walmart pilots drone delivery for groceries with Flytrex

The test program will deliver grocery and household items from Walmart stores to homes in Fayetteville, North Carolina.

By Matt Leonard • Sept. 10, 2020

3 ways to fight stockouts in the pandemic

Historical data isn't worthless, but it won't work alone in times of unpredictable demand. 

By Jen A. Miller • Sept. 08, 2020

Uber Freight enters enterprise software game, extending visibility to loads off the platform

Uber Freight has spent much of the last year partnering with TMS providers, but its Link product may put the company in competition with those players. 

By Emma Cosgrove • Sept. 08, 2020

Port of LA launches dashboard to break down forecasted volume for incoming cargo

The dashboard shows what volume is expected to move via rail and the size of the containers making landfall, which helps the port's supply chain partners plan labor and other resources in advance.

By Matt Leonard • Sept. 08, 2020

In-store pick and pack starts with inventory visibility

Nearly three-quarters of retailers consider it a challenge to implement an in-store accept, pick and pack process for online orders, according to a survey of retailers by Forrester.

By Matt Leonard • Sept. 01, 2020

American Eagle takes on pandemic fulfillment challenges with warehouse sort robots

The robots pick orders from bins and place them in a put wall, allowing retailers to handle high e-commerce volumes while maintaining safe distances between workers.

By Craig Guillot • Sept. 01, 2020

Amazon Prime Air gets FAA clearance for drone delivery on 'highly rural' test range

Amazon said drones will help realize 30-minute delivery and expects the current model to carry 85% of the products sold on its marketplace.

By Matt Leonard • Sept. 01, 2020

Column

Patent Pending: Walmart's plan for trailer prioritization at loading docks

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 • Aug. 28, 2020

Ware2Go, Google partner on 'free and fast' e-commerce shipping

Based on an e-commerce customer's ZIP code, their proximity to nodes in Ware2Go's fulfillment network and real-time inventory availability, Google will automatically display whether an item is available for free one- or two-day shipping.

By Morgan Forde • Aug. 28, 2020

Unilever pilots geospatial, IoT tech to cut deforestation from palm oil supply chain

The company is partnering with Orbital Insight, a satellite imagery and data analytics firm, to meet its deforestation goal and trace supply from factories back to individual forests and farms.

By Morgan Forde • Aug. 27, 2020

CH Robinson allows real-time pricing, instant booking with TMS integrations

The integration lets shippers pull real-time rates into their existing systems without introducing a new tool.

By Matt Leonard • Aug. 25, 2020

DHL to hire 7K associates, increase automation in prep for peak

The carrier expects this to be one of the "most unpredictable fourth quarter ever" as the pandemic increases uncertainty for many of its customers. 

By Matt Leonard • Aug. 24, 2020

Even post-pandemic, digital transformation will become more bullish

The pandemic is a pressure test for companies to sustain customer loyalty. Technology is the only way to ensure sustainability. 

By Samantha Ann Schwartz • Aug. 14, 2020

Q&A

How can managers make their supply chains more agile? 4 experts weigh in.

The ability to remain nimble and react to unforeseen changes across the value chain has proven more beneficial than scenario planning or forecasting for many businesses.

By Shefali Kapadia • Aug. 13, 2020

DHL rolls out AI-based pick routing tool that integrates with WMS, ERP

In its first deployments, the software has reduced the distance traveled by warehouse employees up to 50% and increased productivity up to 30%. 

By Matt Leonard • Aug. 13, 2020

3 technologies FedEx's CIO geeks out on

One challenge of leading enterprise technology for an organization the size of FedEx is the shift away from legacy technology, CIO Rob Carter said.

By Roberto Torres • Aug. 13, 2020

Stores went dark. Online orders tripled. How Joann used its OMS to cope.

The retailer de-stressed its technology, and employees, as online traffic tripled typical holiday volumes. 

By Jen A. Miller • Aug. 11, 2020

Why cold chain tracking and IoT sensors are vital to the success of a COVID-19 vaccine

Technology-enabled tracking and monitoring sensors provide real-time visibility into a vaccine shipment's condition — and an opportunity to intervene before damage is done.

By Deborah Abrams Kaplan • Aug. 11, 2020

Blockchain's fate under COVID-19

Funding for blockchain projects fell, but the crisis highlighted vulnerabilities and visibility issues in the supply chain that remain good use cases for the technology.

By Roberto Torres • Aug. 10, 2020

Logistics companies plan to use AI, data to ship goods ahead of purchase orders: survey

"Preemptive logistics," in which companies predict demand and ship items before customers order them, requires information sharing and transparency throughout the supply chain, according to a survey from Ericsson.

By Morgan Forde • Aug. 07, 2020

From visibility software to pallet picks: How Tillamook planned inventory as demand soared

The demand planning team credits software for its ability to adjust operations during the pandemic. Now the challenge is long range inventory planning, particularly for cheeses that require two years to age.

By Shefali Kapadia • Aug. 04, 2020

'More complex by the day': Leaders turn to automation to sustain IT efficiency

IT teams expect to offload repetitive work by automating processes and shifting focus to higher value tasks.

By Roberto Torres • July 30, 2020

The pandemic has complicated the WMS procurement process

Vendors and warehouse managers typically use multi-day conferences and whiteboarding to buy and implement warehouse management systems. The pandemic has turned that process upside down.

By Matt Leonard • July 28, 2020

US taps camera makers to manufacture drugs, coronavirus vaccines

The Trump administration will loan Kodak $765 million to produce drug ingredients, after enlisting Fujifilm to help make coronavirus vaccines, in an effort to reshore pharma supply chains.

By Ned Pagliarulo • July 28, 2020