Ahold Delhaize embraces wearable lifting tech for distribution center workers

When wearing the "exosuit" an item that weighs 22 pounds feels like it's 14 pounds.

By Sam Silverstein • July 6, 2021

Walgreens plans 9 more micro-fulfillment centers for prescription delivery

The facilities will use automation to save pharmacists time and help Walgreens speed its prescription fulfillment process, according to executives.

By Edwin Lopez • July 6, 2021

Explore the Trendline➔

Retail Supply Chains

Retailers are making operational investments and adjustments to maintain supply chain resilience. Here’s how.

By Supply Chain Dive staff

Human intelligence is what drives digital supply chains

Technology should empower people, not replace them. Because at their heart, supply chains are human.

By Anne Robinson, Chief Strategy Officer, Kinaxis • July 6, 2021

Zebra to buy Fetch Robotics as interest in warehouse automation grows

The companies worked together in the past on integrations that would synchronize human-robot processes for replenishment workflows.

By Matt Leonard • July 2, 2021

Flexport, Convoy integration enables automated transloading

All shippers have to do is select their origin and destination, and the Flexport platform handles the rest, the company said.

By Matt Leonard • June 30, 2021

Mondelēz's Triscuit is the latest brand to embrace traceability

The snacking giant said the transparency pilot, allowing consumers to follow white-winter wheat from fields in Michigan to the bakery, is the first of its kind for the company.

By Christopher Doering • June 30, 2021

Is micro-fulfillment tech living up to the hype?

MFC vendors say all systems are go, but industry observers say grocers are having trouble making the economics of scaled-down automation work.

By Jeff Wells , Sam Silverstein • June 29, 2021

Hapag-Lloyd, ONE complete integration with Maersk's TradeLens

The carriers have finished the pilot, but it could take up to 10 months to provide all of the milestone updates associated with TradeLens' visibility platform, a Hapag-Lloyd executive said.

By Matt Leonard • June 28, 2021

FedEx to add 16 automated facilities ahead of peak season

Technology enables FedEx to adjust to volume fluctuations, but the logistics provider may struggle to hire enough package handlers.

By Matt Leonard • June 25, 2021

Ahold Delhaize will insource 85% of distribution by 2022 in supply chain overhaul

The chain says it's on track to control its entire U.S. grocery supply chain by its 2023 deadline.

By Jeff Wells • June 23, 2021

Albertsons strikes deal with DoorDash as it pares down delivery fleet

The deal to outsorce delivery comes after Albertsons found insourcing its last-mile delivery fleet was not profitable in all markets.

By Jeff Wells • Updated June 22, 2021

Kroger opens 2 cross-dock facilities to boost reach of automated fulfillment centers

The grocer will use warehouses, which require 60% of the capital and labor of stores, to meet the rising demand for delivery.

By Edwin Lopez • June 21, 2021

Patent Pending: Walmart's idea for just-in-time, FourKites' plan for predictive visibility

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 • June 18, 2021

FedEx, Nuro sign multi-year deal to test autonomous last-mile delivery

The partnership gives FedEx a last-mile solution to complement its other investments like drones and delivery robots.

By Edwin Lopez • June 16, 2021

Cluster analysis can help determine where to store inventory, reduce split shipments

A recent paper looked at using a clustering algorithm with product categories to decrease the number of warehouses needed to fill each order.

By Matt Leonard • June 15, 2021

It's time to use a wealth of available data to push sustainability forward

The data from digitization efforts can be used to find opportunities to accelerate progress on key sustainability targets.

By Lisa Wee • June 15, 2021

Robotics efforts from Amazon, Alibaba highlight e-commerce's automated future

Amazon's new robots increase automation within fulfillment centers while Alibaba is focused on last-mile delivery as they look to optimize operations.

By Edwin Lopez • June 14, 2021

UPS adds dynamic routing to ORION, saving 2-4 miles per driver

The upgrade is already being used by 97% of the van fleet that uses ORION, with the remainder expected to be deployed by July.

By Matt Leonard • June 11, 2021

Are Zoom negotiations here to stay? Here's 3 tips to prepare.

The power of in-person visits cannot be understated, but buyers can use many of the same tactics to negotiate effectively over Zoom.

By Rich Weissman • June 10, 2021

Circle K invests in 100 Geek+ robots to speed store replenishment

The robots will help a Hong Kong distribution center handle deliveries to more than 300 Circle K locations that serve more than 600,000 customers every day.

By Matt Leonard • June 8, 2021

As offices consider hybrid work, can warehouses operate remotely too?

Technologies such as RFID let managers glean insights off-site, while operators steer and monitor forklifts from afar.

By Jen A. Miller • June 8, 2021

Albertsons jumps on early payment trend to boost supplier diversity

Early payments give suppliers access to capital and the ability to scale, the company said.

By Edwin Lopez • June 3, 2021

HP, Dell adjust supply chains as shortages linger

Dell is prioritizing "more valuable places for" components and HP is building its inventory levels.

By Matt Leonard • June 3, 2021

'No longer a test': Locus Robotics to deploy 2K robots at DHL warehouses

DHL expects to have robots in "more than 20" facilities by the end of 2021 and plans to expand to more locations in 2022.

By Matt Leonard • June 2, 2021

Data vs. instinct: How autonomous trucks operate in stormy conditions

Radar, lidar and cameras substitute for — and even exceed — a human driver's senses.

By Heather Larson • June 1, 2021