Gartner: 77% of companies invest in deeper supplier relationships for resilience

Nearly a year into the pandemic, the buyer-supplier relationship is key to keeping goods flowing and ensuring companies have supply chain transparency.

By A.B. Brown • Feb. 18, 2021

Gatik's autonomous, middle-mile box trucks go electric

The company, known for its partnership with Walmart, is using EV technology in B2B short hauls.

By S.L. Fuller • Feb. 18, 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

The PPE supply chain is a case of the 'haves' and the 'have nots'

Gloves and masks are in short supply, and many organizations are blowing through their budgets as they attempt to source in-demand equipment.

By Deborah Abrams Kaplan • Feb. 11, 2021

E-commerce warehouse productivity could improve up to 20% with greater automation: Prologis

Researchers estimate that the adoption of automation could reduce the demand for industrial real estate as existing facilities become more productive.

By Matt Leonard • Feb. 9, 2021

Home Depot opens automated Dallas fulfillment center with hydrogen-powered forklifts

The facility is part of the retailer's $1.2 billion supply chain investment and includes six miles of mechanized lines. 

By Shefali Kapadia • Feb. 4, 2021

3M increases N95 production rate to 2.5B annually

The ability to expand production of personal protective equipment is thanks, in part, to 3M's agile supply chain and shorter cycle times, the CEO said.

By Shefali Kapadia • Jan. 28, 2021

Walmart will add automated micro-fulfillment to dozens of stores

The retailer's initial tests with automated micro-fulfillment resulted in faster order assembly, and pickup or delivery within an hour.

By Jeff Wells • Jan. 27, 2021

Pick speed improves when augmented reality replaces paper: study

The research suggests that some of the main benefits of the technology could be in training new workers and getting them up to speed more quickly.

By Matt Leonard • Jan. 26, 2021

Gig economy emerges as key part of the parcel ecosystem

During the pandemic, Instacart, Postmates, Roadie, Shipt and others have moved into new roles, in many cases integrating into retailers' parcel portfolios as an alternative to traditional carriers.

By Emma Cosgrove • Jan. 25, 2021

4 elements of the next phase of last-mile delivery

The technologies to move retail delivery forward already exist. The next step is fully weaving last-mile services into the retail landscape.

By Emma Cosgrove • Jan. 20, 2021

How supply chains adjusted demand forecasts during the pandemic

Demand planners started to bring in data from Google Trends and Amazon marketplaces to better understand unpredictable consumer buying habits.

By Matt Leonard • Jan. 19, 2021

How Dick's and Wayfair connect consumers with real-time inventory data

The pandemic upped the stakes for data accuracy, as well as the velocity and volume at which it needed to flow.

By Emma Cosgrove • Jan. 19, 2021

Port of LA to roll out Control Tower with trucking, rail data

The tool will provide more information on dual transactions, as the port begins incentivizing terminals to increase them.

By Matt Leonard • Jan. 19, 2021

Patent Pending: Walmart plans automated order picking, Target floats RFID for freight tracking

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 • Jan. 15, 2021

BDO: 50% of manufacturers plan to secure backup suppliers in 2021

Many manufacturers are rethinking their sourcing because of tariffs and high shipping costs, though they're treading cautiously on implementing wholesale changes during the pandemic.

By A.B. Brown • Jan. 14, 2021

UPS, Verizon, Skyward partner on 5G drone delivery in Florida

Many details on the partnership have yet to be disclosed, but the companies say 5G will be important to scaling delivery fleets.

By Matt Leonard • Jan. 13, 2021

Walmart to test refrigerated boxes that store grocery deliveries outside homes

The secure, internet-connected units can hold items at various temperatures and use ultraviolet light to kill viruses, mold and mildew.

By Sam Silverstein • Jan. 13, 2021

How DHL optimized packaging at warehouses to cut shipping costs

Determining the ideal mix of carton sizes uses information on items ordered, dimensions, carriers, destinations and shipping costs — all data that retailers and fulfillment centers collect frequently.

By Matt Leonard • Jan. 12, 2021

CH Robinson, SAS bet real-time demand data can shorten freight bid windows

Demand doesn't change at the pace of an annual contract. The two companies will use their existing tools to drive more agile freight procurement.

By Matt Leonard • Jan. 12, 2021

Bed Bath & Beyond's COO says the company is pivoting to a 'common-sense' supply chain model

The retailer's network of 30 cross docks will drastically reduce in number soon, making way for distribution centers, run by one or more third parties, COO John Hartmann said.

By Emma Cosgrove • Jan. 8, 2021

XPO Logistics pilots virtual reality for LTL cross-dock training

Using Oculus for Business, the firm saw higher productivity, better safety outcomes and reduced waste.

By Aman Kidwai , S.L. Fuller • Jan. 8, 2021

FAA: New drone rules address safety, provide more operational flexibility

While the industry has seen a flurry of drone activity with UPS, Amazon Prime, Walmart and others, regulation and investment hurdles have precluded more widespread adoption for delivery operations.

By A.B. Brown • Jan. 5, 2021

PwC: Pandemic shifts tech priorities to workflow automation

Companies are finding that automation can allow procurement staff to focus on high-impact decisions rather than mundane tasks, if training is prioritized. 

By Ryan Golden • Jan. 5, 2021

Nike's Los Angeles warehouse reduces fulfillment cost per unit going into the holiday rush

Building fulfillment capacity has been at the center of Nike's supply chain strategy in 2020 as the company attempts to move away from wholesale distribution and toward direct sales to consumers.

By Emma Cosgrove • Dec. 23, 2020

Pharma cold chain spend heats up, with a trend toward temperature-tracking sensors

The coronavirus vaccine rollout is expected to positively impact the cold chain logistics market, as companies invest in cold storage, freezer farms, monitoring technology and packaging.

By Matt Leonard • Dec. 22, 2020