XPO Logistics: Companies demand outsourcing, warehouse automation as e-commerce surges

The company's contract logistics segment won several large contracts recently, including a direct-to-consumer fulfillment center deal with Apple.

By S.L. Fuller • May 4, 2021

Kroger pilots drones for last-mile grocery delivery

The grocer, along with partner Drone Express, will begin making deliveries this spring in Ohio and then expand to California in the summer.

By Jeff Wells • May 4, 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

TMS integrations with digital freight brokers are gaining momentum

The partnerships meld capacity, loads, real-time rates and booking into an all-in-one platform for shippers.

By Katie Pyzyk • May 4, 2021

Talent, skills gap among top barriers to growing digital business

Supply chains adopting automation and robotics require a labor force to operate and oversee emerging technologies. 

By Roberto Torres • May 3, 2021

How construction is using technology to mitigate supply disruptions

Soaring material costs and supply chain woes threaten the industry's rebound.

By Joe Bousquin • April 30, 2021

Warehouses turn to gamification to level up productivity

Supply chain leaders take a carrots-over-sticks approach to incentivizing warehouse labor as the industry struggles to recruit and retain workers.

By Gary Wollenhaupt • April 27, 2021

Panasonic buys Blue Yonder for $7.1B as pandemic heightens data demand

The deal combines Blue Yonder's software and planning technology with Panasonic sensors, hardware and IoT devices.

By Shefali Kapadia • April 23, 2021

Patent Pending: Amazon plans for packing with the right fit, eBay says buses are for drones too

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 • April 22, 2021

5 freight technologies send supply chains on a greener path

A growing level of shipper interest, along with pressure from the public and regulators, is driving carriers to invest in more sustainable delivery options.

By Matt Leonard , S.L. Fuller • April 21, 2021

54% of companies plan to up spending on inventory planning: MHI

Inventory and network optimization tools saw the largest YoY jump in companies reporting the technology as "in-use today" with 45% of companies falling into that category, up from 40% last year.

By Matt Leonard • April 20, 2021

Bed Bath & Beyond revamps supply chain with a tech stack and 4 warehouses

Regional distribution centers are the first step in cutting down store replenishment time from a "noncompetitive" 35 days to under 10 days, the COO said.

By Shefali Kapadia • April 20, 2021

Walmart invests in autonomous vehicle startup Cruise

The venture will help the retailer's goals of developing a last-mile delivery system that's fast, low-cost and scalable. 

By Tatiana Walk-Morris • April 19, 2021

Photos: A look at how UPS eVTOLs could shake up logistics

A small, electric aircraft that can take off and land vertically at distribution and sortation centers will enable faster delivery speeds.

By S.L. Fuller • April 15, 2021

GreyOrange, Tompkins Robotics team up on 'zero walk' fulfillment

The system eliminates the need to release orders in waves, as in a typical goods-to-person system, instead allowing real-time order fulfillment.

By Matt Leonard • April 13, 2021

Robots alone will not keep DC labor demand in check

With labor demand climbing, many DCs are turning to AI-based smart software to transform productivity.

April 12, 2021

CH Robinson gives shippers self-serve data on supply chain emissions

The broker, along with the EPA and MIT, developed a standardized way to measure carbon output and assess sustainability analytics.

By S.L. Fuller • April 8, 2021

URB-E turns to electric bicycles to make grocery delivery more efficient

The company operates a fleet that tows cargo carts holding up to 800 pounds through the streets of New York City and has more cities in its sights.

By Sam Silverstein • April 8, 2021

Auto industry calls on government to fund semiconductor capacity

An industry group warns the shortage could cause a production shortfall of nearly 1.28 million vehicles in 2021.

By Matt Leonard • April 7, 2021

4 tools to fight fraud, counterfeits and cyberattacks in the COVID-19 vaccine supply chain

Visibility technologies and real-time data provide one version of the truth in a rapidly-built supply chain.

By Deborah Abrams Kaplan • April 7, 2021

Chewy boosts automated fulfillment network through new warehouses and retrofits

The e-commerce company plans to open its second automated fulfillment center in Q2 and a "limited catalog facility" in Q3.

By Matt Leonard • April 5, 2021

Cyberattack against Molson Coors pushes production, shipments later into 2021

Plant operations often run 24/7, which makes it difficult to patch technology on a regular basis, one expert said.

By David Jones • March 31, 2021

Boston Dynamics stretches into warehouse game with material-handling robot

The bot, named Stretch, automates the truck unloading process at an expected rate of 800 cases per hour.

By Matt Leonard • March 30, 2021

Meet the vertical automated grocery store

Boston-based startup Urbx aims to build its futuristic stores in cities across the country and provide micro-fulfillment technology to retailers.

By Jeff Wells • March 30, 2021

What Walmart learned from its machine learning deployment

Successful ML implementation means using automation as a tool, not the solution.

By Katie Malone • March 26, 2021

Bashas' turns to online platform to expand selection of locally sourced foods

The Arizona grocery chain plans to eventually roll out Forager's online procurement system across its fleet of more than 100 stores.

By Sam Silverstein • March 25, 2021