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. 7, 2020

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Retail Supply Chains

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

By Supply Chain Dive staff

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. 4, 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

FreshDirect, Fabric to launch micro-fulfillment-powered grocery delivery in DC-area

Expanded service and a same-day offering will kick off later this year from a 10,000-square-foot setup inside a Maryland distribution facility.

By Jeff Wells • July 28, 2020

Maersk to charge fee starting in September for shippers manually booking, amending documents

The carrier said it receives about 6,000 emails and phone calls every week related to manual amendments.

By Matt Leonard • July 27, 2020

How COVID-19 is challenging and changing medtech supply chain management

Four experts share insights on the supply and demand hangups medtech companies have been working through during the pandemic, and a few early takeaways the industry can carry forward.

By Maria Rachal • July 27, 2020

Apple's 2030 roadmap to carbon neutrality focuses on product design, supplier base

The company plans to invest in emissions reduction technologies and carbon removal projects to achieve net-zero emissions across its operations, manufacturing, supplier base and product life cycles.

By Morgan Forde • July 23, 2020

Home Depot leans on efficiency analysis for sustainable transport plan

"As we try and improve the efficiency of our supply chain, it actually results in massively better sustainability measures," the VP of transportation told Supply Chain Dive.

By Emma Cosgrove • July 23, 2020

Schneider invests in TMS company to launch visibility tool

Schneider CEO Mark Rourke said the TMS would "accelerate the blending of our asset and non-asset worlds," reducing shipper wait times for loading and unloading trailers at warehouses.

By S.L. Fuller • July 22, 2020

DHL: Supply chains must adapt to current conditions before post-coronavirus recovery

Transparency, investing in digital transformation, and identifying alternate supply and distribution channels are key to shoring up organizations during this "pre-new normal" phase, according to DHL's report.

By Morgan Forde • July 20, 2020

FedEx installs robotic arms for automated parcel sorting to handle rising e-commerce volume

The carrier is partnering with Yaskawa America and Plus One Robotics, starting with four robotic arms sorting small parcels in its Memphis hub. 

By Morgan Forde • July 17, 2020

Coyote launches AI dynamic routing tool promising consistent miles and reduced deadheading

Coyote said the software has helped fleets uphold commitments made prior to COVID-19, while helping maintain regular shipping routes even with demand changes.

By Jim Stinson • July 16, 2020

26% of transformation budgets grew 'dramatically' as pandemic speeds up digital

Pushed forward by disruption, business leaders cast aside the traditional hurdles that stifled innovation, according to a study from Twilio.

By Roberto Torres • July 15, 2020

Robots, automation seen as solutions to social distancing hurdles in supply chain

The biggest benefit of automation during the pandemic has been the ability for companies to increase social distancing measures within their facilities, according to respondents to a survey from Honeywell and KRC Research. 

By Matt Leonard • July 14, 2020

CH Robinson, Microsoft partner on inventory visibility platform

The inventory data pairs with outside sources of information, including weather and traffic, and the platform will use predictive analytics in an attempt to anticipate supply chain disruptions.

By Matt Leonard • July 14, 2020

FDA releases food safety blueprint that uses tech to bolster visibility, recall tracking

Tech-enabled traceability, data tools, modernization and strengthening safety culture are ways the agency believes foodborne illnesses can be reduced.

By Jessi Devenyns • July 14, 2020

Unilever CSCO: Agility beats forecasting when the supply chain is stressed

Every dollar spent on agility has 10 times the ROI compared to forecasting spend, according to Chief Supply Chain Officer Marc Engel.

By Emma Cosgrove • July 13, 2020

Patent Pending: Can't sign for your package? Just let UPS track your phone's location

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 • July 10, 2020

Uber Freight partners with Blue Yonder on API for real-time quotes, booking

The API will integrate into Blue Yonder's digital fulfillment platform, giving shippers access to "automated execution, dynamic routing guides" and Uber Freight's carrier network.

By Morgan Forde • July 9, 2020

Rouses Market will pilot drone delivery this fall in Alabama

The grocer has partnered with Deuce Drone to launch the program from a store in Mobile, Alabama.

By Krishna Thakker • July 9, 2020

Convoy, KeepTruckin partner on freight visibility API

Carriers in Convoy's network that use KeepTruckin's ELDs can opt into sharing location data with Convoy's platform to improve shipment tracking and eliminate the need for driver check-in calls.

By Morgan Forde • July 8, 2020

Standards from DCSA enable automated sharing of vessel schedules

The effort aims to allow ship schedules to be shared automatically with partners who subscribe to a particular carrier's information.

By Matt Leonard • July 8, 2020