New methods, technology turn reverse logistics woes into an opportunity

Once a sunk cost, retailers are discovering new tactics to reduce the high costs of returns.

By Jennifer McKevitt • Jan. 12, 2017

From retail to healthcare, IoT will disrupt supply chains by 2020

The transportation, utility and manufacturing industries are also among HPE Matters' top 5 most likely to be altered by the technology.

By Jennifer McKevitt • Jan. 11, 2017

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

Amazon's robot hiring spree parallels logistics boom

Recent reports project another 5 million jobs will be lost to automation by 2020, should workers be worried?

By Edwin Lopez , Jennifer McKevitt • Jan. 11, 2017

Demand driven supply chain planning can lower costs, but transparency is key

A recent report reveals demand planning can achieve a 15% reduction in inventory, among other benefits.

By Jennifer McKevitt • Jan. 11, 2017

Automakers scale up supply network in race to build self-driving cars

While Ford, GM and Tesla focus on proprietary systems, their competitors are working together to develop a standardized system to sell across the industry.

By Edwin Lopez , Jennifer McKevitt • Jan. 10, 2017

Sensor market boom suggests rise of Big Data in manufacturing

Sensors, like RFID or HVAC tags, are being widely implemented in various industries due to their data, safety and tracking benefits.

By Edwin Lopez , Jennifer McKevitt • Jan. 9, 2017

Why rushed technology implementations may be counterproductive

Rapid adoption of new technology could lead to increased cybersecurity risks and poor resource utilization.

By Jennifer McKevitt • Jan. 9, 2017

Amazon continues to push the envelope with patent for underground delivery model

Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night nor burrowing underground stays this courier from the swift completion of its appointed rounds.

By Jennifer McKevitt • Jan. 6, 2017

Logistically Minded: Despite holiday shortfalls, hopes are high for real estate and output in 2017

Recent news reveals major brick and mortar retailers' experience following Black Friday may have left them in the red, but elsewhere along the supply chain, Q1 looks promising.

By Edwin Lopez • Jan. 6, 2017

Dwell time reduction crucial to improving supply chain efficiency

While possible, comparing port efficiency statistics remains rote and inefficient.

By Jennifer McKevitt • Jan. 5, 2017

How retailers can prevent phantom inventory from affecting their bottom line

Lost sales from phantom inventory was five times greater than originally accounted for by traditional supply chain forecasts, according to research by contributors to The Wall Street Journal.

By Jennifer McKevitt • Jan. 4, 2017

Supply chains in 2017: The first year of the future

Imagine a different supply chain: one that’s automated, connected and operated entirely by a mobile app. By this time next year, it may exist.

By Justin O'Sullivan • Jan. 4, 2017

As e-commerce sales mature, luxury brands spurn Amazon

Having full control of the supply chain — from packaging to last-mile delivery — is essential for brand reputation.

By Edwin Lopez , Jennifer McKevitt • Jan. 4, 2017

Amazon patent takes distribution centers to the skies

Amazon seems to believe the future of fulfillment is by air, so it filed a patent for the use of cargo blimps to deliver goods at crowded events.

By Jennifer McKevitt • Jan. 3, 2017

How achieving increased visibility will help retailers, wholesalers and manufacturers

A good visibility strategy demands consistent engagement with data in a manner that adds value and decreases risk.

By Edwin Lopez , Jennifer McKevitt • Dec. 28, 2016

Logistically Minded: Supply chain ends 2016 on high note, 2017 looks bright

Low freight rates and consumer spending may have plagued much of 2016, but November statistics indicate the year may end on a positive note, setting 2017 up for success.

By Edwin Lopez • Dec. 23, 2016

White House: At least 80% of trucking jobs are at risk of automation

Automation will provide new economic opportunities by increasing availability for part-time drivers, but full-time drivers may face total loss of their job.

By Edwin Lopez • Dec. 23, 2016

How digitization may help the shipping industry recover

Improvements in efficiency, combined with continued scrapping and rising gas prices may return rates to sustainable levels in the long run.

By Jennifer McKevitt • Dec. 22, 2016

Merck KGaA: AI will run demand planning in 2017

Agile demand planning can make the difference in deals with medical providers within the competitive pharmaceutical market.

By Jennifer McKevitt • Dec. 22, 2016

Maersk releases new app to offer shippers greater visibility

The value of transparency makes its way to a real-time tracking app for cargo.

By Jennifer McKevitt • Dec. 20, 2016

How technology could transform supply chain jobs by 2025

Automation within the supply chain could transform logistics, inventory and supply chain jobs away from rote tasks toward agility-based roles.

By Jennifer McKevitt • Dec. 19, 2016

Medical relief providers conduct first US ship-to-store drone delivery

Flirtey and a Johns Hopkins University professor aim to facilitate disaster and medical relief shipments to remote areas in the case of natural disasters.

By Jennifer McKevitt • Dec. 19, 2016

As Amazon, Uber invest in shipping, should carriers worry?

Shipping alternatives are hot on the heels of FedEx and UPS, but lack of experience and regulatory compliance may still quell the new entrants' dreams.

By Jennifer McKevitt • Dec. 19, 2016

Amazon reportedly developing Uber-like app for truckers

The application would eliminate the 15% commission typically charged by third parties to broker such deals.

By Daphne Howland • Dec. 16, 2016

Logistically Minded: Machine learning, self-driving and sensors everywhere will define 2017

The year has seen industrial technology make large strides to bring self-driving heavy duty trucks, cognitive technology and IoT to the market.

By Edwin Lopez • Dec. 16, 2016