Articles Archives | The Logistics of Logistics

EY Announces Brian Kempisty of Port X Logistics as an Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2023 New York Award Finalist

Joe Lynch — Tue, 25 Apr 2023 15:43:21 +0000

Entrepreneur Of The Year celebrates ambitious entrepreneurs who are building bolder futures.

BUFFALO, April 24, 2023 – Ernst & Young LLP (EY US) today announced that Brian Kempisty of Port X Logistics was named an Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2023 New York Award finalist. Now in its 37th year, Entrepreneur Of The Year is one of the preeminent competitive business awards for transformative entrepreneurs and leaders of high-growth companies who are building a more equitable, sustainable and prosperous world for all.

Brian was selected by an independent panel of judges. Entrepreneurs were evaluated based on their demonstration of building long-term value through entrepreneurial spirit, purpose, growth and impact, among other core contributions and attributes.

Port X Logistics is an aspirational brand that specializes in expediting containerized freight. Using a combination of company assets, owner operators, and a widespread logistics network, they are able to effectively service every port and rail ramp in the U.S. and Canada. Port X Logistics offers a variety of services, including drayage, transloading, trucking, project cargo coordination, and more.

Port X Logistics was founded on four pillars: Culture, Service, Tech, and Trucks. They aim to bring about positive change in the industry by adopting a customer-centric approach and treating everyone well. The company strongly believes in creating a better way of doing business while fostering long-term partnerships with customers and employees alike. Through its commitment to innovation and technology, Port X Logistics is redefining the logistics industry and leading the way towards a brighter future for all.

Regional award winners will be announced on June 13th, during a special celebration. The winners will then be considered by the National judges for the Entrepreneur Of The Year National Awards, which will be presented in November at the annual Strategic Growth Forum®, one of the nation’s most prestigious gatherings of high-growth, market-leading companies. The Entrepreneur Of The Year National Overall Award winner will then move on to compete for the EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year Award in June 2024.

The Entrepreneur Of The Year program has recognized more than 11,000 entrepreneurs throughout the US since its inception in 1986, and it has grown to recognize business leaders across 145 cities in over 60 countries around the world.

About Entrepreneur Of The Year®

Entrepreneur Of The Year® is the world’s most prestigious business awards program for unstoppable entrepreneurs. These visionary leaders deliver innovation, growth and prosperity that transform our world. The program engages entrepreneurs with insights and experiences that foster growth. It connects them with their peers to strengthen entrepreneurship around the world. Entrepreneur Of The Year is the first and only truly global awards program of its kind. It celebrates entrepreneurs through regional and national awards programs in more than 145 cities in over 60 countries. National Overall Award winners go on to compete for the EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year title. Visit ey.com/us/eoy.

About EY Private

As Advisors to the ambitious, EY Private professionals possess the experience and passion to support private businesses and their owners in unlocking the full potential of their ambitions. EY Private teams offer distinct insights born from the long EY history of working with business owners and entrepreneurs. These teams support the full spectrum of private enterprises including private capital managers and investors and the portfolio businesses they fund, business owners, family businesses, family offices and entrepreneurs. Visit ey.com/us/private.

About EY

EY exists to build a better working world, helping create long-term value for clients, people and society and build trust in the capital markets.

Enabled by data and technology, diverse EY teams in over 150 countries provide trust through assurance and help clients grow, transform and operate.

Working across assurance, consulting, law, strategy, tax and transactions, EY teams ask better questions to find new answers for the complex issues facing our world today.

EY refers to the global organization, and may refer to one or more, of the member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients. Information about how EY collects and uses personal data and a description of the rights individuals have under data protection legislation are available via ey.com/privacy. EY member firms do not practice law where prohibited by local laws. For more information about our organization, please visit ey.com.

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PODCAST: Modern Courier Delivery Compliance Considerations: Understanding SOX and SOC Compliance

Joe Lynch — Tue, 14 Mar 2023 17:30:15 +0000

Original article: PODCAST: Modern Courier Delivery Compliance Considerations: Understanding SOX and SOC Compliance

Logistics and supply chain are some of the world’s most complex and regulated industries, which has been further compounded by increasing reliance on data and technology in both fields. As a result, data security and compliance have become a critical component of logistics operations, although implementing adequate controls can present numerous challenges in these complex networks.

Government regulations like the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (SOX) put additional strain on companies to maintain stringent data and financial controls, and often include provisions on how data is maintained by outside vendors and service providers. As companies attempt to manage more diverse supply chains and transportation networks, keeping up with data compliance can become an overwhelmingly complicated task.

This blog will delve into the modern delivery compliance considerations as they apply to logistics and supply chain, specifically around SOX and SOC. It will explain the various types of SOC audits, how SOC certified service providers can support SOX compliance, and why most courier delivery providers fail to meet SOX requirements. Finally, it will discuss how a last mile delivery platform can solve courier delivery compliance issues through SOC certification.

Additionally, scroll down to watch OneRail’s Julius Tubbs, Senior Director, Information Security & Infrastructure, and his appearance on Joe Lynch’s “The Logistics of Logistics” podcast.

Understanding SOX and SOC Compliance

From a high level, SOX and SOC compliance both serve as protective agents for consumers and organizations through enhanced data accuracy and security, and greater internal control support. There are, however, several critical differences between SOX and SOC, which can be briefly summarized as:

SOX is a government-mandated record keeping and financial information standards law.
SOC is a voluntary audit of a service provider’s internal controls to ensure data security and shareholder confidence.

Let’s take a closer look at SOX and SOC, as well as the SOC types that service providers can obtain.

What Is SOX Compliance?

SOX compliance is an annual obligation derived from the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX) that requires publicly traded companies doing business in the U.S. to establish financial reporting standards, including safeguarding data, tracking attempted breaches, logging electronic records for auditing and proving compliance. SOX is meant to stabilize markets, benefit investors and protect the American public by restoring trust in financial reporting.

All publicly traded companies, wholly owned subsidiaries, and foreign companies that are publicly traded and do business in the U.S. must comply with SOX. Private companies planning their initial IPO must also comply with SOX before going public. Additionally, all accounting firms that audit public companies must comply with SOX, regardless of their business designation.

The high-level requirements for SOX compliance can be summarized in three steps:

Provide financial statements that have been audited by a third party to the SEC;
Implement and test adequate internal controls, and submit an annual Internal Controls Report to demonstrate financial data accuracy; and
Report material changes to the public in nearly real-time.

What Is SOC Compliance?

System and Organization Controls (SOC) is a suite of reports from the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA), instituted amidst the rise of cloud computing, which has increased accessibility to applications and data. SOC reports are issued by a third-party auditor after a thorough examination of a service provider’s operations to verify that they have effective controls for security, availability, processing integrity and confidentiality. These reports provide assurance over the design and effectiveness of controls and outlines any potential risks for customers or partners that are considering working with the service provider.

SOC compliance allows companies to feel confident that their service providers are operating in an ethical manner, and establishes credibility and trustworthiness. For the service provider, SOC compliance provides a competitive advantage and conveys a proactive and accountable approach to data management.

There are several different SOC audits that a service provider may choose to undergo, with subtypes of each. Next, we’ll explore the most commonly issued reports: SOC 1 and SOC 2.

SOC 1 vs. SOC 2

SOC 1 compliance is an independent validation of a service provider’s controls that relate specifically to financial planning. In short, if the service provider has any bearing on the financial reporting of their customers, they can be audited to ensure financial information is adequately secure. Rather than undergoing individual audits from each customer, a service provider can go through a SOC 1 compliance review and present the results as validation of their data security processes and controls.

SOC 2 defines criteria for managing customer data based on five “trust service principles” — security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality and privacy. The SOC 2 audit focuses on the organization’s technological systems, operations and regulatory compliance, and is used when a company outsources technological and data-related services, such as data hosting, colocation, data processing and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS). The SOC 2 report is particularly helpful in areas that include organizational oversight, vendor management programs and regulatory oversight.

Type 1 vs. Type 2: What’s the Difference?

For both SOC 1 and SOC 2, service providers can undergo either a Type 1 or Type 2 audit. The primary difference between the two audits is in their scope and duration.

Type 1: provides a brief snapshot of an organization’s compliance status. The auditor tests one of the service provider’s controls against the company’s description and design. As long as the control meets the required criteria, the company is granted Type 1 compliance.
Type 2: verifies that a company can maintain compliance across all controls over time. The organization’s controls are assessed and audited over a period of time — usually six months or a year — and if the company passes these ongoing assessments, they are granted Type 2 compliance.

The Type 2 report is far more rigorous and intensive than Type 1, as it covers a greater timespan and requires a more thorough investigation of a system’s design and processes. Most often, customers looking for SOC 1 or SOC 2 compliance will want to see a Type 2 compliance report, which demonstrates that the service provider has the ability to maintain control standards over time.

Why SOC Compliance Matters for SOX Compliance

While SOC reports are not required, they can be useful for publicly traded companies that are bound by SOX regulations. SOC reports help organizations maintain oversight over their financial data (SOC 1), as well as IT systems, processes and vendors (SOC 2). An independently audited SOC report reinforces SOX compliance through a strict review of how outside vendors handle sensitive information and data, so companies should prioritize service providers that are SOC-compliant.

PODCAST: SOC 2 Compliance for Logistics with Julius Tubbs

The Role of of Data Governance in Logistics for SOX and SOC Compliance

Logistics and shipping is one of the world’s most complex and regulated industries, which has been further compounded by its increasing reliance on data and technology. As a result, data governance has become an essential part of the logistics industry.

What Is Data Governance?

Data governance is the process of ensuring that data is managed and used in an appropriate, secure and efficient way. It includes the development of policies and procedures for managing data, as well as the implementation of systems and controls to monitor a company’s data assets and enforce policies.

Data governance helps companies develop a detailed view of where data is coming from, who owns it and what happens in the event of a security breach. There are five components to a comprehensive data governance process:

Data Stewardship – Who owns the data?
Metadata Management – What are the attributes?
Data Quality Management – How accurate is the data?
Information Management Planning – Where is it kept? How much is retained? How long is it held?
Compliance Management & Risk Mitigation – Does data management fulfill regulatory requirements (SOX, PCI DSS, etc.)?

Benefits of Data Governance in Logistics

Data governance is essential for ensuring data is accurate, complete and complies with regulations, but there are several additional benefits for the logistics industry:

Improved data quality and consistency through clear guidelines on how data is collected, stored and shared, as well as how it is formatted to maintain standardization across different data sources.
Better data risk management through the identification of potential risks and development of controls to mitigate those risks and protect data in case of a breach.
Better decision-making by ensuring data is accurate, complete, consistent and usable, which is critical to optimizing shipping and logistics operations.
Reduces operational costs by defining and automating data collection and management processes, and developing analytic tools to provide insights into trends and inefficiencies.

Best Practices of Data Governance in Logistics

Considering the large amount of data generated in the logistics industry, data governance is critical. These best practices can help ensure effective and efficient data governance processes:

Define clear roles and responsibilities – There are many parties and stakeholders involved in shipping and logistics, so it is essential to determine who has access to which data and establish clear processes for handling data at every stage.
Implement data quality controls – Data quality is essential to logistics operations, so controls to minimize inaccurate, duplicated, inconsistent and outdated information must be established at both data entry and data management levels.
Communicate data governance policies and procedures – All employees should be trained on policies regarding how data is collected, stored, used and shared.
Monitor, audit, review and update policies and procedures – Monitoring compliance through regular audits and reviews is essential to maintaining effective data governance. When controls are no longer effective, processes should be updated accordingly to meet data security standards.

The Problem with Courier Delivery in SOX Compliance: Why Shippers Are Turning to SOC

The rise of e-commerce during the pandemic created an increased need for last mile delivery services, putting pressure on shippers to expand their last mile courier networks to meet consumer demand. Unfortunately, the rapid utilization of couriers as a secondary mode of transport often scaled faster than the company’s ability to implement necessary data governance and compliance processes across the network, leaving them more susceptible to breaches and SOX non-compliance infractions.

There are several indications that a SOX-regulated company may be struggling with courier data security, privacy and governance:

No clear contracts with couriers – Failing to establish contractual agreements severely limits control over data handling and management once information is passed to a courier. This increases the company’s exposure to data breaches and puts private customer information at risk.
No insurance program – In the rush to onboard last mile delivery couriers, shippers may fail to verify each courier’s insurance status, increasing their risk in freight claims and opening them up to a high level of liability.
No visibility – Fragmented courier networks create challenges to visibility at every level, from shipment tracking to data sharing, further increasing risks to claims and data breaches.
No Proof of Delivery (POD) – Managing PODs is critical for confirming deliveries, as well as communicating and managing damage risks. Failing to implement standardized POD processes puts shippers at a disadvantage and exposes them to unsubstantiated claims.

The bottom line is this: most couriers are not SOC compliant, so shippers will not meet data security requirements going directly with couriers. In fact, courier delivery networks that operate independently of an integrated platform have been flagged as a significant SOX risk. Shippers who rely on diverse courier networks can protect themselves from non-compliance risks by utilizing a secure last mile delivery platform.

OneRail’s Platform Solves for SOX and SOC Compliance in Modern Courier Delivery

OneRail is a last mile delivery fulfillment SaaS platform that provides a single connection to a wide courier network, backed by a SOC 2 Type 2 compliance certification. To meet compliance requirements, OneRail was evaluated on all five Trust Service Criteria:

Security – System is protected against unauthorized access.
Availability – System is available for operation and use as committed or agreed.
Processing Integrity – System processing is complete, valid, accurate, timely and authorized.
Confidentiality – Information designated as confidential is protected as committed or agreed.
Privacy – Personal information is collected, used, retained, disclosed and destroyed in accordance with the privacy notice commitments.

OneRail’s SOC 2 Type 2 certification gives customers assurance that their platform’s controls have not only been tested and evaluated by an independent third party, but that they are consistent in maintaining the controls over a period of time. It also validates that the platform has adequate security mechanisms in place to protect corporate and client data from unauthorized use and disclosure. The SOC 2 report gives customers insight into OneRail’s information security strategy and the steps taken to maintain compliance with the latest privacy, security and confidentiality standards.

OneRail’s SOC 2 Type 2 certification shows that they exercise due care and have undertaken measures to manage and improve operations, performance, security controls and financial health of the company, ensuring clients that their own data will be handled with due diligence to meet critical SOX compliance standards.

The OneRail Platform Delivers Last Mile

OneRail understands that last mile fulfillment shouldn’t mean sacrificing security. Their platform is designed to deliver at every level, while ensuring private data stays safe and compliant. With OneRail, shippers get access to full platform capabilities, including:

Courier Network – Get multimodal fulfillment with access to a trusted network of 10 million-plus couriers.
Logistics Platform – Deliver on time and on budget with rate shopping, smart matching and real-time visibility.
Exceptions Assist – With eyes on every shipment and every route, their team of logistics experts gets ahead of delays 24/7.
Layers of Security – In addition to being built on Microsoft’s trusted Azure platform, OneRail is SOC 2 Type 2 compliant. OneRail has implemented a number of controls and best practices from a variety of frameworks and standards, including ISO 27001:2022, NIST CSF, NIST 800-53, CIS, CMMC, OWASP and CISA to reduce risk across the organization.

To learn more about OneRail’s last mile platform, schedule a demo today.

Original article: PODCAST: Modern Courier Delivery Compliance Considerations: Understanding SOX and SOC Compliance

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OneRail Recognized in 2021 Gartner® Market Guide for VRS and Last Mile Technologies

Joe Lynch — Thu, 15 Dec 2022 16:29:53 +0000

OneRail Recognized in 2021 Gartner® Market Guide for VRS and Last Mile Technologies

POSTED ON FEBRUARY 22, 2022

Original article: OneRail Recognized in 2021 Gartner® Market Guide for VRS and Last Mile Technologies

Looking to take a platform approach to vehicle routing and scheduling, but unsure where to start?

A recent Gartner® Market Guide provides a snapshot of today’s last mile delivery fulfillment landscape. OneRail is among the last mile technology vendors surveyed in the report, which focuses on optimizing fleet operations.

The Gartner® Market Guide for Vehicle Routing and and Last-Mile Technologies comes on the heels of OneRail being named to the 2022 Retail CIO Radar list by Retail Today, and a Semifinalist for the Synapse Innovation Awards. As a 4-in-1 last mile fulfillment solution, OneRail is gaining momentum as the comprehensive choice in the last mile space.

Download the report to learn how last mile vendors are adopting additional capabilities to create more customer-centric solutions. The report surveys 20 current last mile technology vendors, and provides a column-by-column comparison of features.

What is Vehicle Routing and Scheduling (VRS)?

Vehicle routing and scheduling — commonly referred to as VRS — is a system for optimizing delivery routes within given constraints. These include delivery windows, number of delivery stops on a specific route, delivery pricing, etc. Using VRS helps reduce fuel costs, improve operational efficiency and increase delivery speed.

Organizations consider VRS and last-mile technology for the additional benefits of instant access to greater fleet capacity, increased on-time delivery and improved customer experience.

How to get your copy of the Gartner® Market Guide

To view a complimentary copy of the Gartner® Market Guide for Vehicle Routing and Scheduling and Last-Mile Technologies, follow this download link.

Supply chain technology leaders can use the Market Guide research to understand the existing market and evaluate various solutions. Schedule a OneRail demo to see how our platform tailors a solution for your specific supply chain workflow needs.

Original article: OneRail Recognized in 2021 Gartner® Market Guide for VRS and Last Mile Technologies

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The List of Sponsors and the Size of Expo Continue To Expand at Manifest Vegas 2023

Joe Lynch — Thu, 22 Sep 2022 17:34:23 +0000

Multiple New Activations Have Been Added Such as a Mocktail Bar, a Rosé All Day Wine Bar and Bacon & Donut Bar!

NEW YORK (PRWEB) SEPTEMBER 14, 2022

Manifest Vegas 2023 is doubling with 100 Sponsors now signed on. The list is impressive and the team is excited to announce new Headline and Gold sponsors such as Maersk, Ryder System, Swisslog. Since sharing the first list of 50 supporters this summer Datamatics, Envase Technologies, LOADSMITH, Mujin, MVMNT, Mastercard, Phononic, Platform Science and Schneider have signed on!

What can you expect from these names joining the show? How about an Expo Hall filled with activations for the Supply Chain and Logistics community to take part in! There is an extensive list of unique experiences such as thought leadership taking place on The ‘Fest Live set as well as podcast studio. Perfect networking locations at the Biergarten, Rosé All Day Bar, Mocktail Bar, Coffee Bar and the coworking lounge. Attendees will also be able to grab a sweet and/or salty treat at the Donut & Bacon Bar and back by popular demand the Expo Hall will be filled with puppies at the Puppy Park! Thanks to Manifest’s sponsors and their creative ideas – attendees will enjoy meeting and learning about these innovative companies as well as have a little fun!

An expected 200+ Exhibitors will be on hand in the Expo Hall January 31st – February 2nd at Caesars Forum in Las Vegas, and they will participate in both traditional meetings and non-traditional activations mentioned above. The full floor plan will be shared next month. Ticket prices increase October 31st, 2022 so register now!

Visit https://www.manife.st to view our full list of sponsors and register for Manifest Vegas 2023!

About Manifest: Manifest is brought to you by the same team that created Blueprint, HR Transform and The Future of Logistics Tech Summit. Manifest will offer unparalleled access to a comprehensive gathering of entrepreneurs, investors and executives from BCOs/Shippers. Next year’s event will bring together over 3,000 executives on January 31st – February 2nd, 2023 at Caesars Forum, Las Vegas.

Original article: The List of Sponsors and the Size of Expo Continue To Expand at Manifest Vegas 2023

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How 3PLs Can Simplify Carrier Management through Technology Enablement

Joe Lynch — Wed, 06 Jul 2022 17:27:49 +0000

How 3PLs Can Simplify Carrier Management through Technology Enablement

July 13, 2022 – 12 PM EST

Carrier management is one of the most important processes in logistics, and 3PL organizations are constantly challenged with onboarding the right carriers and monitoring their performance. 3PLs also have a big responsibility in resolving the multiple issues faced by carriers, thereby bridging the gap between the shipper and the carrier to ensure smoother movement of freight.

In an interesting new webinar hosted by Emtec Digital, industry stalwarts discuss what goes into the process of carrier management. They speak at length on carrier onboarding, bid management, performance management, and issue resolution through collaboration. Backed by interesting use cases and personal anecdotes, the presenters capture the nuances of carrier management in a compelling manner.

Key highlights

A primer on carrier management and the role of a 3PL in managing key shipper-carrier relationships

In-depth insights on how bid management works, and how 3PLs are leveraging advanced load boards for managing the freight lifecycle

Gamification and scorecards as key tools to evaluate carrier performance

Importance of close collaboration between key stakeholders to resolve critical issues in freight management

Date and time

July 13, 2022 – 12 PM EST

Speakers

Larry Gordon

Managing Director

GTM initiatives at Emtec

Mike Parker

Sr. Vice President of Industry,

Transportation at Emtec

Original article: How 3PLs Can Simplify Carrier Management through Technology Enablement

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55 Supply Chain & Logistics Experts You Should Follow on Social

Joe Lynch — Thu, 30 Jun 2022 21:02:08 +0000

55 Supply Chain & Logistics Experts You Should Follow on Social

Original Article: 55 Supply Chain & Logistics Experts You Should Follow on Social

Prior to the pandemic, most folks who weren’t in the industry didn’t give much thought to global supply chains. People just clicked on an item on their phones or computers, and it would magically show up at their doorstep. That has changed over the past two and a half years as millions across the world dealt with delays and shortages of everything from toilet paper and cars to avocados and furniture. And businesses have had to grapple with delayed deliveries, overworked staff, and unforeseen levels of uncertainty.

Keeping up with a complex, multi-layered, global industry is harder than most people think, so we decided to share a list of industry experts who share perspectives, news, trends and timely data on a regular basis on Twitter and Linkedin. If you’re looking for fresh, up-to-speed industry updates, here’s a list of 55 logistics, supply chain and global trade influencers that our team recommends you follow on LinkedIn and Twitter.

(For Twitter accounts included below, we created a handy list so you can view and follow multiple accounts easily, in one place.)

Please Note: This is not a ranking. We have arranged our list alphabetically (by last name). If you think we missed someone please let us know by emailing us at content@flexport.com or tweet at us (and tag @Flexport in your post).

1. Dr. Muddassir Ahmed, PhD

Twitter: @muddassirism

With a PhD in Management Science and 15 years of experience in the industry, Dr. Ahmed serves as the Founder and CEO of SCMDOJO. His company’s mission is to enable supply chain professionals and teams to solve industry challenges by providing on-demand courses, guides, tools, and mentoring from industry experts.

2. Lisa Anderson

Twitter: @LisaAndersonLMA

As a leading supply chain innovator and consultant with more than 20 years in the industry, Lisa is also a sought-after logistics conference speaker and a renowned author who has appeared in media outlets like the Wall Street Journal, ABC News, and CEO Magazine.

3. Brian Laung Aoaeh

Twitter: @brianlaungaoaeh

After a decade in finance and investment management, Brian turned his attention to the rebuilding of the global supply chain with the founding of his VC firm, REFASHIOND Ventures — an emerging VC that invests in startups refashioning the global supply chain.

4. Richard Baldwin

Twitter: @BaldwinRE

Richard Baldwin is an esteemed professor of international economics at the Geneva Graduate Institute. He holds a PhD in Economics from MIT, and authors two well-known books on global economics. In addition, he serves as Editor-in-Chief of Vox EU.

5. Sarah Barnes-Humphrey

Twitter: @bevictoryus

Award-winning educator, founder, and host of the Let’s Talk Supply Chain podcast. Sarah takes the most complex supply chain and logistics subjects and explains them effortlessly to all audiences.

6. Kelly Barner

Twitter: @BuyersMeetPoint

As the co-founder and Managing Director of Buyer’s Meeting Point, Barner is a pro at analyzing trends, making relevant information available to subscribers, and helping them advance their growth.

7. Alan Beattie

Twitter: @alanbeattie

After achieving his MPhil in Economics from The University of Cambridge, Alan started his career as an economist for the Bank of England. He now serves as the senior trade writer for the FT’s daily Trade Secrets newsletter where he explores all things globalization.

8. David Beckworth

Twitter: @DavidBeckworth

Beckworth is an Economist and Senior Research Fellow at The Mercatus Center at George Mason University. He also hosts the “MacroMusings” podcast covering macroeconomics for the masses.

9. Paul Berger

Twitter: @pdberger

Berger is a reporter at The Wall Street Journal where he covers all things logistics and supply chain. Prior to this, Paul worked as a transportation reporter where he covered state and federal policies, regional economics, and transportation technology.

10. Chad Bown

Twitter: @ChadBown

Chad Bown is well-known as an established economist, a Reginald Jones Senior Fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, and host of the “Trade Talks” podcast.

11. Lora Cecere

Twitter: @lcecere

Lora is the founder of Supply Chain Insights, a research firm focused on all things supply chain. Along with her 30 years of supporting clients, she also holds titles as a published author, blogger, and contributing writer at Forbes.

12. Dave Clark

Twitter: @davehclark

Dave Clark was the CEO of Worldwide Consumer at Amazon. During his 23-year tenure at Amazon, Dave and his teams built much of their legendary fulfillment, logistics, and transportation network. Earlier this month, we announced that Clark will be joining Flexport as our new CEO in September of 2022.

13. Emma Cosgrove

Twitter: @emmacos

Cosgrove is a senior reporter at Business Insider where she focuses her reporting on logistics within e-commerce. From the labor force behind deliveries to innovative technology, she tried to help people better understand supply chains and how goods make it to our front doors.

14. Shawn Donnan

Twitter: @sdonnan

Donnan is a senior writer at Bloomberg, where he covers all things economics. He also spent time as a journalist for the Financial Times earlier in his career.

15. Timothy Dooner

Twitter: @TimothyDooner

Along with his co-hosting gig on the “What The Truck?!?” podcast, Dooner brings 16 years of industry experience in operations, sales, consulting, and marketing. He has worked with numerous companies including, Reebok, FedEx, and Hasbro.

16. Craig Fuller

Twitter: @FreightAlley

Fuller is the Founder & CEO of Freightwaves, a media and intelligence platform sharing up-to-the-minute news, commentary, and data analysis on the freight forwarding industry.

17. Cassandra Gaines

Twitter: @MadGainesLive

Gaines is the Founder and CEO of Carrier Assure Inc., a performance scoring software that helps clients match the right carriers to the right shipments. She also hosts her talkshow “MadGaines Live” on FreightWaves TV where she offers educational, non-traditional info on global supply chains.

18. Adrian Gonzalez

Twitter: @talkinlogistics

Gonzalez is the Founder and President of Adelante SCM, an online community for supply chain and logistics professionals. He is also the creator and host of Talking Logistics, a weekly talk show where he interviews other industry leaders.

19. Harold (Hal) Good

Twitter: @Hal_Good

Good serves as an advisor, consultant, influencer, and evangelist for all things procurement. He brings 30 years of experience leading organizations as the founder, president, and CEO of Procurement Pros Group, LLC.

20. Ben Gordon

Twitter: @benjaminhgordon

Prior to his time as Managing Partner and CEO Cambridge Capital, Gordon spent his career building, advising, and investing in supply chain companies including UPS, Nations Express, and GENCO, to name a few.

21. Martijn Graat

Twitter: @LogisticsMatter

Martijn is the founder and lead writer at Logisticsmatter.com—an online platform and community for emerging trends in logistics and supply chain. He also is the proud creator and host of the “Does Logistics Matter?” podcast.

22. Sherri Hinish

Twitter: @supplychnqueen

Hinish who calls herself the “Supply Chain Queen” leads IBM’s Global Supply Chain Transformation team towards more sustainable processes. She has received many accolades including the 2021, 2020 & 2019 Supply & Demand Chain Executive “Pro to Know,” and the “People’s Choice 2020 Global Woman in Supply Chain Leader,” to name a few.

23. Bjorn Vang Jensen

Twitter: @bjornvangjensen

Jensen holds an impressive track record in managing local, regional, and global supply chains within FMCG, retail, and consumer spaces. He’s currently the VP of Advisory Services for Global Supply Chain at Sea-Intelligence.

24. Lars Jensen

With 20 years of shipping knowledge and experience as the co-founder of Sea-Intelligence, Jensen continues to make waves as an independent analyst, advisor, and thought leader in the supply chain industry.

25. Eric Johnson

Twitter: @LogTechEric

Johnson is the current Director at S&P Global and Senior Technology Editor at JOC.com. His areas of expertise include financial analysis, procurement transportation management, and global trade management.

26. Lori Ann LaRocco

Twitter: @loriannlarocco

Author and Senior Editor of Guests at CNBC Business News, Lori Ann interviews industry leaders to uncover relevant financial happenings, top-notch economic strategies, and ways to succeed in business.

27. Phil Levy

Twitter: @philipilevy

Levy has a PhD in economics from Stanford University and many years of experience as an ivy-league professor. He previously served as Senior Economist for Trade on President George W. Bush’s Council of Economic Advisers and handled international economic issues for Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice’s Policy Planning Staff. He’s currently the Chief Economist at Flexport.

28. Scott Lincicome

Twitter: @scottlincicome

Lincicome is the director of the Herbert A. Stiefel Center for Trade Policy Studies at the Cato Institute in Washington, D.C where he focuses on international trade, the global supply chain, and industrial policy.

29. Sam Lowe

Twitter: @SamuelMarcLowe

Lowe is a Director at Flint Global where he consults with governments and multinational firms on trade regulation. He also publishes the Substack newsletter, “Most Favoured Nation,” and has appeared on BBC and in The New York Times.

30. Scott Luton

Twitter: @ScottWLuton

As the Founder & CEO of “Supply Chain Now,” Luton is a leader in the logistics space. With more than 20 years of experience, he has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, CNN, USA Today and more.

31. Joe Lynch

Twitter: @The_LOL_

Lynch is the founder of Logistics of Logistics, a consultancy that provides advice and support to clients on supply chains, logistics, warehousing and technology. He is also the host of the “Logistics of Logistics” podcast.

32. Eric Martin

Twitter: @EMPosts

Martin is a well-known reporter and editor. He currently leads Bloomberg News’ global coverage of the IMF and World Bank, including their responses to the COVID-19 crisis, as well as trade policy of the Biden administration.

33. Christopher Mims

Twitter: @mims

Mims is a science and technology journalist for The Wall Street Journal. He has previously written for publications such as Quartz, Scientific American, Smithsonian Magazine, and Grist. He also works as a contributing editor at the MIT Technology Review.

34. Rob O’Byrne

Twitter: @LogisticsBureau

O’Byrne is an industry vet who is the Founder and CEO of Logistics Bureau—a long-standing supply chain consultancy designed to improve a company’s overall performance.

35. Boris Panov

Twitter: @BorisPanov15

Panov, a transportation and logistics load coordinator, adds a much-needed element of humor and levity to an often stressful and complex industry through his engaging memes and other bite-sized content.

36. Ryan Petersen

Twitter: @typesfast

Petersen is founder and CEO of Flexport. Prior to founding Flexport, he helped run an e-commerce company and co-founded ImportGenius, one of the largest providers of business intelligence to the import-export industry.

37. Adam Posen

Twitter: @AdamPosen

Posen holds a PhD in Political Economics and Government from Harvard University. He is currently the President of the Peterson Institute for International Economics.

38. Rachel Premack

Twitter: @rrpre

Premack is the Editorial Director at FreightWaves and writes the MODE newsletter on the technological and economic impacts in transportation and supply chains. Previously, she was a senior features reporter at Business Insider where she created the trucking beat.

39. Tom Raftery

Twitter: @TomRaftery

Raftery is a Global VP, Futurist & Innovation Evangelist at SAP. In addition to his duties there, he also serves as an international speaker, podcast host, and author on all supply chain matters.

40. Cathy Roberson

Twitter: @cmroberson06

Early in her career, Roberson worked as an analyst for both an e-commerce start-up and the UPS supply chain. She now manages the logistics-focused market research firm, Logistics Trends & Insights, LLC.

41. Chris Rogers

Twitter: @chrisghrogers

Rogers is Flexport’s Principal Supply Chain Economist. He’s a widely-published economist whose in-depth and event-driven research and analysis covers international trade policy, the global logistics industry, and industrial supply chains.

42. Chris Rogers

Chris Rogers is the Vice President of Talent Acquisition & Employee Development at SEL Supply Chain Solutions—a resource-based logistics firm supporting independent U.S. freight agents.

43. Yossi Sheffi

Twitter: @YossiSheffi

Dr. Sheffi is the Director of the Center for Transportation and Logistics and Elisha Gray II Professor of Engineering Systems at MIT. He is also the author of 6 books, numerous peer-reviewed papers, and is the founder or co-founder of 5 companies.

44. Ian Shepherdson

Twitter: @IanShepherdson

As Founder and Chief Economist at Pantheon Macroeconomics, Ian provides investor-focused macroeconomic research and insights for institutions around the world. He also won the Wall Street Journal’s U.S. economic forecaster of the year in both 2003 and 2014.

45. A.J. Smith

Twitter: @ThatAjSmith

Smith serves as the Founder & CEO of TradeWindow—a consultancy that provides compliant trade solutions and security to multinational organizations.

46. Jennifer Smith

Twitter: @JenSmithNYC

Prior to her role as a journalist at Greentarget, Smith worked at the Wall Street Journal in a similar position. In both roles, she covered multiple topics ranging from supply chain and logistics to cultural institutions and the law.

47. Daniel Stanton

Twitter: @Mr_Supply_Chain

CEO and Chief Learning Officer at Mr. Supply Chain, Stanton is also the author of the bestselling book, “Supply Chain Management for Dummies.”

48. Nathan Strang

Twitter: @NavyStrang

Strang is the Director of Ocean Trade Management at Flexport. As an ocean and intermodal operations expert, he distills complex market trends into actionable insights for Flexport’s internal teams and clients.

49. Peter Sundara

As Head of Global Ocean Product at Visy and former VP of Global Freight Management at Li & Fung Logistics, Sundara strives to pioneer ways in which companies can shift, disrupt, and inevitably alter the supply chain industry as we know it.

50. Peter Tirschwell

Twitter: @PeterTirschwell

Mr. Tirschwell is revered for his role as VP for Maritime & Trade at S&P Global. Aside from his duties there, he also presides as the founder and chairman of the annual TPM Conference.

51. Jim Tompkins

Twitter: @jimtompkins

With 40 years of experience as the CEO of Tompkins International, Jim is a pro at helping companies design and implement end-to-end supply chains. In 2020, Mr. Tompkins founded Tompkins Ventures to help executives navigate pressing logistics questions in today’s market.

52. Michael William Vincent

Twitter: @VincentTheDude

As the co-host of the “What The Truck?!?” podcast, Vincent explores and uncovers industry-related topics including trucking issues, current supply chain models, and more.

53. Rick Watson

Twitter: @rickwatson

After 20+ years as a tech and eCommerce entrepreneur for BarnesandNoble.com and Pitney Bowes, Rick Watson founded RMW Commerce Consulting, LLC to support investors and management in growing direct-to-consumer businesses.

54. Richard Wilding, OBE

Twitter: @SupplyChainProf

Richard Wilding, OBE is a published author and professor of Supply Chain Strategy at the Cranfield School of Management U.K. As an internationally recognized leader in his field, he consults with companies on supply chain projects and logistics.

55. Justin Wolfers

Twitter: @JustinWolfers

Mr. Wolfers is a professor of economics & public policy at the University of Michigan. He also serves as a senior fellow at the Brookings Institute, a contributing writer at the New York Times, and hosts the “Think Like an Economist” podcast.

(For Twitter influencers, we created a handy list so you can view and follow multiple accounts quickly, in one place.)

About the Author

Trips Reddy

Global Head of Content, Flexport

Trips Reddy is the Global Head of Content at Flexport. She is a former corporate attorney and journalist who has worked at the Associated Press, Forbes, IBM Watson, and the Hearst Corporation.

Original Article: 55 Supply Chain & Logistics Experts You Should Follow on Social

The post 55 Supply Chain & Logistics Experts You Should Follow on Social appeared first on The Logistics of Logistics.

NEW Webinar: 7 Uncommon Keys to WMS Project Success

Joe Lynch — Thu, 23 Jun 2022 21:53:19 +0000

Thursday, July 21st 2022 l 11:30 AM EST

WMS projects can be challenging from start to finish.

Achieving success requires process discipline and focus, and appropriate levels of effort, staffing and more.

Otherwise companies face unnecessary risk, poor decision-making, delays in time to value, and – in the worst case – project failure.

Yet there are many very successful WMS implementations.

So what’s the difference?

In this outstanding Webinar, we’ll lay out often overlooked keys to ensuring your WMS implementation goes smoothly, involves minimal pain, and accelerates time to value.

What you will learn in this Webinar:

What’s changed about WMS implementations in recent years
How and why some WMS implementations turn painful/delayed/troubled, etc.
Often unrecognized success factors
How to achieve more rapid Time to Value (TTV)

This insight will be delivered by a couple of recognized WMS experts: Kevin Hume of Thru-Put Partners, who has led dozens of successful WMS projects, and Dan Gilmore of leading WMS provider Softeon. The event will be hosted by Joe Lynch, founder of one of the most popular supply chain and logistics podcasts, “The Logistics of Logistics.”

Meet Your Host and the Experts

Kevin Hume

Project ExecutiveThruput Partners

Kevin has seen his share of WMS deployments – from multiple perspectives – as a selection – deployment consultant, as WMS software provider and as an end-user executive responsible for multiple WMS applications. Most recently, Kevin was responsible for Supply Chain Technology Consulting Services at Tompkins International. Today, Kevin is leading ThruPut customers focused on WMS and other strategic supply chain technology initiatives.

Dan Gilmore

CMOSofteon

Dan is a recognized thought leader in WMS, with experience prior to his role at Softeon as the founder of Supply Chain Digest, CMO at RedPrairie (now BlueYonder) and as lead WMS analyst at META Group (later acquired by Gartner). Earlier in his career, he led the implementation of two major WMS projects for Forte Industries.

Joe Lynch

Founder/HostThe Logistics of Logistics

The Logistics of Logistics podcast is consistently one of the top ranked logistics podcasts, dedicated to exploring how things get places and the people who get them there. Joe talks with logistics, transportation and supply chain industry leaders about innovation, technology, trends, and the future of freight.

The post NEW Webinar: 7 Uncommon Keys to WMS Project Success appeared first on The Logistics of Logistics.

What Shippers and Retailers Need to Know for Peak Season Planning 2022

Joe Lynch — Thu, 23 Jun 2022 21:46:02 +0000

What Shippers and Retailers Need to Know for Peak Season Planning 2022

WRITTEN BY STEFANY MARTIN / POSTED ON JUNE 9, 2022

Original Article: What Shippers and Retailers Need to Know for Peak Season Planning 2022

When asked what peak season is, it’s easy to assume the holidays are the only peak shipping season. However, four shipping seasons occur throughout the year and are often regular and expected. That was the case until the ongoing disruptions of the past few years changed the shipping game. Today, the shipping peak season is still a march toward the holidays, but that march is now at a breakneck pace and subject to massive volatility.

Bottlenecks from future COVID-19 variants are possible. We’ve seen how the lockdowns in Shanghai snarled global supply chains. Weather events might also be factors. In addition, retailers are struggling to move inventory initially ordered in the first quarter of 2022 to make way for back-to-school and holiday merchandise.

There’s a massive amount of uncertainty still at play in the market. For shippers and retailers to understand the true peak season meaning, they will need a firm grasp on the realities of inflation, expectations, and the use of technology to get through it.

When and What Is Peak Season?

The peak season definition is a continued evolution of the seasons in transportation. They’re usually broken into four seasons:

Q1: The Quiet Season
Q2: The Produce Shipping Season
Q3: The Peak Shipping Season
Q4: The Holiday Shipping Season

In the age of disruption, none of these seasons have been regular. Above-average holiday shipping seasons in 2020 and 2021 led to an above-average returns rate in the usual Quiet Season. Continued lockdowns over the emergence of new COVID variants left the Produce Shipping Season of 2021 in a panic. Even once a vaccine was available, additional breakouts of new variants in Shanghai put the brakes on transportation expectations for the Produce Shipping Season in 2022. These factors have made managing last-mile delivery in retail ever more complex.

Now, it’s also important to realize that produce grown in North America may not be subject to lockdowns in Shanghai, but there’s another factor at play. The ongoing Ukraine–Russia conflict has caused turmoil in significant parts of the global food chain, and in fact, Ukraine is a major exporter of barley (30% of global totals), wheat (25%), and sunflower oil (60%).

Further, Ukraine supplies more than one-half of the world’s neon gas necessary for printing circuits on computer chips. With Russia exporting many critical commodities, Deloitte explained, there are insufficient raw materials for supply and manufacturing use. Therefore, produce ready for shipping may be stalled due to a limited supply of equipment and trucks (hindering capacity procurement), fewer drivers, and the pressure everywhere to move things faster, save money, and get it done without impacting the customer experience.

Given all this information, it’s not surprising that more shippers and retailers are looking to a much earlier start to peak season planning. Shippers that do not yet have a plan in place are more likely to find most of their freight moving through the spot market in Q3 and Q4. As a result, shipping costs will undermine any potential gains.

The risk for higher peak season shipping surcharges is a certainty. Yes, all parties have metrics and KPIs that help them know when to switch carriers or where to throttle ordering, but that’s not acceptable to customers. They’ll simply abandon ship and go to Amazon. Worse still, drivers feel the impact as service demand declines in the target markets. And there’s the fact that even if the customer goes to Amazon, it may still be routed through a third-party seller on Amazon itself.

Would it not be simpler to access capacity that can scale while keeping tabs on the total costs more easily?

But back to the overarching point. Even if fuel costs were to decline, the peak season shipping surcharges would always reflect an average over the recent weeks. And with little to no end to the ongoing Ukraine-Russia conflict, continued pressure to move more freight, and a limited supply of workers, as well as possible compounding effects from global boycotts of Russian goods, including petroleum, the best bet is to plan for even higher fuel costs in the latter part of 2022. Thus, shippers have plenty to worry about as peak season draws near.

What Does Peak Season Mean With Inflation’s Growth?

Understanding the needs of the 2022 peak season starts with understanding where the cost of transportation sits today and how that will impact peak shipping season demands and costs.

According to the U.S. Energy Information Agency (EIA), the on-highway diesel fuel cost has risen to $5.703 per gallon as of June 6, 2022. That’s a staggering jump of more than $2.40 for the same period in 2021. Depending on the region, the total jump in fuel prices is more than $3.00 over the 2021 cost, such as in the New England region.

Driver pay is also a contributing factor to the uncertainty of peak season. In April, a USA TODAY report stated that Walmart increased annual driver starting wages by $7,500 to $25,000. But in the gig economy, where courier networks reign, the increased pay primarily reflects the growing fuel cost.

While on-highway diesel rates play into the readiness and concern over the future of peak season 2022, couriers must be concerned with the cost of regular gasoline, which is also sitting at $1.841 higher per gallon than in 2021 on average. And statistically, courier drivers see a salary increase every seven months, Salary Explorer reported.

Yet, the range for pay is mainly dependent on the overhead of many drivers who fall into the realm of the gig economy, where rates can range from mid-$20,000s to nearing $100,000 or more annually for high-volume, high-value goods transit in urban areas. So the next question is, “what’s expected to happen in peak season for 2022?”

Let’s take a look.

What’s Expected for the Peak Shipping Season in 2022?

The most significant expectations for the 2022 peak shipping season come from the growth of e-commerce and its impact on global supply chains. As explained by Forbes, e-commerce will account for 20.4% of global retail sales by the end of 2022. However, with that growth comes the expectation for more disruption.

As noted by DC Velocity, “most freight forwarders, traders, and shippers expect more disruption in the 2022 third-quarter peak season than they felt last year. The survey also found that although many companies have arranged international shipments early this year, most continue to rely on the spot freight market to move goods.”

The survey detailed by DC Velocity further found that up to “51% of industry professionals expect 2022 peak season to be worse than 2021, while 26% say it will be “less chaotic,” and 22% expect about the same level of “chaos” as last year.”

That report also is several months old, and the story of the second half of 2022 is still in the works. But fortunately, today’s shippers are creating a new approach to managing the demands of peak season well before it arrives: “The industry is employing a number of strategies to deal with the potential shipping problems ahead, including growing their networks (56%), forming long-term contracts (38%), and following a ‘multi-tender strategy.’

According to the data, nearly 38% of respondents said they were ensuring clients received enough inventory by shipping early in 2022; 25% were using alternative shipment routes; and almost 19% were contracting long-term slot agreements with carriers.”

Those changes in how shippers tender individual loads significantly differ from the traditional standards of using a full-blown TMS for every movement and delivery. Even more importantly, using an app and integrated systems like OneRail has transformed last-mile delivery experiences into something akin to using a favored residential takeout app. Similarly, retailers are enjoying the ability to control their delivery networks. The app also helps handle the mounting pressure for more middle-mile moves when a distribution center or warehouse needs to get goods to a store for customer pickup.

There are additional massive opportunities to use data analytics to understand the performance of all networked drivers, including couriers to sprinter vans drivers, that will be vital to maximizing capacity as peak season unfurls.

Be Disruption-Ready and Shipping Peak Season-Ready With OneRail at Your Fingertips

Nothing but uncertainty is certain in freight management, and no mode has a higher risk or cost than the final mile. So today’s shippers need to know what they’re up against and put the right partnerships in place to allow them to focus on sales, not transportation. OneRail provides the solution to have shippers concentrate on building the company by offering an “open-app, get last-mile capacity” means of handling the sudden demands and rising peak season costs.

Request a OneRail demo to learn more about how your team can be better equipped to handle surges in demand through all shipping seasons, not just peak season, and scale effortlessly through technology.

Original Article: What Shippers and Retailers Need to Know for Peak Season Planning 2022

The post What Shippers and Retailers Need to Know for Peak Season Planning 2022 appeared first on The Logistics of Logistics.

10 Reasons the Retail Industry Should Invest in a Last-Mile Delivery Solution

Joe Lynch — Thu, 23 Jun 2022 21:41:39 +0000

10 Reasons the Retail Industry Should Invest in a Last-Mile Delivery Solution

WRITTEN BY CELINE CLAYTON / POSTED ON MAY 19, 2022

Original Article: 10 Reasons the Retail Industry Should Invest in a Last-Mile Delivery Solution

Every industry has dealt with the fallout or repercussions caused by COVID-19-related disruptions to the supply chain. Finding last-mile retail delivery solutions continues to be a priority for managers. The need for practical and applicable last-mile delivery in retail involves saving money and reducing the expenses associated with this vital yet often overlooked leg of the shipping journey.

Optimization through last-mile delivery solutions significantly improves delivery success rates while boosting profits for shippers and retailers. According to Insider Intelligence, “As a share of the total cost of shipping, last-mile delivery costs are substantial—comprising 53% overall.” Working with the right partner makes it easier to prepare for known and anticipated disruptions within last-mile delivery while providing the best delivery services available. It is much easier to grow and scale with high-quality last-mile deliveries.

There are many reasons why retailers should invest in improving logistics and platforms. Quality and reliable delivery services remain essential to the continued growth and recovery of the market. Every aspect of supply chain shipping and tracking relies on implementing sound last-mile retail delivery services. It is easy to see why last-mile retail delivery service providers are garnering so much attention. Traditional logistics and delivery methods are no longer viable options. To understand why take a look at last-mile delivery in retail more closely.

The top 10 reasons to use last-mile delivery services are as follows.

1. Staying Competitive With Amazon Depends on Efficiency in Last-Mile Retail

The shipping industry has always been competitive; this has only intensified with the Amazon effect shaping consumer demands and expectations. Effective last-mile delivery in retail remains critical for continued growth and recovery. Transportation service providers look for new and innovative tools, technology, and processes to improve delivery solutions while staying competitive. As pointed out by Insider Intelligence, “With crowdsource technology, retailers, logistics partners, and consumers can connect directly with local, non-professional couriers who use their own transportation to make deliveries.” Retail delivery solutions continue to change to keep up with market trends. Last-mile delivery in retail provides an opportunity to compete with Amazon and other industry giants.

2. The Last-Mile in Retail Is More Costly Than Any Other Mode

Another reason for a renewed focus on the final leg of the shipping journey is that the last-mile is the most expensive transportation mode. Offering various last-mile delivery in retail makes it easier for shippers to appeal to consumers and meet their needs. However, this adds to operational and overall shipping expenses. Proper management of final deliveries is critical for maintaining high profits and reducing operating costs. Of all the reasons to use last-mile delivery, retailers can benefit the most from reducing overall shipping expenses and costs associated with common delivery problems. Partnering with a dedicated last-mile or drayage expert can reduce shipping risks significantly and save shippers money on every load.

3. The Last-Mile Is Filled With Risk of Damage/Loss

Every load a shipper carries comes with some level of risk. . Equipment failure and other issues can lead to damaged shipments, load loss or rejection. These risks are part of the territory and are widely accepted. However, last-mile delivery is rife with additional risks, which is why customers find last-mile delivery in retail so appealing. With the right 3PL partner implementing optimized retail delivery solutions, risks related to traffic delays, weather disruptions, driver errors, and more decrease. Shippers can be prepared ahead of time rather than go into a delivery blind with no plan to overcome these last-mile issues when they occur.

4. Last-Mile Delivery Solutions Should Offer Real-Time Visibility

Last-mile shipping help remedy this with reliable innovations that simplify shipping for all parties involved. Based on reports from Insider Intelligence, “with the ongoing integration and enhancement of automation across industries, it’s likely we’ll start seeing delivery robots, drones, and self-driving vehicles making many of these drop-offs in the not-so-far future.” At the same time, most companies are not at this level just yet. Retail needs last-mile delivery improvements, including faster, more reliable deliveries and personalized options. Automated systems and real-time data analytics allow for better management of delivery options overall.

5. Retailers Need Indisputable Proof of Delivery

One source of delays and expenses associated with supply chain final delivery is the paperwork involved. Proof of delivery, invoice papers, container manifests, and other vital documents and forms must be handled and managed efficiently at the time of delivery. Customers view brands favorably that provide solid last-mile shipping in retail that takes care of all the final red tape, paperwork, and documentation required.

Missing certain forms, losing signatures, and poor filing of documentation can lead to extensive and expensive delays. With last-mile delivery solutions in place, retailers get documentation and proof of delivery quickly and easily. Drivers and shippers also enjoy a faster and smoother handoff to get on their way to the next delivery.

6. The Last-Mile Needs a Sustainable-First Strategy

Sustainability and environmentally friendly shipping are not just industry buzzwords today. More than ever, consumers are consciously looking for sustainable shipping and parcel delivery options. Managing fuel consumption, resource management, and emission levels have quickly become major selling points for shippers. last-mile in retail shipments can give providers an advantage over competitors stuck with old and outdated methods.

Embracing sustainable retail delivery solutions has a positive impact. Focusing on improving last-mile logistics demonstrates a commitment to sustainability.

7. Retailers Want Set-It-and-Forget-It Solutions

Retailers’ attention and resources are pulled in a dozen or more directions at any given time. Fast, convenient, and reliable shipping gives them one less thing eating up their time. A set-it-and-forget-it approach is possible with the right tools and automated processes. last-mile delivery in retail today is so appealing because they automate much of the process rather than shippers having to manually go through all the paperwork at the time of delivery. This is why retail needs last-mile delivery options customized for specific delivery needs. Last-mile logistics allows retailers to spend less time on extraneous tasks and focus on what really matters.

8. Managing Multiple Vendors Is the Essence of a Quality Last-Mile Solution

High-quality last-mile delivery in retail involves streamlining vendor interaction and management. No one company handles all shipping needs and deliveries. Keeping track of multiple vendors and last-mile KPIs can quickly become overwhelming. Mistakes lead to costly errors that significantly impact customer experience and bottom-line profits. Overall productivity improves with reliable access to last-mile delivery and vendor management.

Improving communication between vendors and partners and boosting customer satisfaction is at the heart of retail delivery solutions.

9. Retail Is Gradually Evolving to Become Synonymous With Pharmaceuticals Too

The face of the retail market is constantly fluctuating and changing to meet customer demands and respond to manufacturing and supply disruptions. One rising trend is the continued focus on pharmaceutical and other temperature-controlled freight transportation.

Last-mile in retail loads can play a vital role when considering medical shipping and other reefer freight transportation. Cargo that must remain at a specific temperature requires proven last-mile delivery solutions that provide the specialized shipping and handling needed to ensure safe and on-time parcel delivery.

10. Inefficiencies in Last-Mile Routing Lead to Delays

The final reason to use last-mile delivery service lies in the sheer impact of inefficiencies and errors. Minor issues can lead to significant delays. This can easily set off a chain reaction of major delays, disruptions, and issues throughout the delivery process, leading to an unhappy customer. Final delivery, by its nature, is prone to last-mile problems and obstacles. The risks for delays are higher than with any other shipment mode today.

Staying on top of shipping trends and implementing quality last-mile shipping in retail can help managers spot inefficiencies and work more efficiently to overcome them. Streamlining the processes involved ensures customers get the fast and reliable shipping they expect while shippers keep their trucks full and on the road.

Overcome These Barriers With the OneRail Platform

There are many reasons to use last-mile delivery for retail services. Yet many in the shipping industry today still wonder why retail needs last-mile delivery. Looking at current service trends and where they fail to meet current market demands and customer expectations shows where things have to improve.

Finding the last-mile delivery solutions right for a specific customer or load can be daunting. Working with the right partner can make it easier to overcome these common barriers and provide the best delivery services. OneRail is committed to improving last-mile delivery for everyone by diffusing exceptions and responding to disruptions to get what they need to succeed.

With a proven and reliable delivery network, more sustainable operations, and access to capacity, they are ready to help improve retail delivery solutions for your company. Contact OneRail for a demo and learn more about maximizing last-mile delivery in retail today.

Original Article: 10 Reasons the Retail Industry Should Invest in a Last-Mile Delivery Solution

The post 10 Reasons the Retail Industry Should Invest in a Last-Mile Delivery Solution appeared first on The Logistics of Logistics.

FOSC: Collaboration drives last-mile success

Joe Lynch — Thu, 23 Jun 2022 21:30:38 +0000

FOSC: Collaboration drives last-mile success

Executives from FRONTDoor Collective, OneRail explain what makes the final mile work

Original Article: FOSC: Collaboration drives last-mile success

With all the disruptions in the supply chain since 2020, the last mile has been in a constant state of flux. However, even as retailers scramble to meet e-commerce consumer demands, and providers lean into the latest trends to get those packages to front doors, there is plenty going on behind the scenes.

Ty Findley, managing partner of Ironspring Ventures, conducted a roundtable discussion titled The Next Chapter on Last Mile, with Penny Register-Shaw, chief strategy officer of The FRONTDoor Collective, and Bill Catania, founder and CEO of OneRail, on Tuesday during day two of FreightWaves’ Future of Supply Chain event in Rogers, Arkansas.

“One of our mantras at the FRONTDoor Collective is that the last mile should work for everyone,” Register-Shaw said. She noted that the company works to ensure its franchisees have the right business model that will be profitable and meet the needs of shippers.

The FRONTDoor Collective (FDC) is a network of franchised partners that specialize in last-mile delivery. It implements service-level agreements (SLAs) with franchisee needs in mind. It provides shippers access to a large network of last-mile providers (FRONTDoor Partners) as well as developing technology like route optimization and planning tools, and other tech commonly requested by its FDPs.

Register-Shaw also noted that sustainability is a prominent theme behind the scenes. Whether that is electric vehicles — FDC had hoped to be all electric by next year, but she said that will be delayed — or finding ways to recycle packaging materials, FDC is working to move the last-mile industry forward.

“All these things are cyclical and I’ve been around long enough to see what goes up comes down, especially in the e-commerce parcel space,” she said.

Catania comes at the last-mile space from a different perspective. Unlike FDC, OneRail simply contracts with providers and instead focuses on building technology that aids shippers. He told the audience that OneRail “combines humans, technology and capacity” to find the answers that work for everyone in the last-mile supply chain.

A complex math problem

Likening it to finding the math solution to a triangular problem, Catania said more goods are moving closer to the end consumer, but solutions still need to be found for what the right mode of transportation is, what is the right delivery time frame, etc.

“We are looking to do all this and save the shipper money,” Catania noted, adding that OneRail’s platform is designed to reduce miles and cost — a win for both shippers and delivery providers.

OneRail showcased its final-mile solution during a Monday demo session at FreightWaves’ Future of Supply Chain event. The solution matches any size order to an ecosystem of carriers, couriers and internal fleets to meet customer-specific SLAs. By aggregating prices, tapping into a delivery network of over 9 million drivers, and automating the assignment of the right vehicle type for the specific delivery need, shippers can lower their operating costs and optimize their delivery operations with over 98% reliability, the company said.

Its Last Mile Delivery Fulfillment solution is available in the SAP Store. The offering is fully integrated with SAP’s Commerce Cloud, allowing SAP customers to easily access the services of OneRail’s 7.5 million last-mile drivers.

Ironspring Ventures was part of OneRail’s $9 million series A funding round in August.

“We are very transparent with the price we offer to the middle mile, to the 3PLs, to the people connecting to our networks,” she said. “We also don’t want to build a network that has to be audited to death because the surcharges are so complex, so dense, that you don’t know what you have at the end of the day.”

Collaboration

“I do believe … that the next generation is about collaboration,” she said. “Not in a way that breaches anybody’s fiduciary duty to their own employer, but it’s about data sharing … to build a better supply chain, to build a better experience.”

Catania agreed, noting that interoperability is a key to building a better supply chain.

“For the supply chain to be totally effective and achieve the goals … there has to be interoperability,” he said. “We took an API-first approach because the fluidity of the data has to be there. It can’t be manual. We will never, ever tell a shipper we won’t integrate with someone. We will integrate with our biggest competitor if that is [best] for the shipper.”

For Register-Shaw, the last mile is the most important to shippers, and providers need to understand that.

“We want to be an extension of the brand and replicate all your hard work on the road and at the front door,” she said.

Click for more articles by Brian Straight.