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Top 25 Healthcare Supply Chains
Johnson & Johnson maintains its No. 1 spot on the Gartner Healthcare Supply Chain Top 25 list, which recognizes companies that advance healthcare by improving patient outcomes and controlling costs. Baylor Scott & White Health, Johns Hopkins Health System, Indiana University, and Biogen join the ranking for the first time. The healthcare leaders in 2020: […]
Read MoreBlueGrace Logistics Names Mark Derks As New Chief Marketing Officer
Strategic investments in leadership team augments customer focus and value.
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Time-Critical Shipments Speed Up
Calculating the optimal route for time-critical shipments used to take a nail-biting 30 minutes or longer. Thanks to a new routing solution, created by technology company Airspace, shippers can calculate the best path for transporting goods to their destination at the lowest cost and risk. The platform spits out results in less than one second—a […]
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Vertical Focus: Food & Agriculture
Reimagining the Future of Food The agriculture industry should consider these changes to prepare for inevitable future disruptions, a CropLife report says: Redesign. An ultra-responsive supply chain is needed to keep up with changing trade policies and supply dynamics. One example: Nutella’s hazelnuts come from Turkey, its cocoa from Nigeria, and its sugar from Brazil. […]
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E-Shoppers: It’s a Mall World
Online shoppers across the globe are buying from marketplaces and international retailers, relying more on digital devices and seeking alternate delivery options, according to the latest UPS Pulse of the Online Shopper study. Almost all online shoppers in the markets surveyed shop at marketplaces—third-party e-commerce sites that let multiple merchants sell products. In Mexico, 99 […]
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Taylored Fulfillment Services Acquires U.S. Operations of Toll Global Logistics
Taylored Fulfillment Services, a national third-party logistics (3PL) provider based in New Jersey, acquired the U.S. operations of Toll Global Logistics, a $8.7 billion Australian logistics company, boosting its position as a top provider in the United States. The acquisition triples Taylored’s footprint in key distribution areas, which are located near the ports of Los […]
Read MoreFreight Does a Forward March
Most professionals say they expect COVID-19 to shape their supply chain into the medium term. The pace of change will be unlike anything since 2008, accelerating existing trends and shifting priorities, says a Ti and Bollore Logistics survey. Key findings include: 28% of respondents say they plan to shift volumes away from air freight in […]
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Home Improvement on a Winning Streak
The pandemic continues to boost sales for home improvement retailers as consumers spend much of their time at home. Total retail sales in the category were up 11% in July 2020 year over year according to the Department of Commerce (see chart), and consumer spending in the home category soared in April 2020 after stimulus […]
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Air Cargo’s Gradual Takeoff
The gradual movement toward recovery to pre-COVID market conditions continues for the global air cargo industry (see chart), according to data from CLIVE Data Services and TAC Index. Year-on-year growth for the full four weeks of August 2020 showed a further narrowing of the gap in international air cargo volumes to -17% versus August 2019. […]
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Shaping Future Supply Chains
Supply chains face an evolution that will change how chief supply chain officers (CSCOs) operate, according to a Gartner report. The following trends will shape the supply chain’s future, the report says: 1. The rise of digital business. Many CSCOs struggle to create a holistic digital roadmap. At the same time, they face pressure from […]
Read MoreMacy’s Parades Digital Lead
Digitally mature retailers better reacted to COVID-19 disruptions, finds a study by tech company Incisiv. Based on performance along the customer journey, the study names the top North American apparel retailers in digital maturity: Overall 1. Macy’s 2. Kohl’s 3. Neiman Marcus 4. Target 5. Nordstrom 6. Ann Taylor 7. Chico’s 8. J.C. Penney Co. […]
Read MoreThe Need for Shipping Speed
Consumers now make 58% of their purchases online since COVID-19 began compared to just 32% before the pandemic, and many will spend more for expedited shipping, says a LaserShip survey. The study reveals: Gen Z and millennials are more likely to shop at new retailers if expedited shipping is provided compared to older generations. 40% […]
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Easing E-Commerce Pain Points
Although key logistics capabilities are needed to build and maintain successful e-commerce operations, few brands excel at them, according to a study from Geodis and Accenture Interactive. The study highlights: E-commerce acceleration: Brands estimate that e-commerce in 2020 will represent nearly half of their sales. Before COVID-19, companies were making 34% of their sales online. […]
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USMCA FAQ
The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) replaced the North American Free Trade Agreement to drive mutually beneficial trade among the three countries. Thomas Insights answers some key questions about the agreement. Why is a North American trade deal so important? Mexico and Canada are the United States’ biggest export market, supporting 12 million American jobs and […]
Read MoreNOTED: The Supply Chain in Brief-December 2020
Sealed Deals COVAXX, which developed a synthetic peptide-based vaccine to fight COVID-19, partnered with Maersk for transportation and supply chain services to deliver the vaccine around the world once it receives regulatory approval. BMW Manufacturing selected Penske Logistics as the lead logistics provider at its South Carolina plant. Penske will help optimize inbound and outbound transportation of parts to and […]
Read MoreIN BRIEF: New Services & Solutions-December 2020
Products The new XG4 rugged mobile computer from Janam Technologies is designed for scan-intensive applications. The lightweight device is ideal for workers performing supply chain functions, including inventory management, stocking and replenishment, shipping, receiving, and cross docking. The OpteBulk from ORBIS consists of a pallet, sleeve, and top cap to keep product loads safe and secure. Allowing for maximum […]
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Vertical Focus | Healthcare
The global clinical trial supply and logistics for the pharmaceutical industry is expected to grow from $16.6 billion in 2019 to $25.9 billion by the end of 2025.
Read MoreWhat’s the Holiday Sales Scenario?
The holiday retail season will play out in one of two ways—a relatively stable year-over-year sales increase of 0% to 1%, or a jump of 2.5% to 3.5%—both of which are lower than prior years, according to Deloitte. Scenario one: Consumers experience growing anxiety about their health and finances. This reinforces the current high savings […]
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California Clears the Air
To help commercial providers invest in clean truck and infrastructure technology in an effort to improve the region’s air quality, the Mobile Source Air Pollution Reduction Review Committee (MSRC) and the Southern California Association of Governments created a new match-funding program for last-mile transportation. The project comes as e-commerce increases the frequency of truck deliveries. […]
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