2. Prioritize flexibility. The pandemic supercharged workforce flexibility, introducing a whole new way of working. Adaptable work arrangements, such as flexible work hours, remote work options, and job sharing, are key to helping accommodate the diverse needs of today’s job seekers. For example, today’s job seekers may be focused on work-life balance or face geographical constraints.

3. Automate mundane, routine jobs. Automation addresses the hard-to-fill, non-value-added, and repetitive tasks that are at the center of today’s labor shortages. Additionally, offer job seekers more complex roles to attract more highly skilled workers. For example, you can increase productivity in distribution centers through automation that systematizes processes and enables robots to handle physical tasks. This reduces repetitive and boring tasks, in turn improving workplace safety for the most physically demanding positions.

4. Add value through training. Career development initiatives and training foster a positive and attractive work environment, entice new hires, and upskill current employees. Invest in employees and clearly communicate the value of training and mentorship programs, as well as opportunities for advancement within the company.

5. Get creative in your talent search. Consider new avenues for seeking out talent pools, such as trade schools, universities, veterans, retirees, and individuals with disabilities, and provide pathways for their success.

6. Encourage a team mindset. Organize brainstorming sessions and cross-departmental initiatives to inspire innovation and strengthen performance. A united business culture strengthens the workforce’s morale and satisfaction.

7. Engage with employees. Conduct regular surveys to gauge the organization’s pulse and gather feedback. For example, a benefits package you consider generous might lack small upgrades that could greatly enhance employees’ satisfaction, such as free telemedicine services or gym memberships.

8. Attract talent with compensation. Salary packages that match or exceed industry standards incentivize performance. Include a meaningful comprehensive benefits package.

9. Make the employee experience important. Adopt technology that works harmoniously together to eliminate monotonous keypunching and free users’ time to work on fulfilling, strategic tasks.

10. Increase employee engagement. Transparent communication within a company strengthens trust and enhances well-being, as well as gives employees a feeling of being valued and supported. It’s essential for aligning goals, sharing knowledge, and fostering community. Transparency is reassuring, as it indicates to people that they can count on what is said, and respect is reinforced, creating an ongoing constructive framework for staff members.

SOURCE: Kristjan Lillemets, Chief Product Officer, Magaya

The post 10 Tips for Overcoming Workforce Shortages appeared first on Inbound Logistics.

2. Think Long Term. Choose a WMS that enhances your current tech stack and scales with you as your business grows.

3. Streamline Billing. Opt for a system with customizable, real-time billing capabilities to ensure accurate charges and transparency across all of your client contracts.

4. Replicate Success With Ease. Leverage “cut-and-paste” technology to rapidly clone successful configurations across new sites, speeding up launches and reducing onboarding time.

5. Simplify With One System. Manage all facility types, from small-scale to fully automated with a single WMS built to handle every level of complexity.

6. Future-Proof Your Integrations. Use a system with a built-in integration workbench for seamless connectivity with material-handling equipment and external platforms.

7. Stay Agile With Composable Workflows. Modify and create workflows without writing code, enabling you to adapt quickly to changing customer demands.

8. Empower Customers With Real-Time Visibility. Transparency goes a long way in building customer trust. Ensure your WMS offers a dedicated customer portal that provides real-time visibility into orders and inventory levels. This level of transparency enhances customer experience by keeping clients informed and reducing the need for constant follow-ups.

9. Optimize Labor Management to Boost Productivity. Your workforce is a key asset. Look for a system that includes robust labor management tools. These features help you track, report, and incentivize labor performance across your network. By doing so, you improve productivity while also enhancing customer satisfaction through more efficient operations.

10. Navigate Multi-Customer Complexity With Ease. For 3PLs managing operations with multiple customers and different workflow requirements, a WMS must be flexible enough to handle diverse configurations. Whether it’s at the warehouse, customer, or building level, ensure your system can delineate and manage these layers of complexity without causing bottlenecks or errors in operations.

SOURCE: Softeon

The post 10 Tips to Help 3PLs Stay Ahead with the Right WMS appeared first on Inbound Logistics.

2. Optimize Load Planning. Underutilized truck space or poorly planned routes lead to inflated costs. Automating load planning with a TMS ensures you efficiently consolidate shipments, maximize capacity, and significantly reduce the cost per unit shipped. Many advanced systems offer dynamic routing, which factors in real-time data to suggest the optimal paths.

3. Use Rate Optimization Tools. Comparing contracted and spot rates manually can be time-consuming and error-prone. Rate optimization tools built into TMS platforms automatically match your shipments to the lowest-cost carrier or mode, eliminating guesswork. These tools help avoid overpaying during high-demand periods with automated spot markets.

4. Prevent Costly Accessorial Charges. Accessorial fees, like detention, demurrage, and missed appointments, quickly add up if not managed. Proactive alerts within a TMS warn teams about potential accessorial charges, such as delayed dock appointments or extended railcar dwell times, allowing you to act before fees are incurred.

5. Automate Freight Auditing. Integrating freight audit tools can automatically flag discrepancies, validate costs against contracts, and prevent duplicate payments. This leads to precise and accurate payment processes every time. With automated freight bill auditing, companies avoid overpaying carriers by catching billing inconsistencies and save valuable time spent on manual data reconciliation.

6. Leverage Data Analytics. Understanding which carriers underperform and identifying costly lanes empowers better decisions grounded in data. Modern TMS platforms incorporate predictive analytics to uncover trends and cost-saving opportunities that might go unnoticed.

7. Diversify Your Carrier Network. Over-reliance on a small group of carriers can create vulnerabilities, especially when capacity tightens. Expanding your pool of carriers ensures greater flexibility and bargaining power. An expansive tendering algorithm built into a TMS helps shippers reach more carriers without sacrificing lead time. Create a mix of dedicated, contract, and spot carriers for more reliable coverage, especially during peak seasons.

8. Consolidate Shipments. Consolidating multiple smaller shipments into full truckloads rather than relying on LTL shipments reduces overall costs and improves on-time performance. Advanced TMS solutions can identify opportunities to aggregate shipments across facilities for more streamlined operations. Cross-docking or transloading also reduces the number of touches on your freight, lowering the chance of errors or damage.

9. Use Multimodal Transportation. Shifting between modes can unlock savings. A multimodal TMS can identify opportunities to use rail, barge, or intermodal combinations while ensuring customer requirements are upheld. Multimodal transportation helps to reduce fuel costs for long distances and lower emissions to meet sustainability goals.

10. Proactively Collaborate with Carriers. Use TMS-integrated scorecards to evaluate carrier performance, tracking metrics like on-time delivery, rate accuracy, and response times. Proactively communicating with carriers on where they can improve ensures smoother future operations.

SOURCE: Matt Everson, SVP of Sales & Marketing, IntelliTrans

The post 10 Tips for Reducing Transportation Costs appeared first on Inbound Logistics.

2. Prioritize Contract Management. Effective returns management starts with well-defined contractual agreements between retailers and vendors. Using software to configure policies, negotiate changes, and optimize settlements, return-to-vendor shipping and communication ensures clarity and efficiency. Without structured agreements, both parties risk financial and operational inefficiencies.

3. Implement clear Return Policies. Return policies impact customer satisfaction and purchasing decisions. Studies show that 82% of shoppers consider return policies before buying and 33% avoid retailers with unclear policies. Retailers should prioritize accessibility and flexibility in their return policies to build trust and encourage confident purchasing.

4. Establish Fraud Detection Practices. In 2024, returns fraud cost retailers $103 billion. To mitigate risks, retailers need advanced fraud detection tools that identify suspicious return patterns, validate purchase histories, and flag high-risk returns. Without proper prevention, fraudulent returns can significantly impact profitability and operational efficiency.

5. Employ Save-the-Sale Strategies. Offering alternatives to refunds helps retailers retain revenue and customer loyalty. Solutions such as store credits, incentives, and instant exchanges convert returns into repurchases, ensuring a positive shopping experience while minimizing revenue loss.

6. Aim for Processing Speed and Efficiency. Rapid returns processing is essential to maintain cash flow and operational efficiency. Quickly reintroducing returned products into inventory reduces warehousing costs, prevents bottlenecks, and enhances liquidity, enabling reinvestment in growth opportunities. Alternatively, slow processing can keep essential working capital tied up, negatively impacting a business’ ability to operate.

7. Optimize Returns Routing. An efficient transportation network ensures returns are directed to the appropriate destination—whether for restocking, return-to-vendor, or resale. Reducing handling time lowers labor costs, minimizes seasonality impacts, and accelerates the return-to-sell cycle, saving retailers time and capital.

8. Integrate Warehouse Management. Implement a dedicated Returns Warehouse Management System to streamline sorting, inspection, and categorization of returned goods. Automating key processes reduces manual intervention, enhances accuracy, and ensures products are promptly reintegrated into inventory, resold, or recycled.

9. Enable ReCommerce and the Second Shelf. ReCommerce—reselling products through secondary marketplaces or direct-to-consumer channels—lets retailers extend product lifecycles, reduce waste, and maximize profitability. Integrated ReCommerce solutions provide an even better opportunity, combining optimized routing, refurbishment capabilities, and efficient resale strategies to reduce handling and increase second-life revenue.

10. Leverage Data and Analytics for End-to-End Visibility. A data-driven approach that tracks a return from initiation to final resolution helps retailers uncover inefficiencies, reduce processing times, and enhance customer experiences. Advanced analytics enable businesses to identify return patterns, forecast demand, and implement proactive solutions that minimize avoidable returns and provide actionable insights that drive continuous improvement and profitability.

SOURCE: Wes Berry, Executive Vice President of Client Partnership & Success, ReturnPro

The post 10 Tips for Optimizing Reverse Logistics appeared first on Inbound Logistics.

2. Leverage Optimization Technology. Using AI-powered routing software can significantly cut down unnecessary miles, reduce idling time, and lower fuel consumption. Dynamic routing ensures trucks take the most efficient paths based on traffic, weather, and delivery schedules, which minimizes environmental impact.

3. Shift to Intermodal. Intermodal solutions—combining truck, rail, barge, and ocean freight—are more fuel-efficient than relying solely on long-haul trucking. Rail, for instance, produces up to 75% fewer greenhouse gas emissions per ton-mile compared to trucking. Businesses should explore multimodal strategies to optimize sustainability and cost-effectiveness.

4. Adopt Alternative Fuel/Electric Vehicles. Fleet electrification is gaining momentum as companies look to cut emissions. Investing in electric trucks, hydrogen-powered vehicles, or those running on renewable natural gas can drastically reduce carbon footprints. Many companies are also experimenting with hybrid fleets to transition more sustainably.

5. Reduce Empty Miles. Empty miles—when trucks travel without cargo—waste fuel and increase emissions. Using backhaul optimization strategies and load-matching technology can help minimize deadhead miles by ensuring trucks carry cargo in both directions.

6. Improve Last-Mile Delivery Efficiency. Last-mile logistics are one of the greatest contributors to transportation emissions. Companies can improve sustainability by using micro-fulfillment centers, deploying electric delivery vehicles, and offering customers eco-friendly delivery options like consolidated shipping or local pickup points.

7. Monitor and Reduce Carbon Emissions. Real-time tracking tools embedded within transportation management systems allow businesses to measure emissions at the shipment level and before execution. Shippers should explore opportunities to be proactive vs. measuring results after the fact. By analyzing CO2 data, companies can identify high-emission routes, improve efficiency, and make data-driven decisions to lower their environmental impact.

8. Utilize Aerodynamic Technologies. Upgrading trucks with aerodynamic features—such as side skirts, wheel covers, and optimized trailer designs—can reduce fuel consumption by improving airflow. Low rolling resistance tires, automatic tire inflation systems, and fuel-efficient driving techniques further contribute to sustainability.

9. Encourage Carrier Sustainability. Shippers should partner with carriers that prioritize environmental responsibility. Many leading carriers now invest in green technology, use eco-friendly fuel alternatives, and follow strict emission reduction targets. Incorporating sustainability metrics into carrier selection criteria can drive industry-wide change.

10. Invest in Sustainable Infrastructure. Building a sustainable transportation network requires long-term investments. As the industry moves toward electric vehicles, shippers should consider setting up on-site renewable energy sources at DCs, investing in charging infrastructures, and supporting policies that promote sustainable freight practices at the governmental level.

SOURCE: Kevvon Burdette, Chief Commercial Officer, Princeton TMX

The post 10 Tips for Improving Supply Chain Sustainability appeared first on Inbound Logistics.

2. Bridge business information gaps. Organizational or system integration gaps can separate shipment tracking data from the related order management processes. Connect external shipment tracking with your core order management systems to gain visibility into business processes and keep operations moving when disruptions occur.

3. Handle disparate data sources. Stay connected with multiple carriers, freight forwarders, and logistics providers through API or EDI. Companies can also collate that data in a single platform to handle parallel updates from different sources and mitigate the risk of disintegrated updates from multiple partners.

4. Tailor the tracking process. Procurement teams must apply flexible and extensible configurations to custom fields, defining specific tracking and execution statuses, event types, flows and viewing options. Building tailored tracking scenarios allows quick responses aligned with a company’s competitive advantage.

5. Achieve insight to action. The faster procurement and production teams can act on new information, the more successful they can be. Avoid multiple external portals and instead funnel tracking information into your core systems. This helps speed responses by keeping necessary business documents available to manage business operations.

6. Keep technology landscapes simple. Procurement, manufacturing, and transportation solutions can grow in different directions, only to be strung back together through complex integrations. Look first to add real-time shipment tracking that fits with your core systems before adding complexity, risk, and cost to your IT infrastructure to display real-time ETAs in your ERP and core systems.

7. Benefit from flexible integration. Modern document and data standards can help ensure shipment tracking is fully integrated with your core processes. With variability in data sources, flexible integration capabilities are needed to bring information into a standard platform, making collaboration easier. Flexible integration is key to delivering insights and more predictable delivery times.

8. Leverage automation for notifications. Procurement teams have to juggle unpredictable moments with repetitive, behind-the-scenes work. Automation of impact analyses, alerts and notifications can offer much-needed relief during times of supply chain disruption. This enhances situational awareness to improve assurance of supply.

9. Maintain access controls. The push and pull of managing user access and exporting data is not only a headache but also a security risk. Ensure that your shipment tracking capability maintains consistent user access and safeguards core business data, making available relevant and reliable information in a data-secure environment.

10. Enable a consistent and personalized user experience. Even as AI continues to augment the user experience, people are still the key to driving informed procurement and production decisions. Ensure simple configuration of dashboards with a personalized view of shipments, deliveries and order fulfillment. Not only will this enable proactive exception management from a single source of truth, but your team can then also assess key performance indicators and set data-driven strategies.

SOURCE: Doug DeLuca, Business Network Product Marketing Manager, SAP

The post Achieving Effective Logistics Visibility appeared first on Inbound Logistics.

2. Develop contingency plans. Learn how to deploy long-term strategies that not only address known threats but also consider asymmetric risks that lack a clear rule book. By having a comprehensive, flexible, and adaptable plan in place, you can quickly pivot when unexpected issues arise.

3. Engage with industry professionals. Attend networking events, workshops, and seminars where you can connect with experts in the field. Their insights can provide valuable perspectives on current challenges and emerging trends, enriching your understanding of supply chain management dynamics.

4. Gain real-world career experience. Seek out internship opportunities that allow you to apply theoretical knowledge in practical settings. This hands-on experience will significantly enhance your skill set and make you more competitive in the job market.

5. Collaborate on case studies. Work with peers to analyze situations such as the longshoremen’s strike or the impact of Hurricane Helene. These collaborative efforts will deepen your critical thinking skills and prepare you for similar challenges in your career.

6. Utilize technology to improve visibility. Explore tools that enhance real-time tracking and data analysis within your supply chain. Leveraging technology can help you respond more effectively to disruptions and streamline operations.

7. Review supply chain processes regularly. Conduct audits to identify inefficiencies or areas that need improvement. Continuous evaluation will help you stay agile and ready to adapt to changes in the market.

8. Attend educational workshops. Keep abreast of new methodologies, technologies, and best practices through targeted training sessions. This ongoing education will empower you to implement innovative solutions in your work.

9. Network with alumni and leaders. Utilize platforms such as LinkedIn to connect with former classmates and professionals in your field. Building a strong network can open doors to mentorship opportunities and valuable career advice.

10. Embrace continuous learning as a fundamental aspect of your career. Stay curious and open to acquiring new skills, whether through formal education or self-directed study. As Robert Greene said, “The future belongs to those who learn more skills and combine them in creative ways,” underscoring the importance of adaptability in an ever-evolving landscape.

SOURCE: Dr. Anil Vitarana, Education Committee Co-Chairman, Containerization & Intermodal Institute (CII)

The post 10 Tips for Upgrading Your Supply Chain Skill Set appeared first on Inbound Logistics.

2. Consider suppliers as a business extension. Give suppliers visibility and transparency into your business performance and goals. Ultimately, your suppliers are only as good as the access and information you give them to your business so they can successfully do their job.

3. Share the big picture. Be willing to share the full picture of your business strategy; not just the specific piece of the puzzle that directly pertains to the supplier. The supply chain is intricately linked together and the more context you can share with your suppliers, the more adaptable and flexible you’ll be together when challenges arise.

4. Establish and reassess agreements. Agree on terms for your partnership early on. Regularly revisit terms to ensure they still reflect your needs and your supplier’s capabilities. When it comes time to renew terms, be proactive. Don’t automatically renew; make sure all terms reflect the current needs of both groups given today’s dynamic, ever-changing supply chain landscape.

5. Determine expectations. Mutual success is at the root of any supplier relationship. Be transparent with your expectations, but allow space for your supplier to share feedback to come to a mutually agreed-upon understanding that allows both parties to be successful.

6. Promote suppliers to your peers. When given the opportunity, vouch for your suppliers and promote them to your peers, whether that’s at conferences or in organic conversations. Exchange leads and vendor contacts with your suppliers for the ability to tap into cross-selling opportunities that are mutually advantageous.

7. Integrate communications. Prioritize keeping your suppliers up to date on business activities by enabling regular two-way communication at every level of the relationship, from the top down. This will enable open communication when business is good, but also when it’s inevitably time to navigate a disruption or challenge together.

8. Facilitate regular business reviews. Keep dialogue open by designating a specific cadence to revisit goals, review current performance, highlight recent wins and discuss any challenges. Align on what cadence works best—monthly, quarterly and/or annually—and consider reviews that include top management for full visibility and alignment from both parties.

9. Allow each other to fail and correct. Particularly in the beginning, give each other grace by allowing both sides to fail and correct. Great relationships don’t form overnight, and it takes time to understand the complexities of each other’s businesses. Be accepting of feedback and understand that challenges and mistakes will happen. It’s how you navigate those together that matters most.

10. Prioritize and value human interaction. As technology continues to integrate into the supply chain, human interaction is only becoming more valuable. Avoid solely transactional experiences and certainly don’t rely on them. Ensure you have regular video calls and in-person meetings with your suppliers. By prioritizing human interaction, you open the door to more organic conversations and naturally build a stronger relationship.

SOURCE: Doug Frank, SVP of Transportation Management & Procurement, GEODIS

The post 10 Tips for Strengthening Supplier Relationships appeared first on Inbound Logistics.

2. Guard against errors. Establish a proactive maintenance program to identify any errors that may occur within the four walls of the warehouse. Structure the program so that cycle-counting (proactive inventory audit) is based on the most important criteria.

3. Establish inventory hierarchy. Typically, inventory hierarchy involves ranking SKUs or SKU categories based on their value, velocity, seasonality, or other priority. Organize your inventory into high (A), medium (B), and low movers (C). Then align processes accordingly to ensure that you count on the appropriate frequency.
Ideally, the frequency should be commensurate with how often SKUs are touched since each touchpoint is an opportunity for error. You might count A’s monthly, B’s quarterly, and C’s annually to ensure your program creates the most value.

4. Minimize product hold time. The longer products sit in the warehouse, the greater the cost of goods sold (COGS). To preserve the margin potential of inventory in the warehouse, maximize storage density and increase inventory turns. The greater your turns, the lower your COGS.

5. Consider rotational strategies. First In, First Out, for example, can minimize overall inventory costs over time. First Expire, First Out can minimize the risk of obsolescence. Deploy the appropriate rotation strategy for each part of your business.

6. Leverage information systems. A robust ERP or WMS can streamline and automate inventory management, taking human decision-making out of the equation, which also helps reduce labor costs. If your inventory supports orders for multiple sales channels, it’s especially important to use robust, intuitive systems that can handle that level of complexity.

7. Utilize technology to optimize processes. Systems can also improve specific processes. With cycle-counting, for example, a WMS can validate a physical inventory count. Using a double-blind process and supervisory re-count for two-way validation significantly improves accuracy. Advanced automation and robotics can help to ensure accurate order processing, which is directly tied to inventory management. Autonomous mobile robots and lighted pick/put solutions help get orders out the door accurately while ensuring that accurate inventory is maintained in the warehouse.

8. Capture post-mortem data. Establish a process for follow-up once an order ships. You want to learn about any issues, resolve them quickly, and ensure a good client experience. Any discrepancies or adverse findings create data points that you can act on. That data capture is critical, as it helps identify the root cause of the issue.

9. Address shrinkage issues. By keeping a close eye on the data, you can identify inventory inaccuracies and trends. This iterative process can help you to reduce shrinkage and manage risk over time. Inventory accuracy tracking can’t be out of sight and out of mind. Daily metrics tracking helps to identify and address problems quickly.

10. Establish a continuous improvement program. A continuous improvement program is essential for effective inventory management. By improving productivity, accuracy, and consistency, Lean methodologies can help to drive cost savings and operational excellence.

SOURCE: Zachary Purdom, Regional Senior Director of Operations, Saddle Creek Logistics Services

The post 10 Tips for Managing Inventory Effectively appeared first on Inbound Logistics.

2. Use alternative modes. Shippers may have to move to more cost-effective and carbon-efficient modes to cut carbon emissions and reduce fuel usage. For example, move from air to truck, truck to intermodal, intermodal to boxcar, or boxcar to ocean.

3. Consolidate more shipments. In addition to consolidating orders and creating multi-stop loads, shippers need to utilize vehicles as full as possible. Rather than shipping as soon as you receive an order, accumulate demand and send it out on a published “sailing schedule,” say, each Wednesday. This enables getting more on each vehicle and creates fuller trucks. For example, shippers may eliminate most parcel shipments, drastically cutting LTL volume.

4. Avoid adding intermediate moves. Consider this scenario: A major food plant has a small on-site warehouse that couldn’t accommodate all the volume. It could hold only a day or two of production. Their solution was to get a large warehouse 25 miles away and ship everything there to redistribute to their own DCs as well as perform customer shipments. With intelligent technology and the recognition that they could utilize space on empty trucks returning from the outside to bring back items needed for an order, they managed to ship 40% of the product directly from the plant warehouse.

5. Seek out inexpensive alternate fuels. No, we are not saying to switch to electric trucks, as 25% of U.S. electricity is generated by burning coal, a major source of CO2. Instead, biodiesel mixes are sustainable and don’t require special expensive equipment. Existing diesel engines can use biodiesel fuel with little to no modification.

6. Manage customer orders to fill trucks. Offer incentives such as better pricing if the customer orders more than, say, 44,000 units. Shippers can also use order-sizing technology that understands product stacking constraints and axle weight restrictions and flags loads if the truck needs to be utilized appropriately.

7. Make use of pallet pooling. Pallet pooling—where multiple companies share a common pallet pool to transport goods—helps avoid bringing in or removing non-managed packaging items over long distances. It also eliminates landfill for items such as odd-sized pallets.

8. Route trucks in real time. Real-time (dynamic) routing systems use algorithms and real-time data to determine the most efficient routes, reducing unnecessary travel delays. Think “Waze for trucks.” Efficient static routing minimizes the distance traveled but dynamic routing cuts the time spent on the road, directly reducing CO2 and other greenhouse gas emissions.

9. Smooth out shipments. Deadhead miles (without cargo) represent about 15% of all miles driven. Violently fluctuating demands from shippers cause many of these wasteful miles, forcing them to reposition empty equipment over long distances. Consider the costs a carrier incurs to accommodate 24 shipments one day and three the next. Cutting this variability in replenishment using network capacity optimization generates savings for shippers and carriers.

10. Fill up your trucks. With 91% of trucks underloaded, using math optimization technology for load building saves 5-10% on costs and reduces the number of trucks on the road, which saves fuel and reduces carbon emissions.

SOURCE: Tom Moore, CEO and Founder, ProvisionAi

The post 10 Tips for Ensuring Transportation Sustainability appeared first on Inbound Logistics.