Automakers, It’s Time to Check Under the Hood of Your Demand Planning Solution
The global automative industry is undergoing a revolution, as manufacturers and consumers make the switch from internal combustion engine (ICE) models to electric vehicles (EVs). While this fundamental shift will produce enormous benefits for the environment, it’s creating challenges and complexity for the world’s automotive…
Parcel Lockers Versus Parcel Kiosks: Which Is Best for Parcel Drop-Off?
Self-service solutions have become a priority for parcel carriers looking to improve efficiency and customer experience in out-of-home locations. Automated journeys deliver a great customer experience while reducing staff dependency. Additionally, these solutions allow carriers to expand their out-of-home networks into new locations such as…
Empowering Demand Planners With AI
It’s increasingly difficult to forecast demand accurately in today’s volatile, disrupted environment. Smart planning teams are turning to artificial intelligence. Has there ever been a more challenging time to accurately predict demand? Today, supply chain planners must contend with inflation, high interest rates and other…
Profitability and Mass Personalization: Automakers Can Now Achieve Both
Today’s consumers increasingly want personalized products — and automobiles are no exception. For automotive manufacturers the demand for personalization means more vehicle variations and a technology ecosystem that powers this customer experience from show room to shop floor. Build-to-order capabilities are possibly the most critical…
5 Ways To Make Your Returns Process More Profitable
Returns are a core part of e-commerce. Customers will order the wrong items, either on purpose or by accident. It happens and will continue to happen – as long as e-commerce exists, so will returns. Returns are currently one of the biggest issues in e-commerce,…
Intelligent Rebalancer: React and Recover from Disruptions
In a previous blog post, I discussed the challenges planning and execution teams face in responding to increasing disruptions. From extreme weather to port closures, disruptions all too frequently upset these teams’ carefully defined plans for getting inventory from Point A to Point B —…
A (Supply) Chain is Only as Strong as Its Weakest Link: Why Labor Management is a Key Component of the Supply Chain
Right now, your supply chain platform probably includes planning software — focused on things like demand, inventory or replenishment — and execution software — focused on transportation, logistics or warehousing — to create a more efficient supply chain. The data and automation provided by these…
Can Production Be Both Flexible and Stable? The Answer Is “Yes!”
The global automative industry has experienced many foundational changes over the past several decades. One of the biggest is a shift from an emphasis on “lean” manufacturing principles — which emphasize production efficiency, stability and profitability — to today’s increasing focus on flexibility and customer-centricity….
How LSPs Can Cut Costs, Reduce Waste and Boost Revenue With Smart Returns Management
Driving down costs across the supply chain is a key goal for third-party logistics (3PL) businesses, particularly during inflationary pressure and labor market shortages. However, while increasingly niche efficiencies and optimizations are being pursued in the outbound logistics journey, reverse logistics still has low-hanging fruit…
Don’t Just Survive Peak Season – Thrive With Peak Planning Strategies
Peak season is a make-or-break period for retailers. With heightened customer expectations and increased order volume, delivering exceptional experiences while maintaining efficiency is paramount. Unfortunately, the pressure to meet demand often leads to reactive strategies that can damage brand reputation and bottom line. A staggering…