MIT is providing materials for its new digital supply chain course for free to students and working professionals. The first course provides a survey of tools, approaches, and techniques for the design and operation of supply chains. This is a chance for all of us to continue to learn at no cost. MIT Plans Launch…
Archives for supply chain
US 3PL Market is Growing
Large and small manufacturers and retailers are turning to 3PLs to manage warehousing and transportation. This allows manufacturers and retailers to focus on their customers and the things that set them apart from their competitors. Additionally, 3PLs continue to expand service offerings to meet the changing needs presented by omni-channel businesses. U.S. 3PL Market Forecasted…
Uber Breaks Out Same-Day Delivery Service
Uber flexes its startup muscle and announces a new same-day delivery service called Uber Corner Store available only in certain parts of Washington D.C. The announcement comes just a few months after Uber launched UberRUSH, a courier delivery system in Manhattan where customers can have items be picked up and dropped off at a specific address by Uber…
Collaborative Distribution is Coming of Age
ES3 has been doing collaborative distribution for twelve years with more than sixty manufacturer and retailer partners. It is not easy to collaborate with competitors but it is necessary to cut expenses, improve sustainability, and increase service. Manufacturers have tried it on their own but without the benefit of a neutral, third-party to handle the…
New Strategies to Build Brand Loyalty
Ever purchased something only to see it at a cheaper price in a different store? Walmart’s decided to help its shoppers get rid of that awful feeling with its new Savings Catcher service. The service analyzes the price paid for each item at Walmart, and compares it to the listed prices at local competitor stores….
1. 3D Supply Networks
Remember the days of the pink telephone message slips? That was back when we had one-on-one communications. Organizing a conference call was hard to do because the technology was not there to support it. Today, most of our conversations are not one-on-one; we communicate simultaneously with many people through email, online meetings, and shared documents. …
2. Digitally Empowered Shoppers: The Consumer is King
A Changing Landscape, Where Digital is King As the world’s consumers become increasingly digitized and connected, industries are racing to engage with the new digital era. Over 274 million Americans have access to the internet, with 117 million using smartphones. Of these 117 million smartphone wielding consumers, 80% are using their smartphones to find stores,…
3. Changing Consumers: Catering Across Generations
For the first time, four generations are active simultaneously in the US marketplace; leading to a more diverse market. Baby Boomers and their children, called Generation Y or Millennials, compose the largest two generations and wield the largest spending power. While these two generations are similar in size, their shopping behavior, use of technology, and…
Is it time for supply chains to go local?
Is it time for supply chains to go local? This is a question that is being asked across all industries that make use of a supply chain. With increased globalization, supply chains have been put at risk due to small interruptions that may have large repercussions. The cheap mass production supply chains of the past…
4. Little Big Store: Finite Shelves, Infinite Aisles
The CPG industry went through a period where stores built supercenters large enough to require GPS systems in order to navigate. Those days are over. Today, most retailers are developing smaller formats for neighborhoods or urban environments. The recession enticed many non-grocery channels to expand their grocery offerings. Mass merchandisers, like Walmart and Target, have…