Logistics Plus recently had the opportunity to participate in an article for DC Velocity magazine. The article, written by Toby Gooley, contributing editor for the publication, offers manufacturers and retailers the following four (4) tips on managing the logistics for a new product launch or rollout (a new, developing area of expertise for Logistics Plus).
Provide plenty of advance notice.
Clearly communicate requirements and expectations.
Work with your providers to anticipate the new product’s impact on operations and costs.
Choose a partner with experience in handling new-product launches.
You can read the entire online version of the article here:
Logistics Plus is being featured with a cover story in the September 2018 edition of Business Magazine, a monthly publication of the Manufacturer & Business Association. Business Magazine covers the most compelling business issues facing employers today. As the only monthly business-to-business publication in the tri-state region, the Business Magazine serves as a critical information tool for employers located throughout northwest Pennsylvania, Ohio and New York. Each month, the publication highlights an in-depth member company story. This month they are featuring Logistics Plus as an updated follow-up to past cover stories from January 2015 and August 2006. In the article Logistics Plus founder and CEO Jim Berlin explains why “LP” is one of the fastest-growing transportation and logistics companies, a reputable supply chain partner, top freight broker, a leading project cargo manager, as well as a certified “Great Place to Work.”
The primary goal of technology innovation is to make tasks less costly and more efficient. This is particularly the case in the logistics field, where capacity is short, labor is scarce, and customer demands more stringent than ever before. There have already been huge improvements made in the logistics industry and things will only progress as modernization continues to evolve. Here is a quick look at 6 technology trends for 2018 and beyond, the roles they play in logistics, and how they may shape the future.
Trends for 2018 and Beyond
1. Robotics & Automation
Forklifts have been a vital component to warehouses for decades, and we’re now seeing a shift toward programming this share of the supply chain. The primary goal is improved efficiency. Amazon is a leading example in this space, thanks to its acquisition of Kiva Systems, now known as Amazon Robotics. As Amazon and other companies have shown, implementing robotics and autonomous machinery into the fold can condense delivery times to just a 24 to 48-hour period. Autonomous forklifts and robots can pick products much sooner than humans, which means companies don’t have to pay human forklift operators. The combination of lower costs and a speedier assembly is a dream come true for any business owner.
2. Safety and Cybersecurity
Safety and logistics will also be on the radar in 2018. Recent hacks into national companies have exposed potential cybersecurity threats throughout some of the most protected organizations on the globe. As a result, logistics providers will be concentrating more on safety. Amplified demand for faster turnaround will also have an inevitable result of increasing the risk of accidents in transportation operations. Workers are going to be functioning quicker, and doing things faster tends to result in less-than-safe practice. National governing agencies also recognize that logistics companies will be doing overtime in 2018, so it is more likely that they will pass protocols sooner rather than later. This will require the use of more innovative analytics to monitor employee performance and obey safety standards.
3. Mobile Apps
The growth of new technologies and the Internet of Things (IoT) will promote logistics service providers and shippers to increase adoption of mobile apps. These types of apps exist for inventory management, barcode scanning, fleet management, shipment tracking, order management, customer service and more. Logistics businesses can pull information and capabilities via an app to manage capacity and satisfy demand. Freight sharing apps are one of the prime app groupings that will see a significant boost throughout 2018.
4. Transportation Management Systems
The adoption and implementation of transportation management systems (TMS) is anticipated to climb in 2018 and beyond. A TMS has the value of being a “hub” for all logistics communications and processes, including route scheduling and optimization, freight auditing and payment processing, carrier management and more. Furthermore, TMS applications have shifted from terminal-based installs to cloud-based platforms, reducing postponements in implementation, removing bottlenecks from downtime and refining cybersecurity simultaneously. As a result, more companies will adopt such solutions throughout the year to keep up with growing demand and to integrate into the amplified use of the other logistics technology trends.
5. Artificial Intelligence The potential to utilize Artificial Intelligence (AI) to improve decision-making, transform business models and networks, and modify the customer experience will drive the payoff for digital enterprises. A recent industry survey indicated that 59% of establishments are still assembling data to shape their AI tactics, while the rest have already made advancements in directing or implementing AI solutions. While using artificial intelligence appropriately will result in a great digital business reward, the promise of general AI to perform any intellectual duty that a human can do, and vigorously absorb and comprehend as much as humans, is uncertain.
6. Blockchain Technology Blockchain is a public, dispersed, and decentralized archive that eliminates business friction by being autonomous of individual applications or contributors. The technology has the promise to transform industries, including the government, healthcare, content dispersal, supply chain and more. An applied approach to blockchain requires a clear understanding of the business opportunity, the draw backs, a dependable architecture, and a solid implementation strategy. BiTA (Blockchain in Transport Technology) is an organization that is leading the charge to help develop and set standards for blockchain technology within the transportation industry.
If you’re looking for world-class technology solutions, look no further than Logistics Plus. Our technology is built on industry-standard platforms with customized portals and unique functionality designed to provide our clients with valuable tools, information, and dashboards. Our team of development, integration and business intelligence (BI) experts integrate best-in-class and custom-built platforms to provide an overall ecosystem that can be seamlessly integrated into global supply chains.
Watch this short video on the “Top Reasons Why You Need Logistics Plus.” If you’re not into videos, you can also read this similar online post we published a few months back.
When you think of Valentine’s Day, you probably associate it with an abundance of flowers, boxed chocolates, and sappy love letters. Valentine’s Day is a holiday where millions of Americans will spend substantial sums of money on gifts to express their feelings of love, as they do every year. However, many most likely have no appreciation for the vital role that the transportation industry plays in the delivery of this special day.
Valentine’s Day is a great testament to how much consumers are willing to spend to show their love. What few people realize is that behind every bouquet of flowers and box of chocolates is an unseen and highly choreographed dance of logistics. This invisible performance can employ numerous modes of transport encompassing airlines, maritime shipping, as well as trucking, and even railroads. The successful execution of this supply chain will ensure that customers receive the gifts they desire, and the providers are rewarded for their efforts.
Achieving and delivering consistent results can be a challenging task for the Valentine’s Day deadline. Many variables enter the equation, including conditions where flowers are grown, as well as the weather on the big day. Also, careful control of temperatures during transport is critical to ensure no degradation of fragile floral cargoes. While other items purchased during Valentine’s Day may not require the demanding conditions as flowers, forecasting supply and demand for these items, like cards and candies, can affect profitability.
Though many do not consider the supply chain to be a vital component of Valentine’s Day, it’s clear how critical shipping is to this fruitful occasion:
$19.6 billion: An estimate for how much U.S. consumers will spend on Valentine’s Day according to the National Retail Federation
36 million: The number of heart-shaped boxes of chocolate sold for Valentine’s Day each year
110 million: Approximately how many roses, the majority being red, will be sold and delivered within a three-day period
$158.71: The average amount of American men spend on Valentine’s Day
$2.0 billion: The amount people will spend on flowers this Valentine’s Day
60%: The percentage of American roses produced in California
We hope you enjoyed these fun Valentine’s Day supply chain facts. Keep Logistics Plus close at heart when considering your transportation needs throughout the year. We LOVE logistics – it’s in our DNA!
Watch this short video on the “Top Reasons Why You Need Logistics Plus.” If you’re not into videos, you can also 
When you think of 