What Is A Yard Management System?
Yard management systems, also known simply as YMS, is any software-based system that is designed to facilitate the management of trucks, trailers pallets, or even personnel in the yard, warehouse or fulfillment center. These systems are able to provide warehouse operators with real-time information regarding the location of these various things whether in the yard […]
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Could Drones Be The Next Big Thing In The Supply Chain?
In the last 15 years or so, the world has witnessed the rise of drones. These nifty pieces of technology have been used by everyone from hobbyists just looking for a new toy to fly around to the military utilizing them on scouting missions and training exercises. But in more recent years, drone technology has […]
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3 Hurdles that Self Driving Trucks Need to Climb to Become a Reality
It has been estimated that companies including Otto, Mercedes-Benz, Tesla, and others have invested more than $2 Billion in the development of self-driving or autonomous semi-trucks – just for long-haul logistics. While the transportation industry has come a long way in a short period of time, the reality of self-driving trucks entering the supply chain’s […]
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6 Tips to Prepare Your Warehouse For The Increased Holiday Demand
Is your warehouse prepared for the influx of inventory, shipments, and returns that the holiday season brings? The average retailer increases their inventory by three or fourfold for the holidays. More inventory means more sales and revenue, but it also means more stress on the logistics and fulfillment process. So how do you make sure […]
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Why a Logistics Company Should Consider Using API Software
Clear and transparent communication is one of the most important attributes a logistics company can possess. With technology accelerating quickly these days, many transportation and supply chain providers are integrating advanced communication platforms, such as API software to streamline and improve the communication between multiple programs. However, just like any other technology solution, knowing the […]
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Automation Tech And Self-Driving Delivery Trucks: We Must Be Living In The Future
It is almost a daily thing now to hear about the latest advancements in the field of drivable technology. The idea of a car that can drive you or your goods from point A to point B with just the push of a button has been a dream of many for decades. And not only […]
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What is 5S? Elements of the 5S for Lean
For manufacturers and shipping carriers, activating a lean manufacturing or lean management program is becoming quite common. This proven operational philosophy places an emphasis on efficiency, by structuring the operations in such ways as to reduce resources used, improve the efficiency of the operation, save money on operational costs, and improve quality of the service […]
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The Top Challenges that Occur with AI (Artificial Intelligence) in Logistics
The integration of artificial intelligence solutions in logistics appears to be approaching – sooner than many would like. Although the concept of AI is appealing to shippers, carriers, warehouse providers and others within the supply chain, there are several challenges that will occur with AI in Logistics that needs to be carefully considered. Noted below […]
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What is API and How Does it Streamline Freight and Logistics?
In the good old days of shipping and logistics, manual processes controlled the industry. Mechanical systems like land-line telephones, fax machines and other electronic data interchanges (EDI’s) were responsible for most communication methods between shippers, carriers, and others in the supply chain. The introduction of application program interfaces or API’s revolutionized the logistics industry by […]
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Freight Management Systems – Why a Small to Mid-Size Shipper Should Utilize One
Today – information and the methods on how a company gathers it makes all the difference. This is especially true with freight management systems and the way they help small to midsized shippers improve efficiency across multiple platforms. Freight Management Software solutions or FMS is a robust management software solution that is typically cloud-based – […]
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Difference Between Lean and Agile Manufacturing
In logistics, waste significantly impacts the bottom line. Whether it’s in using inferior materials or inefficient manufacturing processes, wasted resources need to be identified, and resolved for a company to be profitable. This is where lean and agile manufacturing comes into place. Determining the source of waste and then activating a lean or agile manufacturing […]
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Benefits of a TMS (or FMS) Automation
Logistics professionals have utilized transportation management systems for several years. As technology has improved, TMS solutions have evolved – converting from hardware to cloud-based systems that focus on all aspects of the supply chain; including automation. A growing trend in logistics planning is integrating TMS or FMS solutions with a focus on integrating automation into […]
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How to use Automation to Combat Tariff Spikes
There has been a lot of discussions lately of tariff spikes due to evolving conflict between the Trump Administration and foreign countries. While fair trade has been the elephant in the room that no politician has wanted to touch or improve in decades, it has become a reality recently. Tariff spikes deliver multiple hurdles for […]
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Do I Need a Freight Forwarder for my eCommerce Store?
As eCommerce evolves, so does the need for reliable shipping solutions. Customers today demand quick, affordable, and efficient shipping of items they purchase online. Whether it’s through Amazon.com or a Shopify platform, serving the customer’s needs for shipping services can make or break an eCommerce business. Due to this fact, many eCommerce leaders have reached […]
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Blockchain for Omnichannel Supply Chains
Whether it’s IBM finding new industries to target, or the industries themselves looking for ways to integrate this revolutionary digital ledger into their day-to-day, blockchain is getting a lot of press recently. A growing conversation in the logistics and retail world is how blockchain for omnichannel supply chains will work – or if it has […]
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The Current and Future State of the Omnichannel Supply Chain
The retail landscape has undergone an extensive transformation in the past few years as eCommerce has spurred heightened expectations and demands from customers. Traditional retailers must modify their way of doing business to compete with emerging companies that have taken advantage of the possibilities afforded by the digital age or risk being left behind. Creating […]
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An Autonomous Supply Chain: Is It Possible?
A growing question in today’s automated society is whether an autonomous supply chain is possible – and if so, when will it become a reality. While the transportation industry is spending billions of dollars in developing autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicles, the concept of a completely automated supply chain seems to be more science fiction than […]
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How IBM Watson Can Support Your Supply Chain
For years, logistics companies have been searching for a more efficient way to streamline the supply chain process. Whether it’s through cloud-based CRM solutions, or evolving best practice standards, it’s generally understood that as technology improves – so will supply chain optimization. The new kid on the block is IBM’s Watson – a question-answering computer […]
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How Blockchain Will Revolutionize the Supply Chain
Watson isn’t the only secret weapon in IBM’s technology arsenal. Blockchain is the new kid on the supply chain solutions block. This new software solution allows organizations to track inventory and assets, complete payment and audits with better efficiency than other solutions. This advanced IBM solution empowers companies to anticipate, control and react to supply […]
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LTL Carriers Boosting Dimension Use to Improve Pricing Accuracy
A major misconception within the less than truckload (LTL) industry is the reasoning for integrating new technology in their operations. While it’s assumed that profit margin is the number one factor, the truth is that most LTL carriers are looking for accuracy and consistency throughout their business. When it comes to pricing accuracy, the inclusion […]
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Uber Shuts Down Self Driving Truck Unit
It’s been a bad year for Uber’s self-driving division. After a tragic accident in Tempe, Arizona earlier in 2018, and a few recent hick-ups from its self-driving truck division, Uber has announced that it will be shutting down the self-driving truck division to focus exclusively on cars. However, this decision will not impact Uber Freight, […]
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ELD Hardware – What Do You Need to Become ELD Compliant?
For many smaller LTL and FTL carriers, or private owner/operators, the ELD Mandate has created more questions than answers. While there is a lot of information about electronic logging devices out there, weeding through the sea of ELD product advertisements have created some confusion. To simplify the facts about ELD Hardware and what do you […]
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Distribution Center Best Practices to Implement
Regardless of its size, a distribution center is a vital component within the supply chain. From juggling staffing issues, receiving and shipping out products, and inventory control issues, running a distribution center is incredibly complex. To maintain a finely-tuned operation, successful distribution managers follow a series of operational best practices. Noted below are nine distribution […]
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Future of Transportation Technologies And How It Will Change the Industry
As technology evolves, so does commerce. Like any other industry, transportation and logistics depend on advancements in technology to efficiently ship freight across the globe daily. While society has generally become accustomed to slow-moving freight, today’s fast-paced business demands improvements to expedite the process. To improve the customer experience, logistics leaders will focus on the […]
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What Is a Smart Warehouse?
In today’s fast-paced technological world there are a few “smart” items that we rely on every day. You’ll be hard-pressed to find someone who doesn’t have a smartphone within arm’s reach at all times. And smart homes with central units to control heating and cooling, lights, security and more are becoming increasingly common. When it […]
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Freight-Sharing Apps: The Uberization of Supply Chains
The success of ride-sharing companies such as Uber and Lyft have many players within the freight industry looking to replicate the technology in their own supply chains. As supply chains become ever more tech-driven, success in the industry will largely be determined by how quickly and effectively companies can embrace current and future technological trends. […]
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The Robot Anchor: Is Automation the Future of the Last Mile?
Robotics is one of those subjects that captures the imagination. Sci-Fi futures where robots are commonplace regularly show up on the silver screen and on the pages of novels. But how close are we to this vision of the future? The answer may be closer than we think. Many startups and giants within the supply […]
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The Supply Chain in 2018: Trends That Will Define the New Year
Previously we looked back at 2017 and the disruptions that rocked the transportation industry. Now let’s take the time to analyze the trends that will most likely play a huge role in the upcoming year. There are a great many factors that supply chain managers will have to consider for 2018, some being a carryover […]
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How Will The Release Of The Tesla Electric Semi-Truck Affect The Trucking Industry?
On November 16, 2017, in Hawthorne, California, Elon Musk drove up in the cab of the new Tesla Semi to unveil their new electric semi-truck. Tesla has been working diligently to roll out a Class 8 equivalent truck that is fully electric and semi-autonomous—and it’s finally here. Elon Musk expects that the Semi will create […]
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What Are The Advantages Of Blockchain For Your Supply Chain?
The supply chain is the backbone of your business. Whether you’re selling goods on Amazon or you’re offering a digital cryptocurrency, you need to move your product from the source to the consumer with as little friction as possible. But today’s global ecosystem has complicated the supply chain. A number of partners—each with their own […]
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