Oct 31, 2024

Here’s our monthly roundup of some of the charitable works and donations by companies in the material handling and logistics space. DC Velocity Staff AI Powered For the past seven years, third-party service provider ODW Logistics has provided logistics support for the Pelotonia Ride Weekend, a campaign to raise funds for cancer research at The Ohio State University’s Comprehensive Cancer Center–Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute. As in the past, ODW provided inventory management services and transportation for the riders’ bicycles at this year’s event. In all, some 7,000 riders and 3,000 volunteers participated in the ride weekend. Photo courtesy of Dematic For the past four years, automated solutions provider Dematic has helped support students pursuing careers in the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) fields with its FIRST Scholarship program, conducted in partnership with the corporate nonprofit FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology). This year’s scholarship recipients include Aman Amjad of Brookfield, Wisconsin, and Lily Hoopes of Bonney Lake, Washington, who were each awarded $5,000 to support their post-secondary education. Dematic also awarded $1,000 scholarships to another 10 students. Motive , an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered integrated operations platform, has launched an initiative with PGA Tour pro Jason Day to support the Navy SEAL Foundation (NSF). For every birdie Day makes on tour, Motive will make a contribution to the NSF, which provides support for warriors, veterans, and their families. Fans can contribute to the mission by purchasing a Jason Day Tour Edition hat at https://malbongolf.com/products/m-9189-blk-wht-black-motive-rope-hat . MTS Logistics Inc. , a New York-based freight forwarding and logistics company, raised more than $120,000 for autism awareness and acceptance at its 14th annual Bike Tour with MTS for Autism. All proceeds from the June event were donated to New Jersey-based nonprofit Spectrum Works , which provides job training and opportunities for young adults with autism. The Top 5 Oct 30, 2024 Regardless of the elected administration, the future likely holds significant changes for trade, taxes, and regulatory compliance. As a result, it’s crucial that U.S. businesses avoid making decisions contingent on election outcomes, and instead focus on resilience, agility, and growth, according to California-based Propel , which provides a product value management (PVM) platform for manufacturing, medical device, and consumer electronics industries. “Now is not the time to wait for the dust to settle,” Ross Meyercord, CEO of Propel, said in a release. “Companies should approach this election cycle as an opportunity to thrive in the face of constant change by proactively investing in technology and talent that keeps them nimble. Businesses always need to be prepared for changing tariffs, taxes, or geopolitical tensions that lead to unexpected interruptions – that’s just the new normal.” In Propel’s analysis, a Trump administration would bring a continuation of corporate tax cuts intended to bolster American manufacturing. However, Trump’s suggestion for spiraling tariffs may benefit certain industries, but would drive up costs for businesses reliant on global supply chains. In contrast, a Harris administration would likely continue the current push for regulatory reforms that support sectors like AI, digital assets, and manufacturing while protecting consumer rights. Harris would also likely prioritize strategic investments in new technologies and provide tax incentives to promote growth in underserved areas. And regardless of the new administration, the real challenge will come from a potentially divided Congress, which could impact everything from trade negotiations to tax policies, Propel said. “The election outcome is less material for businesses,” Meyercord said. “What is important is quickly adapting to shifting policies or disruptions that address ‘what if’ scenarios and having the ability to pivot your strategy. A responsive manufacturing sector will have a significant impact on the broader economy, driving growth and favorably influencing GDP. One thing is clear: the only certainty is change.” Keep ReadingShow less Oct 30, 2024 An overwhelming majority (81%) of shoppers do not plan to increase their holiday spend this year over last year, revealing a significant disconnect between retail marketers and shoppers in the weeks before peak season, according to online shopping platform provider Rakuten. That result flies in the face of high confidence levels from retailers who have been delaying their marketing spend, as 79% of marketers are optimistic they will reach holiday sales objectives, and 65% are timing their spend as late as November. However, consumers are nervous about supply chain disruptions. Almost half (42%) of shoppers have started their shopping early to avoid shipping delays, while 32% plan to do more shopping in-store to avoid potential delays. The results come from a survey conducted online within the U.S. by The Harris Poll on behalf of Rakuten from Sept. 5 – Sept. 9 , among 2,100 consumers aged 18 and older and 101 retail marketers. "There's a clear disconnect between marketer perception and consumer realities, but this presents a unique opportunity for retailers to capitalize on the shortcomings of their competition," said Julie Van Ullen, Chief Revenue Officer at Rakuten Rewards. "As shoppers plan to spend less overall, there become fewer opportunities for retailers. This makes it evermore important for retailers to invest in strategies that set them apart throughout the entire holiday season.” Three reasons behind the diverging views are: Inflated prices. Even with softening inflation rates, nearly half (46%) of shoppers report that it will have the greatest impact on their holiday shopping strategy. Conversely, only 20% of marketers believe that to be true. Election nerves. Shoppers anticipate that the upcoming election will have an impact on inflation, with 57% believing it will increase. Weak brand loyalty. A majority of marketers (98%) believe shoppers will remain loyal to brands, but fully 42% of shoppers indicate they will prioritize finding the lowest prices by trading down to lower-quality brands and products for more affordable alternatives. "Loyalty is up for grabs this holiday season, and success for retailers will hinge on offering value beyond just reduced prices," Julie Van Ullen, Chief Revenue Officer at Rakuten Rewards, said in a release. "Our research revealed that shopper concern extends beyond just price, and retailers will need to address those concerns with comprehensive deals that include several table-stake incentives. Incentives like free shipping, buy now pay later services, and elevated Cash Back will be important for maintaining a loyal shopper base." Keep ReadingShow less Oct 30, 2024 Women in supply chain tech don’t always have it easy. That’s particularly true when it comes to building a career in the male-dominated field, where they may face gender bias, limited advancement opportunities, and a lack of mentorship and support. In a bid to address the problem, the Dallas-based AI (artificial intelligence) software platform provider o9   has launched a professional community that aims to promote gender equality within the supply chain and digital tech industries. Named after Minerva, the Roman goddess of wisdom, strategy, and mentorship, thegroup is open to all women who work in the supply chain and digital technology sectors, and hold leadership roles within their organizations. “Across many professional industries, women have made strides in breaking down barriers; however, supply chain and digital technology are two sectors that are often seen as being male-dominated,” Stephan de Barse, o9’s chief revenue officer, said in a release. “Through the o9 Minerva community, we aim to elevate the incredible knowledge, drive, and experiences of women working in the supply chain space.” The new group will host networking events and panel discussions that feature expert guidance from “Minerva Ambassadors,” high-ranking professionals who will discuss their career paths and experiences within the supply chain and digital tech space. During the events, Minerva Ambassadors will also address key career advancement challenges, such as gender disparity, access to mentorship and sponsorship opportunities, and the opportunity for more diversity in leadership roles. “As a supply chain risk management (SCRM) expert and Minerva Ambassador, I am excited to share my own professional journey alongside fellow supply chain leaders and speak to some of the unique challenges that women face as they advance their careers,” Lara Pedrini, global head of sales at risk-management tech company Exiger, said. “I am committed to the advancement of women in the workplace and digital tech, and look forward to discussing ways to close the gender gap for women in STEM fields and foster more inclusive corporate policies and work environments where women can thrive.” Keep ReadingShow less Oct 30, 2024 Some of Americans’ favorite condiments include ketchup, salsa, barbecue sauce, and sriracha. Toppings like marinara and pizza sauce are popular as well. The common denominator here is the tomato, and food producers need many tons of them to make these and other tasty products. One of those producers is Red Gold, an Elwood, Indiana, company whose brands include Red Gold, Redpack, Tuttorosso, Sacramento, Vine Ripe, and Huy Fong. The company works with more than 30 family-owned Midwestern farms to source sustainably managed crops. In the 80 years since its founding, Red Gold has grown to become the largest privately held manufacturer of tomato products in the U.S., with 23 different product categories and nearly 400 combinations of flavors and cuts. Today, it serves both the grocery market and institutional customers like schools and hospitals. But a food supply chain of this scale can be expensive to operate. So Red Gold recently launched an initiative to modernize its logistics processes with an eye toward boosting efficiency and increasing resilience while also cutting costs. The timing was right for such a project. Freight rates in the trucking sector have been depressed for nearly two years, giving the company a rare opportunity to invest some of its savings into process improvements, the company said. “The current transportation market is extremely shipper-friendly and has been for the past 18 months,” James Posipanka, Red Gold’s supply chain manager–logistics, said in a press release. “Now is the time for us to plan and prepare for when it swings the other way and carriers can choose which customers they want to work with. When that happens, we want to be a ‘Shipper of Choice.’ By putting strategies and processes in place now, we’ll be successful when the market does flip.” STEP-BY-STEP SAVINGS For help streamlining its processes, the company turned to Loadsmart, a Chicago-based logistics technology developer that specializes in helping clients optimize freight spend, increase efficiency, and enhance service quality. Step by step, Red Gold began implementing three of Loadsmart’s technologies and digital services, moving to the next phase only after it had realized a return on its investment in the previous one. First, Red Gold implemented Opendock, Loadsmart’s online dock-scheduling platform. That move alone saved thousands of hours of staff time by eliminating the need to make carrier pickup appointments via phone and email. Today, 100% of the carriers that do business at Red Gold’s facilities book their appointments through Opendock—which amounts to some 60,000 appointments annually. Among other benefits, the new platform has drastically reduced the amount of time it takes for a carrier to book an appointment—with Opendock, appointments are scheduled one to two days out instead of 10 or more. Second, the company installed Loadsmart’s ShipperGuide TMS, a transportation management and request-for-proposal (RFP) management system. The platform helps Red Gold avoid spreadsheets and administrative work. For example, instead of individually emailing RFPs to a few carriers, the company can now send RFPs through the TMS to many more carriers than was feasible in the past and easily compare the rates carriers submit in response. In addition, Red Gold was able to automate some 70% of its load tenders, or about 25,000 shipments, which allowed the company to reduce headcount without any interruptions in workflow. Third, Red Gold began working with Loadsmart’s digital freight brokerage team to convert some of its full truckload movements to partial truckloads. That move expanded both its carrier base and its freight mode options, saving it $200,000 annually. All in all, since it began using Loadsmart’s technology and services, Red Gold has reduced appointment leadtimes by 90% and saved 17% on annual LTL freight costs, according to the two companies. Red Gold is so pleased with those results that its logistics team has already begun working with the technology vendor on additional opportunities for improvement. Keep ReadingShow less