Logistics can mean the management of complicated operations or the movement of people or physical objects. In eCommerce, logistics services include the processes needed to move merchandise from manufacturer to customer.
Cloud-based communication systems, high-speed internet, advanced software, sensors, and other logistics technology services make end-to-end visibility possible for all stakeholders. Read more about specialized global logistics here. Looking forward, multiple disruptions are happening more quickly and factors such as geopolitical risks, cyber threats and economic instability are continuing to put pressure on supply chains. So the supply chain of the future will need to be agile, flexible, efficient, resilient and digitally networked for improved visibility.
Inbound and Outbound Logistics as Part of Supply Chain Management (SCM)
That will allow you to monitor the status of your shipments and timely react in case of disruptions. We’ve already mentioned the importance of complete visibility in cold chain logistics. Multiple industries, including agriculture, manufacturing, and healthcare, strongly rely on cold chain logistics to safely store and transport perishables. Today, the need for such services keeps increasing due to changing consumer demand, trends like “from farm to fork,” and the necessity for new drugs and vaccines. The stories lay out how this breakdown sprung from explicit choices, not a once-in-a-lifetime virus or some other natural disaster.
When you partner with a 3PL, you can store your inventory in parts of their fulfillment center along with other ecommerce businesses. IoT technology embeds sensors, software, and other tracking technologies into objects to connect and exchange data with multiple transport management systems. With numerous uses spanning almost every industry, IoT technology creates seamless interaction between devices with minimal human intervention. Digital transformation technologies promise to catalyze systemic changes that reduce CO2 — a stated goal of the World Economic Forum. As supply chains grow in size and complexity, transport decarbonization will play a critical role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. AI-enhanced tools optimize delivery routes and shorten travel distances, helping companies reduce CO2 and increase their Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) ranking. There were some clear winners by industry during the pandemic, with 11% reporting positive effects, including increased customer demand (71%) and bringing new products to market (57%).
Monitoring Reverse Logistics in Your Supply Chain
In fact, it was a key talking point at the 2021 Conference of the Parties (COP26) meeting in Glasgow. In all, 48% of supply chain executives surveyed by Accenture in 2021 said the cloud helped them to improve sustainability, including by reducing waste.
Locating manufacturing plants based on which countries allowed the most environmental degradation, and shipping goods globally from there, exacerbated the climate crisis. Even if you missed the shortages, it’s unlikely that you’ve missed the clamor about increased prices. Inflation in the U.S. reached a 39-year high in December, eating into wage gains, straining people’s pocketbooks, and causing existential political headaches for the Biden administration. Prices in Europe, the U.K., and elsewhere are also surging, and will surge for the indefinite future, as companies struggle to rescue goods from the maw of what we all know as the supply chain. Komal Puri is a seasoned professional in the logistics and supply chain industry. As the Senior Director of Marketing and a subject matter expert at FarEye, she has been instrumental in shaping the industry narrative for the past decade. Komal’s writings reflect her deep understanding of the industry, offering valuable insights and thought leadership.
The rate of future sea level rise is so uncertain and solutions so elusive that only a few port managers have taken action to counter the threat, and only a fraction have tried to assess it. Another important factor that an ecommerce brand needs to consider is warehouse location. When merchandise needs to travel from a fulfillment center to a transportation hub, it can add time to tight delivery windows.
