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5 Industries Feeling the Strain of Supply Chain Delays

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5 Industries Feeling the Strain of Supply Chain Delays

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More than two years after the COVID-19 pandemic first disrupted the global supply chain, businesses around the world continue to feel the effects of supply chain delays. A wide variety of industries are impacted by these supply chain disruptions.

Experts predict that delays are likely to continue well into the future, meaning affected businesses should prepare to adapt to ongoing supply chain challenges.

1. Bars and Restaurants

While demand for bars and restaurants is on track to recover from pandemic lows, the restaurant industry faces several new challenges, including a difficult labor market and ongoing supply chain challenges.

Restaurant owners are struggling to source essential kitchen equipment and replacement parts as well as disposable items like cups, plastic straws, and to-go containers. Crucial kitchen appliances, like ovens, have become “almost impossible” to source. When owners can source these appliances, they regularly face wait times of six months or more.

Existing and emerging gaps in the global food supply chain have also been causing problems for restaurants around the country. Meat shortages are likely to impact restaurants, along with grocery retailers and consumers, in mid-to-late 2022, along with shortages of dairy products and eggs. Other ingredients that may be in short supply include plant-based proteins, fruits, vegetables, and canned foods.

Experts have also predicted a potential alcohol shortage to strike sometime in 2022, though a similar shortage predicted for 2021 failed to materialize.

Relief for restaurant owners and the food supply chain could be coming soon. In early June, the USDA announced a new framework for “transforming the food supply chain to be fairer, more competitive (and) more resilient.”

Under the framework, the USDA aims to improve food access for rural communities, strengthen the U.S. food supply chain, and make nutritious food more widely available to consumers. The framework is part of the Biden Administration’s larger effort to strengthen critical American supply chains.

2. Aviation and Air Travel

Global air travel is rebounding from lows hit during the pandemic, but there are signs that supply chain disruptions could slow the industry’s recovery even as demand rises above pre-pandemic levels.

Aerospace manufacturers are struggling to ramp up production to meet the aviation industry’s growing demand for planes and plane parts. Manufacturers are also struggling with a variety of supply chain disruptions that have hampered their ability to spin up new production.

Essential airplane components of all kinds may be impacted – from engine components to fire extinguisher cartridges and other key airplane safety equipment – pushing manufacturers to stock up on important components sooner rather than later.

Airlines appear to already be struggling with these supply chain delays. Boeing, for example, has been forced to delay deliveries of the company’s 787 Dreamliners by at least a year, according to Emirates Airlines.

Airbus is similarly delaying the delivery of new planes, a move that forced Canadian airline Air Transit to lease planes short-term to ensure the company can fulfill its summer schedule.

As with most other industries facing supply chain disruptions right now, aerospace manufacturers appear uncertain as to when the sector will be able to meet the growing demands of their customers.

3. Electronics Manufacturing

Semiconductor chips are one of the most important components in a variety of electronics. They’re also essential for any product that needs on-board computers to function correctly, like cars. Continue reading →

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How Is Technology Disrupting the Packaging Industry?

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Packaging is no longer something that merely protects the item inside. It often helps to engage the consumer through interactivity, offers an eco-friendly feature, or has desirable material characteristics. All these improvements are largely due to advancements in packaging technology. Here are some of the latest advances made possible with tech that will likely remain impactful for the foreseeable future

Better Interactivity Courtesy of Augmented Reality

When a customer looks at shelves full of packaging, their gaze could land on dozens of possibilities before deciding which product to purchase. The package isn’t the only thing influencing them, of course. Maybe they’ve bought a certain brand before or got a recommendation from a friend. However, the packaging often plays a role, especially if it has bright colors or advertises a limited-edition design. 

Marketers have to continually push the boundaries to keep customers interested. Some do that by building augmented reality (AR) features into the packaging. A person usually only needs a smartphone to make the technology work, making it easy for them to see it in action. 

General Mills recently produced AR cereal boxes that turn into a drum machine or synth once someone points a phone at them. Placing pieces of cereal at certain places on the box determines what results people get. Each box also comes with five sound packs. 

In another case, edible products company Wana Brands released an AR package to promote its new cannabis product line. The technology, which takes people into a 3D animation experience,  works with both Android and iOS phones. Consumers activate it by scanning a QR code. They can then learn about several flavors of edible gummies, watch a YouTube video about them, or view the details for specific batches. 

Sometimes, the AR experience happens in the supermarket. Bothwell Cheese recently showed what’s possible in advertising its new line of lactose-free items. People scan a QR code on the packaging and see a floor-anchored hologram of a cheese chef appear in front of them. He goes through the lactose-free assortment and explains the benefits of those products. The brand launched this technology in hundreds of Canadian supermarkets. 

Improved Sustainability Through Creative Solutions

Ongoing scientific research warns that major changes must happen soon in society to stave off a widespread climate catastrophe. There are no easy solutions, but packaging specialists have investigated numerous ways to focus on sustainability. Sometimes, that happens by changing materials. For example, more than 400 organizations signed the New Plastics Economic Global Commitment. It signifies their intention to use 25% more recycled packaging by 2025. However, some sustainability efforts are happening now. 

Pacific Northwest grocery chain New Seasons Market recently changed the packaging for its private-label pasta, switching from the previous clamshell option. The new package uses 91% less plastic and will eliminate more than 120,000 clamshell packages from the waste stream each year. 

Scientists are also working on various possibilities in edible packaging. A biopolymer made from seaweed and a chemically modified material made from sea creature exoskeletons are some of the options under consideration. In most cases, the idea is to create an edible film to cover many foods sold to consumers. 

An Irish cafe even began using edible coffee cups made from a wafer-like material when its owners were looking for more sustainable ways to operate after the COVID-19 lockdowns. The consumable material tolerates a half-hour of heat before starting to dissolve. 

Chanel has also introduced its first refillable beauty package to the United Kingdom market. The products include no outer box, and the glass jar is lighter with a bio-based lid and inner pot. People can switch out the internal container for a refill when needed. That’s a sustainable decision that will save them money, too. The refills cost £13 (approximately $17) less than buying a completely new product.

Better Packaging Decisions Guided by Artificial Intelligence

It’s not always easy to figure out details like what size of box to use or the amount of bubble wrap to keep products safe until they reach their destinations. However, packaging technology is reducing the associated guesswork. Artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms draw conclusions humans couldn’t easily make without help. 

Getting Rid of Excess Packaging

Most people can probably recall occasions when they’ve ordered a relatively small item from an e-commerce site and noticed it arrived in a too-large box or surrounded by far too much padding. AI could help prevent such instances. 

Amazon’s data scientists created a statistical model that predicts the best ways to package particular products. It led to a 24% reduction in product damage while lowering the shipping costs by 5%. Amazon made $11.19 billion in sales during the 2021 Prime Days event alone. That suggests any significant progress it makes with packaging, via AI or otherwise, would have a notable impact. 

Logistics brand DHL is also using AI to improve packaging workflows and limit excess. It has an algorithm that provides real-time suggestions. Dietmar Steins, executive vice president of Global Solutions Design at DHL Supply Chain, explained how it works. 

“Based on the products, volumes, and sizes in question, the software not only suggests the optimal size of the outer packaging, [but] it also provides individual, visual instructions on how to ideally utilize the space inside the box. It’s highly intuitive ⁠— and not unlike the well-known computer game Tetris” 

Removing Packaging Plant Bottlenecks

AI also excels at analyzing data from connected sensors to alert people to issues they might otherwise miss. Leaders at Singapore-based Federal Packaging are working with a tech company regarding options for using  AI to predict downtime and other problems during box-production processes. The algorithm needs six to 12 months of information from the factory’s equipment before it will work. However, the payoff should be worthwhile.

“When we have data on our machines, we will know very quickly if there are abnormalities detected by the AI. This gives us more time to act earlier on any issues that occur, on top of actions that we have already taken,” said Lau Chee Herng, Federal Packaging’s chief vision officer.

These are just a couple of the ways AI has expanded what’s possible in the packaging sector. As more companies test its capabilities in real-life use cases, other brand decision-makers should feel encouraged to give it a try, too. 

Packaging Technologies Push the Industry Forward

When you think about advancements such as perforated strips that make shipping boxes easier to open or detergent bottles with built-in pour spouts, it’s easy to see that the packaging industry has achieved continual improvements over the years. The technologies detailed here are among those that will undoubtedly spur further innovation.

 

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What Are The Biggest Long Haul Trucking Myths?

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Drivers often don’t think twice about the big rigs they pass on the highway, but the country would grind to a halt without them. More than 70% of the country’s freight ships from one end of the country to the other, thanks to long-haul truckers. It’s also one of the most misunderstood professions, with many pervasive myths that follow it around. What are the biggest long-haul trucking myths?

Myth #1: Long Haul Trucking is Just Like The Movies

Big Rig. Big Trouble in Little China. Joy Ride. Convoy There are tons of movies that feature long-haul truckers as the main character. These are great for a bit of entertainment, but they don’t have anything to do with what the long-haul trucking industry looks like in the real world. Whether you’re looking to join the industry as a driver or just wanting to learn more, don’t turn to Hollywood to help with your research.

Myth #2: No Girls Allowed

Trucking might look like an old boy’s club from the outside, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. As of 2021, the industry employs more than 200,000 female long-haul truckers, representing 6.7% of the industry. A record number of women are obtaining their CDL and their long-haul credentials. This growth is a valuable asset for an industry that has spent the last few years struggling with a labor shortage that made it impossible to keep up with delivery demands.

Myth #3: Bringing in the Big Bucks

It’s important to note that the amount of money a long-haul trucker makes depends on their experience, location, and miles they drive every pay period. In some instances, a trucker could easily make six figures, but long-haul truckers on average make between $45,000 and $50,000 a year. The range for this career is wide, though, with those on the low end making as little as $10k a year while those on the upper end could earn more than $280,000. 

Myth #4: Truckers are Dangerous

The big rigs they drive might look intimidating if they pull up alongside a sedan or other daily driver, but the truckers themselves aren’t dangerous. The industry goes out of its way to train and vet drivers, ensuring that the safest and most skilled are behind the wheel on these long-haul deliveries. Drivers will go out of their way to prevent or avoid an accident because even a small collision could be devastating when considering the size difference between their rig and the other cars on the road. Even if we disregard the risk of death, collisions could jeopardize the driver’s career. 

Myth #5: Big Rigs Don’t Use A Lot of Fuel

The myth that long-haul trucks don’t use more fuel than the average vehicle keeps circulating. It doesn’t make a lot of sense to compare the fuel usage of a 2,500-pound sedan with a 100,000-pound fully loaded big rig, but the myth still persists. The average daily driver will burn through about 500 gallons a year. The average big rig will use more than 20,000 gallons of fuel in the same period. 

Myth #6: McDonald’s is the Most Transported Item

Long-haul truckers carry everything from food to medical supplies and industrial materials. One pervasive myth is that McDonald’s food is the most transported item. This might make sense to the average driver because it’s hard to get on the highway without seeing at least one McDonald’s truck, but it isn’t the most transported item. Long-haul truckers are most commonly protecting and transporting furniture, clothing and mechanical equipment. 

Myth #7: Truckers Aren’t Allowed to Shower

No one wants to spend hours in a truck without being able to freshen up, use the bathroom and find somewhere to relax for the night. Truck stops sit along highways and interstates and offer food, fuel, showers and safe places to stop for the night for long-haul truckers and travelers alike. Truckers are also limited on how many hours they’re allowed to spend behind the wheel, which will be explored more in a moment. 

Myth #8: Big Rigs Will Never Go Electric

Long-haul trucks might be big diesel guzzlers right now, but that won’t always be the case. Tesla is working on making electric semis available to the logistics industry. Depending on the extras package, these trucks can travel between 300 and 500 miles between charges, generate no emissions and haul just as much freight as their diesel-powered counterparts. They won’t completely replace traditional rigs anytime soon, but these electric semis will likely gain momentum to reduce the industry’s carbon footprint in the coming years.

Myth #9: No Sleep Til Brooklyn

One of the biggest myths is that long-haul truckers don’t stop until they reach their destination. These truckers operate under what is known as the 14-hour rule. Each duty period lasts for 14 hours, but after driving for eight hours, the driver must take at least a 30-minute break. They are also not allowed to drive for more than 11 hours straight during a single duty period. Drivers must carefully plan their routes and stops, depending on when they’re on the road and the distance to their next destination.

Myth #10: It’s a Lonely Road

Truck driving, especially long-haul trucking, is often portrayed as a lonely profession. While it’s true that many drivers work alone, that isn’t the only option. Drivers can also work together, creating a partnership that enables them to travel further, reach more destinations and get more work done. Truck driving, in general, is also a very social career, with drivers communicating through radio or just catching up over coffee at the truck stop while they wait for the shower to open up.

Which Myth Surprised You?

Which of these myths did you find the most surprising? Long haul trucking keeps the country moving forward and without the men and women who sit behind the wheel, much of what the average American takes for granted would vanish. It’s worth the effort to better understand this essential career, even if you never intended to get a CDL or explore a career in the industry. 

 

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IoT and Data Improve Transportation in Smart Cities

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Emily Newton is an industrial journalist. As Editor-in-Chief of Revolutionized, she regularly covers how technology is changing the industry.

Growing urbanization and rising levels of urban migration are causing a transportation crisis worldwide. Modern city management tools, like IoT and big data analytics for mass transit data, may help urban planners manage this problem.

These are the transportation challenges that cities face right now – and how smart city technology may help urban planners reinvent transit.

The Growing Need for Smart City Transportation

Traffic is an inevitable challenge for urban planners. Everyone needs to get to school or work at around the same time, meaning traffic and congestion will peak when transportation infrastructure can’t keep up with demand.

Some cities manage traffic better than others, however. In Greensboro, North Carolina, commuters spent just four hours a year in traffic on average in 2017. However, in Atlanta, they were stuck in traffic jams for 102 hours.

Urban migration is a global trend that experts predict will accelerate over the coming decades. Without intervention, traffic is likely to become an even more serious problem in most of the world.

At the same time, transportation reform may also present a major opportunity for reducing a city’s carbon footprint.

Expanding available public transit options and streamlining infrastructure to reduce traffic and time spent idling could significantly decrease the amount of greenhouse gas emissions a city’s inhabitants will produce getting from place to place.

How Smart Cities Are Using IoT to Improve Transportation

New smart technology allows urban planners and transit designers to use Internet of Things (IoT) technology and mass transit data analysis to streamline city transportation. They try to do so with minimal changes to existing transportation infrastructure.

Smart transportation refers to various technologies that modern cities use to monitor and manage transit systems. This includes internet-connected or IoT monitoring tools and automation solutions that enable the automatic management of infrastructure. Monitoring tools can take many forms, including sensors embedded in signals and streetlights that continuously monitor traffic flow in an area.

These systems help make city transportation more efficient, safer and easier to manage – often through using IoT devices to gather traffic information and adjust the timing of networked signals. Transportation management systems also have a role to play in maintaining electric vehicle charging stations and managing battery levels in electric and autonomous buses.

Enough data enables cities to adjust traffic signal systems based on current flows, allowing managers to guarantee a smooth process or prioritize certain vehicles. 

IoT and Mass Transit Technology in the Real World

Montreal recently introduced a smart mobility system that uses an intelligent management platform to dynamically adjust the timing of traffic signals. The new system helps monitor and manage the flow of cars around the city. Managers can also use it to prioritize certain types of traffic, like the movement of emergency vehicles or public transit.

The system uses a combination of new and existing infrastructure and connects “more than 2,700 intersections and nearly 1,900 vehicles” to a software-based traffic management solution.

In Florida, the county of Miami Dade recently began to implement a similar system, the Advanced Traffic Management System (ATMS). It uses intelligent intersection technology to monitor and manage city traffic flows by optimizing signal timing.

The ATMS project in Miami Dade uses technology already leveraged in several other cities, including Seattle, London and Bogota, Colombia.

Over the next few years, more cities and municipalities worldwide will likely adopt similar smart transportation management systems.

The Future of Transportation in the Smart City

These early experiments with smart traffic data-collection and signal timing management systems show how smart transportation is being implemented right now. Future solutions could be even more ambitious. 

For example, as connected vehicles become more common, cities may be able to rely on information directly from cars to map and model the flow of traffic throughout the city.

Traffic monitors could be integrated with other systems, providing another valuable data source for smart city management.

Future smart transportation systems could also help extend the utility of green city management technology. With better data on traffic and public transit utilization, cities could more effectively target transportation reform to maximize offerings and minimize transportation emissions.

However, the benefits of smart city transportation systems come with some risks. Every extra sensor and networked system can serve as another vector of attack for cybercriminals. Big technology investments could make cities more vulnerable to attacks. 

Cities that adopt smart technology will need to also invest in cybersecurity. Otherwise, they may leave themselves open to ransomware, malware and similar attacks.

How Smart Transportation Systems Could Reshape Transit

A global traffic and transportation crisis is emerging. Smart technology – like intelligent monitors and signals – could help city planners significantly improve traffic management.

New automated systems use a combination of IoT and mass transit data collection plus smart traffic signals to more efficiently direct traffic flow in major cities like Miami and Montreal. 

More sophisticated versions of the systems could integrate with other smart technology in the future, helping provide city managers with even better data-collection and automated management systems.

Contractors wanting to keep their businesses profitable will need new strategies to combat rising fuel prices.
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5 Ways Contractors Can Reduce the Impact of High Fuel Prices

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Fuel is essential to almost every construction process. As a result, fast-rising fuel prices are cutting into contractors’ profits.

Experts say that fuel prices are likely to keep rising even as oil prices start to fall. Contractors wanting to keep their businesses profitable will need new strategies to combat rising fuel prices.

These are some of the best strategies that contractors are using right now to reduce fuel consumption and find better deals on fuel.

1. Invest in Fleet Management Software

How fleet vehicles and heavy construction equipment are used or maintained can have a significant impact on their fuel efficiency. Harsh driving, speeding, idling, and poor maintenance practices can all reduce the fuel economy of a truck or piece of construction equipment.

With fleet management software, contractors can identify how employees and subcontractors are using their fleet equipment. Combined with the right telematics solution, these software tools
can track and flag behaviors that make equipment less fuel-efficient.

These tools can also automatically notify managers or supervisors, allowing them to take quick action to stop the behavior and prevent it from happening in the future. Along with other digital construction tools, fleet management software can make tracking, directing, and scheduling fleet vehicle use much easier, as well.

Fleet management software can also make it easier to track equipment maintenance. Well-maintained fleets tend to be more fuel-efficient because everything from tire inflation to the freshness of engine oil can have an impact on equipment fuel consumption. By monitoring and scheduling equipment maintenance with the right tool, contractors can maximize their fleet’s fuel efficiency, helping to reduce fuel costs.

2. Upgrade to High-Efficiency Vehicles
The growing market of high-efficiency vehicles and construction equipment can help contractors reduce fuel expenses. By choosing a high-fuel-efficiency machine when upgrading equipment, contractors can potentially cut down the amount of fuel they need for construction processes.

Contractors can also consider adopting hybrid or alternative-fuel vehicles. These vehicles either take advantage of electric propulsion systems or alternative fuels, like biodiesel. In addition to reducing fleet emissions, these vehicles can significantly reduce a contractor’s fuel expenses.

Alternative fuels, like biodiesel and renewable diesel, tend to be cheaper than conventional diesel. For example, “the national average price of B-20 biodiesel blends in July 2021 was $3.05 per gallon compared to $3.26 per gallon for diesel fuel,” according to the Alternative Fuels Data Center.

By upgrading to vehicles or equipment that use these alternative fuels, contractors may be able to reduce their overall fuel expenses while also making their business more sustainable – a potential selling point for environmentally focused clients.

3. Rent Rather Than Buy Fleet Vehicles

Owning a fleet vehicle or construction machine comes with its advantages: primarily convenience, reliability, and the familiarity of equipment you may use frequently over the course of years.

However, buying isn’t a contractor’s only option, and renting can sometimes be more cost- effective and efficient than purchasing a fleet vehicle outright.

Renting is a great way to supplement core fleet vehicles, free up business capital, and minimize vehicle upkeep costs like maintenance, repairs, vehicle storage, and transportation to sites or
when vehicles break down.

Choosing to rent can also help contractors manage rising fuel prices. Buying a vehicle locks you into a particular make, model, and fuel efficiency. Over time, a purchased vehicle will slowly become obsolete. With renting, you’ll always have access to the newest and most fuel-efficient construction vehicles or machines available.

Renting may also provide a contractor with access to cost-friendly electric and alternative-fuel vehicles, helping them reduce their fuel expenses even further.

A fleet composed of both rental and owned equipment will provide contractors with a good balance of the benefits of both options.

4. Add a Fuel Surcharge to New Contracts

While not popular among customers, sometimes the only way to manage rising fuel prices is to pass along the cost increase. Adding additional fuel fees or surcharges to new contracts or increasing the overall contract price to cover rising fuel costs will help contractors manage the current fuel price spike.

When other options fail – like improving fleet fuel efficiency or sourcing the cheapest fuel available in your area – the fuel surcharge is a good fallback option to consider.

The specific amount of the fuel surcharge can vary depending on current fuel prices and the needs of a particular client. For example, some customers may have projects that require the use of machines that require an unusually large amount of fuel to operate.

Charging a larger fuel surcharge for these projects may help you adjust contract pricing based on how much fuel-intensive projects will increase typical operating costs.

5. Consider Electrifying Your Fleet

Rising fuel prices and a volatile oil market are likely to cause problems for contractors well into the future. Even after the current fuel price crisis ends, future market shocks could easily lead to steep fuel prices next year or the year after.

In addition to adopting more fuel-efficient vehicles and using software to improve fleet fuel efficiency, contractors can also utilize vehicles that don’t need gas or diesel at all.

Electric vehicles are a serious investment, and available EV options won’t offer the same variety as the internal-combustion-engine vehicle market. However, adopting one or more EVs could allow contractors to minimize the impact of high fuel prices on their profits or avoid paying for fuel altogether.

As the EV market expands over the next few years and electric construction equipment becomes more accessible, going electric will become steadily easier for contractors.

More EVs and electric construction machines will become available, providing contractors with options at varying price points. At the same time, a robust used EV market will begin to develop, providing contractors with access to cheaper-than-ever EVs.

Planning the total or partial electrification of their fleet now can help contractors prepare to save money on fuel prices in the near future, even if they’re not willing to adopt an EV right now.

How Construction Contractors Can Manage Rising Fuel
Prices
Experts believe fuel prices are likely to continue rising and that future fuel price spikes could be an inevitability. Because contractors can’t do without fuel, they’ll need to find new ways to
manage fuel prices.

Fleet management technology, high-efficiency vehicles, renting, and fuel surcharges can all help contractors cope with rising fuel costs. As a long-term strategy, investing in electric construction equipment may also help.

In any case, finding ways to both increase revenue and decrease fuel costs will help contractors navigate the current fuel market.

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How Can Automation Help Alleviate Labor Shortages?

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Labor shortages are often discussed in fields such as logistics and trucking, but a growing number of industries have more job openings than people to fill them. Manufacturing, education, health services and retail are many industries struggling to bring in new hires and retain existing employees.

Automation and robotics may have a negative reputation for stealing people’s jobs, but in almost every case, it supplements floundering workforces. Here’s how it can help alleviate labor
shortages in various industries and help bolster the economy.

Labor Shortage Statistics

Looking at any industry from the outside, it might seem like everything is working as it’s meant to. However, behind the scenes, the problem becomes glaringly apparent. Foodservice and hospitality-related businesses experienced a 6.6% quit rate in September 2021. Durable goods manufacturing is seeing even worse resignation levels. Companies are struggling to hire enough workers to fill vacant positions and stay ahead of the competition.

Industries worldwide have lost millions of workers due to COVID-19 and the Great Resignation that followed. Many of those who left the workforce during the pandemic decided that taking early retirement was a better option than returning to work once things returned to normal. The best choice for employers would be to make the necessary changes to bring in new workers and retain those already employed. However, automation may be able to help fill in some of the gaps.

Freeing up Skilled Workers for Critical Tasks

Most industries have many mundane or repetitive tasks that are necessary to complete the job. They are all necessary, but thanks to automation, they do not need to take up the time or skills of an employee better suited to more complex or critical work. It can also be a valuable tool for helping people get ahead, allowing them to expand their skills and build a career that they will genuinely enjoy.

Relegating these mundane or repetitive tasks to robotics or automation services can also help reduce the number of repetitive stress injuries in the workplace. Poor posture, repeated motions, bad lifting techniques and other repetitive movements can cause injuries which, in turn, can lead to missed work and workers’ compensation claims. Widespread use of automation and material handling solutions could help reduce those numbers dramatically.

Capturing and Using Data Efficiently

The human race generates enormous amounts of data. In 2020, that amounted to 1.7 megabytes a second for each person or 2.5 quintillion bytes of data every day. Much of this information languishes in digital limbo in its raw form. By using automation specifically, machine learning and artificial intelligence — companies can take these sheaves of raw data and turn them into actionable points that can improve workplace efficiency. It can also offset some of the problems caused by labor shortages. An example of a tool that can easily sort and collect data with just one click is using Sheets Genie, a Google Sheets add-on.

In the past, sorting through these databases required human analysts. Today, all it takes is a skilled programmer to create a machine learning algorithm that can sort through raw data while
eliminating human error and turn it into actionable insights that companies can use to improve their business. It’s not a perfect solution — at least not yet. There are still some limitations to the
technology that could potentially hold companies back. Still, as it continues to progress and evolve, it will likely become an invaluable tool to help offset the lack of new employees.

Fewer Injuries and Less Downtime

Many industries utilize production methods that, while necessary, can be hazardous to human life. Safety precautions can help keep employees safe, but they are not accident-proof, no matter how hard they try. More than 155,500 manufacturing workers and 17,000 warehouses workers missed time in 2018 due to a workplace injury. In 2017, those injuries cost businesses upwards of $161 billion.

Automation can help reduce workplace injuries and associated downtime by taking over many hazardous jobs. Even skilled positions that can’t be automated can be made safer through robotics that distance the worker from the action. It does require some new training and significant investment initially, but it can help reduce some of the growing costs associated with workplace injuries. Many tasks, such as cleaning tank interiors in a low-oxygen environment, would be better served by automation than by a human in protective gear.

Bringing in More Young Employees

The Great Resignation and the COVID-19 pandemic aren’t the only things causing these massive labor shortages. Millions of people retired in the United States during the pandemic, most of them choosing to permanently leave the workforce rather than taking an extended pandemic-related sabbatical. There aren’t enough new workers to replace them, especially not among the younger generation.

One of the most significant benefits of bringing in automation is that it requires new technology and teaches employees how to utilize it. This is the perfect environment for workers from younger generations who have grown up in a world steeped in technology. Young millennials and members of Gen Z often avoid the traditionally blue-collar careers because they are some of the slowest to adopt new technologies. Bringing in automation is the perfect way to entice these new workers into an industry that might otherwise be lacking tech.

Utilizing Automation to Alleviate Labor Shortages

There is no simple solution to overcome these labor shortages. So many people have left the workforce throughout the pandemic for various reasons that it will take some time to recoup those losses. Companies have the option to make all the necessary changes to overcome these labor shortages without spending too much time and money trying to bring in new workers.

Adopting automation is just one piece of the puzzle for adopting new technologies as tools to overcome labor shortages. Things like data management and machine learning algorithms can help turn existing databases into actionable insights that can make all the difference. Business owners need to take the time to analyze their current labor statistics and demographics to see where problems lie and where new technologies like automation can help fill in the gaps.

3PL kale Logistics data analytics can provide an invaluable competitive edge to third-party logistics (3PL) providers. 3PLs face a rapidly changing market.
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Third-Party Logistics Providers Need Data Analytics to Save Money

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Logistics data analytics can provide an invaluable competitive edge to third-party logistics (3PL) providers. 3PLs face a rapidly changing market. Supply chain disruptions and the rapid growth of e-commerce mean they must be ready to adapt if they want to continue providing high-quality services for their customers.

Data analytics allow 3PLs to uncover new insights to improve decision-making and provide cost savings.

How 3PLs Can Leverage Logistics Data Analytics

Today, businesses of all kinds have access to more information than ever and a range of analytics tools that can extract deep insights from large data sets.
Almost any business can benefit from data analytics, but 3PLs are in a particularly good position to use these tools. These companies can secure a few significant advantages by using them.

1. Improved Risk Management

Modern 3PLs face various risks. The right data makes it easier to take a proactive risk management approach, making better decisions regarding carrier selection, freight tenders and
the business partnerships the 3PL will establish.

Better data can also make it easier to identify potential risks and their potential impact. Identifying these threats can make a proactive risk management approach easier to implement and more effective potentially providing significant cost savings.

Some 3PL tools even utilize advanced technology like AI to improve supply chain resilience and risk management. 3PLs can use them to uncover insights that less advanced analytics technology wouldn’t be able to find securing a valuable competitive advantage.

2. Lower Transportation Costs

Data collected from the supply chain can make it easier to visualize and manage daily operations. 3PLs can use data dashboards and similar tools to centralize the information they gather and provide it in an easy-to-understand format for managers, supply chain specialists and key decision-makers.

3PL team members can then more easily track key KPIs — like cost per unit, order accuracy and processing time. Analytics tools will also help the 3PL identify relationships between business practices and these KPIs, making it easier to spot operational bottlenecks and
inefficiencies.

3. Stronger 3PL-Client Relationships

Data from the supply chain and logistics operations can make it much easier to analyze and respond to changes in the global supply chain market. This information can also make 3PLs a better business partner to their clients. The right shipping and logistics analysis allows a 3PL’s associates to secure a valuable competitive advantage.

One recent study of the 3PL market found that interest in robotics and data analytics is rising fast among shippers. More 3PLs are adopting data analytics technology, and these tools may become critical for strong client relationships. Clients may look elsewhere if a business can’t offer a tool its competition can.

Data Analytics Can Provide Major Cost Savings

Many of the advantages data analytics provide can help 3PLs save time and money. Managing risk reduces the chance that an unforeseen hazard will cost a 3PL significant resources.

Lower transportation costs can reduce one of the biggest expenses for a 3PL and allow the company to pass cost savings on transportation to its clients.

Better relationships with clients can provide steadier business for a 3PL, potentially decreasing costs associated with marketing and client relationship management.

3PL Data Analytics in Practice

Various 3PL data analytics approaches exist. These data analytics strategies offer benefits throughout an organization by providing workers with better information that can streamline operations or be passed onto business partners and clients.

Supply Chain Visibility and Transparency

Low supply chain visibility can make accurate predictions about availability, shipping times and processing speed much more difficult.

New data-collection and organization tools allow 3PLs to develop a much deeper understanding of how products are moving through the supply chain and how effectively current shipping partners are managing their operations.

Supply chain management tools may also lay the foundation for IoT-powered tracking and transparency. The right Internet of Things (IoT) tracking devices will let 3PLs monitor goods continuously as they move through the supply chain. These devices can provide information about a shipment’s current location, speed and shipping conditions.

This information can make it easier to track goods and predict shipping speed or delivery timing.

IoT supply chain monitoring may be especially valuable for 3PLs that offer cold chain management services. The same IoT device can track a shipment’s current location and temperature. It can immediately alert drivers and managers of an excursion, allowing them to respond quickly to prevent product spoilage.

Data-Driven Resource Planning

Enterprise resource planning (ERP) is an essential investment for any 3PL. It makes it much easier for managers to effectively understand and react to the business’s current resource
planning needs.

Resource planning tools along with software like warehouse management systems (WMS) and contact management systems (CMS) — can make managing essential business resources much easier.

These systems can also automate many administrative processes, like the generation of customer reports, helping to streamline client communication and business management.

KPI Dashboards and Data Visualizations

New data analytics tools allow 3PLs to centralize and organize information by using data dashboards. For example, KPI dashboards can provide managers and executives with a snapshot of current operations, performance and overall business health.

Strategic inventory dashboards can offer a real-time view of how inventory moves through the supply chain, making it easier to identify possible process issues.

Most logistics data analytics tools marketed to 3PLs offer a great deal of customization, so these tools can be adapted to fit the organization’s needs. They can provide information on different KPIs, prioritizing certain types of data and generating customized reports for clients, business partners or regulators as needed.

Using Logistics Data Analytics to Save Money in a Changing
Market

The right analytics tools allow 3PLs to streamline their operations, save money and build stronger client relationships. Data dashboards, supply chain visibility tools, and systems like
ERPs or WMSs can make it much easier to manage essential processes, automate work and make more informed decisions.

Early adopters of data analytics will secure a competitive advantage over other 3PLs, making them a more valuable investment for their clients.

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3pls, Archives, Global Logistics, Global Trade Daily

Third-Party Logistics Providers Need Data Analytics to Save Money

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Logistics data analytics can provide an invaluable competitive edge to third-party logistics (3PL) providers. 3PLs face a rapidly changing market. Supply chain disruptions and the rapid growth of e-commerce mean they must be ready to adapt if they want to continue providing high-quality services for their customers.

Data analytics allow 3PLs to uncover new insights to improve decision-making and provide cost savings.

How 3PLs Can Leverage Logistics Data Analytics

Today, businesses of all kinds have access to more information than ever — and a range of analytics tools that can extract deep insights from large data sets.

Almost any business can benefit from data analytics, but 3PLs are in a particularly good position to use these tools. These companies can secure a few significant advantages by using them.

1. Improved Risk Management

Modern 3PLs face various risks. The right data makes it easier to take a proactive risk management approach, making better decisions regarding carrier selection, freight tenders and the business partnerships the 3PL will establish.

Better data can also make it easier to identify potential risks and their potential impact. Identifying these threats can make a proactive risk management approach easier to implement and more effective — potentially providing significant cost savings.

Some 3PL tools even utilize advanced technology like AI to improve supply chain resilience and risk management. 3PLs can use them to uncover insights that less advanced analytics technology wouldn’t be able to find — securing a valuable competitive advantage.

2. Lower Transportation Costs

Data collected from the supply chain can make it easier to visualize and manage daily operations. 3PLs can use data dashboards and similar tools to centralize the information they gather and provide it in an easy-to-understand format for managers, supply chain specialists and key decision-makers.

3PL team members can then more easily track key KPIs — like cost per unit, order accuracy and processing time. Analytics tools will also help the 3PL identify relationships between business practices and these KPIs, making it easier to spot operational bottlenecks and inefficiencies.

3. Stronger 3PL-Client Relationships

Data from the supply chain and logistics operations can make it much easier to analyze and respond to changes in the global supply chain market. This information can also make 3PLs a better business partner to their clients. The right shipping and logistics analysis allows a 3PL’s associates to secure a valuable competitive advantage.

One recent study of the 3PL market found that interest in robotics and data analytics is rising fast among shippers. More 3PLs are adopting data analytics technology, and these tools may become critical for strong client relationships. Clients may look elsewhere if a business can’t offer a tool its competition can.

Data Analytics Can Provide Major Cost Savings

Many of the advantages data analytics provide can help 3PLs save time and money. Managing risk reduces the chance that an unforeseen hazard will cost a 3PL significant resources.

Lower transportation costs can reduce one of the biggest expenses for a 3PL — and allow the company to pass cost savings on transportation to its clients.

Better relationships with clients can provide steadier business for a 3PL, potentially decreasing costs associated with marketing and client relationship management.

3PL Data Analytics in Practice

Various 3PL data analytics approaches exist. These data analytics strategies offer benefits throughout an organization by providing workers with better information that can streamline operations or be passed onto business partners and clients.

Supply Chain Visibility and Transparency

Low supply chain visibility can make accurate predictions about availability, shipping times and processing speed much more difficult.

New data-collection and organization tools allow 3PLs to develop a much deeper understanding of how products are moving through the supply chain and how effectively current shipping partners are managing their operations.

Supply chain management tools may also lay the foundation for IoT-powered tracking and transparency. The right Internet of Things (IoT) tracking devices will let 3PLs monitor goods continuously as they move through the supply chain. These devices can provide information about a shipment’s current location, speed and shipping conditions.

This information can make it easier to track goods and predict shipping speed or delivery timing.

IoT supply chain monitoring may be especially valuable for 3PLs that offer cold chain management services. The same IoT device can track a shipment’s current location and temperature. It can immediately alert drivers and managers of an excursion, allowing them to respond quickly to prevent product spoilage.

Data-Driven Resource Planning

Enterprise resource planning (ERP) is an essential investment for any 3PL. It makes it much easier for managers to effectively understand and react to the business’s current resource planning needs.

Resource planning tools — along with software like warehouse management systems (WMS) and contact management systems (CMS) — can make managing essential business resources much easier.

These systems can also automate many administrative processes, like the generation of customer reports, helping to streamline client communication and business management.

KPI Dashboards and Data Visualizations

New data analytics tools allow 3PLs to centralize and organize information by using data dashboards. For example, KPI dashboards can provide managers and executives with a snapshot of current operations, performance and overall business health.

Strategic inventory dashboards can offer a real-time view of how inventory moves through the supply chain, making it easier to identify possible process issues.

Most logistics data analytics tools marketed to 3PLs offer a great deal of customization, so these tools can be adapted to fit the organization’s needs. They can provide information on different KPIs, prioritizing certain types of data and generating customized reports for clients, business partners or regulators as needed.

Using Logistics Data Analytics to Save Money in a Changing Market

The right analytics tools allow 3PLs to streamline their operations, save money and build stronger client relationships. Data dashboards, supply chain visibility tools, and systems like ERPs or WMSs can make it much easier to manage essential processes, automate work and make more informed decisions.

Early adopters of data analytics will secure a competitive advantage over other 3PLs, making them a more valuable investment for their clients.

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3pls, Archives, Global Logistics, Global Trade Daily

4 Ways the IoT Helps Optimize Cold Chain Logistics

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Industry 4.0 technology can help to make cold chain logistics much easier to manage. Internet of things (IoT) devices are already used in a wide range of industries to gather real-time information on business processes.

In the cold chain, IoT technology can help businesses track important data on shipments — potentially allowing them to prevent temperature excursions and provide better data to stakeholders.

Here’s how businesses are already using IoT to optimize their cold chain logistics.

1. Temperature Monitoring

A key feature of IoT devices is their ability to monitor the temperatures that cold chain shipments are exposed to.

By attaching an IoT temperature monitor to the outside of a package or pallet, sensors can be used in a variety of transportation modes — including trucks, rail freight or air cargo — to continuously track the temperature of food items, important pharmaceuticals and other items that need cold chain logistics.

These sensors will gather and report this data in real-time. Because IoT sensors can automatically store data on the cloud, all relevant stakeholders can have access to the temperature data that they collect.

In the event that an IoT sensor detects a temperature excursion, an alert system can automatically notify managers, drivers, administrative staff and other workers — allowing them to take action to prevent spoilage.

Stored data can also be used to improve processes, identify bottlenecks and determine fault in the event that an excursion causes spoilage. At any time after a sensor collects temperature data, stakeholders can review captured information and trends — or use analytics software to automatically extract valuable insights from historical temperature data.

IoT temperature tracking devices can also monitor other aspects of a shipment’s journey — for example, a combination vibration, light and temperature sensor can monitor for heat as well as exposure to light, shocks, vibrations and sudden stops.

Many cold chain products don’t just require low temperatures. Many vaccines that need cold chain logistics, for example, may spoil or lose potency if exposed to light. Sudden shocks can also risk damage to vaccine containers and packing materials.

IoT devices that monitor for temperature can also help to monitor for these potential threats.

2. GPS and RFID Shipment Tracking

IoT devices are also excellent at tracking the current location of a shipment or individual product. By using technology like GPS or RFID, it’s possible for an IoT device to gather information on a shipment’s movement.

With GPS, this information will be in real-time. With RFID, the system will depend on RFID readers installed at important locations that continuously scan for RFID tags. These systems will provide instant updates whenever an RFID tagged shipment arrives at a warehouse, fulfillment center, retail location or delivery destination.

These systems can automatically alert stakeholders when an item is on the move, allowing them to track the position of all their shipments, 24/7. The same IoT device can be used to monitor both temperature and location.

The same technology can also help businesses and logistics providers offer better delivery estimates to their clients. With real-time tracking, it’s much easier to accurately forecast when an item will arrive at a destination.

3. Automated Reporting and Cloud Data Storage

Because IoT devices are connected to the internet and can collect data continuously, they can also be used for automatic report-generation and cloud data backups.

For example, data from an IoT device can be automatically delivered to relevant stakeholders or stored for monthly documentation of important information.

In addition to delivering data to the cloud, an IoT device can send information to logistics management platforms, where the information can be analyzed by stakeholders with the help of dashboards and other data visualization tools.

The device can also stream information to AI-powered analytic tools, allowing businesses to use the IoT data to power delivery time or temperature excursion prediction algorithms.

These algorithms can help businesses see a crisis coming based on patterns in IoT data, potentially long before the issue would be obvious to a manager or analyst following the data on their own.

4. Equipment Health Monitoring and Predictive Maintenance

In addition to monitoring shipments directly, IoT devices are also an excellent tool for tracking the performance and health of cold chain equipment — including delivery vehicles, warehouse machinery and even HVAC systems.

Existing IoT performance monitoring systems can track a wide variety of performance and environmental variables. Information from these systems can help businesses track machine performance and health.

For example, an IoT fleet may capture information on a machine’s timing, vibration, temperature and lubrication. If one of these variables leaves its safe operating range, the system can automatically notify site technicians.

IoT devices may also measure local temperature, humidity and CO2 levels, allowing managers of a warehouse or fulfillment center to know if local environmental conditions may be negatively impacting the performance of a site machine.

Equipment monitoring is already a popular application of IoT devices in many industries, meaning that cold chain logistics professionals wanting to adopt the technology have access to a large and growing market of IoT equipment monitoring solutions.

Experts predict that the market is on track to grow quickly over the next few years, meaning that logistics companies will have access to even more options in the near future.

With enough data, businesses can also use IoT devices to lay the foundation for a predictive maintenance system. These are systems that use AI and IoT machine performance data to predict a machine’s maintenance needs.

By analyzing information collected from IoT devices, it’s possible to predict when a machine will need maintenance or repairs.

These systems can also alert managers when they predict that machine failure is imminent — allowing for an emergency shutdown that can help to prevent significant damage to a machine that may result in more expensive repairs and greater downtime.

How IoT Devices May Help to Transform the Cold Chain

With new IoT devices, cold chain logistics providers may be able to streamline their operations. A fleet of IoT devices can provide crucial information on both shipments and the equipment used to move them.

Cold chain professionals are already using IoT devices to prevent spoilage and more effectively monitor shipments as they move from location to location.

IoT devices can also lay the foundation for predictive analytics algorithms that can accurately predict delivery times or machine maintenance needs

_______________________________________________________________

Emily Newton is an industrial journalist. As Editor-in-Chief of Revolutionized, she regularly covers how technology is changing the industry

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Archives, Global Logistics, Global Trade Daily, Trucking, Warehousing

Investing in Supply Chain Technology Will Give You a Competitive Edge

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The COVID-19 pandemic brought about many changes, some of which were more unexpected than others. Anyone with a stake in the logistics industry saw unprecedented supply chain shortages and disruptions that impacted everyone. Materials foundered in warehouses with no one to transport them to factories for manufacturing. Completed products collected dust because no drivers were available to carry them to their final destination. It even threw a wrench in Christmas 2021, making it harder for consumers to get their hands on artificial trees.

Some of these issues have begun to fade, but there are still challenges facing the supply chain industry. How can investing in new supply chain technologies give companies a competitive edge?

The Last Mile Is Evolving

While 2020 wasn’t the first year where e-commerce and online orders started to take precedence over physical storefronts, adding a global pandemic to the mix made having that option more essential. It allowed people to stay home as much as possible while still ensuring they had everything they needed or wanted throughout the lockdowns. Consumers have grown accustomed to fast delivery, but their definition of fast is different from what most might typically find in the logistics industry.

One recent survey found that 96% of consumers equate “fast” delivery with “same-day” delivery. Barely half of the retailers offer that delivery option, but that consumer definition means it is essential to shorten the amount of time those last-mile deliveries take. Supply chain innovations and new technologies can help bridge the gap between what the consumer perceives as fast and the reality that defines the logistics industry as it currently stands.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Is Making Its Mark

The logistics industry as a whole generates massive amounts of data every single day. Supply chain data, consumer information, manufacturing details, and everything in between gets collected and stored. This data is often stored where companies can access it, but it’s usually just a mish-mash of numbers in its raw form. Making sense of that information is often beyond what even the most skilled business owner can manage – at least on their own.

Experts anticipated that more than half of companies in the supply chain industry were planning to begin investing in artificial intelligence systems for their companies by the end of 2021. This is a 15% increase year-over-year for this industry alone. In the long run, AI will likely add trillions in value to the industry in the coming years. This trend is picking up speed, but there is still plenty of time for existing companies to get in on the ground floor and adopt it before it transitions from niche to necessity.

Changing Best Practices With Robotics and Automation

Robotics and automation is a field that often earns a lot of negative attention and press because of its threat to human jobs. People are afraid that robots will steal jobs, and this sort of hidebound attitude has often led to industries that are otherwise on the cutting edge of their field shunning advances. In supply chain operations, experts expect robotics and automation to grow steadily over the next five years, especially in any situation where a robot can take over a dangerous or high-risk task.

Introducing robotics and automation can help companies overcome existing problems, especially regarding functionality and fulfillment. Warehouses that still rely on manual picking methods aren’t going to keep up with the growing demand when competing against companies that have already purchased and implemented automated picking systems.

Removing Humans From Some Equations

A lack of skilled workers, especially in the trucking industry, has presented a unique challenge for those working with supply chains. Having all the materials in the world doesn’t mean much when no one is available to haul those materials from warehouse to factory or from factory to consumer. There was a shortage of 80,000 truck drivers by the end of 2021, and experts estimate that will double by 2030.

The technology is almost ready for self-driving trucks that could help offset this growing labor shortage. They will never fully replace the need for human drivers, but they could help fill in the gaps while the trucking industry makes the necessary changes to rebuild its ranks. The demand for skilled drivers will never disappear, especially when the weather turns sour. Still, these self-driving alternatives could help ensure materials and finished products promptly reach their destinations.

Warehouse Optimization Is Key

Warehouse layout options haven’t changed much in the last few decades, but change is a necessity if companies are hoping to keep up with the increased demand. Warehouse optimization is essential to manage the increasing number of orders. Often, something as simple as rearranging the inventory so the most frequently purchased items are closer to the picking and packing stations can help, but that isn’t always enough.

Warehouse management systems – software designed to sort through and manage all the data a warehouse produces – are one piece of the puzzle. These, when paired with the artificial intelligence and machine learning systems mentioned above, can create a network that will increase productivity and supply chain efficiency. Robotics and automation will also play a role, removing some of the human element, especially in regards to inventory management and picking orders. The goal here isn’t to eliminate human workers entirely, but to make their jobs easier through AI and other advanced supply chain technology so they can carry them out more efficiently.

Overcoming Supply Chain Challenges in the Future

No one could have anticipated the challenges that arose during the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, companies need to work to recover from those challenges and overcome any new problems that might occur in the future. New technologies can help give companies an edge in an already ultra-competitive industry. For those that haven’t already started considering these changes, now is a perfect time – the calm between storms – to begin researching how it could work for them.

The demand for e-commerce and the supply chains to support it isn’t going to go away anytime soon. Now is the time to start adopting these new technologies so companies can start getting ahead of the competition.