The Arrival of Digital Logistics

March 30th, 2021 Eddy Syaifulah Leave a comment

Consumers turned digital before manufacturers and distributors, including those in the logistics industry. It may be hard for companies to keep up with the constant changes and technological advancements. Cloud technology is a solution for companies to stay up to date, helping the traditional logistics industry to become a “virtual logistics industry.”

New technology changes many aspects of how a logistics business operates, brings new market entrances, brings in new customers, and manages new partner expectations, which consequently triggers new business models. Traditional methods of running logistics need to be revamped to become digitized and more transparent among partners. Operations need to be adjusted where documents accompany one shipment and if one document is missing, a shipment can be delayed sitting idle for days.

The logistics market, with an estimate approaching US$ 6.6 trillion dollars, is at stake. Logistics companies cannot afford to sit back and watch, they have to be proactive to new technology innovation. New technology will target digitization and most of logistics functions and its administration, such as automated scheduling, consolidation of pick up and deliveries from multiple shippers, auto instruction to the right warehouse operator to pick up certain items, automate marketing functions to look for cargo on return trips, deliver auto work order to driver, auto-generated issue invoice to customers, and more. With the help of technology in logistics services, a new approach in collaboration among partners is essential as it will provide capacity fulfillment to reduce much-needed operation costs.

An adaptation of real-time digitization and data automation under one platform will give access for independent companies to participate in a technological economic era. It is estimated 535,000 distribution centers scattered in the US operate as standalone independent companies. Now, imagine if 5-7 percent of them are willing to collaborate with sales and customer services references under one logistics platform. Each company and its customers will gain efficiency, productivity, and faster workflows.

The environment of traditional logistics businesses that once took days to finalize is now being reduced by the real-time technology digitization revolution with simple real-time clicks. Technology provides an opportunity for many people in isolated areas to participate in new economic and technological ways of living.

The environment of business is becoming fundamentally altered by globalization, and followed by recent pandemic that have devasted most traditional business prospects. Our strategic decision to stay competitive and to operate much more efficiently has to be based on these contexts. Logistics companies face a lack of coordination and collaboration between or among effective partners for some time, resulting in a decrease in overall efficiency and a higher operating cost on different systems. An improvement of sharing real-time information in cloud platform among active logistics partners is one of the key elements in improving collaboration and cooperation, including an increase in the bottom line.

Archives, Global Logistics, Global Trade Daily, Warehousing

Exclusive White Paper: Managing Inbound Supply Chains – Cost, Capacity & Delay Are The Supply Chain Manager’s “Nightmare”

March 12th, 2021 Thomas Cook Leave a comment

The Covid-19 Pandemic which impacted global supply chains hard in February of 2020, has grown as on “steroids” as we approach the 2^nd Quarter of 2021.

There is no professional logistics service provider, freight forwarder, NVOCC, Carriers, 3PL, customhouse broker, consultant, or any expert in the industry who would have anticipated what has happened in the past 12 months and likely to have a legacy well into the balance of this year.

Demand had impacted capacity and capacity has impacted cost. Ocean freight rates have doubled and in some trade lanes have tripled and air freight pricing has multiples of 4-8 times more than we witnessed towards the end of 2019.

Making this all worse is how long this crisis has developed with no specific end in sight.

Tied into capacity and cost are the logistics delays, doubling and tripling expected ETA’s.

This past year has been a “nightmare” for all supply chain managers who are looking for relief … when very little is in-sight.

The biggest influence can be observed on the Asian to North American market where the impact has been most disruptive.

In our Supply Chain Management Consulting Practice, we have been approached by hundreds of companies desperately seeking assistance in finding options and providing some relief. We will share some of our recommendations at the end of this article.

Over the 40+ years of our practice in the global supply chain, we have witnessed other times where craziness and disruptive behavior impacting freight markets. There have been at least 6 times from 1981 to 2020 where the supply chain has been disrupted in a major way.

Most professionals point to the poor management of the carriers, who have difficulty managing capacity, assets, and client’s supply chain needs when disruption is looming. While that is true to some level, there are numerous other influential areas that add to the crisis. The impact of Covid-19, greater global demand for PPE, expeditious replenishment of global inventory levels, and uncertainty in consumer and commercial spending, are but a few of the other contributing factors.

Also keep in mind, that in North America the entire domestic transportation market is also experiencing increased costs, capacity issues, and delays in providing timely, comprehensive, and cost-effective transportation services.

While we have all this “gloom and doom” in front of us, there is some light at the end of the tunnel. Here are some recommendations that we offer:

1. Recognize that in all the other times (of which we estimate that there were 6 events) of disruption in the global supply chain … in time … balance and normality eventually prevailed.

The issue in this Covid-19 Freight Dilemma … is when will we see normality? Many experts advise by April and May 2021.

Our best estimate is that while we may see some sunlight by May, supply chain executives should plan that the disruption will last till September.

Demand planning, freight purchasing, and contract negotiations would best be accomplished by anticipating freight and supply chain issues not being seriously resolved till the Fall of 2021.

2. As a supply chain executive, create a greater reach into alternative options for the acquisition of logistics services. Come out of your comfort zones, your traditional “go-to” providers, and open the doors to a larger web of players in the freight market.

3. Alternative options should include:

-Direct to Carriers

-Integrated Carriers

-3PL’s

-Freight Brokers

-Logistics Consulting Companies

-Customhouse Brokers

-NVOCC’s

-Freight Forwarders

-Freight Purchasing Groups and Associations

-Consolidators

4. Friendly competitors also can present an option where you can combine your purchasing power and leverage your freight spend.

5. Evaluating your freight spend. Consider consolidating your freight with one company by putting “all your eggs in one basket” where you may achieve getting the best value for your dollar. However, when placing all your eggs in one basket, recognize the risk associated with that option and manage that basket diligently.

6. Hire very capable staff that can bring resources, contacts, and industry relationships that might prove beneficial.

7. Work with your suppliers who also may be able to provide lower-cost or more expedient freight solutions. It is their interest as well to make sure their customers are well-served and happy.

8. Work tightly with your demand planning teams to provide timely and comprehensive information flows, so they can better plan when placing manufacturing orders. Lead times may need to be doubled and tripled. This also means working more closely and proactively with your suppliers and vendors to enhance their performance in increasing capacity and on-time capability.

9. Consider where you distribute from. Consider the demographics of where your customers are. This may conclude you adding on or expanding the warehousing locations so you can meet clients’ needs less costly and timelier. The example is if your customer base is throughout the USA and you singularly distribute from one warehouse in Baltimore Maryland, what is the cost and time element to service a customer in Chicago and one in Los Angeles?

Additionally, if the freight is sourced from China, compare the time and cost to ship from Shenzhen to Baltimore to Shenzhen to Long Beach. The warehousing and distribution costs become part of your overall competitiveness. Any steps that can be taken to help offset and mitigate the impact of higher inbound freight costs can provide various levels of some relief.

10. Be open, honest, and transparent with all the partners in the supply chain, including your customers. Extoll these virtues and they will come back to you in spades.

Working with more integrity creates camaraderie, team efforts, affords a better understanding of common concerns, and allows better partnerships to form, which ultimately produces better outcomes for all parties to an international business trade or transaction.

The Covid-19 Pandemic has turned the world of international freight upside down. It has caused a lot of frustration, headaches, loss of markets and clients, and multiple areas of serious concern for everyone involved in managing all aspects of global supply chains.

There is no question that the challenges of 2020 and the legacy now in 2021 have become ground zero for supply chain managers, but there is light at the end of the tunnel. The above outlined ten recommendations have been time-tested, battle-worn, and seasoned successful concepts in managing the risks, lowering the costs, and allowing for better-managed logistics in global supply chains.

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Thomas A. Cook is a 30 year seasoned veteran of global trade and Managing Director of Blue Tiger International, based in New York, LA and West Palm Beach, Florida. The author of 19 books on international business, two best business sellers. Graduate of NYS Maritime Academy with an undergraduate and graduate degree in marine transportation and business management. Tom has a worldwide presence through over 300 agents in every major city along with an array of transportation providers and solutions. Tom works with a number of Associations providing “value add” to their membership services and enhancing their overall reach into global sourcing and in export sales management. He can be reach at tomcook@bluetigerintl.com or 516-359-6232.

Archives, Global Logistics, Global Trade Daily, Special Reports

The Top Manufacturing Security Solutions Companies Can Implement to Protect Their People

February 24th, 2021 Lance Holloway Leave a comment

Despite the difficulties 2020 posed, manufacturers have worked hard to help global operations continue running efficiently. To keep up with demand, however, companies are still operating facilities where hundreds or thousands of employees are on the floor at once. Within these large, densely populated facilities, following health guidelines like social distancing becomes a frustrating exercise. While managers certainly want to protect their people, they face unique challenges in today’s environment.

Manufacturers are prioritizing holistic employee safety, and manufacturing security solutions are now available to help facility managers realize their goals of promoting workers’ health and safety. Here are three specific technologies companies are using to better protect their people.

Physical identity and access management (PIAM) solutions

Many facilities have limited the number of ingress and egress points in an effort to better manage people flow. Even with automated screening solutions, however, high-volume employee throughput events like shift changes place severe strains on processing employees. Chokepoints emerge where people congregate in long lines, increasing the risk of transmitting germs.

Increasing throughput capacity and reducing risks to employees and visitors are top priorities that automated, touchless PIAM solutions are suited to meet. For example, employees and visitors can take at-home health screening questionnaires on their mobile devices. Based on the self-assessment, healthy visitors can receive a QR code to scan for facility entry at an access control point.

Should an employee self-report feeling unwell, a system with integrated analytics can facilitate cross-department communication to resolve potential issues. For instance, the system can automatically notify a human resources department, which can take further action like providing employees with self-quarantining guidelines while helping other departments adjust as needed.

Within the facility, other systems can protect workers on the floor by regulating people inflows and outflows. People counting systems, updated in real-time as workers enter and exit the facility, provide accurate employee counts to ensure areas don’t become too congested. Video surveillance system integrations can also assist managers, should they want to to rearrange floor layouts to promote more social distancing.

Human temperature screening

Concerns about illness have raised the profile of human temperature screening (HTS) as part of a security system. HTS systems use thermographic cameras to read a subject’s skin temperature from a distance, automating significant portions of a facility’s health screening process. Integrated systems allow for elevated temperature detections to trigger notifications for further screening or automatically deny facility access. While elevated temperature alone isn’t enough to determine if an employee is sick, HTS provides another layer of support within a comprehensive worker protection plan.

Manual screening involves placing staff equipped with thermometers at every entry point — an inefficient process that an HTS system can help to automate. Each system does have its own set of use parameters to follow, including best practices on sensor placement, scanning area and subjects’ interactions with devices. Some also need additional calibration equipment, such as a blackbody — a reference point that’s heated to a specific, stable temperature within the scanning area.

Installing and integrating an HTS system has significant benefits for holistic employee safety, but facility managers have other decisions to consider as well. For example, companies need strict policies on who can access the sensitive health information these systems gather and where it’s stored. Any system must be compliant with regulatory requirements from entities like GDPR, BIPA and others. Protecting employees’ physical health is important, but so is protecting their private information.

Integrated video surveillance systems

Standalone security solutions can contribute significantly to ensuring workplace safety, but facility managers can realize more benefits through integrations with existing systems. Video surveillance systems in particular have much more to offer. Using data and analytics drawn from multiple sources, they can provide protection beyond merely theft deterrence.

For example, facility managers can leverage “heatmaps” by merging internal video surveillance data with a floor plan. Using this information, they can identify and address the “hot spots” where employees congregate or come into close contact, such as crowded break rooms. With consistent monitoring, managers can better understand whether changes like adjustments to workstations on the floor are effectively promoting more social distancing.

Video systems also help facilities save on other potential costs like workplace incident verification. Interior video surveillance can track employee behaviors like social distancing and proper use of PPE. If an employee files a compensation claim, managers can generate an auditable trail of evidence to use in proceedings. Facility managers can also use system data proactively to improve training sessions and identify opportunities to encourage behavioral changes in employees.

Manufacturing facilities keep the world moving — and shutting down is often not an option. Still, managers can use security solutions to better protect their people while their facilities remain open. With automated PIAM and screening solutions, along with existing systems integration, manufacturers can apply data-driven approaches in their efforts to ensure workplace health and safety, all while managing their operations more efficiently.

_________________________________________________________________

Lance Holloway is a Senior Solutions Architect at STANLEY Security. Lance has served in the physical security industry for over 27 years. Today, he is part of STANLEY Security’s Enterprise Solutions Architect team, which focuses on research, design and workshop forums to aid customers in achieving even the most complex security goals in today’s evolving technology landscape.

Archives, Global Site Selection, Global Trade Daily, Site Selection

How to Expand Your Business Internationally

January 25th, 2021 Christian Kruse Leave a comment

Running a successful business in a domestic market is easy for experienced business people. Opening a shop abroad is harder, but not very much. What can be extremely tricky is actually attracting foreign potential customers, turning them into paying customers, and surmounting the many challenges that come with international business. These challenges include cultural and language differences, unfamiliar employment and overall business laws, unclear taxation and VAT remittance regulations in different countries, and international marketing challenges. If you wish to expand abroad, you can overcome the said challenges by following these best practices in international expansion:

1. Leverage PEO services

PEO service providers help to expand businesses to hire staff, manage payrolls, and manage employees in foreign territories. Basically, a professional employer organization (PEO) will provide comprehensive human resources support for your business so that your senior executives can focus on actually running the corporate side of the business. They provide your international teams with the professional and personal support they need to be optimally engaged and productive for the benefit of your business. They help you bypass the cultural barriers that overwhelm employers when hiring and managing new talents in unfamiliar cultural settings.

In most cases, PEOs run a co-employment model where they ensure that your business meets all set employment and compliance laws without necessarily having a physical presence in a given country. The advantage of using such a model for your international expansion is that your business can dip toes in multiple foreign markets without committing to building physical offices. It also offers your business a flexible human resource capability; the flexibility and fluidity that businesses need when upscaling/downscaling workforces in new markets. Therefore, if your company operates in India, you can see that partnering with an India PEO would be the proper solution for the rapid growth of your company.

2. Leverage local influencers

The biggest marketplace in the world right now is the digital space, notably social media. That is why you must have a workable digital marketing strategy (and a strong online presence for that matter) whether your business is local, national, or international. A key component of digital marketing is social influencing.

You probably already understand what online influencing is about but in case you don’t, online influencers are celebrities who already command huge followership on social media. People who can influence shopping decisions either by directly campaigning for your products or by sharing their videos or photos while using your products. Studies show that about 66% of all customers across all industries trust the opinions other customers post online, and the surest way of influencing these opinions is through social media influencers.

Now, this is the catch: When expanding internationally, you need to meet your prospective customers during their research phase. You need to capture their attention immediately; they search for products in your niche, convert them to business leads, and close the deal on the spot. It is probably the first time they are interacting with your brand/content, so you have to make the best first impression otherwise they will be lured by the brands they are already familiar with. Subtle product mentions and testimonials from influential people will help you create the best first impression. You, however, have to identify and connect with influencers who appeal to your audience if you are to effectively leverage influencer marketing for international expansion.

3. Find the right expansion partners

It is hard to navigate new markets by yourself. You need the help of local partners who understand the unwritten laws of the land, local supply chains, and distribution channels. But not all local partners are good for your business. You need to find industry leaders who, on top of understanding the nuances of the local market at hand, have substantial experience in international business expansions in other markets. You can always contact their previous collaborators for reviews, something you cannot get from partners who have never been out of their comfort zone/market. It is also wise to choose expansion partners with whom you share a common ground- a company whose business culture doesn’t conflict with your vision and mission.

Now you know the kind of partners to look for, but where exactly do you look? One way to find the partners you need is through your business and professional networks. Your business associates can recommend their international associates to you who’d turn out to be very helpful in your expansion plans. Another source is the government of your current market. If you operate in Europe, for example, you can tap into the database of the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) for trading advice and collaborations. Foreign embassies, as well as trade commissions back home, also have databases filled with the knowledge that can come in handy during your quest to find international partners. And if you already have a set base in the foreign market, attending local expos and trade shows can give you access to a pool of potential partners.

4. Leverage government resources

Most governments help their ambitious entrepreneurs to go international as a way of encouraging the exportation of locally-produced products and talents. Your government probably holds Trade Events where successful multinational companies’ CEOs and other industry experts train local entrepreneurs on how to go global and actually succeed. You can learn a lot in such events, from exporting fundamentals, understanding international buyers, working with foreign distributors and product representatives, to how you can market your products or services to customers who don’t speak your language. The events also put you in touch with other ambitious business owners from whom you can gain insight and insider perspective about your chances abroad. Other resources that can help your international expansion plans are catalogs that contain special country-specific market reports authored by prolific market experts. In the US, such catalogs are accessible online through the Market Research Library.

Conclusion

International expansion is, to many people, chaotic and stressful. But it doesn’t have to be. You can tap into other entrepreneurs’ experience to formulate a workable expansion plan or, if you have the budget, conduct your independent country-specific market research. Our 4 tips will get you started, but you must consult wider if you are to succeed with your first expansion attempt.

Archives, Global Logistics Planning Guide, Global Trade Daily

GLOBAL TRADE’S ANNUAL LOGISTICS PLANNING GUIDE CAN PUT YOU IN THE POWER POSITION AGAIN

January 15th, 2021 Matt Coker Leave a comment

For a supply chain to truly function well it needs to be flexible, operating under a ‘bend but don’t break’ principle that allows it to scale to needs and to be maneuverable enough to escape blockages and delays along the route. Much like a muscle, however, this is fairly unlikely to simply come naturally. It takes preparation, training, and stretching to build a muscle into something with the capacity and flexibility to go through rigorous moments of endurance or sprinting.

This analogy begins a follow-up report on the Supply Chain USA Virtual Summit 2020 by Alex Hadwick, editor-in-chief for Supply Chains with Reuters Events, which presented the online event in partnership with ABBYY, a digital intelligence company.

Hadwick discovered that numerous experts from across the supply chain space agreed that critical lessons must be learned from the disruption of 2020 as well as broader industry trends.

“Visibility now underpins the capacity of a supply chain to react to change, strengthens its ability to provide strong customer service, and allows more flexible supply chains and the introduction of automation,” Hadwick writes.

“By building a strong and systemic approach to the view over the supply chain then we can begin to train to become more effective in handling the new environment. That environment is changing rapidly and e-commerce growth is causing supply chains to move faster, but they have to balance the demands with sustainability goals, both of which require the right reporting capabilities in order to succeed.”

Catch-up mode

Interestingly, among the notions presented at the summit was that while the global pandemic ushered in new, strengthened e-commerce normal, the industry is still catching up to global demand.

“Even before COVID, we’ve had significant disruption over the last few years that I think is going to continue to change the way we do business for the future,” mentioned summit participant Robert Sanchez, Chairman & CEO of Ryder System. “It’s the three suspects that you all probably know: e-commerce, driven by Amazon; it’s asset sharing, driven by Uber; and it’s the next generation vehicle – the electric and autonomous vehicle, that is really driven by, I would say, Tesla.”

The silver lining may be that industry players now have their radars up for disruption. The days of, say, a Crown Books pooh-poohing a threat by an upstart like Amazon may be as over as … well, Crown Books.

As Ravi Dosanjh, head of Strategic Programs at Intel said to bring us full circle to Hadwick’s opening: “The muscles we build in supply chains during the numerous disruptions come into play now, and I think it sounds obvious, but you need to enable the right muscle, the right capability at the right time. That’s something that doesn’t happen by accident.”

Ed Barriball, a partner with McKinsey & Company, continued the flex fest by first noting, “You need to bring together a mosaic of data,” from external providers, and from within that is merged “to start to get an idea of who I’m actually buying from, or my suppliers are buying from.

“Once you have all that information, understand where your vulnerabilities and risks are in the supply chain. And for a lot of folks, I think that’s a new muscle to be working.”

Visibility is key

Another area of agreement among the experts, according to Hadwick’s report, was the need to institute real-time visibility in the supply chain.

“I think it’s critical when you think about supply chain visibility technology, that it’s providing visibility across all nodes. That enables network collaboration and exception management,” said Dave Belter, VP & GM of Global Transportation Management, Ryder System.

However, more must be done, added Russell Felker, CTO of GlobalTranz: “I feel like in some ways, we’re at the point that electronic medical record systems or electronic health record systems were at toward the end of the 1990s and into the early 2000s, where they were standing up all these things to capture data, but had no formality of how they talk to each other.

“Both of your doctors might have a way of keeping your data electronically, and they had no way to get it to each other, and so they would print it and fax it. We’re kind of at that point where we have these systems that exist and that capture pieces of information, but they don’t have a clear method of handing information off, maintaining chain of custody, and maintaining that visibility [and] the sanctity of the information, as it traverses.”

That is why Belter finds it critical that supply chain visibility technology must be provided “across all nodes. That enables network collaboration and exception management.”

Taking a hard look at your entire move through the supply chain will uncover areas for improvement—and ultimately greater market share, according to the experts.

“Where we see a significant demand is around what’s called process mining and discovery, where you actually analyze event logs from various disparate systems of record and visualize process behaviors as they occur,” said Andrew Pery, a process intelligence expert at ABBYY.

Such examinations can help you identify areas where, for instance, more automation would be beneficial or risks and potential legal entanglements can be avoided, Pery noted.

Which brings us to the last mile

“The last mile is the most complex piece of the puzzle in the supply chain—because it’s the end part, everything has to work upstream for that delivery to go perfect,” said summit participant Erik Caldwell, president of the Last Mile at XPO Logistics.

One thing that is becoming obvious, according to Tom Galluzzo, founder, and CEO of IAM Robotics, is that there will not be enough flesh-and-blood workers to maintain a flawless last-mile experience.

“The reality is that it’s going to continue to evolve toward more automation, more force multipliers being used,” Galluzzo says in the summit follow-up report. “Whether that’s warehouse execution systems continuing to get smarter and optimizing the way internal operations are run within supply chain buildings, or actually leveraging robotics to do some of the physical moving material, that’s all going to continue pretty strongly over the next five to 10 years.”

Please sustain me

Hadwick goes on to cover sustainability in the supply chain, which, given the pressures of last-mile, micro-fulfillment, and a customer base that seems to expect goods ordered today yesterday, one helluva challenge.

Among the ideas presented at the summit that could offer a solution is moving supply chain facilities closer to the customers. As Michael Murphy, executive vice president of Development at industrial real estate developer CenterPoint pointed out, the giant e-commerce facilities are less often feeding stores directly and more often shipping goods to smaller distribution outlets.

“Moving the supply chain closer to the consumer is a huge priority right now for a lot of organizations,” noted IAM Robotics’ Galluzzo.

In conclusion …

Pery, the process intelligence expert at ABBYY, contributes the summit follow-up’s conclusion: “It’s evident no matter which stage of the supply chain logistics providers serve, having good process workflow and visibility into the specific events, activities, and people involved with each step is critical to successfully completing the last mile and delivering a positive customer experience.”

He and Hadwick before him take deeper dives into each of the sections presented above. If you would like to read their full report (for free!), visit https://1.reutersevents.com/LP=29531.

Archives, Global Trade Daily, News

Low-e Coating: An Energy-Efficient Solution in Coated Glass

January 12th, 2021 Global Market Insights Leave a comment

One of the most sought-after trends in real estate has been the use of coated glass as contractors seek to generate a leading-edge in the coated glass market. Innovations have paved the way towards improving the energy efficiency of buildings. Coated glass windows, for instance, play a valuable role in the energy savings of a structure.

In common parlance, buildings have a massive role in greenhouse gas emissions given that a large chunk of the global energy demand emanates from them. Not to mention windows are responsible for the greatest energy loss in the backdrop of high overall heat transfer coefficients (U-values). This is where the coated glass comes to the rescue: contractors and their commercial partners have opportunities galore to cash in on the trends that are likely to reshape the landscape.

Coated glass is used copiously in modern construction and buildings owing to aesthetic attributes, lightness to the structure, and advanced thermal insulation. Architects and contractors regard this as one of the most sought-after options since it reduces weight on the foundation and makes the building lighter as compared to construction walls.

Coated glass makes the area look far more spacious and creates a sense of “feel-good” factor with long windows and obviates external wastage. Global Market Insights, Inc., has projected the coated glass market size to surpass US$ 24.5 billion by 2024.

State-of-the-art overview of Low-E coating

The architectural glass will provide energy-saving, aesthetic and technical attributes such as thermal insulation, solar control in fenestration, and façade. Glass with low internal reflection will remain instrumental to do away with the mirror effect from inside of a building during nighttime, light transmission, and maximum visibility.

These parameters allude to mega-trends for low-E coated glass, such as double silver glass and triple silver glass. In a bid to boost the energy performance of the façade, hard-coated glass and soft-coated glass have gained impetus. While soft-coated glass balances between light transmission and energy performance, hard-coated glass strikes the balance between cost and energy performance.

Currently, contractors, architects and façade managers see coated glass thriving as an adaptable material delivering unparalleled growth potentials. Low-E coated glass has fueled the trend to reduce the amount of ultraviolet and infrared light without reducing the amount of light that enters the building.

Why Low-e glass?

Low-E coated glass has turned out to be a cost-effective and unique solution to save energy as windows were primarily regarded as the least energy-efficiency component of a building. With commercial buildings in the U.S. wasting around 30% of the energy they consume, low e-coating tends to reduce the emissivity of the glass and reduces the U-factor. Some of the “green features” of low-e glass are elucidated herewith (included but not limited to):

-Reduces UV rays that lead to less fading;

-Provides optimum visible light transmittance, reducing lighting loads;

-Reduces solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC) values—transcending into cost and energy savings;

-Maintains temperature and provides insulating benefits.

Low e-coated glass has the innate ability to improve thermal comfort in the fall and winter, with stakeholders infusing funds in solar control low-e coatings (soft coat) and passive low-e coatings (hard coat).

It is worth noting that demand for soft-coated glass will be more pronounced in the U.S. as it provides better UV protection and has a decent U-value. Not to mention the soft-coated glass also reflects the warm and cool air back into the room.

Solar control glass for hospitals: a palpable trend

Contractors have upped their focus on solar control glass in hospitals to boost patient’s visual comfort and vitamin D levels, reduce anxiety and depression. Solar control glass is helping hospitals go green, thanks to its ability to reduce the need for artificial lighting and lighting costs, thereby making hospitals energy-efficient.

With low glare, energy-efficiency, optimum light transmission, indoor environment quality, and comfort, coated glass can be used effectively in hospitals. Solar coated glass is likely to add value to the performance, light transmission, and durability.

North America to be a favorable coated glass consumer

With the trend towards building new infrastructure soaring in the U.S., contractors are envisaging North America as a happy hunting ground. Glass façades in several buildings in skyscrapers, buildings and hotels in the U.S., Canada and Mexico have become a natural fit in North America coated glass industry.

Low-e coated glass will expand its footprint in the region as it will remain instrumental in both summer and winter seasons. For instance, it will preserve heat indoors during the winter season, while it will also ensure windows are well insulated to withstand hostile weather conditions. Traction for low-e coating will be noticeable in visible light transmittance and U-value.

The U.S. coated glass industry is expected to be replete with investments following the construction boom in the country. The U.S. construction growth will tilt towards the southern states, with Oxford Economics estimating that the industry could grow faster than China over the next 15 years, thereby instilling confidence among construction contractors.

The coated glass market is likely to be one of the most dynamic sectors as low-e glass and solar control glass have become smart choices for architectural designs to boost sustainability. Advancements in green technology to reduce energy consumption will bolster sales of coated glass as these green products have come as the most compelling evidence of the high energy efficiency performance of coated glass.

Archives, Global Logistics, Global Trade Daily, Ocean Ports

TOP 10 FREIGHT FORWARDERS OF 2020

January 11th, 2021 Matt Coker Leave a comment

By occupying six slots, including the top three, the Alpine Region of Central Europe dominates Global Trade’s list of the top 10 freight forwarders of 2020.

1) Kuehne + Nagel

With more than a century specializing in the transportation space, Kuehne + Nagel serves multiple industries, including high tech, industrial products, perishables, pharmaceutical and healthcare industries. Services include: order management, warehousing and storage, supply chain consulting, project management, air, rail and sea cargo and expo and events. Kuehne + Nagel Management AG, Dorfstrasse 50 Schindellegi, 8834 Switzerland, Tel: 41 44 788-9511.

2) DHL

DHL Supply Chain and Global Forwarding Divisions provide freight forwarding services throughout Europe, Russia and the Middle East via rail, air and road. The company’s global reach extends from transportation and warehousing to industry-specific solutions designed to streamline worldwide logistics for its clients. Services include: dedicated freight management, warehousing, customs services, freight security, supply chain management and air, road and sea shipments. DHL Supply Chain and Global Forwarding, Deutsche Post AG Headquarters, Platz der Deutschen Post, 53113 Bonn, Germany, Tel: +49 228-1820.

3) DB Schenker

The logistics division of German rail operator Deutsche Bahn AG provides an array of logistical and supply chain consulting services for clients throughout the automobile, technology, consumer goods, special transport and trade fair logistic industries. Services include: e-commerce solutions, fulfillment logistics, lead logistics services and intermodal transportation. DB Schenker, Richard-Wagner Strausse, Essen, Germany, Tel: +49 (0) 201 8781-4990.

4) (tie) DSV Global

Headquartered just outside of Denmark’s capital of Copenhagen, DSV offers worldwide warehousing and transportation solutions for European and North American companies looking for supply chain solutions across the global stage. Services include: full or less-than-truckloads, warehousing, order fulfillment, intermodal, air, sea and rail shipments and “supply chain innovation.” DSV + Panalpina, Hovedgaden 630, 2640 Hedchusene, Denmark, Tel: +45 43 20 30 40.

4) (tie) Sinotrans Limited

With offices throughout Asia and the Pacific Rim, Sinotrans offers transportation solutions from warehousing to getting goods to their final destinations. Services include: warehouse management, distribution solutions, cross border freight hauling, intermodal transport, project lead and “innovative supply solutions.” SinoTrans Ltd., 6F Suite B Waiyun Building, Building 10 Yard 5 Anding Road, Beijing, China 100020, Tel: 86 10-5229-5600.

6) Expeditors

The Fortune 500 service-based logistics company believes because it does not own the aircraft, ships, or trucks they use every day on six continents, they can be highly flexible when it comes to supply chain management. Services include: supply chain design and optimization, order management, fulfillment, warehousing, customs brokerage and air, sea and ground transportation. Expeditors International, 14301 24th St E, Sumner, WA 98390, Tel: (253) 863-5502.

7) (tie) GEODIS

The French logistics company aims to be a growth partner with its clients through its proven expertise and emphasis on excellence. Services include: supply chain optimization, freight forwarding, contract logistics, distribution & express and ground transport. GEODIS, Espace Seine, 26 Quai Charles Pasqua, 92300 Levallois-Perret, France, Tel: +33 1 56 76 26 00.

7) (tie) Bolloré Logistics

A global leader in international transport & logistics, the French company is committed to delivering reliable, flexible, innovative and value-creating solutions that help clients grow. Services include: transport, trade compliance, contract logistics, global supply chain, e-commerce and customer care. Bolloré Logistics, Tour Bolloré, 31-32 quai de Dion Bouton, 92800 Puteaux, France, Tel: +33 (0)1 46 96 44 33.

9) Nippon Express

First established in 1937, the Japanese company operates in more than 40 countries, with clients throughout Asia, North America and Europe and overseas transit facilities in Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia, among other locations. Services include: warehousing, distribution, cross border freight hauling, fine arts transport and moving services. Nippon Express, Higashi-shimbashi 1-9-3, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Tel: 81-3-6251-1111.

10) Hellmann Worldwide Logistics

Founded in 1871 by Carl Heinrich Hellmann, who as the lone employee used a horse-drawn cart to deliver parcels in and around the town of Osnabrück in northern Germany, Hellmann today has a worldwide network of 20,500 people in 489 branches in 173 countries. Services include: logistics, insurance, security, technology, e-commerce and road, air, rail, and marine transportation. Hellmann Worldwide Logistics GmbH & Co. KG, Elbestrasse 1, Osnabrück, 49090 Germany, Tel: 49-541-605-6450.

We created our list by considering three other lists that were released this year. In September, Armstrong & Associates, Inc. (A&A), an internationally recognized key information resource for 3PL market research and consulting, put out a list of 2020’s top 50 ocean freight forwarders that is based on 2019 TEUs, logistics gross revenue and air metric tons.

Actually, A&A updated an earlier list because two heavy hitters in the ocean freight industry, DSV and Panalpina, merged in 2019. Then came COVID-19 early in 2020, which necessitated an examination of responses to the global pandemic.

A “key trend we’re watching is the impact COVID-19 is having on various modes of transport,” A&A President Evan Armstrong explained to Logistics Management Executive Editor Patrick Burnson. “Ocean capacity may open up, but rates will escalate. In the meantime, the air cargo sector will become more reliant on expensive freighters, as passenger traffic remains in steep decline in the international marketplace.”

Global Trade also considered 360 Research Reports’ Global Ocean Freight Forwarding Market Size, Status and Forecast 2020-2026 examination that focused on 25 companies and was released pre-pandemic, in January.

Thanks to the A&A and 360 Research reports, there were definitive answers about which companies would occupy most of Global Trade’s top slots. However, we also turned to a third report to settle any differences between the other two: a list of the top 10 3PLs in the world released In July by TradeGecko, which is part of Intuit QuickBooks, an accounting software company.

While freight forwarders on the Global Trade master list serve U.S. markets and have facilities in the States, our collection doesn’t exactly scream “American.” Fortunately, Armstrong also shared some wisdom with Burnson that may have Yanks ranking better in 2021. “We’ll see more shipping and sourcing in North America as shippers reevaluate their options overseas,” the A&A president says. “The ongoing trade tensions with China will also exacerbate this situation.”

The U.S. companies that did not make our top 10 but would have easily made our top 50 include: C.H. Robinson, XPO Logistics, United Parcel Service (UPS), Yusen Logistics, Mallory Alexander, Odyssey Logistics and Technology and Horizons Air Freight.

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Armstrong & Associates, Inc.’s Top 50 Ocean Freight Forwarders of 2020: https://www.3plogistics.com/3pl-market-info-resources/3pl-market-information/aas-top-25-global-freight-forwarders-list/

360 Research Reports’ Global Ocean Freight Forwarding Market, Size, Status and Forecast 2020-2026: https://www.360researchreports.com/global-ocean-freight-forwarding-market-15076500

TradeGecko’s Top 10 3PLs in the World: https://www.tradegecko.com/blog/supply-chain-management/top-10-3pl-companies

Archives, Global Logistics, Global Trade Daily, Warehousing

Leading Trends in Warehouse Automation and Management

January 10th, 2021 Samuel Jefferson Leave a comment

The warehouse economy is getting stronger and stronger, with more jobs available each month. Still, there is a struggle to fill all available job positions. Luckily, many warehouses already found an effective solution to their labor, operations, and production challenges – advanced robotics and innovative automation and logistics. In this article, we will introduce you to leading trends in warehouse automation and management.

Warehouse robotics

Robotic autonomous forklifts are at work in a large number of warehouses and distribution centers. Remarkable new technologies have enabled reduced warehousing operational costs, optimized workflows, and improved the bottom line. Technology continues to evolve, and calculations around return on investment are currently more favorable than ever.

Automated guided vehicles and autonomous mobile robots

Automated guided vehicles and autonomous mobile robots are robotics innovations that are changing the game in warehouse management and operations. They typically include automated forklifts, floor cleaners, and pallet movers that come in various sizes and vary in capabilities. Each one is designed to support the function of a warehouse and manufacturing system. Advanced software and systems are used to upgrade traditional forklift equipment and provide autonomous robotic functionality. Robotics software allows scaling and controlling of all operations just with a simple click of a button. Managing the material flow and increasing the efficiency of operations has never been easier.

Automated guided vehicles changed warehouse practices for same-day shipping. Innovative solutions include robotic arms for lifting, barcode scanners for automatic inventory management, automated forklifts that move pallets, and much more. Products are shipped faster than ever, and the end result is a happier customer.

Automated picking process

Picking is probably the most time-consuming activity in every warehouse worldwide as it requires countless work hours and more labor work than any other operation. Going from aisle to aisle and product to product eats up so much production time. Fortunately, there is a way to reclaim that valuable time and take productivity to the next level. Many warehouses are introducing automated picker robots into their operations. They gather products and bring them to a central location, where the human workforce can fulfill the next job tasks much faster.

Automated cleaning machines

Autonomous machines have improved the way warehouses operate. Furthermore, warehouse cleaning also became automated. Robotic floor care is possible since the AI system enables the robot to navigate complex warehouse environments. Autonomous cleaning machines work safely and efficiently alongside employees in warehouses.

Big data and analytics

It’s required to analyze performance data to find the areas of manufacturing or warehouse operations that can be improved. Advancements in big data analytics can help businesses and manufacturers collect their data. They identify operational drawbacks and deficiencies – in order to eventually improve them. The use of barcode scanners on a product changed the way of moving through a warehouse. Each step of the process is scanned, and it’s easy to see where time is lost and what slows the system. Big data analytics solutions provide valuable information from daily operations and enable warehouse management to make smart decisions that can improve many aspects of performance.

The Internet of Things

For successful warehouse automation and management, multiple moving parts need to communicate with each other continuously. The Internet of Things (IoT) can make this happen. This technology can connect all devices and systems and keep them in sync while collecting operations data. Warehouse management can see and trace everything 24/7- from inventory and production levels to shipments going in and out, and much more. Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) attaches a tag to a package or a whole pallet to automatically track the item’s exact location at every moment. When everything in the warehouse is easily tracked and coordinated, it’s possible to achieve maximum efficiency.

Forklift telematics

Forklift telematics is an advanced smart technology system that uses sensors to track every truck in a fleet through online software accurately. It provides a 360-degree view of equipment and offers information about active trucks – where they are currently, and if any needs scheduling maintenance. To use wireless fleet management, a warehouse needs to install modules equipped with sensors, GPS, and telemetry technology onto their machines. By doing so, they can collect valuable data that provides new insight into various aspects of warehouse management and operations. The system generates instant alerts about possible vehicle impacts that can cause damage or injury and provide information about potential problem areas in a warehouse or outdoor environment.

Final thoughts on warehouse automation and management

Since we know all advantages of warehouse automation and management, it’s understandable why workers worry that automated systems and robots will eventually replace them in all activities. Nevertheless, automation actually improves the lives and jobs of everyone in this industry. That’s primarily because of enhanced worker safety – automated devices handle all stressful, daunting, and repetitive tasks. It allows workers to focus on more value-added tasks and therefore boosts their morale.

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Samuel Jefferson is working for PortaBox Storage Seattle. Eight years of experience gave him expertise in many areas of advanced warehouse management and automated operations, so he likes to share his knowledge occasionally by writing blogs. In his spare time, Samuel practices martial arts and enjoys outdoor activities with his son.

Archives, Global Trade Daily, International Trade

Social Media Solution to Counterfeit Culture

January 8th, 2021 Bernard Klein Leave a comment

Like so many of my peers, bored and stuck at home during the pandemic, I downloaded Tiktok. As I scrolled through the (admittedly addictive) videos of comedic bits and I came across one Tiktok that gave me pause. In the video, an unseen user unboxes a “Louis Vuitton” handbag. But this handbag was not a real Louis Vuitton bag (which could range in price from hundreds to thousands of dollars) but, actually, a “dupe”. The video shows the authentic-looking shopping bag, box, ribbons, dust bag, and even fake receipts and certificates. The bag looks real, with logos, stitching, pattern, and design all intact. Following the hashtag, I discovered hundreds of other videos where users brag about and display their designer “dupes”. These items ranged from shoes to bags, accessories, jewelry, and even a water bottle!

It’s fairly easy to figure out the appeal of designer “dupes”. Millennials and Gen Z are both fully immersed in social media. They strive to create an online profile that is happy, successful, and affluent. Affluence is defined by vacations, cars, shopping, and status symbols. These status symbols vary from group to group, but we all are aware of the particular items and brands that indicate status. And we all want those items, both just to have them but also to show them off. The problem is, we can’t all afford them.

Enter the dupe. These knock-off and counterfeit items look identical to the real thing, but they are sold at a fraction of the cost. To the millennial or Gen Z buyer, it’s a great deal. They get their status symbol, show off to their friends online and in-person and maintain their image…all at a low, low cost! The best part, buyers figure, is that no one is getting hurt. That’s the part they get wrong.

Counterfeit products are often produced in factories run by organized crime. People working in those factories are subject to dismal, substandard working conditions. They work long, hard hours, and do not earn a living wage. These dangerous conditions and long hours can only be compared to sweatshops, long outlawed in the USA. Children are often employed at these sweatshops, forced to work at deadly jobs in unsafe environments. With no regulations, toxic, cancerous, and harmful chemicals are often used in the production of counterfeit goods. The proceeds of counterfeit goods are used to fund human trafficking, drug trafficking, sex trafficking, and terrorist groups. Additionally, when consumers buy counterfeit products instead of purchasing from the genuine manufacturer, governments lose the tax revenue they would obtain from sales by the genuine manufacturer. These lost tax dollars could have been used to fund programs and changes in local communities that could improve the living conditions of the same people working to manufacture counterfeits.

Millennials and Gen Z are the “woke” generation. This is the consumer who is conscientious, educated, and willing to take a stand. They want to know the sources of what they buy and the policies of the brands they support.

When these consumers discover a brand or a company that has policies and procedures that align with their values, and they throw their support behind the brand, they can take a business from a small startup in a home to an IPO. Alternatively, should they discover that a company is violating their values or is dishonest in its practices, this generation of consumers can rain down fury. It takes one person to start a conversation that can mushroom into a movement that changes companies, leadership, and society as a whole. This woke generation—that seeks out information and is willing to fight for their values—seems at odds with the counterfeit culture. Why are they willing to buy an item that supports criminal ventures and the subjugation of workers? Why are they willing to use products containing chemicals that are potentially harmful both to workers and themselves?

Most brands spend thousands of dollars protecting their products’ authenticity as they move through the supply chain. They use covert, forensic, and digital strategies to detect counterfeit goods. They use tamper-proof seals, holograms, barcodes, security tags, QR codes, and micro markers, among other tactics. They train law enforcement agents to detect and seize fake products. They employ security experts to assess and manage risks. They engage lawyers to battle counterfeiters in the justice system.

For all the efforts expended and all the money spent, the one group businesses fail to engage is the consumer. Most companies do not make educating the consumer on the dangers of buying counterfeit goods a part of their strategy. These consumers, who are otherwise hyper-aware of product characteristics, may be totally unaware that a counterfeit purchase could be completely at odds with their otherwise conscientious buying habits.

To quote Michael Bierut, “The problem contains the solution.” Just as consumers may take to social media to show off a counterfeit purchase, social media can also be harnessed in the fight against counterfeit culture. Social media reaches more users than traditional advertising. It can be impactful, thoughtful, exciting, and memorable. Companies should take a two-pronged approach. First, companies should use social media to highlight the steps they are taking to improve their brand. Posting on the company’s social media pages, tagging other influential community members and supporters, and reposting messages that align with the company’s values are all excellent ways to position your brand as one that millennials and Gen Z can fully support.

The second tactic companies can employ is to utilize social media to educate consumers about the impact their counterfeit purchases can have on society. Companies can inform social media users of the effects their buys have and how they violate their conscientious purchasing habits by highlighting specific cases where human rights were violated, children exploited, toxins used, and companies or criminal organizations that are funded by counterfeit monies, among other harms.

The counterfeit culture, so casually and extensively displayed and flaunted on social media, can be countered. The consumer today is one that is willing to change. They will change their buying habits to support a brand that they connect with, is authentic, and has procedures and policies that line up with their own values. They will mobilize their friends and family to discourage practices that are distasteful, harmful, and detrimental to society. By harnessing the power of social media to connect with their consumer, companies can tap into that power, force, and energy to combat counterfeiters everywhere.

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Bernard Klein is the president of Almont Group Inc. A dedicated father of three, he finds time to run and box while running a successful company that helps clients’ source goods overseas.

Archives, Global Trade Daily, Special Reports

Best Cities for Tradesmen

January 8th, 2021 Porch Leave a comment

The U.S. is facing a shortage of skilled trade laborers. This is due to several factors, including the culture’s emphasis on getting a four-year college degree and an increasing number of retiring Baby Boomers. The shortage of skilled trade labor has pushed up wages in these occupations. According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual earnings for skilled wage occupations is $47,428, nearly 20% higher than that across all workers.

While there is a shortage of skilled trade workers nationally, the concentration of skilled trade workers varies significantly on a geographic basis. Some parts of the country have older workforces and more skilled trade veterans that are retiring. Vocational programs are also more popular in some areas than others. At the state level, Wyoming and Louisiana have the highest percentage of skilled trade workers in the U.S. Skilled trade employment makes up 8.5% and 6.6% of total employment in Wyoming and Louisiana, respectively.

To find the best areas in the U.S. for skilled trade workers, researchers at Porch analyzed data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the U.S. Census Bureau, the Bureau of Economic Analysis, and Unionstats.com and created a composite score based on the following factors:

-Median annual wage for skilled trade workers: the median annual wage for workers in skilled trade occupations

-New residential construction spending per skilled trade worker: value of new residential construction per skilled trade worker

-Employment growth for skilled trade workers: growth in the employment of skilled trade workers over the past two years

-Private union membership: percentage of private industry workers with union membership

-Cost of living: cost of living relative to the national average

At the state level, the best states for skilled trade workers are in the West. According to the composite score, the highest-ranking state is Nevada, where median annual earnings for skilled trade workers is nearly $50,000. Both Oregon and Washington also rank highly among states and offer attractive wages for tradesmen. All of these states also show higher-than-average employment growth in skilled trades and have high rates of private union membership. At the national level, skilled trade employment grew by 6% from 2017 to 2019, and 6.2% of private industry workers belong to unions.

Researchers at Porch ranked metro areas according to their composite score. To improve relevance, only metropolitan areas with at least 100,000 people were included in the analysis. Additionally, metro areas were grouped into the following cohorts based on population size:

-Small metros: 100,000–349,999

-Midsize metros: 350,000–999,999

-Large metros: 1,000,000 or more

Here are the best large metros for skilled trade workers.

Metro	Rank	Composite score	Median annual wage for skilled trade workers	New residential construction spending per skilled trade worker	Employment growth for skilled trade workers	Private union membership	Cost of living (compared to national average)
Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV	1	83.61	$49,504	$47,374	10.6%	13.1%	-3.2%
Sacramento–Roseville–Arden-Arcade, CA	2	82.78	$52,873	$52,189	13.4%	8.2%	+3.6%
St. Louis, MO-IL	3	82.74	$58,038	$25,077	3.2%	10.7%	-9.0%
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA	4	82.03	$57,582	$40,315	12.8%	7.6%	+3.8%
Birmingham-Hoover, AL	5	81.86	$43,218	$35,046	9.9%	8.2%	-11.3%
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA	6	81.83	$50,079	$37,055	12.5%	14.8%	+7.0%
Kansas City, MO-KS	7	81.75	$50,693	$40,603	7.1%	7.1%	-7.1%
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA	8	81.12	$69,513	$28,447	12.7%	9.7%	+31.6%
Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN	9	80.45	$47,735	$25,221	8.1%	8.1%	-9.8%
Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN	10	80.25	$48,106	$25,619	8.3%	6.7%	-10.0%
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	11	80.00	$61,771	$41,874	4.2%	12.7%	+12.9%
Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN	12	79.67	$48,178	$44,913	6.4%	5.4%	-8.4%
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI	13	79.17	$60,280	$46,251	4.3%	7.9%	+2.6%
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH	14	79.05	$60,558	$32,462	11.0%	5.7%	+14.2%
Pittsburgh, PA	15	77.59	$52,473	$7,200	4.9%	9.2%	-6.9%
United States	–	N/A	$47,428	$37,164	6.0%	6.2%	N/A

For more information, a detailed methodology, and complete results, you can find the original report on Porch’s website: https://porch.com/advice/best-cities-for-tradesmen/