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Redwood Logistics Empowers Shippers to Grow a More Sustainable Supply Chain with Redwood Hyperion

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Redwood Logistics Empowers Shippers to Grow a More Sustainable Supply Chain with Redwood Hyperion

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The new carbon emissions tracking tool provides shippers visibility into freight emissions and access to verified carbon offsets

Redwood Logistics, one of the fastest-growing supply chain and logistics companies in North America, today introduced its innovative sustainability tool, Redwood Hyperion, providing freight emissions calculations and access to verified carbon credits. Available later this year, Redwood’s sustainability program will provide a customizable suite of carbon visibility, reduction, and offsetting tools, meeting shippers wherever they are in their sustainability journey – providing actionable insights to help reach their goals.

This automates detailed load-by-load emissions calculations, provides supply chain emissions metrics & analytics, and supports carbon neutral initiatives by facilitating carbon credit purchases toward verified projects. It will include a comprehensive suite of carbon tracking and data tools through RedwoodConnect™, Redwood’s proprietary iPaaS platform that facilitates integration of digital and physical supply chains. Additionally, Redwood will be formalizing its current managed offering under Redwood Eco Advisory umbrella to guide shippers towards supply chain efficiencies that obtains measurable emission reductions, while also reducing freight costs.

By bringing freight emissions into the bigger picture of overall impact, This will be a key aspect in enabling customers to make informed and carbon efficient decisions. Measurable emissions in hand, reductions are a priority to climate initiatives that can be supported with leading-edge technology, network optimization, and freight operations evolution. What can’t be reduced can be offset as part of a net-zero emissions strategy.

Hyperion, a coastal redwood tree located in California, ranks as the tallest living tree in the world. Given a coastal redwood can absorb as much as 250 times the carbon of other trees, Hyperion was selected as Redwood’s recognizable symbol of climate change while further strengthening Redwood’s LPaaS (Logistics Platform as a Service) ecosystem, bridging the gap between logistics and technology through an interconnected and open platform that allows for effortless scaling and logistics network design.

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Upgrading Your Manufacturing – 5 Point Guide to a Smart Factory System

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The manufacturing industry has seen significant changes over the last decade due to the fourth industrial revolution. Also known as Industry 4.0, this revolution has been fueled by new technologies like automation, IIoT, cloud computing and AI.

Manufacturers that have invested in these technologies are seeing visible improvements, proving smart factories are here to stay. Early adopters reported average three-year gains of 10% or better for factory output, factory capacity utilization, and labor productivity.

Today, the majority of manufacturers agree on the importance of smart factories in the future of the industry. In the United States, 86% of manufacturers believe that, by 2025, smart factories will be driving the competition in the industry. Moreover, 83% also believe that smart factories will transform how products are manufactured. In such times, businesses have to move towards upgrading their manufacturing facilities to smart factories.

Here’s a five-step guide to help you upgrade your manufacturing to a smart factory system.

Step 1: Decide on Goals and Identify Your Needs

Making changes to the manufacturing system is capital-intensive, and such critical responsibilities demand top leadership involvement. To begin the process of upgrading, the top management has to take initiative and get involved in the process throughout the project. This helps in making important decisions related to identifying the need for upgrades, long-term goals, allocation of resources, and expected ROI.

For a successful upgrade to a smart factory, top management has to involve all the employees in the process. Employees know the manufacturing system closely. They can help identify needs for changes, suggest solutions for improving the product and create a culture centered around efficiency, productivity and safety.

The first step is finished when the management has defined the goals of upgrading to a smart factory, the need for changes, the KPIs (Key Performance Indicators), and the expected ROI through efficiency and productivity. The goals and needs of the plant should be in line with the long-term strategy of the enterprise.

Step 2: Choosing the Critical Areas for Upgrades

Creating a smart factory out of your conventional factory isn’t a one-time change but a long process that involves allocating resources based on the goals and needs identified in the first step. The second step – choosing critical areas – is key to starting off the process on the right foot.

For this, the current production system and processes are analyzed for efficiency, productivity and bottlenecks. The analysis highlights various opportunities for smart technologies and modern processes to improve system efficiency. These opportunities are listed based on their criticality to the system. For example, if a workstation breakdown can bring the whole plant to a halt, it is the most critical and at the top. If an area upgrade can improve efficiency by a large amount, it is also critical.

Solving the issues in these critical areas reduces unplanned downtime and provides higher return on investment through improved productivity. Consequently, they become the perfect choices for implementing pilot projects. The results of these projects, in terms of unplanned downtime reduction and productivity improvement, can help choose the next upgrades and critical areas.

Step 3: Investing in Workstation and Workforce Upgrades

Smart factories are a result of Industry 4.0 technologies like IIoT, automation, big data analysis, AI and more, which have been advancing rapidly over the years. The third step is investing in these technologies to bring the changes for the critical areas identified in the first two steps. Smart factories tend to have customized solutions for assets with sensors, automated processes and new tools to improve worker productivity.

The workstations and assets with sensors create the IIoT for the system that allows communication between all the plant’s assets. To handle the data from all assets, inventory and orders, an EAM software is central – it handles predictive maintenance as well. Predictive maintenance can be implemented using real-time data from assets to achieve near-zero unplanned downtime.

A smart factory isn’t just about workstations but about the workforce as well. After all, workers are the ones who have to utilize these technologies to get the best out of them. It is vital to invest in training the workforce to use all the features of the new systems and workstations to achieve the productivity goals.

Step 4: Data Collection and Analysis for Optimization

Data drives improvements in the modern manufacturing industry. All assets produce large amounts of data but only a small part is utilized by most manufacturers. A smart factory has to be focused on collecting data efficiently and analyzing it thoroughly. Investing in capable IIoT and EAM software for data collection and analysis becomes important for this reason as well.

The data from workstation sensors is collected and processed by the system to create useful insights into the production. Various KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) can be monitored using real-time data. Close collaboration between the IT and OT departments can help ensure better data collection and analysis. Data experts from the IT department can train other employees to ensure a better understanding of data analysis.

After analysis, the insights should be discussed to identify opportunities for improvement in the production, as well as in management. Management should make decisions based on the learnings and keep track of the effects of the changes over time.

Step 5: Monitor, Learn, Improve

As mentioned earlier, upgrading your manufacturing system to a smart factory is a continuous process. A smart factory provides the data and tools which the employees have to utilize efficiently to improve results by making changes and upgrades. Monitoring the progress with the available systems and EAM software highlights various opportunities for improvement across the factory. With the available information about the productivity, costs and efficiency since last changes, management can make better decisions about which improvements to prioritize. 

Developments over the last decade have made it clear that smart factories are here to stay. The key to effective upgrading is utilizing tools and strategies efficiently in the critical areas, and monitoring the progress. Businesses that want to remain competitive must start upgrading their systems to move towards smart factories. The five steps listed here will help you create a good plan for your journey of creating a smart factory.

Author’s Bio

For over 30 years, Eric Whitley has been a noteworthy leader in the Manufacturing space. In addition to the many publications and articles Eric has written on various manufacturing topics, you may know him from his efforts leading the Total Productive Maintenance effort at Autoliv ASP or from his involvement in the Management Certification programs at The Ohio State University, where he served as an adjunct faculty member.  

After an extensive career as a reliability and business improvement consultant, Eric joined L2L, where he currently serves as the Director of Smart Manufacturing. His role in this position is to help clients learn and implement L2L’s pragmatic and simple approach to corporate digital transformation.   

Eric lives with his wife of 35 years in Northern Utah. When Eric is not working, he can usually be found on the water with a fishing rod in his hands.  

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Intelligent Automation Finally Arriving to a Supply Chain Near You

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There’s always a better way. It’s a similar refrain, no matter the industry you work in. There are few jobs where you can confidently state, “we reached our pinnacle here, nothing more to do!” Alas, many of us might welcome such a thought, but there’s always more to do. 

The last two and a half years have been challenging for supply chains. COVID-19 is the principal driver of labor shortages across global chains, while the chain as a whole has become much more stretched. This means that anything from a storm in Texas to a fire in Taiwan ends up affecting folks both near and far from Texas and Taiwan. 

Volatility, ambiguity, complexity, and uncertainty are all operating at peak levels. Large firms had been considering automation for decades. But the current challenges are accelerating this consideration and intelligent automation (IA) is now playing a well-deserved, protagonist role.   

IA is the combination of artificial intelligence (AI) and robotic process automation (RPA). The end goal is to improve efficiency and cut costs. Companies or industries with humans working on repetitive tasks are prime IA customers. As detailed In “Unlocking the true potential of supply chains with intelligent automation,” Reuters Events and Blue Prism present some compelling case studies as to how different industries are driving value via IA in their supply chain processes. 

There are a host of disruptive technologies altering how firms conduct their business. Everything from 5G to the Internet of Things, cloud computing, and of course blockchain are in play. But a Reuters survey of logistics professionals found that AI was at the top of the list in terms of technologies that will have the biggest impact on their industry over the coming years. The journey towards full-scale IA is highly dependent on the successful integration of AI and RPA. Yet, the same embrace that automation received on the factory floor has not permeated into the white-collar (supply management) suites. Thankfully, a supply chain disaster just might be the impetus that was needed. 

Reuters Events and Blue Prism found that some of the clearest examples of where IA can make an immediate impact are in forecasting, demand planning, data transformation, document digitization, invoice management, record handling, regulatory compliance, freight management, and automated purchase ordering. One of the paper’s case studies focused on Boeing. Through a newly implemented standardized system for managing and automating purchase order releases, the supply chain team estimated that 1 million-plus order changes have now been automated which equates to 15,000 labor hours saved. 

Unilever might be the most advanced, having handed over the “keys” of their baseline demand forecasts to a predictive, machine learning model. According to employees, the machine is outperforming humans when it comes to arriving at baseline calculations. Departments provide inputs to the system (store closings, new products, etc) that naturally change future calculations, but the baseline itself is fixed and is completed without the need of dozens of teams pouring over historical data and hashing out their prognostications. 

The Unilever example is the best in terms of communicating the collaborative nature of IA and human workforces. IA is not here to take anyone’s job. Rather, process-driven tasks are freed up and employees can then focus on more complex projects. Supply chains are late to the automation game, but this game doesn’t have an ending. There is always time to find a better way.  

   

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How Virtual Credit Cards Are Powering New Digital Business Models

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The credit card has come a long way since Forrest and Dorothea Parry invented it in 1960. Forrest was an IBM engineer working on bar code systems and optical character readers when he came up with the idea of a plastic card with data stored on a magnetic tape strip. He tried gluing the strip to the card, but the glue destroyed the data. His wife Dorothea suggested ironing it on. Her idea worked, and the system for storing, reading, transmitting and authenticating data that IBM developed around the mag stripe card revolutionized payments.  

The days of that simple plastic card are behind us. Most plastic cards today use chips, which can store and transmit more data, and also offer the ability to program custom features onto the card. In the world of B2B payments, virtual cards now transmit money and data without plastic at all. 

Evolution of Virtual Cards

With the rise of third party APIs and microservices, companies building digital businesses can integrate customized virtual card capabilities right into their operational processes. Think of it as a Virtual Card as a Service. I spent 15 years helping develop this technology, starting in the mid-2000s. 

At the time, what we were building was targeted at helping online travel agencies (OTAs) and Travel Management Companies (TMCs) better service hotels. During the Great Recession, corporate or leisure travel collapsed. With business slumping, OTAs & TMCs were looking for ways to increase efficiency and cut costs–for themselves, and for the hotels they served. 

Their business model, which was relatively new at the time, was to collect and aggregate data about room inventory and prices from global distribution systems (GDSs) such as Sabre, Amadeus and Travelport. They would then publish the listings in a user-friendly platform where travelers could book rooms directly through an API integration to the GDS, as opposed to having to call a bunch of hotels on the telephone and book directly. 

In exchange for acting as a marketing and sales arm for the hotels, OTAs would  earn a commission or assess a fee on room nights. For example, let’s say you reserve a hotel room through an OTA for $225. The OTA charges your card $225 through their acquirer. They’re the merchant in this scenario, so on your credit card statement you’ll see a charge from the OTA or TMC for $225. 

You’re done with the transaction, but the OTA still needs to pay the hotel the agreed upon amount. At the time, most OTAs were doing this part offline. Hotels could send them a detailed invoice weekly or monthly, and they would manually reconcile that with inventory sold and send a check. It was costly and inefficient for all parties.

Then as now, most travelers paid for hotel stays with credit cards, so hotels’ accounts receivable processes were and are designed around credit cards. When you give them a credit card for a specific hotel room, their AR system maps that card to a hotel stay. And when the transaction is completed, it automatically reconciles those room nights. The back end accounting is very clean. 

OTAs were looking to find a credit card issuer and a credit card processor that could use then-nascent virtual card technology to digitize the process and transmit the funds and the identifying data to the hotels’ accounts receivable departments in near real time, without the hotel having to bill the OTA separately.

We built a tech stack to be able to issue unique virtual card numbers one at a time, at the time the traveler booked the room. The $225 hotel room sale triggers the OTA to call a virtual card API and request a virtual card. 

The issuer sends the OTA a unique 16-digit MasterCard number, with expiration date, CVC and embedded controls that only allow it to be used only for an agreed upon amount in the merchant category code hotels. The OTA then pushes that unique card number to the GDS, which has all the data associated with your reservation, and they pass the card number and the data to the hotel. 

The hotel’s payment system charges that card the same way they would if the 16 digits were embossed on plastic, and the authorization request from the hotel goes back to the credit card processing platform for authorization. 

The validity of the card number, the available credit, and merchant category code are confirmed. The transaction clears through the MasterCard network overnight. The hotel gets the funds immediately into their account. The transaction is posted to the processing platform, and the OTA associated with the booking sees the expected charge on their bill.

The Virtual Card Advantage

All of this is computer to computer, and it happens in seconds–much faster than you can read this explanation about it. 

It didn’t take long for other industries to understand the benefits of this system–immediate, secure payment with customizable controls to prevent fraud; ease of reconciliation, and charge back capabilities in the case of disputes. Insurance claims management software providers were among the early adopters to integrate virtual cards into their processes..

Once an auto insurance claim is approved, for example, you need a mechanism to pay the auto repair facility that contracts with the insurance company and associate it to the right customer and work order. Auto repair companies also receive a lot of payments by credit card, so virtual cards fit right into their AR workflow.

Really, any digital business that needs to integrate non-invoiced, point of sale payment capabilities into their business process can take advantage of virtual card as a service. Examples include delivery apps, expense management and distressed airline passenger reimbursements.

This is the beauty of APIs and microservices. Developers and product leaders can focus on the core capabilities of their business, and connect into as a service offerings for capabilities such as website search, location data, and payment connectivity. It doesn’t make sense to build these things themselves when they can integrate it as a service from a provider that has already perfected it. 

In the realm of payments, working with a full stack virtual card as a service provider–one who is both issuer–can even enhance their own offerings with additional capabilities such as terms and financing.

The humble plastic credit card with the mag stripe changed the way we pay. Although people still carry plastic in their wallets, it’s been a long time since plastic was just a convenient way to pay for something. Today’s credit cards are sophisticated payment tools that carry richer data and offer a broader range of capabilities. In a data driven world, being able to integrate all of that into a wide variety of business processes is at the core of helping digital businesses scale and thrive.

About the Author

Keith Axelsen is the VP Commercial Product Management at Corpay, a FLEETCOR Company. He has 20 years of experience in the corporate payments and commercial card industry.

 

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Managing Organization Device Fleet with IoT Device Management Solutions

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As global adoption of IoT grows in scale, size, and penetration, we are progressively seeing new industrial opportunities emerge. Almost everyone is now aware of the complex configuration of
a heterogeneous fleet of IoT-connected devices and platforms available via many touchpoints, such as self-operable portals, suppliers, and applications. The risk of dispersed and distributed
operating platforms can also be reduced with an IoT device management platform.

The global IoT Device Management market is expected to grow at a robust CAGR of 24.4% from 2022 to 2032 according to a recent report by Future Market Insights. IoT device management platform presently accounts for almost 55% of total IoT platform sales. The
growing need for linked devices will drive up the demand for IoT device management platforms.

The rising adoption of IoT technologies is also predicted to boost demand. According to the Ericsson Mobility Report, approximately 40% of cellular IoT connections are expected to achieve broadband IoT with 4G connectivity by the end of 2027. IoT device management platforms can work with IoT security features, IoT analytics software, and IoT platforms.

IoT device management also entails regularly maintaining and updating the device’s capabilities with firmware upgrades or security patches to guarantee they are working efficiently, securely,
and in compliance. Thus, the enhanced features offered by the IoT device management solutions can magnify the growth of various companies and increase their operational efficiency.

In this blog, we will discuss how these platforms are driven by the IoT intelligent solutions and gain effective insights on the functioning of the company, how the security of the various IoT
devices be enhanced with these solutions, and how companies are turning towards a new IoT device management platform by Amazon to increase the efficiency and security of the various connected IoT devices in a company.

Enhanced Inventory Management with IoT Device Management Platforms

An initial obstacle most companies experience when deploying remote devices is the cost of having qualified personnel in the field programming and maintaining them effectively. These expenses are then multiplied enormously when deployments are considered in other nations and places with stringent security and regulatory policies. Using an IoT device management platform, one may ship a hardware device anywhere in the globe, and a skilled professional can control the configuration of that equipment remotely as long as it can connect to the internet.

Some providers, such as Robustel, go a step further by providing a ‘Zero-Touch’ configuration technique, similar to the Device Templates feature in RCMS. This allows consumers to pre- configure devices with their preferred settings, firmware, and programs, and as soon as the device connects to an internet network, it will instantly download that profile, allowing it to be installed by anyone with no technical experience.

A common issue in the early days of the machine-to-machine (M2M) and IoT installations was that a large amount of device data was captured in spreadsheets or different locations. As a result, as staff members changed and record shifted, devices were misplaced or orphaned. Using a Device Management Platform provides another level of inventory management by recording every deployed equipment in the field along with its firmware, installed apps, and settings so that it can be easily found. For example, Robustel’s RCMS additionally has a geolocation component that allows the companies to localize their IoT devices on a map using GPS or cell tower triangulation. Manufacturers can reduce the amount of inventory on hand while satisfying the demands of the consumer at the end of the supply chain by using real-time data about the quantity and location of inventory items with this platform. This helps in better tracking and tracking the various devices. This is how the companies can support their IoT devices using such IoT device management platforms.

Enhanced Organizational Security for the IoT Devices

Accessing remote IoT devices with backdoors is simple for some people or hackers. As a result, the likelihood of exploiting a device’s operating system and firmware application security flaws is considerable. IoT devices, like PCs, mobile devices, and tablets, require software and firmware updates from time to time to guarantee that vulnerabilities are effectively resolved. Previously,
this was accomplished by flashing firmware with a computer connected via USB or Ethernet; however, an update to programs or firmware can now be supplied Over-the-Air (OTA). A device
management platform will be required to assist a corporation with these OTA upgrades.

A fundamental advantage of a highly integrated IoT device management platform, such as Digi Remote Manager, is its ability to identify and mitigate security breaches like attempted device
configuration changes, as well as to notify system administrators of these events. Digi Remote Manager® (Digi RM) is a technology platform that takes networks to the next level by enabling
networks – and the people who operate them – to work intelligently. It combines a large number of scattered IoT devices into a dynamic, integrated platform. Businesses can now quickly activate, monitor, and diagnose hundreds, if not thousands, of mission-critical devices from a single point of control. Digi RM monitors the network for disturbances and incursions and alerts workers when action is required. It sets up alerts for critical conditions. Reports on network
performance are also available. Configure, update firmware, schedule, and automate processes from your desktop, tablet, or phone. This provides improved protection for the many IoT-
connected devices in an organization against threats and dangers associated with the entire IoT system.

Companies can also quickly extend their network at scale with bi-directional, open integration and bring intelligence to the edge with custom code, APIs, and Python scripts with this technology. Meanwhile, software-defined security vigilantly protects the entire Digi ecosystem. At the same time, Digi Remote Manager provides all of the above at a lower initial and ongoing cost than other industry options. Above all, Digi Remote Manager will automatically monitor
and repair network device security by monitoring dozens, hundreds, or thousands of active connected devices that require network monitoring software. Human eyes cannot keep up with such a large number of files.

AWS IoT Device Management- a new platform by Amazon to help companies gain more Efficiency

AWS IoT Device Management is a cloud-based device software application that allows users to manage IoT devices securely throughout their lifecycle. AWS IoT Device Management allows
businesses to onboard device information and configuration, monitor their fleet of devices, organize device inventories, and remotely manage devices deployed across many regions. This
remote management includes device software upgrades delivered over-the-air (OTA).

AWS IoT Device Management assists businesses in registering new devices by uploading templates that they populate with information such as device manufacturer and serial number, identity certificates, or security policies via the IoT management console or API. Then, with a few mouse clicks, they may configure the entire fleet of devices with this information.

AWS IoT Device Management allows you to organize your device fleet into hierarchical structures based on function, security needs, or any other criteria. Companies can group one device in a room, devices that function on the same floor, or all devices that work within a building. They can then utilize these groups to administer access policies, see operational analytics, and conduct actions on your devices on behalf of the entire group. They can also use
dynamic thing groups to automate device organization. Their dynamic thing groupings will automatically add devices that fulfill their set criteria and eliminate those that do not.

For example, the Volkswagen Group produces around 11 million cars per year and imports 200 million parts per day into its factories—a tremendous scale on which to run an efficient global
supply chain. Volkswagen is collaborating with AWS to consolidate its 124 plant locations under a unified architecture: The Volkswagen Industrial Cloud. The Group will then connect Volkswagen’s global network of over 1,500 suppliers to the Industrial Cloud in the following stage. The company makes use of AWS machine learning services, which execute algorithms based on data collected from sensors on the shop floor, as well as AWS Outposts. Thus the
efficiency in the company can be accelerated and enhanced both with the help of smarter IoT device management solutions, like AWS.

Conclusion

IoT device management systems are frequently used to manage an organization’s device fleet by IoT professionals and operational managers. These platforms aid in the collection of devices, the
authorization and interpretation of reported data, real-time monitoring, and software updates.

Furthermore, these platforms serve to alleviate the strain of complex device administration, making the overall network more efficient in its totality. A device management platform may
connect to various devices, retrieve information about their condition, and even change the status as needed. Most of the time, these platform management solutions are supplied as SaaS or PaaS.
Using an IoT device, any type of developer can reduce time to market. However, if the companies use a device management platform to control such devices, the time can be reduced
even further. An IoT device management platform provides everything a business needs to set up and operate a network straight immediately. Furthermore, a future-oriented network architecture enables the rapid and scalable development of large-scale installations.

These factors have the potential to accelerate the future growth of the IoT solution. Overall, as businesses simplify and automate network system and device management processes, they
reduce the cost, and requirement for technology, staff, and knowledge. As a result, companies can increase their core skills while also lowering their costs.

Modern IoT device management platforms are scalable and provide a solid infrastructure for implementing IoT solutions at a low cost. More advancements in this discipline, as well as other
emerging technologies such as AI, are expected in the future. In the future, IoT and AI can produce powerful analytics and insights for even SMEs.

Author Bio : Aditi Basu, Marketing Head at Future Market Insights

Aditi is the Marketing Head at Future Market Insights (FMI), an ESOMAR-certified market research and consulting Market Research Company. The award-winning firm is headquartered
in Dubai, with offices in the US, UK, and India. The award-winning firm is headquartered in Dubai, with offices in the US, UK, and India. MarketNgage is the Market Research Subscription Platform from FMI that assists stakeholders in obtaining in-depth research across industries, markets and niche segments. You can connect with Aditi on LinkedIn.

Future Market Insights (FMI), is an ESOMAR-certified market research and consulting market research company. FMI is a leading provider of market intelligence and consulting services, serving clients in over 150 countries; its market research reports and industry analysis help businesses navigate challenges and
make critical decisions with confidence and clarity amidst breakneck competition. Now avail flexible Research Subscriptions, and access Research multi-format through downloadable databooks, infographics, charts, and interactive playbook for data visualization and full reports through MarketNgage, the unified market intelligence engine powered by Future Market Insights. Sign Up for a 7 day free trial!

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Cybersecurity Can no Longer be Pushed to Next Year 

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Cyberattacks are on the rise. It’s a natural extension of our collective technological advances. We are as interconnected as ever, which naturally results in immeasurable benefits. But it also exposes us to bad actors who will try and benefit from vulnerable systems. The shipping giant Maersk can attest to the latter.      

In 2017 the Russian military launched a disk-wiping cyber weapon, NotPetya, with the intent of targeting businesses in Ukraine. Yet, the malware quickly got out of hand and Maersk was one of the companies caught in the crossfire. The firm was rendered defenseless and ended up having to reinstall 4,000 servers, 45,000 PCs, and 2,500 applications over an improbable 10-day period. To put this in perspective, installing something of this magnitude in normal times would take roughly 6 months. 

Maersk suffered $300 million in losses and the incident was a real wakeup call for the industry. The concern for shipping is not only individual business operations, but also the residual effects – namely, ports being closed and the subsequent supply chain severely hampered. Organizations worldwide have been conducting internal audits to see just how exposed they are. The measures are considerable, but the exercise starts with five actionable steps. 

First is conducting a disaster-recovery planning scenario that spans both physical and digital systems. A good disaster plan accounts for the “craziest” of scenarios and then action steps to mitigate the impact. For shipping, this training should incorporate onshore and at-sea elements to prepare for every potential scenario. 

The second is a controversial step – zero-trust. Digitization expansion has rendered the security perimeter obsolete. Personal computing and small-scale businesses rely on firewalls. Large-scale organizations in 2022 require authenticated access at every level. This is challenging for organizations working remotely or in a hybrid environment Yet, if implemented with a clear, shared security-first goal for the entire organization, zero-trust turns into a transparent policy that ends up fostering trust in the system. 

Third, and closely aligned with zero-trust, is security is now everybody’s problem. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) provides a host of resources on how to enhance cyber-security in organizations of all sizes. Much of their literature is free and also readable – something key if you’re seeking security buy-in from everyone at the firm. 

The Colonial Pipeline attack took down the largest US fuel pipeline in May 2021. After negotiation, the company paid a hacker group roughly $4.4 million in Bitcoin. It was a stunning turn of events, and believe it or not, an ineffective password policy is what let the hackers in. Simple steps such as mandating a multi-factor authentication process and regular compromised credentials screening could have stopped the hackers in their tracks. These are simple (and cheap) measures coupled with software updates and security patches. 

Lastly, training, training, training. All of the above will not work unless employees receive regular training. The arsenal of attacks is ever-changing and the cost-benefit analysis of failing to train can rear its ugly head at any time. These are critical first steps that large firms have the funds for and smaller firms need to budget for. Cybersecurity can no longer be something for future generations to address.  

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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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Biggest Challenges for Women in Tech

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The tech industry is one of the most rapidly growing industries in the world. It offers ample opportunities for those who are skilled in coding, programming, and other technical fields. However, women continue to face significant challenges when it comes to working in tech. Women in tech face unique challenges that their male counterparts don’t. From dealing with a lack of role models to struggling to be taken seriously, these women often have to work twice as hard and overcome many obstacles. In this guide, we will discuss some of the biggest challenges that women in tech face and provide a guide on how to empower yourself and rise above them. We hope that this guide will help you achieve your goals and break through the barriers that are preventing you from succeeding in tech!

One of the biggest challenges that women in tech face are a lack of role models. Women are often underrepresented in leadership positions in tech companies. This can make it difficult for women to advance their careers and achieve their goals. A lack of role models can also lead to a feeling of isolation and discouragement. When you don’t see anyone like yourself in a position of power, it can be easy to feel like you don’t belong or that you can’t succeed.

Another challenge that women in tech face are gender bias. Studies have shown that men are more likely to be promoted than women, even when they have comparable qualifications. Women are also often judged more harshly than men when it comes to their work performance. This bias can make it difficult for women to be taken seriously and to advance their careers.

Lastly, women in tech often have to deal with sexual harassment. Unfortunately, sexual harassment is a common problem in the tech industry. Women have reported being harassed by colleagues, clients, and even strangers at tech events. This type of harassment can make it difficult for women to feel safe and comfortable in their work environment.

These are just some of the challenges that women in tech face on a daily basis. Despite these challenges, there are many ways and guides to empower women and overcome them. Here are some tips:

Help more women to graduate with computer science degrees and certifications will graduate

There’s no doubt that women are underrepresented in computer science and engineering programs. In order to create a more diverse and inclusive tech industry, we need to encourage more women to pursue careers in tech. One way to do this is by ensuring that there are more women with computer science degrees and certifications.

Support Women-Owned Tech Businesses

Another way to support women in tech is by investing in women-owned tech businesses. When you invest in these businesses, you are supporting the growth of the industry as well as empowering female entrepreneurs.

Encourage More Women To Speak At Tech Events

One way to help reduce gender bias in the tech industry is by encouraging more women to speak at tech events. This will help to increase the visibility of women in tech and help to change the perception that only men are experts in the field.

Find a mentor

Having someone to guide you and offer advice can be invaluable when you’re trying to navigate the tech industry. Finding a mentor can help you feel more confident and motivated to achieve your goals.

Build a support network

Surrounding yourself with other women in tech can help you feel less alone and more supported. Having a group of people who understand the challenges you’re facing can be a great source of strength.

Speak up

Don’t be afraid to use your voice to speak out against discrimination and harassment. Standing up for yourself and others will help create a more inclusive environment for everyone.

We hope that this guide has been helpful in understanding some of the challenges that women in tech face. Remember, you are not alone! There are many resources and people available to support you on your journey. With perseverance and determination, you can overcome any obstacle. Empower yourself and go after your dreams!

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3pls, Archives, Global Trade Daily, Technology

Geek+ automates German 3PL provider Bergler’s picking operations

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Geek+ AMRs have allowed Bergler to fully automate picking operations in their highly anticipated logistics center.

Geek+, the global leader in AMR technology, is pleased to announce that German third-party logistics provider Bergler Industrieservices has put their faith in Geek+’s Picking and Put-away solution, now fully operational in Bergler’s new logistics center in Erlensee, not far from Germany’s transportation hub, Frankfurt.

Bergler’s success is derived from providing top-quality logistics services, including order fulfillment and returns management, for German and international e-commerce actors. To modernize their picking and put-away processes, Bergler opted for Geek+’s P-800 picking AMRs and sophisticated warehouse management system.
With the picking process automated, Bergler can leverage their considerable advantages and know-how to offer top-of-the-line service to their clients.

This know-how is based, among other things, on experience from the production sector, allowing Bergler Industries services to offer its customers value-added services such as component assembly, quality control, packaging, and much more in addition to handling typical fulfilment tasks.

The automated order picking system is therefore a great help for the around 40 employees who have been assembling, packing, and shipping a large number of orders for customers of various e-commerce operators every day since moving to the 11 000m2 Erlensee site in 2019. Bergler’s warehouse employees are now front and central in both the inbound and outbound operations and enjoy much more comfortable conditions. The P-800s bring the racks to the operator at the workstation, then return the racks to an optimized position based. This saves countless hours that
would otherwise be spent walking through the vast site.

Thanks to the integration of advanced robotics technology, not only is picking faster, more comfortable, and more accurate, but storage density is also much higher, thanks to the AMRs’ low profile and modest space requirements. This allows Bergler more freedom to scale up their operations and expand their business horizons.

Geek+ is once again very proud to have enabled an independent third-party logistics provider to scale up their operations and deliver new levels of quality. The AMR leader stands ready to assist Bergler in making the most of their newly expanded capacities.

About Geek+

Geek+ is a global technology company leading the intelligent logistics revolution. We apply advanced robotics and AI technologies to realize flexible, reliable, and highly efficient solutions for warehouses and supply chain management. Geek+ is trusted by over 500 global industry leaders and has been recognized as the world leader in autonomous mobile robots. Founded in 2015, Geek+ has over 1500 employees, with offices in Germany, the United Kingdom, the United States, Japan, South Korea,
Mainland China, Hong Kong SAR, and Singapore.

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Archives, Commentary, Global Trade Daily, Technology

How Can You Reduce Your Fleet’s Operating Costs?

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We all know how expensive operating a fleet is. If unchecked, the operating costs can shoot up significantly. This can lead to increased expenses and decreased profits. Something that you obviously don’t want.

So, how can you reduce your fleet’s operating costs? You can start by following the tips mentioned in the blog. The recommendations cover topics ranging from safety and repair to efficiency, and are easy to implement in your daily operations.

While the changes may seem insignificant, they can dramatically reduce your fleet’s operating costs. So, without further adieu, here are ten ways to control your fleet operating expenses.

1. Installing GPS

Having a GPS device installed in your vehicles helps you monitor them at all times. You can check whether your drivers drive at optimum speeds to reduce fuel usage. You can also check whether they are taking the shortest route possible, which helps reduce fuel consumption. Both these factors help reduce the operating costs by bringing down fuel usage.

Source: Unsplash

For example, a vehicle driving at eighty miles per hour uses twenty-five percent more fuel than a vehicle going at seventy miles per hour. A GPS device can send vehicle speed information continuously, including when the driver exceeds speeds. 

You can then ask the driver to reduce the speed immediately via phone or radio and keep the fuel consumption in check.

2. Leasing Your Fleet

Buying many vehicles all at once can prove a costly affair for most businesses. Moreover, ensuring vehicle maintenance, tracking, efficiency, and safety for every vehicle can drive up the operating costs. Thus, leasing your fleet from a fleet management services provider is the best possible solution.

The service provider will provide the vehicles as and when needed. Thus, you won’t have the issue of ideal vehicles sitting in your company. Moreover, the services provider also takes care of fleet risk management and fleet assessment. They ensure that the vehicles are well-maintained, have well-trained drivers behind the wheel, and can deliver your goods on time.

You can also track the vehicle employed through a mobile app easily. Thus, you can hire the vehicles at an economical cost without worrying about your goods being damaged, lost, or delayed.

3. Reducing Vehicle Loads

Vehicle loads have a direct relationship with fuel efficiency. The heavier your vehicles are loaded, the lower will be your fuel efficiency. 

Heavier vehicles have:

  • Greater inertia, and 
  • Greater rolling resistance

Both these factors can reduce your fuel efficiency and increase fuel consumption.

Thus, try to reduce the weight of your vehicle as much as possible. Get rid of unnecessary things before you begin a trip. Empty the truck of any items from the previous trip. Similarly, if your vehicle has roof racks, remove them if not needed. 

4. Practicing Fuel-Efficient Driving Methods

Driving at optimum speeds isn’t the only way to reduce fuel consumption and your fleet’s operating costs. You can ask your drivers to practice other fuel-saving techniques discussed below.

  • Using gears efficiently

Drivers should try to change gears early when accelerating. They can also use the block method under appropriate conditions. For instance, they can go from third gear to fifth directly when accelerating and vice versa.

  • Driving at optimum/low speeds

We have already discussed this topic in an earlier section. The slower you drive, the less fuel will be consumed. This will help bring down your operating costs significantly.

  • Switching off the air conditioner

Whenever possible, the air conditioner in the vehicle should be switched off. Using air conditioning at low speeds can increase your fuel consumption. So, if it’s a hot day, just roll down the windows for some fresh, cool breeze to soothe you. You may use air conditioning at high speeds.truck

5. Switching off the Vehicle When Not in Use

You should switch off the engine whenever your vehicle is stationary for a considerable time, such as in traffic jams or signals. Why? Because this practice can help save your fuel.

Research has shown that switching the engine off for as brief as ten seconds can help save fuel. The amount may be small, but it can make a significant impact if you have a large number of vehicles that are constantly on the road.

P.S. Shutting down the engine also helps reduce carbon dioxide emissions and lower your carbon footprint.

6. Choosing the Right Vehicle

Whenever possible, downsize to a smaller vehicle. This will help reduce fuel costs as you can use a vehicle with better mileage to transport the items. The vehicle choice must be based on the type of material handling equipment to be transported, their weight, distance, and other factors.

For example, if possible, you can use a small pickup truck instead of a trailer truck to reduce your operating costs. Smaller vehicles provide better fuel efficiency, have fewer maintenance costs, and can complete more trips in the same period as they are relatively faster to drive.

7. Abandoning Unwanted Vehicles

You can cut down your fleet size and keep only the vehicles providing a high return on investment. For example, if you have vehicles that you don’t use often, you can sell them immediately. 

This will help you earn a few thousand dollars and spare you from unwanted expenses on their annual maintenance. You can save $5,000 to $8,000 per vehicle annually.

If you can’t sell them, see if some routes can double up. See if the drivers in the morning and afternoon shifts both can use the same vehicle.

8. Reducing Accidents

Having your vehicle get into an accident is the last thing you want in your transportation strategy. Accidents can lead to significant repair costs. The vehicle and the driver, too, are rendered out of service for many days, which lowers your operating capacity. This naturally leads to financial loss.

Moreover, you can also get entangled in costly lawsuits, which can add salt to the wound.

Thus, provide drivers training regarding safe driving practices. Have strict rules regarding driving methods. If you find a driver rash driving and getting into accidents repeatedly, fire them.

Parting Thoughts

By taking these small steps, you can cut down your fleet’s operating costs significantly. You can use the increased profit to expand your business operations, or focus on other areas of your business. However, you must remember that this is a continuous process rather than a one-off thing. So, always check your fleet to ensure that the operating costs are kept to a minimum.