THE SUPPLY CHAIN BLOG
Warehouse Optimization: Maximizing Space Utilization and Reducing Costs
In the world of supply chain management, warehouses play a crucial role in storing and distributing goods efficiently. However, many companies struggle with limited space and rising operational costs, which can hinder productivity and profitability. The key to overcoming these challenges lies in warehouse optimization. By maximizing space utilization and reducing costs, businesses can unlock significant benefits and gain a competitive edge in the market. In this post, we will explore practical strategies and actionable tips to optimize your warehouse operations and get the most out of your warehouse or distribution center.
Why you Should Prioritize Reverse Logistics and Returns Management
This year, returns set an all new single-day high and certain companies are so overwhelmed that they are refunding consumers and telling them to keep the items rather than shipping them back. Returns have become a large pain point for many companies and can add a lot of extra costs when not handled correctly. A thorough understanding for reverse logistics and returns management can allow companies to minimize the added costs and recoup some value while earning increases in customer loyalty.
5 Supply Chain Trends for 2021
This past year has created many new challenges for everyone, causing consumers and companies to adapt. We expect some of the supply chain changes to be temporary but that many of them will have a lasting impact on the supply chain industry going forward. Below, we discuss some of the trends that we expect to see in 2021.
Blockchain in Logistics: How it Started and How It's Going
Blockchain’s origin is rooted in the release of the whitepaper written under the name Satoshi Nakamoto explaining the foundation of what we know as today, Bitcoin. Bitcoin offered an avenue to worry-free digital transactions due to transparency and decentralization of the data. This ensured that information could not be altered and prompted the crypto-currency boom. The core-principles of blockchain and success of Bitcoin started a wave of curiosity into other possible applications, thus the development of the technology began to arise. One of these applications was supply chain.
Supply Chain Network Optimization – How to Do it Right
The time is right to re-align your Supply Chain Strategy, for many reasons including:
Logistics and fulfillment are the new storefronts and sales tools
The explosion of direct-to-consumer business forces all companies to have an omnichannel strategy.
The sourcing landscape is rapidly changing with more near-sourcing and risk minimizing.
Sustainability awareness is increasingly unavoidable - and transportation is a big piece.
Supply Chain in COVID-19: The Option of Nearshoring
Our CEO, Håkan Andersson, was recently featured on a podcast with industry expert, Bob Hess, about the potential for #nearshoring as a result of the pandemic. Listen here: https://nkf.re/3dhqU0
Lean Supply Chain & Logistics Management Training and Consulting
A lean supply chain & logistics process has been streamlined to reduce and eliminate waste or non-value added activities to the total supply chain flow and to the products moving within the supply chain. Waste can be measured in time, inventory and unnecessary costs. Value added activities are those that contribute to efficiently placing the final product at the customer.
Logistics as an Investment Guide
Can companies’ activities in logistics be a good indicator of investment opportunities? Many investors are looking for companies that that grow very fast while being profitable. Fast track firms selling physical products likely outgrow their existing distribution network and need to expand to satisfy the demand for their products.