Increasing efficiency within the supply chain has many benefits. It reduces wastage, improves productivity, and enables a faster and leaner system. Controlling a supply chain involves controlling visibility, and software is increasingly the best way forwards. Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) technology takes over primary administrative roles, meaning fewer errors and greater speed. Here are some of the ways that the latest supply chain efficiency techniques can help.

If you don’t believe there is a place in social media for how you conduct your supply chain management, perhaps it’s time to reconsider.

Twenty years ago you might have been right. The only thing people would have been concerned about was the quality of the products they bought in the shops and yes, that was before social media as we know it today was born. In today’s world, people are more aware, more focused on reducing their carbon footprint. They want to know if raw materials come from sustainable sources, whether foodstuffs are factory farmed or free range, and whether their clothes are produced in unregulated sweat-shops. If that doesn’t provide food for thought, perhaps the fact that a large number of your competitors and partners are already using social media will. So what can social media really do for your business?

Warehousing and logistics businesses are increasingly under pressure to reduce overheads and streamline operations to remain profitable. If you’re fighting this uphill battle, consider the use of mobile printers. They may be just what you need to improve margins, by streamlining labelling and distribution operations in your organisation.

You could insert Brexit, but that would be a bit narrow minded. There is a wide choice to choose from including Trump, Iran, Boris, Italy, China, EU, tariffs, border delays, as well as Brexit. What they all have in common is an impact or potential impact on trading and your business if you use something that originates over the water. No one knows how Brexit will work out is practice - the only guarantee is there will be a lot of hot air generated about it. But with plenty of potential for disruption from elsewhere you should look at strengthening you supply chain anyway, if you have not already done it.

Warehouse management systems are becoming more innovative by the month. Automation improves productivity and accuracy in ways that weren’t possible only a year ago. Orders can be grouped intelligently enough to reduce travel time, and that pace can be further enhanced by high-speed sorting, automatic storage and retrieval systems.

Few aspects of the buying journey are evolving as rapidly as supply chain networks. New technologies are emerging to support what is quickly becoming a global network for even the tiniest of businesses. Buyers can access digital shopping carts from their homes and shop for offshore products set for delivery within mere days. Networks are interconnected and demand-driven, forcing organisations to not only carry their supply networks online, but also adjust their strategies continuously with the analysis of daily data. Social media channels have introduced real-time feedback to the mix, so brands who fail to keep up with demand can attract lasting reputation damage.

2019 is shaping up to be an interesting year in logistics and supply chain management. Trendsetting and predictions are an interesting activity for the end of the year, but it is also good to keep track of how things are changing during the year. These are the main developments we’ve seen shaping the way logistics companies do business in 2019 so far.

When it comes to warehouses, ‘design’ can be a misleading term. You’ll find plenty of articles telling you to make more use of the vertical space, or to invest in better shelving – and these basic points can help. However, great warehouse design is about improving efficiency, such as shortening pick routes and positioning your fast-moving units where you most need them. Here are some no-nonsense tips.

Every aspect of warehouse automation is controlled by your IT system. Warehouse management systems (WMS) can’t function without accurate data input, and they shouldn’t be left to their tasks without the support of analytics. The best systems improve efficiency, speed, and cost. It’s tempting to rush into warehouse automation thinking that if it’s technologically evolved, it must be better than what you’ve been using until now, but your software should be built around your strategy. Your strategy should not be built around your software. WMS platforms are complex. They must be honed to suit your unique inventory and the rest of your business processes.

How efficient and adaptive is your logistics strategy? To develop a plan, or assess the efficiency of an existing one, every element of your logistics operation should be assessed and monitored to establish costs. KPIs and identify areas where savings can be made. Whether this is something you are doing for the first time, or as part of an ongoing strategy of improvement, you may find the following eight steps useful – each focusing on a different area of your business.