Due to the increasing complexity of today's supply networks, supply chain management has become an essential cost management strategy for distribution businesses. Effective supply chain management enables the tracking of information, services, and goods throughout your business, 3PLs and supply partners, with real time visibility over key processes for authorised personnel.

Warehouse automation is projected to surpass human labour in terms of output and monetary value over the next few years. Businesses worldwide are automating warehouses in response to changing operational environments. Increasing labour expenses, a labour shortage, and increased throughput needs are just a few of them. Furthermore, innovations in automation, such as lower costs and increased scalability, greatly boost warehouse automation.

Warehouse management is a vital component of any successful business. It's critical to keep your warehouse and logistics operations running smoothly so you can deliver correctly, on time, every time, and to organise your stock, workforce, and assets in the most productive and cost-effective way. Many areas of the warehouse benefit from continuous improvement, including your staffing strategy, relationships with third parties, your software systems, automation technologies, and the layout of the warehouse itself. 

Sustainability is important to consumers, and change starts at the top. Because green credentials hold such clout, it's industries of all sorts that must face the challenge of redefining their day-to-day operations. For the logistics sector, storing and transporting goods across the country, round-the-clock, faster than ever, and with the least possible environmental harm is especially challenging. But it's not impossible. Take, for instance, warehouses. 

As a warehouse manager or operations manager, you know that your success is greatly dependent on the efficiency of your logistics operation. You need to find ways to boost productivity and save money while still providing a great customer experience. One way you can do this is by using a 3PL to handle some or all of your operation or deliveries. To help you in deciding which 3PL would be best for your company, we have created a list of 6 key questions that will help guide you through the process:

As businesses have embraced Artificial Intelligence (AI) software in various aspects of their capacity management over the past decade, logistics network operations continue to grow. Businesses across industries now use AI to improve or replace outdated and inefficient processes, such as recording data through paper, email, or telephone.

Good business relationships with your third party supply chain and logistics partners are important for both personal and professional success. Careful relationship management with your outsourced logistics partners will improve productivity, avoid communication difficulties, and help ensure stability in your supply chains. Outsourcing will not automatically improve supply chain or 3PL e-commerce fulfilment by default; however, you can take some steps to ensure efficient use of a 3PL provider.

We all know that running a warehouse can be difficult. The hours are long, the products can be heavy, and the work repetitive. But for some companies, it has become even more challenging as they try to keep up with demand while maintaining low operating costs. Outsourcing your distribution or warehousing functions to a third-party logistics provider can help improve business efficiency by lowering your costs and boosting productivity. But when can outsourcing help you achieve these goals?

Warehouse management is a multi-faceted operation with plenty of scope for inefficient and wasteful practices to creep in, often without being noticed. Warehouse management requires managing inventory, route management, ensuring efficient workflows and maintaining quality control. If efficiency dips noticeably – for instance if pick KPIs decrease or there are delays with unpacking – the go to solution is often to put more boots on the ground in the warehouse.

In the wake of COP26, we see that all aspects of life and business will increasingly need to be viewed through a green lens. This certainly includes distribution and logistics. As roads become ever more congested, even switching to electric vehicles or other green fuel sources will not overcome all the challenges ahead. Rail freight, so long a neglected cousin of road transport, is increasingly coming under the spotlight for its eco-friendly credentials, but is it yet a practical option for UK businesses?