The following article is based on a real study carried out for a successful subscription model business. However, the principles apply to any business running a distribution operation comprising own fleet and carriers.

The following article is based on a real study carried out for businesses with country wide sales premises. However, the principles apply to any business with multiple distribution centres than need rationalising.

Today’s warehouse management systems (WMS) can perform a wide array of functions to boost efficiency and profitability. However, when selecting a WMS, it’s crucial to choose one that will perform the tasks you need it to and have features you’re going to use.

The term "fixed assets" refers to assets that your company owns, which generally stay in the same location, such as your land or buildings. However, these assets also include the delivery vehicles in your fleet and intangible assets, such as software and cloud storage.

Wearable technology has gained mainstream popularity in recent years, largely thanks to the introduction of mass-market devices such as fitness trackers and smartwatches. However, you can also utilise wearable tech within your business to enhance your productivity and the effectiveness of your processes in various ways.

The interest in automation is increasing under the impact of changing supply chains, labour availability/scarcity, the perennial drive to improve productivity and efficiency, and order response times.

Effective supply chain management helps to deliver streamlined product flow, healthy relationships with suppliers, and excellent customer service. According to Deloitte, 79% of businesses with supply chains that perform highly enjoy better than average revenue growth, and the role of a modern, well-designed warehouse within the supply chain should not be underestimated.

Many warehouse-based businesses are now reopening following months of lockdown or partial activity, while others are having to adapt existing processes to protect their workforce and keep operations running smoothly. If this applies to your business and you’re keen to get back to normal operations as soon as possible, there are several ways to prevent coronavirus from spreading in warehouses, without sacrificing productivity.

In 1666, the Derbyshire village of Eyam suffered an outbreak of plague that claimed the lives of 260 inhabitants, allegedly after a contaminated package of cloth arrived from disease-riddled London. This primitive supply chain may not reflect the dangers posed by Covid-19 – unlike the fleas that were responsible for the Eyam tragedy, transmission of Coronavirus through the shipping of goods is unlikely – but nevertheless, it demonstrates that modern supply chains need to take preventive actions to minimise the risk of the current-day pandemic. How do you do this while returning to normal and profitable working patterns?

As e-commerce continues to expand, so will the use of third party logistics (3PL). To make sure your logistics business is the one chosen by retailers, what are the expected market trends to watch for in 2019?