3PL providers have become key partners for companies outsourcing their warehouse and distribution processes. Carl Marcus Wallenburg and Michael Knemeyer analyse trends such as AI and the Internet of Things, which are set to mark the future of 3PLs.
René de Koster explores the latest trends, experiences and technological advancements in his publication Warehousing 2030. Companies will invest in automation to drive operations like order fulfilment and speed up deliveries.
Interview with Matthias Winkenbach, Principal Research Scientist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, on the incorporation of AI in e-commerce. According to Winkenbach, AI will contribute to the decarbonisation of freight transportation and promote sustainable logistics.
Thomas H. Davenport and Nittin Mittal explain how organisations that have integrated AI into their processes have a competitive advantage. The authors provide insights for enterprises that have started to incorporate AI or have been using it for some time.
Generative AI is a branch of artificial intelligence centred on creating realistic content such as images, videos, music and text. In the supply chain, it has the potential to assist in decision-making related to logistics process optimisation.
Interview with Michael Burton, Customer Supply Lead at the Wissington Factory of British Sugar, the main sugar manufacturer for Great Britain and Ireland. Burton explains the advantages of automating internal material transport and storage processes and digitally managing all operations with Easy WMS.
Interview with Angelo Conti, Warehouse Manager at College of DuPage, the second-largest higher education institution in Illinois (US). Conti explains how the Mecalux solution has optimized the storage of paper and supplies for the school’s students, professors and staff.
The adoption of new supply chain technologies will accelerate in the near term, according to a report by Material Handling Industry (MHI) and Deloitte. Eighty-seven percent of companies plan to increase their investment in innovation over the next two years to respond to logistics challenges.
In logistics facilities, automation and digital technologies enhance efficiency and reduce the time it takes to serve customers. Hokey Min, a professor and expert in global logistics strategy, elaborates on these advancements in a recent research paper from the Schmidthorst College of Business (Ohio).
Dr. Mustafa Çağrı Gürbüz, a Professor of Supply Chain Management at MIT-Zaragoza, emphasises how predictive analytics enables supply chain optimisation. Data capture enables data-driven descriptive, predictive and prescriptive analytics for a more efficient, adaptable WMS.
Interview with Yeming Gong, a Professor at Emlyon Business School, on the potential and applications of artificial intelligence (AI) in logistics. According to Gong, companies can incorporate AI in their logistics processes to improve customer satisfaction.
Interview with Yannick Taton, Head of Procurement, Logistics and Transport at FIC Pro, a company specialising in products for construction professionals. Taton explains how digitalisation has shortened customer lead times and enabled the company to monitor its stock comprehensively.
Planning, procurement, innovation and logistics will be executives’ main supply chain challenges over the course of this year. This is revealed in the 2023 Supply chain priorities and challenges report by the American Productivity & Quality Center (APQC).
Yossi Sheffi, Director of the MIT Center for Transportation and Logistics, highlights how robotics and AI are changing and augmenting jobs. The author also delves into the tools that will help professionals be more productive in supply chain management.
Industry 4.0 is revolutionising traditional methods of manufacturing, warehousing and distributing goods. We analyse how companies such as Blechwarenfabrik, SAM Outillage and Congelados de Navarra have integrated the latest technologies to boost their logistics operations.
Enhancing human–robot interaction in warehouses is crucial due to increasing degrees of automation in logistics centres. Research by the Technical University of Munich and the University of Cologne in Germany reveals the mechanisms that improve collaboration between operators and robots.
Dr. Teresa de la Cruz, Project Manager at the Zaragoza Logistics Center, analyses how disruptive logistics has revolutionised numerous industrial sectors. Part of Industry 4.0, disruptive logistics has made digital transformation common practice.
Interview with Pilar López, Industrial Director at Natura Bissé, a leading manufacturer of cosmetics for all skin types. López explains how digitisation has shortened customer lead times in addition to providing an overview of all stock.
Interview with Dejan Šeruga, General Manager of Carglass in Slovenia, a leading company in the repair, replacement and recalibration of vehicle glass. Šeruga explains the benefits of digitising Carglass’s warehouse in Slovenia with Easy WMS software: error elimination and optimised operations.
Mecalux interviews Vaggelis Giannikas, Director of the Centre for Smart Warehousing and Logistics Systems at the University of Bath (UK). Professor Giannikas stresses the importance of flexible logistics and digitisation for an efficient supply chain.
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