Small Retailers Need New World Solutions
In a world in which Internet-savvy customers are more informed than ever before about pricing and products, how can small independent retailers compete? ...
Avoiding WMS Myth-stakes
If you've been searching for a warehouse management system (WMS), you may find it helpful to avoid getting caught up in the "big myths" about such systems....
Companies Expand Product and Service Offerings in Europe, Asia
For businesses contemplating operations in Europe, Seattle-based contact center solutions provider Envision Telephony offers new possibilities through the expansion of its Performance Suite to integrate with the logging systems of such European competitors as NICE, Verint, and Witness/Eyretel. On the other side of the globe, vendors in the manufacturing and logistics sectors that are interested in going to market in Asia can call on ARC Advisory Group’s new Asian Strategic Market Service for competitive and market intelligence. ...
Global Retail Pricing Trends Signal Inflation
This week’s news from the U.S. Department of Labor that the producer price index rose 1.7% in October evidently took many analysts, and the stock market, by surprise. ...
Look Inward, Angel
It appears that Socrates’ injunction “Know thyself” is a sound business strategy as well as a personal beacon. A new study from The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) and Celerant Consulting reveals that companies’ lack of internal knowledge and communication is a major barrier to achieving operational excellence. The survey of 276 North American senior execs from eight industries (life sciences, energy, manufacturing, chemicals, healthcare, retail, telecom, and consumer packaged goods) reports that top performers have better communication between senior managers and frontline employees and make more effective use of measurement and performance data. ...
Reality Check: The Life and Times of a Fulfillment Operation
Reality shows are all the rage on TV. We didn’t want to be left out! Starting this week, the Advisor brings you a unique look into how one start-up mail order business dealt with rapid growth—and the resulting fulfillment challenges. Written by Matias Zeledon, founder of Down to Earth, a coffee and gifts retailer based in Costa Rica, “Reality Check” examines the journey from order to delivery, the dozens of things that can go wrong in between, and what Zeledon’s doing to streamline his operation. Expect his column every other week or so. ...
Getting a Handle on Material Handling Equipment
If economic cycles are an accurate indicator, things are looking upbeat for 2005. That's one conclusion of an analysis of Material Handling Equipment Manufacturing (MHEM) prepared by the Material Handling Industry of America (MHIA). According to a portion of the report, "Industrial Sector by Phase of Cycle" (prepared by the Manufacturing Alliance--MAPI) that illustrates the phases of a model business cycle, MHEM is currently in the "accelerating growth" phase. Indications are that MHEM is expected to remain in that phase through 2005....
RFID IOU: Be prepared to pay, and pay, and pay
Think you'll be able to get away with paying for RFID chips or tags and then be done with the cost of implementing this new technology? Think again. That's the message of a report by Larry Shutzberg, CIO of consumer packaging, promotional display and recycled paperboard manufacturer Rock-Tenn Co., that appears in InformationWeek. While there's been a lot of talk about the purchase of chips or tags as the chief cost of an RFID system, Shutzberg points out that implementing a fully functional system will mean multiple ongoing expenses....
Is It Time To Replace Your WMS? Early Warning Signs
Of course, a warehouse management system is a long-term investment. But in today’s DCs, which are pressured to meet ever-higher performance standards, technology becomes outdated far more quickly than it used to. What, then, do you do with your ailing WMS? How do you know when it’s time to replace it rather than add yet another upgrade module? Distribution Digest newsletter suggests looking for these red flags:...
Tech Sector Takes a Turn for the Better, Says Annual CIO Survey
Down in the dumps about the state of IT? Cheer up! While the high-tech sector may lack the pizzazz it once had, things are beginning to improve, according to CIO magazine’s annual State of the CIO survey. The good news is that top management no longer considers IT a mere support function. Sixty-nine percent of the 544 senior IT execs surveyed think the information technology division should play a proactive role in identifying and applying technology to take advantage of business opportunities. Last year, just 42% of survey respondents took this view. In keeping with businesses’ growing focus on generating maximum ROI, technology has gained greater visibility in the finance suite. In 2003, 47% of CIOs reported to the chief executive officer; this year, only 40% do so. More CIOs—30% versus last year’s 22%—now report directly to the chief financial officer. ...
Longer-Term Logistical Limits in China
Even in the context of the amazingly long parade of Chinese history, the country’s current rate of economic growth seems remarkable. This growth, according to a report summary recently released by Stoughton, WI-based 3PL consulting firm Armstrong and Associates, encompasses logistics outsourcing, and will extend into the near future. ...
Laggards Lose Out in Transportation Management
If your company is still using spreadsheets and manual shipment aggregation as its transportation management system, it’s lagging behind the industry norm and about to be left in the dust by the best-in-class companies that manage transportation online both internally and for external partners, stakeholders, and clients; and that count on commercial optimization and execution systems to give them an edge in snagging carrier services. ...
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