Amazon Bessemer FC feature

Update: CA Gov. Signs Bill Targeting Amazon Labor Practices

| Mike O'Brien

Update, Sept. 24: California Gov. Gavin Newsome on Thursday signed a bill that targets labor practices in ecommerce warehouses, including banning the enforcement of performance quotas that impinge on basic worker’s rights like restroom and lunch breaks. Amazon, not named in the bill, is clearly targeted by lawmakers.

last mile illustration feature

Last Mile Constraints: Start with the End in Mind

| Deanna Kaufman

Now that we’re looking toward a fast-approaching peak and 2022, what has changed about last mile constraints, and how can supply chains retain a competitive advantage through last mile operations? Here are some thoughts, looking at the issue through the lens of spend management, cost to serve and capacity constraints.

Point Pickup screenshot

Point Pickup Acquires GrocerKey, Builds Instacart Alternative

| Mike O'Brien

Point Pickup, a provider of last-mile services for grocers, general merchandise and oversize goods, has acquired ecommerce platform GrocerKey, providing an end-to-end solution for retailers looking to own the customer experience and data often missing from third-party solutions like Instacart.

Smart Warehouse Technology the Wave of the Future

| Mike O'Brien

Smart warehouse technology powered by 5G, combined with the sensor- and data-driven Internet of Things (IoT), will be as transformative for logistics and supply chain as the Ford assembly line in 1913, attendees were told during a presentation at Ecommerce Operations Summit 2021 in Nashville.

dock-to-stock feature

Assessing Your Dock-to-Stock Efficiency

| Brian Barry

Dock-to-stock time is a KPI measuring the time from receipt on your dock to a pickable or bulk reserve location. The process involves aspects of purchase order writing, inbound transportation, receiving, staging, inspection and put away. Here’s eight steps to help you assess your processes, identify problems and lay out an action plan.

Ecommerce 3PLs: Sorting Posers from Pros

| Kamran Iqbal

With peak season upon us, vetting prospective ecommerce 3PLs should focus on their ability to execute under peak conditions. While some may be good at a few aspects of ecommerce operations, the ability to scale up is crucial, and doing so end to end is a rare quality indeed. Here’s how to separate the 3PL posers from the pros.

The outsourcers who can truly do it all according to each brand’s requirements are the real pros. 3PLs that can’t do it all – at scale – are just posers.

Ecommerce Operations Summit 21 banner feature

Ecommerce Operations Summit 2021: It’s Here!

| Mike O'Brien

Hard to believe it, but it’s here! Ecommerce Operations Summit 2021 is kicking off this Tuesday, Aug. 17 at the Gaylord Opryland in Nashville, and we have lots of great things on tap for you as we regather in person as a community of ecommerce/DTC operations and fulfillment professionals.

3PL UPS eFulfillment

As 3PL Demand Grows, Partner Selection is Critical

| Mike O'Brien

Consumers focus on curbside pickup, fast delivery, trouble-free returns and seamless experiences, but retailers face heightened fulfillment challenges, leading more of them to embrace 3PLs. And getting it right is essential. This special report dives into the trends, outlining key decision factors when considering a 3PL partnership.

Cart.com logo

Cart.com Adds $98 Million in New Round

| Mike O'Brien

Cart.com, a startup founded during the pandemic aiming to be a one-stop shop for brands scaling up their ecommerce business, has raised $98 million in a Series B round to fuel further expansion, platform buildout and yet more acquisitions.

e-grocery curbside Walmart feature

E-Grocery Frequency Increasing, Gallup Finds

| Mike O'Brien

Even a year-plus into the pandemic, more U.S. consumers are leaning into e-grocery and less are visiting stores, according to a new study from Gallup, reflecting continued uncertainty and concern among shoppers. Overall, the percentages of consumers using e-grocery remain in the single digits.