Vacancy rates for industrial and logistics space, including ecommerce fulfillment, is now at a historic low of 4.3% and new construction is constrained, leading to limited expansion options for warehouse occupants and higher rents, according to a Q3 report from brokerage CBRE. This has led to an increase in multistory developments.
Multichannel Merchant has published its fourth annual MCM Top 3PL listing for 2019, a searchable directory of leading third-party logistics (3PL) providers in ecommerce and direct-to-customer operations. This key resource lists the capabilities and experience of over 50 top 3PL providers, helping you select the right one for your needs.
Warehouse workers made their voices heard twice recently, both times involving Amazon and unionization, while in New Jersey labor groups are seeking safer conditions and better pay in ecommerce facilities statewide. Expect the unionization push to pick up momentum in 2019 as reports of poor working conditions continue to grow.
FedEx is testing the use of autonomous tugs to transport items within its sortation and distribution facilities in an effort to handle the growing volume of bulky ecommerce orders more efficiently. See what other types of automation the carrier is using to optimize the massive flow of packages through its network at peak.
If you haven’t formally evaluated your peak season fulfillment, make this the year you do so. From your analysis of ecommerce operations successes and failures, you can develop a plan to make improvements using a multi-faceted approach. Here are 10 ways to analyze your performance and develop a plan for improvement.
Less than three weeks before the new prices take effect the day after Christmas, UPS announced its 2019 rate schedule, including an overall increase of 4.9% for its ground, air and international services, leaving shippers scrambling to adapt at the busiest time of year. See what charges went up and what it means.
A report from President Trump’s task force on proposed changes to the U.S. Postal Service recommends giving the USPS the ability to establish more market-based pricing for its mail and parcel services, which have not been set “with profitability in mind.”
Instacart, the same-day grocery delivery company used by many grocers, is dealing with customer ire as freelance shoppers fulfilling the orders are passing up some jobs due to a change in the pricing structures. Also a number of shoppers have taken to Twitter to call for a boycott of the service due to a drop in their wages.
In late 2013, Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos boldly proclaimed on the popular CBS newsmagazine “60 Minutes” that drones would be delivering orders for its customers within five years. But apparently, the future isn’t now according to a report in the Seattle Times.
Given all the attention paid to buy online pickup in store including its popularity with shoppers, only 28% of U.S. retailers currently offer the service, compared to 64% of British retailers providing its cousin, click and collect, according to a report from OrderDynamics. Retailers here were also found lagging in other categories.