west coast ports LA feature

Supply Chain Reshoring Unlikely Despite Pandemic Disruptions

| Mike O'Brien

While the ripple effect of massive supply chain disruptions caused by the pandemic continues to affect imports and transit times across industries, a massive reshoring of production and distribution to North America is not likely, according to a recent report from The Economist’s intelligence unit.

ShipBob headquarters feature

ShipBob Raises $200M, Joins Growing Unicorn Club

| Mike O'Brien

ShipBob, a provider of software and services to optimize shipping for ecommerce companies, has raised $200 million in a new funding round, pushing its valuation over the $1 billion mark in a crowded unicorn field as it looks to expand globally and support customers as they add new channels.

holiday packages at the door feature

Prepping for 2021 Holiday Shipping – When It’s Already Perpetual Peak

| Mike O'Brien

Having experienced significant pain in Q4 2020, when millions of orders showed up late, many retailers have stepped up their preparation efforts to ensure holiday shipping 2021 isn’t a case of deja vu. In this report, industry experts and retailers discuss network and supply chain challenges, preparation efforts and mitigation strategies.

UPS driver feature

UPS Adds New Peak Surcharge Pain for Shippers

| Mike O'Brien

Ahead of the upcoming holiday season with its expected surge beyond the “perpetual peak” we’ve been seeing since March of last year, UPS is again issuing surcharges across its services, hitting major shippers particularly hard in a tiered system based on volume.

Bringg Raises $100M to Reach $1B Valuation

| Mike O'Brien

Bringg, a provider of order orchestration software for last-mile deliveries, has raised $100 million in a series E round, bringing it into the growing unicorn club as it looks to international expansion, explores extensions into less-than-truckload and other forms of transportation and eyes acquisitions. This is 4x from a year-ago valuation.

1-2-day delivery box on porch feature

Post-Pandemic Shipping: Are We There Yet?

| Jarrett Streebin

How can a merchant simultaneously deal with carriers extending delivery windows and consumers wanting their goods now in the extended era of post-pandemic shipping? The key is understanding where post-pandemic shipping is headed and preparing for this inevitability proactively. Here’s what you need to know.

Ecommerce Operations Summit Nashville skyline feature

Ecommerce Operations Summit Strikes the Right Notes in Music City

| Mike O'Brien

Ecommerce Operations Summit 2021 is back live, at the Gaylord Opreyland in Nashville on Aug. 17-18, and the team at Multichannel Merchant has a great event on tap to help operations and fulfillment professionals keep on top of key industry trends and address the challenges of a disruptive time. Read on for some program highlights.

last mile bike delivery feature

Last Mile Sustainability: Retail’s Environmental Impact

| Guy Bloch

There is a real urgency for retailers to address the sustainability factor in ecommerce head on. With today’s wave of socially conscious consumers, incorporating sustainable practices across the supply chain is the next big challenge and is imperative for retailers to prioritize, especially those focused on long-term growth.

This is easier said than done, but what can retailers realistically do to address and win against these challenges?

DeJoy feature II

USPS Postmaster DeJoy Facing FBI Investigation

| Mike O'Brien

The Federal Bureau of Investigation has launched an investigation into past political fundraising efforts of Louis DeJoy, the embattled Postmaster General of the U.S. Postal Service, raising the volume of Democratic calls for his ouster even as he works to enact major postal reforms.

delivery truck generic feature

Getting Your Carrier Mix Right in 2021

| George Meier

Relying on a single carrier for all your shipping needs can be expensive, especially in the wake of rate increases and the many surcharge spikes taken by the major carriers of late. But there are more reasons to do your research. A healthy carrier mix gives you options. Here are some steps to help you assess the best path forward.