Shippers & Logistics Plus: Let’s Innovate Together

Shippers & Logistics Plus: Let’s Innovate Together

Shippers & Logistics Plus: Let's Innovate TogetherA recent article published in Logistics Management magazine and online at Supply Chain Management Review, written by Sara Banks from Accenture, suggests a strong collaboration between 3PLs and shippers can help to bring innovative solutions that will benefit both in the future. You can read the full article here: Time For Shippers & 3PLs to Innovate Together.

Accenture’s research shows four capabilities shippers want from logistics companies. They are presented here with a note under each regarding Logistics Plus.

  • Accenture - 3PL Capabilities shippers wantEnd-to-end services. Shippers are looking for a one-stop shop for all logistics services. This means that, beyond basic logistics, they want a trusted logistics provider that delivers new services such as advisory and supply chain consulting services, analytics capabilities, e-commerce channel management capabilities, and even algorithms that match demand and supply.

Logistics Plus has evolved by both necessity and design over the past 25 years. As a company known for saying YES, not NO, to unique supply chain challenges, we’ve developed a network of solutions that span the entire supply chain, from procurement to warehousing to final mile delivery. We call this Global Logistics + So Much More. With our 3.5PL and 4PL solutions, we strive to provide the end-to-end services our customers require so that they can remain focused on what they do best: making and selling great products. 

  • Better experiences. Shippers want a logistics partner that knows their business and will work with them to overcome challenges by bringing in customer-centric solutions. Our research revealed the need for 3PLs to build service consistency, flexibility, and responsiveness to create more satisfying customer experiences.

We are hardly perfect, but there is one trait that shippers can expect when they work with Logistics Plus: a contagious passion for excellence. It’s that passion that has enabled Logistics Plus to earn numerous service and workplace awards and to have positive word-of-mouth referrals that have supported our continuous growth. It may seem like a small thing, but every one of our employees is provided a mobile phone with the expectation that our customers need and deserve flexible, 24/7/365 support. The freight never stops moving. 

  • Proactive, data-driven insights. Shippers are eager to partner with 3PLs that have data and analytics capabilities to provide visibility and insights to help them make better supply chain decisions. For example, digital twin capabilities that tap into data to simulate supply chain impacts will help 3PLs guide shippers in decisions with more certainty.

We like to point out that today, Logistics Plus is as much a technology company as a logistics company. And that is not by accident. The demands of our customers have driven us to make substantial investments in technology and business intelligence applications. Our global supply chain control towers and business intelligence tools are world-class. We know that information and insights are just as critical in today’s supply chain as are shipments and freight. 

  • Purpose aligned to their values. Increasingly, shippers are choosing to work with businesses that are more integrated with theirs and share their values. For example, in the logistics space, sustainability is a key issue and becoming a “must-have” requirement for all players.

Shippers looking to align themselves with a 3Pl focused on employee diversity and environmental sustainability will find that Logistics Plus shares those same values. The 50 country flags that fly on top of our global headquarters, each representing the nationality of one of our employees, showcase our celebration of diversity. The fact that we were the first global 3PL to receive Plastic Neutrality Certification for offsetting 19 tonnes of plastic use in 2020 is a testament to our commitment to making the world a better place. 

The notes above are just a few thoughts regarding these four capability areas that are important to shippers. Logistics Plus is ready and willing to work collaboratively with shippers to create value and share in the benefits. Contact us to learn more.

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Logistics Plus Profiled in the Inbound Logistics 2022 Logistics Planner

Logistics Plus Profiled in the Inbound Logistics 2022 Logistics Planner

IL Jan22 2022 Logistics Planner ThumbnailLogistics Plus has, once again, been profiled as a top third-party logistics (3PL) company by Inbound Logistics magazine for its annual Logistics Planner. In its 30th year of publication, the 2022 industry planner helps companies find the right technology solutions and transportation and logistics partners to drive supply chain efficiency. With both print and digital editions, the annual issue is updated with profiles of leaders in transportation, technology, logistics, and more who stand ready to help businesses face upcoming challenges to optimize their supply chains.

The Logistics Plus profile appears on page 348 of the publication, and an accompanying advertisement appears on page 137. The profile and advertisement formally present our new theme “Global Logistics + So Much More” as a follow-up to A 21st Century Logistics Company™ introduced last year.

Working as your 3PL, 3.5PL, or 4PL partner, Logistics Plus is the company that handles supply chain challenges from start to finish by doing what other logistics companies can’t or won’t do. We’re small enough to be agile and responsive to your needs, yet large enough to have a network of solutions that span your entire supply chain.

You can view PDF versions of the Logistics Plus profile and advertisement by clicking the two images below.

Logistics Plus Inbound Logistics 2022 Profile Thumbnail      Logistics Plus Inbound Logistics 2022 Ad Thumbnail

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You can view the entire 2022 Logistics Planner digital edition online here: https://www.inboundlogistics.com/cms/digital/

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The Supply Chain Management Behind a Super Bowl

The Supply Chain Management Behind a Super Bowl

super bowl supply chainEach year, 100 million+ viewers worldwide tune in for the Super Bowl. They watch the national anthem, coin toss, opening kickoff, halftime show, funny commercials, and the game (obviously). What the viewers don’t see is the countless amount of hours spent planning and pulling off one of the most significant events of the year. From logistics to transportation to supply chain management, NFL venues undergo extensive preparation for the big day. Let’s take a look at some of the most significant supply chain management considerations for Super Bowl Sunday.

Preparing The Venue

The stadium and NFL personnel must coordinate with their employees, vendors, teams, and volunteers to ensure that equipment, uniforms, and the field are all ready in advance of the game. The transportation piece of the supply chain management plan is crucial so that the players’ helmets, cleats, pads, and jerseys all make it to the proper locker room. On top of that, the coaches, medical staff, and other team members all have equipment of their own that must arrive at the venue. Merchandising is another supply chain consideration for the venue. Branded merchandise for each team needs to be designed, manufactured, shipped, and made available within a two-week time frame.

The Halftime Show

The biggest logistical challenge behind the Super Bowl halftime show is setting up the stage the minute the first half of the game ends. The stage is typically wheeled onto the field using roughly fifty carts, each requiring ten people to move. On top of the stage, an additional twenty carts carrying audio equipment get transported to the field. In the days leading up to the Super Bowl, hundreds of trucks arrive at the venue with stage materials, props, electrical equipment, generators, and much more. Every minor detail, including delivery windows, returns and item replacements, and storage locations, is considered.

Supply Chain Sustainability

Over twenty years ago, the NFL introduced an environmental program that focuses on sustainability efforts for the Super Bowl. The league considers many things when selecting the next Super Bowl site, with sustainability efforts being a high priority. For example, Super Bowl LIII was at Mercedez-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. Being a newer stadium, it boasted many sustainability features, including its LEED certification. The building uses about half as much water as other stadiums of similar size. Additionally, the NFL’s environmental program works with nearly ninety non-profit organizations to help repurpose, recycle, and reuse materials treated as waste during the game.

Viewers At Home

The city where the Super Bowl is hosted is not the only location with supply chain management challenges. The Super Bowl is the second-largest food-eating day in the United States behind Thanksgiving. It is estimated that 1.3 billion chicken wings are consumed, 11.2 million pounds of potato chips are eaten, and 325 million gallons of beer are drunk in just one day. Around the country, that puts a tremendous amount of stress on local restaurants, grocery stores, and beer distributors to keep up with demand.

Although the game only lasts a few hours, planning and preparing for the Super Bowl takes months. Proper supply chain management is the backbone of what makes the biggest game of the year a constant success. Ensure you give the appropriate planning and preparation needed for your own company’s supply chain. If you need a partner for any of that, let us know – we’re here to help!

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2021 Logistics and Supply Chain Industry Recap

2021 Logistics and Supply Chain Industry Recap

2021 logistics and supply chain industryCovid-19 and a global shutdown left the world ready to put 2020 behind us. Little did we know, 2021 would take us for another wild ride. As the pandemic lingered and gained strength in unexpected places, it continued to interrupt supply chains worldwide. Production bottlenecks, volatile swings in pricing, and massive capacity shortages were just a few of the issues that shaped the logistics and supply chain industry landscape in 2021. In this article, we look back at some of 2021’s supply chain issues and highlight some of the industry trends to look for in 2022.

The World Learned The Importance Of Supply Chains

A few years ago, your average person might not have been able to explain what “supply chains” are. Now, it feels like every time you turn on the news, that’s one of the topics you hear. A global shortage of materials caused prices to soar and projects delayed. Ports are congested, labor shortages in trucking have caused delays, a lack of warehouse capacity, and the list goes on. So much disruption happened in 2021 that you may have forgotten about the Suez Canal disaster. For just one year, that’s a lot to process.

logistics port congestionPort Congestion Causing Severe Delays

As dockworkers contracted Covid-19 or landed in quarantine, loading and unloading at ports are constrained. The pandemic has sidelined truck drivers, limiting the availability of vehicles that can carry products from ports to warehouses to customers. Throughout the pandemic, consumers are purchasing goods rather than services. According to Bloomberg, retail imports set a record high for the United States in 2021. To understand just how clogged the ports were, the average wait at anchor (i.e., the number of days cargo ships waited outside the port) peaked at 20.9 days for the port of Los Angeles. In late December, there were 102 cargo vessels anchored in San Pedro Bay.

A Volatile Pricing Market

International shipping rates hit all-time highs in 2021. Ocean rates increased due to non-stop demand for ocean freight from Asia to the United States and a lack of capacity. Demand and congestion are the main drivers for sustained sky-high rates. To put the situation in perspective, international freight rates in August 2021 reached $10,174/FEU, a 466% increase on the previous year. Experts predict that prices may take two years to return to normal levels based on past market cycles.

Domestic Trucking Shortage

The American Trucking Associations estimated that in 2021 the truck driver shortage would reach over 80,000 drivers. There isn’t a single cause of the driver shortage. Still, a few factors that contribute to the problem are the high average age of current drivers (increased number of retirements), women making up only 7% of all drivers (well below the workforce average), and lifestyle issues such as the time away from home. Although driver pay and earnings have gone up significantly in the past decade, the problem of recruiting new drivers to the industry remains.

supply chain disruptionThe Suez Canal Blockage

Although it felt like years ago, the Suez Canal debacle happened in 2021. Since its completion in 1869, the Suez Canal has become one of the world’s most essential seaways. This human-made waterway enables a more direct route for shipping between Europe and Asia. According to Reuters, about 12% of the world’s shipping traffic moves through the canal, so the blockage disrupted an estimated $10 billion worth of goods each day.

Natural Disasters Impacting Supply Chains

As if the world needed more supply chain disruptions, 2021 presented challenges out of our control. Hurricane Ida, the Texas winter storm, California wildfires, and significant flooding in Canada are just a few of the events that rattled supply chains across the globe. Hurricane Ida caused destruction and fuel shortages. The winter storm in Texas caused power outages and shipping delays. The California wildfires caused road closures. The floods in Canada caused railway and road damages. The point is, the logistics and supply chain industry had a wild ride in 2021.

Policy Responses

In 2021, the Joe Biden administration introduced proposals to address the ongoing supply chain disruptions. In June, the administration announced a supply-chain “disruptions task force” that created an agreement to operate the Port of Los Angeles 24/7. The task force enlisted freight companies to help move goods off the docks. Furthermore, the Transportation Department provided a $5 billion loan to modernize California ports. Later in the year, the President announced the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. This $550 billion federal investment for America’s roads, bridges, water infrastructure, and more is the largest federal investment in public transit ever.

What To Look For In 2022

There is no indication that supply chain disruptions will ease up in 2022. Bottlenecks, labor shortages, and capacity crunches remain widespread as we begin the year. While nobody can predict precisely when supply chains will normalize, we can predict how shippers will adapt in 2022. Given that supply chains will continue to be stressed, companies must deploy real-time visibility platforms to monitor shipments at the order level. Having end-to-end supply chain visibility and advanced information on lead-time changes can only help navigate these challenging issues.

Understanding that supply chain disruptions are inevitable means that you must plan ahead. 2022 isn’t the year to wait and see if supply chains normalize. By embracing new trends and technologies, companies can minimize these disruptions’ impact on their business.

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Logistics Plus International (LPI) Solutions Introduction Video

Logistics Plus International (LPI) Solutions Introduction Video

Logistics Plus has a new introductory video focusing on its Logistics Plus International Division (LPI) global logistics solutions. The 3:30-minute video, shown below, can also be viewed on the Logistics Plus YouTube Channel or on the Videos menu of the Logistics Plus website.

Ready for an international quote? If you have any questions, feel free to contact us with any global supply chain challenge!

(PS: You can also watch our complementary Logistics Plus North American Division (NAD) introductory video)

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