Information is everywhere. We live in an unprecedented time where information is readily available, inexpensive (quite often free) and easy to access. From 24/7 news updates to the precise geo-location of our food delivery driver, information is usually just one click away, or for some people, just one voice command to their preferred voice assistant away. We are privileged to be surrounded by such a wealth of data. To put it into perspective, as of 2020, the total amount of data created, captured, copied, and consumed in the world was estimated to be around 44 trillion gigabytes! (1) As of Au ..read more

I wanted to write about the pandemic and my observations on how, while it’s been tough – very tough at times – there have been some positives. They say ‘Necessity is the Mother of all Invention’ and I don’t think that’s ever been more evident than in how we both professionally and personally found new ways to get stuff done. I wanted to write about that. However, after a number of false starts, (cue the clichéd image of screwing up of yet another piece of paper before tossing it into an already-overflowing bin) I gave up. I needed to rethink this. And that reminded me of a book I’ve been readi ..read more

At EV Cargo Technology, we are proud of the day-to-day support we offer to our customers. Our job in Application Support is to ensure that the great service you receive during implementation phase continues long after your software product goes live. In this piece, I’ll give you an overview of how our Application Support team helps to support your EV Cargo Technology products. Most customers operate their own first-line support service in-house. This approach works well because a detailed knowledge of your business processes and wider infrastructure will come to the fore at first line, working ..read more

Retailers sometimes find themselves in a difficult position deciding what is their top priority when running their international supply chains. Historically, there were two key variables: Speed to market and cost. Do we ship all our goods as fast as possible or via the cheapest transportation method? Most of the time, one variable would counteract the other, with a clear inverse correlation between cost and lead-times. These days, the spectrum is rapidly changing. On one hand, we have another key variable entering the conversation by overwhelming popular demand: sustainability. Measuring and r ..read more

Yes everyone, it is another article about Covid-19. However, hopefully this article is a bit different. There will be no ‘woe is us’ generalisations and metaphorical wringing of hands here, the purpose is to look at the route that we have taken and whether we should continue down it unchecked. You simply cannot write an article that uses the words ‘Covid-19’ and ‘pandemic’, without referencing and paying homage to the impact, affect and devastation that events over the last 18 months have had on people all around this blue marble we call home. The impact of Covid-19 is referred to as a once-in ..read more

“With data collection, ‘the sooner the better’ is always the best answer.” – Marissa Mayer Marissa Mayer, the former President and CEO of Yahoo, has data on her mind the same as many others, across not only the technology industry, but increasingly across all industries. We are constantly being reminded that data is the 21st-century equivalent of oil and that every business will soon become a data business. The process of accessing data, whilst it may be subject to increasing scrutiny from a governance perspective, has not particularly been the challenge given the sheer amount of data that we ..read more

The Covid-19 pandemic has significantly impacted the retail industry. By the same token, the outbreak has introduced changes in customer behaviour and demands. It is also bringing new opportunities for the industry, a chance for retailers to rethink their business model to further connect with their customers and to adopt the right diversification strategy. Customers are shifting behaviour across several areas, including: Basket recomposition Customers are being more selective in their purchases. There is a decline in discretionary spending or spending on non-essential items; Budgets have bee ..read more

‘Every disadvantage has its advantage’ – Johan Cruyff. Given the global Covid-19 crisis, it’s challenging to find positives in the supply chain disruptions. International supply chains have been truly tested. We have seen massive store closures, a drop in revenues, shortages of critical goods, expensive last-minute air freight arrangements, port closures, delays, and many more inevitable situations. However, these unprecedented tests are encouraging companies to make some bolder decisions, not just to fix their supply chains temporarily, but to transform them. How can we bounce back? The answe ..read more

On 22nd February 2021, Boris Johnson has outlined the plan for the easing of the UK lockdown. As we near its end, I wanted to reflect on home and work life during lockdown and the pressure that some of us may feel to be overly productive. I often see motivational posts, photographs, and ‘inspirational’ quotes and phrases, encouraging people to have a productive day, filled with talk of hitting daily goals and targets. People are being urged to learn new skills, to be creative, to learn a new language, to read more books, to become the next Star Baker, to become a DIY expert, or to embark on a ..read more

EV Cargo Technology hosted its second webinar entitled ‘e-Documentation: Speed to sale improvements for retail’ a few weeks ago. Now, you can view this online, right now by viewing the video below. The 45-minute webinar discusses the key features and benefits of the e-documentation functionality which is set to enhance efficiency and visibility for EV Cargo Technology’s customers. The technology has been developed following the demand from several global retail clients. EV Cargo Technology also presented this webinar with ASCI (Australasian Supply Chain Institute), to view this recording click ..read more