Reach More of the US Population Faster Using Distribution Centers in Central Texas When it comes to freight, few states move as much as Texas. Texas moves an estimated 3.3 billion tons of freight per year and has been America’s top exporter for 21 years running. It has more miles of rail and road than any other state, has the largest Gulf Coast container port (Port of Houston), and offers low operating costs with few land restrictions. If Texas were a country, it would be listed as one of the world’s top 10 largest economies. Maybe the adage holds true that everything is bigger and better in ..read more

When researching logistics providers, it is important to learn more about the quality of operations and management of each company. When it comes to distribution and fulfillment services, warehouse facilities can be a telling sign of what is going on behind the scenes. Warehouses are essentially the center of the commercial world, but not every warehouse is operated or maintained to the same standards. “When I walk through our warehouse facilities, I find myself asking: What would my dad say? Our general campus manager, Todd Huber, plays the role of ‘Dad’ at our Northern Nevada facilities ..read more

Outsourcing supply chain operations to a third-party logistics provider (3PL) can help businesses scale, save money, increase efficiency, and provide a better level of customer service. Most importantly, outsourcing to a logistics provider frees businesses up to focus on their own development and goals without getting bogged down by the day-to-day challenges of running a supply chain. Choosing a 3PL isn’t an easy decision. It’s also a very important decision to get right. A 3PL partnership is a major investment that can take months to implement, so it’s worth putting in the research to ensu ..read more

Supply Chain Management and Data Dependency The supply chain industry is heavily reliant on timely and accurate data interchange, so the goods can be moved from and to correct destinations safely. An effective supply chain must have date interchange in place for container tracking to inventory management and everything in-between. There are two primary technologies that are used to exchange these massive quantities of data: Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) and Application Programming Interface (API). As APIs have become more prevalent in the supply chain industry, business leaders find them ..read more

What does it mean to be a Food Grade Warehouse? The term “food grade” refers to materials, supplies, and equipment that are safe to come into contact with food. This means that they are non-toxic and will not leach harmful chemicals into food products. They are also designed and constructed to prevent contamination of food. Any food storage facility that houses food products must follow strict Food and Drug Administration (FDA) standards. These standards require a higher level of cleanliness both inside and outside the facility. These precautions must be taken to avoid cross-contamination. T ..read more

Supply Chain Conferences 2023: Get to Know the ITS Logistics Team It takes a village of subject matter experts to keep everyone engaged in best practices across the supply chain. Industry events play an essential role in providing specific knowledge and access to expertise, market fluctuations, forecasts, and any other vital evolutions. The educational value that is gained by attending these conferences is well worth the investment of time and resources. Read on for all the trade shows that the team at ITS Logistics will be attending this fall. JOC Inland This September 25 – 27, the Jour ..read more

The Complexities of Apparel Fulfillment The apparel industry is fast paced, which makes apparel fulfillment a challenging task. Apparel supply chains must be agile and adaptable to the following: Bracket buying: This is when the customer orders multiple sizes or colors of an item to try on at home and return the ones that don’t fit, or they don’t like. Seasonal fluctuations in demand: Apparel demand typically peaks during the holiday season and during other seasonal events, such as back-to-school which directly impacts inventory levels. This can strain supply chains, as businesses need to q ..read more

The Cost to Build a Warehouse A primary consideration for most companies that manage product distribution and fulfillment is whether or not to build a warehouse. The cost of building a warehouse can seem straightforward, accounting solely for the cost of the actual building materials and professionals. Building a warehouse, however, comes along with a string of hidden soft costs in the long-term that may not be top-of-mind during the construction process. When determining whether to build a new warehouse or partner with a distribution and fulfillment provider, considering these hidden costs ..read more

Predictions for peak season 2023 The freight industry has been bracing for a weak peak shipping season this fall. Freight forwarders, ocean container lines, and airfreight companies have predicted a flat peak due to the low amount of air and sea imports when compared to previous years. Big merchants have continued to destock excess inventory during 2022 through 2023, which has held down seasonal growth in shipping volumes and dampened the outlook for peak. Freight forwarder Kuehne + Nagel reported a loss of 43% in net revenue in Q2 2023 when compared year-over-year (YOY). Operating profit f ..read more

Logistics network challenges occur more frequently now than ever Supply chains across the globe faced a turbulent two years from 2020 to 2022. The question that remains on leaders’ minds is: when will things return to normal? Disruption has become the norm, even in 2023, and the lessons learned throughout are expected to shape strategies for the foreseeable future. On average, supply chain disruptions which last a month or longer now occur every 3.7 years. More than 56% of retailers agree, supply chain disruptions occur more frequently. The world has experienced periods of status quo interru ..read more