The past several years have proven how volatile our global supply chains can be in the face of unexpected circumstances. Labor shortages, plant closures, sourcing issues, and transportation delays disrupted nearly every industry and affected consumers worldwide. When business is operating as usual, a few minor shake-ups in the supply chain can usually be handled without much disruption. But consistently managing your supply chain in a reactive mode has risks that shouldn’t be ignored ..read more

As the White House Council on Supply Chain Resilience convened for the first time last week, a far-reaching list of initiatives was announced to tackle supply chain challenges. In short, the initiatives will help reduce the risk of another supply chain snarl similar to the COVID-19-induced backup. The administration is launching a new supply chain center within the Department of Commerce to work across agencies and ensure the US’ most critical supply chains continue to build resilience. The president is also invoking the Defense Production Act to move more of the pharmaceutical supply chain s ..read more

There’s a light at the end of peak season: it’s the returns train coming at you full-speed ahead.  It’s the post-holiday season, so the flow of products from retailer to consumer is now reversed. The wrong size, color, or style; there are numerous reasons why gifts may not have been right. And so, the time has come: you have to deal with returns.   ..read more

Nine months of prep – of analyzing data, of upgrading technology, of perfecting processes, of selecting inventory – have led to this: it’s peak season once again. Within the next few weeks, consumers will begin looking for good deals and putting items on layaway. And before you know it, Black Friday and Cyber Monday will bring customers out to stores and onto websites in droves. So before supply chain professionals go heads down to keep up with demand, we wanted to get a final pulse on 2023 peak season logistics. Kenco’s 2023 Annual Supply Chain Survey explored the challenges practitioners e ..read more

In the fast-paced world of eCommerce, customers have come to expect quick and efficient delivery of their online orders. Modern expectations have shifted to free two- or three-day shipping, and anything less can greatly impact a retailer's relationship with their customers. Achieving same day fulfillment has become more than just a perk; it is now an absolute expectation. This blog post will cover how the operations and speed of a warehouse can directly impact the end customer's experience in eCommerce, four steps to achieving same day fulfillment, and how it can give your business a competi ..read more

Take a glimpse of where the supply chain stands as we move into Q3. See the latest numbers, news, and insights from our experts below. Access the full Supply Chain Trending report here: https://go.kencogroup.com/midyear-supply-chain-trending ..read more

Post-pandemic supply chain issues and the increasing reliance on 2-day or same-day delivery have put a measurable strain on the transportation of goods. To meet consumer demand, more truckers are on the road working longer hours—making driver safety more important than ever before. From a cost perspective, the expenses incurred due to accidents can be staggering. In 2021, The National Safety Council estimated that the average cost of a truck or car accident is approximately $1.8M in the event of a death and $160,000 for a disabling injury. For commercial motor vehicles, that cost jumps to $5 ..read more

Material handling equipment (MHE) is the lifeblood of the supply chain and is highly critical to the operational throughput of a warehouse. This heavy-duty equipment consists of semi-automated and automated equipment like forklifts, boom lifts, tuggers, cranes, scissor lifts, conveyors, and even golf carts, and ensures that essential materials and goods are safely and efficiently transported to their next location. But organizations often take a “set it and forget it” approach to their MHE once it’s been procured. With the sheer number of MHE in operation across an organization’s warehouses ..read more

Creating a more diverse and inclusive workplace is a strategic initiative here at Kenco. To shed some light on the topic, we sat down for an engaging conversation with two senior leaders driving impact in this area: Ben Staples, VP, HR and Diversity, and Kristi Montgomery, VP, Innovation, R&D. In the conversation with Ben and Kristi, we touch on what inclusivity means at Kenco, why it’s a strategic initiative, how the company leverages technology and innovation to be more inclusive, and what their vision looks like for the future at Kenco. The interview has been edited for length and cla ..read more

Many eCommerce retailers today understand that the delivery experience is a major contributing factor to the overall customer experience. In fact, new research conducted by eCommerce last-mile delivery platform, FarEye, found that 85% of U.S. consumers will not shop with a brand again after having had a poor delivery experience. This realization has caused savvy retailers to focus their attention on offering top-tier delivery service. A great delivery experience encapsulates key moments for the consumer both pre- and post-purchase, and is not limited to the singular moment a package lands on ..read more