Cold Storage Goes High-Tech
Rising e‑grocery sales and aging U.S. cold‑storage facilities are driving a surge in demand for modern, temperature‑controlled warehouses. DHL Supply Chain teamed with real‑estate developer RLCold to build over 5 million square feet of new cold‑storage space across North America, emphasizing scalable automation. Meanwhile, Corvus Robotics launched its Corvus One for Cold Chain drones, capable of operating down to –20°F and delivering 99.9% inventory‑count accuracy. Early adopters such as Kroger are already deploying the drones, signaling a broader shift toward robotics in sub‑zero logistics.
How Good Is Your DC Simulation Model?
Distribution centers are racing to integrate new automation to meet soaring e‑commerce demand, prompting many to adopt computer simulations before committing capital. Amazon’s design engineering team, led by Abhineet Mittal, has pioneered a modular discrete‑event simulation method that breaks the...
USPS to Hike Prices 8% on April 26 to Cope with Rising Gas Prices
The U.S. Postal Service announced an 8% price increase effective April 26, citing rising fuel costs and broader inflationary pressures. At the same time, the removal of the de‑minimis exemption has introduced a baseline 10% tariff on most overseas parcels,...
FedEx Launches Two-Hour and End-of-Day Delivery Options
FedEx announced FedEx SameDay Local, a new parcel service that lets shoppers choose two‑hour or end‑of‑day delivery at checkout. The offering is built on a partnership with Florida‑based last‑mile platform OneRail and taps a national network of more than 1,000...
Lytx Fleet Risk Report Finds Collision Rates Rose Just 4% in 2025
A panel of automation leaders highlighted rapid advances in AI‑driven robotics, autonomous mobile robots, digital twins and predictive maintenance that are reshaping warehouses. They stressed that buyers now prioritize measurable ROI, speed‑to‑value and seamless integration over technology for its own...
3PLs Struggle to Address Shippers’ Tech, Service, Cost, and Data Needs
Third‑party logistics providers (3PLs) face mounting pressure as shippers seek greater resilience, reliability and real‑time data amid rising costs, labor shortages and geopolitical volatility. Industry leaders like Ryder emphasize deep customer understanding, rapid startup execution and continuous KPI‑driven improvement to...
Study: Retailers Struggle to Serve Impatient Consumers as Fulfillment Costs Rise
Retailers worldwide are feeling the squeeze as global logistics and fulfillment costs have risen more than 20% over the past three years. At the same time, 66% of shoppers now bounce across two or more channels before buying, fragmenting the...
Survey: Trucking Fleets Face “Procurement Paralysis” Due to Shifting Business Climate
A Fleet Advantage survey reveals that nearly half of U.S. heavy‑duty trucking executives are stuck in "procurement paralysis" as shifting tariffs and low‑emission engine mandates create uncertainty about new truck purchases. The indecision has forced fleets to keep older trucks...
DHL Expands White-Glove Logistics for Construction of AI Data Centers
DHL announced a major expansion of its North American data‑center logistics network, adding ten dedicated warehouses that will total more than seven million square feet by 2026. The new sites are purpose‑built for hyperscale and colocation operators constructing AI‑focused data...
Automation, AI Reshape the Workforce
Randstad’s Workmonitor 2026 report, based on 1,752 workers, 55 employers and over a million job postings, finds AI adoption accelerating while worker confidence in technology plummets. While 98% of U.S. employers expect growth, only 55% of talent share that optimism,...
Global Trade Flows Stay Resilient Despite War, Tariff, Geopolitical Tensions
The DHL Global Connectedness Report 2026 shows globalization holding steady at a 25% index in 2025, matching the 2022 peak. Global trade grew faster than any year since 2017, driven largely by a surge in AI‑related product shipments that accounted...
Tackling Complexity with Smart Automation
Swiss 3PL Alloga modernized its Bern distribution center by integrating Interroll’s Modular Conveyor Platform with Flück Fördertechnik. The modular, zero‑pressure accumulation system increased transport capacity, boosted throughput by 45% and expanded storage within the existing footprint without interrupting operations. Custom...
European Groups Form Cybersecurity Initiative for Industrial Automation
A European consortium has launched the three‑year ENFORCERS initiative to secure software supply chains, coordinate incident response, and enhance lifecycle resilience for industrial automation. Backed by EU funding, the project brings together manufacturers, cybersecurity vendors, and research institutes to build...
GEP: Global Manufacturing Levels Rose in February, Led by Asia
The GEP Global Supply Chain Volatility Index shows global manufacturing activity rose in February, driven by a surge in Asian factories that reached the busiest level since October 2022. North America’s index slipped into negative territory, indicating under‑utilized supplier capacity,...
Warehouses Lack Agility—And Are Paying the Price
Recent Lucas Systems research of 114 U.S. supply‑chain executives reveals that 51% of warehouses consider their automation systems unprepared for unforeseen disruptions, while 77% admit that at least half of their hardware or software is too rigid. The lack of...
Sensing Your Way to a Smoother Supply Chain
Supply chain management is being transformed by rapid advances in sensor technology, with the logistics sensor market projected to grow from $10.5 billion in 2024 to $25.8 billion by 2033. Ambient IoT, exemplified by Wiliot’s battery‑free Pixel tags, is giving Walmart item‑level...
Survey: Despite AI Tools, Freight Professionals Make Even More Decisions per Day
The Deep Current survey of 600 freight decision‑makers shows decision density rising despite AI adoption, with 74 % making over 50 operational choices daily and half exceeding 100. System fragmentation forces professionals to juggle five or more disconnected platforms, leading to...
Making the Warehouse a Better Place to Work
Warehouse automation promises easier picking and safer loading, yet it alone cannot solve the talent crunch. Industry leaders argue that career growth, cross‑training, and clear development pathways are essential to retain workers. Honeywell highlights training on new technology as a...
Let’s Be Straight on Deliveries
Online shoppers increasingly value reliable delivery dates, yet many experience shifting timelines and missed windows. A recent Avery Dennison survey shows 37% of consumers rank delivery delays as their top frustration, and 32% would abandon a favored brand after a single...
In Person Interview: Brian Alexander of Symbotic
Symbotic senior vice president Brian Alexander outlines the current robotics landscape, contrasting autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) with high‑density automated storage and retrieval systems (AS/RS). He emphasizes the shift from traditional automation to AI‑powered solutions that can make decisions, predict demand...
