Filed in March 2011

Tuesday, March 01, 2011

The number of supply chain organizations planning to spend on materials handling equipment and technology is increasing; but after being in “survival mode” for so long, budgets are small and decision makers are still wary.

What are the nation’s private fleet managers doing to help mitigate the costs of two new expensive regulatory initiatives? We found some of the best private fleet operators and most knowledgeable industry insiders to discover how they’re preparing their operations for this ongoing one-two regulatory punch.

Seven years after the Wal-Mart RFID mandate, the technology is alive and growing in logistics and supply chain operations. While most companies are not attempting to track cases and pallets through an open supply chain—which was the idea back in 2003—a new vision for RFID is taking hold and driving real value for early adopters.

Today, fuel and capacity issues continue to loom large for air cargo carriers, while shippers are being told that tactical adjustments, especially in the growing Intra-Asia trade, will need to be made at a moment’s notice as carriers re-adjust their networks.

Our contributing technology editor documents how far SaaS has infiltrated the SCM software space and then introduces us to a shipper that’s partnered with its 3PL to leverage a hosted solution that’s managing its domestic and international moves.

Given the escalating offshore labor and energy costs, hemispheric trade has never been more attractive to U.S. shippers. But are they prepared with the global trade management strategies needed to navigate this regulatory landscape? Our panel weighs the risks and rewards of doing business with Canada and Mexico.