At home and away. Sandvik Sorting Systems has announced that it has signed three new deals. First, the company will be installing its Accord Singulator at the Home Shopping Network's distribution center in Piney Flats, Tenn. The singulator can handle up to 100 cartons a minute, lining them up in single file to make handling easier.
Sandvik will also supply a new sliding shoe sorter
to Williams Sonoma's distribution center in Olive Branch, Miss., outside Memphis. The Trisort SD sorter will be used to sort oversized carpets and rugs, items usually deemed non-conveyable. The sorter will be 244 feet long with 17 mono-lateral diverts. It will operate at a speed of 350 feet per minute and will sort a minimum of 60 cartons per minute.
Under terms of the third deal, Sandvik will install additional Twinsort units next month at Seattle-Tacoma Airport in Washington state. The units are part of an expansion and upgrade of the airport's baggage handling and explosive detection systems.
Think of it as a huge pantry. Gordon Food Services, North America's largest family-owned food distribution company, has chosen viastore systems to provide an automated inbound material handling system for its new DC in Shepherdsville, Ky. The order includes nine viapal storage/ retrieval machines that will handle foods in three separate storage areas within the facility. viastore is also providing inbound unit-load pallet transportation at the facility using shuttle cars provided through its partnership with Gebhardt Conveyor Co.
Forward thinking. Foreway, a third-party logistics (3PL) provider, says it will use integrated supply chain solutions from RedPrairie to help it optimize its transportation operations and fleet programs. The RedPrairie suite is expected to form the backbone of Foreway's transportation operations and freight management to regional distribution centers and customers. It will also assist with Foreway's transition from a manual environment into an automated one.
Room for growth. Shoe company Footstar has entered into an eight-year agreement with FMI International, an integrated logistics provider to the footwear, apparel and retail industries. FMI will perform transload, warehousing and distribution services for Footstar. As part of the deal, FMI will assume control of Footstar's Mira Loma, Calif., DC, which can handle 30 million cases annually.
Forward ho. Atlanta-based freight forwarder PEI Logistics has selected Trans-Soft Inc. to integrate the company's airfreight forwarding system. Through Trans-Soft's operating programs, PEI's customers will be able to track shipments online. Trans-Soft is based in Scottsdale, Ariz.
Continental flair. ProLogis, a global provider of distribution services and facilities, has signed two agreements for clients in Europe. NYK Logistics, an international third-party logistics (3PL) provider, has hired ProLogis to construct a 355,804-square-foot facility in Romentino, Italy. ProLogis also provides eight other facilities to NYK elsewhere in Europe and the United States. In another alliance, ID Logistics is leasing a 391,142-square-foot ProLogis distribution center near Paris, France. ID Logistics, a French 3PL, already leases six other ProLogis facilities throughout France.
Should we call it International Paperless? E-Sync, a leading supply chain consulting, facilities engineering and systems integration firm, is teaming up with GlobeRanger, a provider of RFID, mobility and sensor-based software products, to deploy an RFID solution for International Paper's Customer Solutions Center. E-Sync developed workflows that incorporate RFID into receiving, picking with intelligent forklift, picking to a high-speed conveyor, and shipping. The design uses GlobeRanger's iMotion Edgewhere platform.
A dynamic move. Witron Integrated Systems has installed its Dynamic Picking System (DPS) at grocery chain Kroger's Southeastern distribution center. Though Witron has a number of Dynamic Picking Systems operating successfully in Europe, this is the first implementation of the technology in the United States. The DPS is a "goods to person" picking system that uses mini-load automatic storage and retrieval technology to bring products directly to workers for picking.
Riding along on a carousel. Intek Integration Technologies will be replacing the existing legacy software that controls the carousel system at Norco in Boise, Idaho. Norco is a national welding, safety and homecare medical supplies provider. The software will also provide visibility into the system and reporting functionality.
No holes in this plan. Voxware has deployed its VoiceLogistics solution at Dunkin' Donuts' Mid-Atlantic DC in New Jersey, a facility that serves 1,400 stores in eight states. The new system has raised accuracy to 99.9 percent and has allowed the facility to eliminate order-checking stations. The voice-directed system has also made it easier to train new workers.
As holiday shoppers blitz through the final weeks of the winter peak shopping season, a survey from the postal and shipping solutions provider Stamps.com shows that 40% of U.S. consumers are unaware of holiday shipping deadlines, leaving them at risk of running into last-minute scrambles, higher shipping costs, and packages arriving late.
The survey also found a generational difference in holiday shipping deadline awareness, with 53% of Baby Boomers unaware of these cut-off dates, compared to just 32% of Millennials. Millennials are also more likely to prioritize guaranteed delivery, with 68% citing it as a key factor when choosing a shipping option this holiday season.
Of those surveyed, 66% have experienced holiday shipping delays, with Gen Z reporting the highest rate of delays at 73%, compared to 49% of Baby Boomers. That statistical spread highlights a conclusion that younger generations are less tolerant of delays and prioritize fast and efficient shipping, researchers said. The data came from a study of 1,000 U.S. consumers conducted in October 2024 to understand their shopping habits and preferences.
As they cope with that tight shipping window, a huge 83% of surveyed consumers are willing to pay extra for faster shipping to avoid the prospect of a late-arriving gift. This trend is especially strong among Gen Z, with 56% willing to pay up, compared to just 27% of Baby Boomers.
“As the holiday season approaches, it’s crucial for consumers to be prepared and aware of shipping deadlines to ensure their gifts arrive on time,” Nick Spitzman, General Manager of Stamps.com, said in a release. ”Our survey highlights the significant portion of consumers who are unaware of these deadlines, particularly older generations. It’s essential for retailers and shipping carriers to provide clear and timely information about shipping deadlines to help consumers avoid last-minute stress and disappointment.”
For best results, Stamps.com advises consumers to begin holiday shopping early and familiarize themselves with shipping deadlines across carriers. That is especially true with Thanksgiving falling later this year, meaning the holiday season is shorter and planning ahead is even more essential.
According to Stamps.com, key shipping deadlines include:
December 13, 2024: Last day for FedEx Ground Economy
December 18, 2024: Last day for USPS Ground Advantage and First-Class Mail
December 19, 2024: Last day for UPS 3 Day Select and USPS Priority Mail
December 20, 2024: Last day for UPS 2nd Day Air
December 21, 2024: Last day for USPS Priority Mail Express
Measured over the entire year of 2024, retailers estimate that 16.9% of their annual sales will be returned. But that total figure includes a spike of returns during the holidays; a separate NRF study found that for the 2024 winter holidays, retailers expect their return rate to be 17% higher, on average, than their annual return rate.
Despite the cost of handling that massive reverse logistics task, retailers grin and bear it because product returns are so tightly integrated with brand loyalty, offering companies an additional touchpoint to provide a positive interaction with their customers, NRF Vice President of Industry and Consumer Insights Katherine Cullen said in a release. According to NRF’s research, 76% of consumers consider free returns a key factor in deciding where to shop, and 67% say a negative return experience would discourage them from shopping with a retailer again. And 84% of consumers report being more likely to shop with a retailer that offers no box/no label returns and immediate refunds.
So in response to consumer demand, retailers continue to enhance the return experience for customers. More than two-thirds of retailers surveyed (68%) say they are prioritizing upgrading their returns capabilities within the next six months. In addition, improving the returns experience and reducing the return rate are viewed as two of the most important elements for businesses in achieving their 2025 goals.
However, retailers also must balance meeting consumer demand for seamless returns against rising costs. Fraudulent and abusive returns practices create both logistical and financial challenges for retailers. A majority (93%) of retailers said retail fraud and other exploitive behavior is a significant issue for their business. In terms of abuse, bracketing – purchasing multiple items with the intent to return some – has seen growth among younger consumers, with 51% of Gen Z consumers indicating they engage in this practice.
“Return policies are no longer just a post-purchase consideration – they’re shaping how younger generations shop from the start,” David Sobie, co-founder and CEO of Happy Returns, said in a release. “With behaviors like bracketing and rising return rates putting strain on traditional systems, retailers need to rethink reverse logistics. Solutions like no box/no label returns with item verification enable immediate refunds, meeting customer expectations for convenience while increasing accuracy, reducing fraud and helping to protect profitability in a competitive market.”
The research came from two complementary surveys conducted this fall, allowing NRF and Happy Returns to compare perspectives from both sides. They included one that gathered responses from 2,007 consumers who had returned at least one online purchase within the past year, and another from 249 e-commerce and finance professionals from large U.S. retailers.
The “series A” round was led by Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), with participation from Y Combinator and strategic industry investors, including RyderVentures. It follows an earlier, previously undisclosed, pre-seed round raised 1.5 years ago, that was backed by Array Ventures and other angel investors.
“Our mission is to redefine the economics of the freight industry by harnessing the power of agentic AI,ˮ Pablo Palafox, HappyRobotʼs co-founder and CEO, said in a release. “This funding will enable us to accelerate product development, expand and support our customer base, and ultimately transform how logistics businesses operate.ˮ
According to the firm, its conversational AI platform uses agentic AI—a term for systems that can autonomously make decisions and take actions to achieve specific goals—to simplify logistics operations. HappyRobot says its tech can automate tasks like inbound and outbound calls, carrier negotiations, and data capture, thus enabling brokers to enhance efficiency and capacity, improve margins, and free up human agents to focus on higher-value activities.
“Today, the logistics industry underpinning our global economy is stretched,” Anish Acharya, general partner at a16z, said. “As a key part of the ecosystem, even small to midsize freight brokers can make and receive hundreds, if not thousands, of calls per day – and hiring for this job is increasingly difficult. By providing customers with autonomous decision making, HappyRobotʼs agentic AI platform helps these brokers operate more reliably and efficiently.ˮ
RJW Logistics Group, a logistics solutions provider (LSP) for consumer packaged goods (CPG) brands, has received a “strategic investment” from Boston-based private equity firm Berkshire partners, and now plans to drive future innovations and expand its geographic reach, the Woodridge, Illinois-based company said Tuesday.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but the company said that CEO Kevin Williamson and other members of RJW management will continue to be “significant investors” in the company, while private equity firm Mason Wells, which invested in RJW in 2019, will maintain a minority investment position.
RJW is an asset-based transportation, logistics, and warehousing provider, operating more than 7.3 million square feet of consolidation warehouse space in the transportation hubs of Chicago and Dallas and employing 1,900 people. RJW says it partners with over 850 CPG brands and delivers to more than 180 retailers nationwide. According to the company, its retail logistics solutions save cost, improve visibility, and achieve industry-leading On-Time, In-Full (OTIF) performance. Those improvements drive increased in-stock rates and sales, benefiting both CPG brands and their retailer partners, the firm says.
"After several years of mitigating inflation, disruption, supply shocks, conflicts, and uncertainty, we are currently in a relative period of calm," John Paitek, vice president, GEP, said in a release. "But it is very much the calm before the coming storm. This report provides procurement and supply chain leaders with a prescriptive guide to weathering the gale force headwinds of protectionism, tariffs, trade wars, regulatory pressures, uncertainty, and the AI revolution that we will face in 2025."
A report from the company released today offers predictions and strategies for the upcoming year, organized into six major predictions in GEP’s “Outlook 2025: Procurement & Supply Chain” report.
Advanced AI agents will play a key role in demand forecasting, risk monitoring, and supply chain optimization, shifting procurement's mandate from tactical to strategic. Companies should invest in the technology now to to streamline processes and enhance decision-making.
Expanded value metrics will drive decisions, as success will be measured by resilience, sustainability, and compliance… not just cost efficiency. Companies should communicate value beyond cost savings to stakeholders, and develop new KPIs.
Increasing regulatory demands will necessitate heightened supply chain transparency and accountability. So companies should strengthen supplier audits, adopt ESG tracking tools, and integrate compliance into strategic procurement decisions.
Widening tariffs and trade restrictions will force companies to reassess total cost of ownership (TCO) metrics to include geopolitical and environmental risks, as nearshoring and friendshoring attempt to balance resilience with cost.
Rising energy costs and regulatory demands will accelerate the shift to sustainable operations, pushing companies to invest in renewable energy and redesign supply chains to align with ESG commitments.
New tariffs could drive prices higher, just as inflation has come under control and interest rates are returning to near-zero levels. That means companies must continue to secure cost savings as their primary responsibility.