"Top 10" lists have become ubiquitous since comedian David Letterman made them a fixture of late-night TV. But they're not just a form of entertainment. For logistics and DC managers, a "Top 10" list can be an effective tool for prioritizing issues that require attention.

That's the purpose of a new white paper, Top 10 Trends Driving Order Fulfillment, issued by the folks at Dematic, the provider of integrated warehouse, logistics, and distribution solutions. If you're concerned about trends that will affect order fulfillment processes now and in the future, they say, here's what you should be thinking about:

1. Labor issues, including employee turnover, demographics, and ergonomics
2. SKU proliferation and slow-moving inventory
3. Continued decline in order size and increase in frequency
4. The need to build loads that improve unloading efficiency at destination
5. Rising energy costs
6. Demand for value-added services, such as assembly
7. Pressure for greater productivity by material handling systems and labor
8. Uneven order volume that introduces uncertainty
9. Customers' expectations for perfect order performance
10. New methods and technologies, such as "put" systems and waveless picking.

The complete white paper can be downloaded from the Dematic Web site (www.dematic.us).