We eat, drink and breathe logistics–and this is the result.
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How do you know if adding regional carriers to your distribution strategy makes sense? Like most things, there isn’t a simple answer, but by looking at the right factors for your business you can determine what makes sense for you.
Meeting demand, growing your business, and managing transportation spend is difficult to balance to strike. This article will discuss some of the best tips for small business inventory management.
In this article, we explore the basics of flat-rate shipping, including how it works, its benefits and drawbacks, and when it may be the right choice for businesses looking to optimize their shipping strategy.
In this article, we will explore what a good inventory turnover ratio is, how to calculate it, and some strategies for achieving a healthy ratio. Additionally, we will discuss how tech solutions can help!
In this article, we will explore the importance of logistics services and how they help businesses to streamline their operations, reduce costs, and improve customer satisfaction.
In this article, we’ll discuss some of the biggest challenges facing shippers this year and the proven solutions to combat those challenges.
We explore the concept of SKU tracking, including what it is, how to implement it, and the benefits it can offer businesses, such as simplified inventory tracking, avoiding excess inventory, preventing out-of-stock instances, and forecasts.
In this blog post, we will explore some of the most common acronyms in logistics and supply chain management, helping to demystify these terms and giving readers a better understanding of the industry.
Learn about the latest techniques and strategies for streamlining your packaging and maximizing efficiency. With advice and practical tips, we'll help you improve your bottom line and your CX with faster, more cost-effective packaging.
Warehouses play a crucial role in the logistics and supply chain industry. However, not all warehouses are the same, and each serves a specific purpose. In this blog post, we will explore the six types of warehouses.
This guide is filled with information about how to determine customer delivery preferences and then decide on carrier and shipment informed by those preferences. We’ve also included the delivery windows for each of the major carriers.
Having multi-carrier shipping software is increasingly becoming a necessity. Say goodbye to manual shipping management and hello to cost savings, increased flexibility, and improved customer experience. Check out this article!
Contract engineering is a tool offered to help SMBs analyze and renegotiate their carrier agreements. Read to learn what contract engineering is, how to know when it would be helpful for your business, and overview of some of the benefits!
Great last-mile delivery strategies are vital for any online retailer. In this article, we’ll discuss some of the biggest trends in last-mile delivery strategies that are sure to shake up the industry.
Our Director of Sales, Grant Crossley, talks about the GRI. In this blog, Grant goes over what the GRI is, how it’s different from other surcharges. As you are probably starting to see an increase in costs, Grant will explain why.
Do you have a goal to be leaner this new year? Adopting “lean” principles in a warehouse means focusing on creating the most value for customers while using the fewest resources. In this article, we’ll overview lean warehouse strategy.
In this article, we’ll talk about some of the most common types of surcharges and give some strategies to help businesses cope with these fees.
In this article, we’re focusing on ending inventory. We’ll discuss what ending inventory is, how it helps you, and some inventory strategies.
If backorders or out-of-stock items are a common occurrence, it can be damaging to a brand’s reputation. In this article, we’ll discuss what backorders are, how to avoid them, and how to protect your customers when they occur.
Thinking about expanding to international markets? In this article, we’ll go over some of the most common questions and do our best to answer them!
Right now, is the absolute best time to evaluate your peak season performance and create a plan for next year. In this article, we’ll discuss the six top ways to evaluate what happened and where to go from there.
It’s time to seriously consider improving your demand forecasting techniques. In this article, we’ll discuss the types of demand forecasting and the top four strategies for getting the most out of 2023.
2022 was quite the year! We are looking back and rounding up our top articles. Stay tuned for more industry insights and all things shipping and supply chain in 2023!
Inflation has had a massive impact in 2022 and businesses are learning to adapt. If you’re looking to build a new strategy to deal with inflation in 2023 this article is a great place to start.
Do you feel like you must be a rocket scientist to calculate your shipping costs accurately? We’re here to help! This article will discuss how shipping costs are calculated and proven strategies for reducing your shipping spend.
Expanding your distribution is a great way to provide your customers with the best experience possible. In this article, we'll discuss balancing growth and costs and the best strategies to expand your distribution in 2023.
Let’s talk logistics tech! This is an exciting industry and change is constant! Check out our list of the top logistics tech that made a splash in 2022. Let us know what tech you're excited about for 2023 in the comments below.
Concerned about Grinches (aka, porch pirates) stealing your customer’s holiday gifts this year? 🎄 Let’s talk about how shipping insurance products like InsureShield offered through UPS Capital are great options to help customers' trust.
Stressing about peak season at your warehouse? We’re here to help! Follow this checklist to have a successful end-of-year and start 2023 with a strong foundation.
Do shipping strategies contribute to your brand’s image? We think so! In this article, we’ll discuss the shipping strategies ecommerce retailers should take advantage of to improve their marketing reach.
How does your business bounce back after unexpected woes? In this article, we’ll discuss the top three ways a digital transformation can build more resilience within your business.
Lions and Tigers and Shipping Deadlines... Oh my! The last date to ship packages for delivery prior to Christmas Day is quickly approaching for most carriers. Check out this article for the 2022 shipping deadlines for USPS, UPS, and FedEx.
Onboarding a new software platform doesn’t have to be difficult. In this article we’ll discuss real-world strategies and processes for bringing new tech to your company.
Peak season is here! In this article we’ll discuss strategies for optimizing reverse logistics procedures that allow retailers to stand out in the ecommerce landscape.
An often-overlooked aspect of a customer’s experience is what happens after their purchase is placed. This is called the post-purchase experience and plays an extremely important role in creating customer loyalty.
Warehouses are the heart of many companies, but operations can be difficult to manage. Continual improvement is the best approach to overcoming this challenge. In this article, we’ll discuss the industry’s best practices for warehouses.
Small business owners are passionate about their product and logistics woes can interfere with their focus. Defining and enforcing consistent practices is difficult, but custom business rules may be able to help.
The uncertainty of the last few years has led industry leaders to seek flexible and responsive supply chains. Switching from short-term fixes to long-term solutions is vital to overcoming these challenges.
There was an e-commerce slowdown in Q2 this year. In this article, we discuss the push and pull factors impacting consumer behavior and how to make your business stand out in the e-commerce marketplace.
The logistics industry is constantly on the move! Here’s our wrap-up of the top stories shaking up logistics in September. Let us know what you think of these stories!
For businesses that are expanding into new markets, growing their e-commerce network, or just looking to run things more efficiently, incorporating order routing may be the key.
The rise of “m-commerce”, social media shopping, and changes in shipping expectations are the three trends we feel are going to have a significant impact for the rest of 2022 and beyond.
Every major carrier adds peak season surcharges to their services. Knowing what these charges are, how they may affect your business, and how to adapt is vital to overcoming costs and staying on track during this holiday season.
At face value, SKUs are a simple set of numbers and letters that help identify stock. But in combination with a WMS or TWMS, SKUs can help businesses improve their inventory and order management and better track profitability trends.
Incorporating warehouse technology has become essential for survival and profitability in this industry. Our biggest recommendation is to find a great WMS which incorporates features that help your business reach its goals.
In today’s e-commerce market, small business-owners must digitize their logistics to survive. We’ve compiled some proven approaches to help you pick the right platform and strategies for implementation to get the best outcome possible.
Today we want to dive into a recent trend showcased by American Eagle Outfitters and Gap: large retailers not just taking charge of their logistics and supply chain but evolving to offer logistics services to other retailers.
The world of logistics and transportation never stops moving, so we decided to gather some of the stories that we’ve found most interesting from the last month or two for you.
Amid all the talk of recession and the eye-popping statistics on inflation, many businesses are turning to a strategic focus: customer retention. There are many ways to do this, but one that quickly comes to mind is shipping experience.
If you’re involved with shipping products you’ve probably heard the term ‘rate shopping’. Rate shopping refers to comparing rates of different carriers to select the cheapest service, but what if shippers were thinking about it all wrong?
With the world of e-commerce growing, customer expectations have grown as well. It is essential to get ahead of your competition and tackle those expectations. Read on for more insight into how to go about doing this.
Virtual warehousing is relatively new, but no, it doesn’t involve a VR headset and navigating a warehouse in a video game. Virtual warehousing allows businesses to allocate product to different marketplaces. Read on for more insight!
Plenty of patents are held in the shipping industry, and two interesting new patents have been revealed recently. Read on for insight into the state of the industry!
Recently, FedEx unveiled their “Network 2.0” strategy that includes eliminating inefficiencies by creating greater room for partnership between the FedEx Freight, FedEx Express, and FedEx Ground networks. Read on for more!
The journey of a product from your business to your customer sometimes can seem as fraught as Odysseus’ adventures in the Odyssey (well, maybe a little less intense). How do you manage customer experience? Data is key.
Automation seems to be all the rage, and this article from TechCrunch about recent funding for Nomagic, a company making robots to complete warehouse picking, is an interesting read.
Today we’re doing a roundup of the most recent topics on the Tee Up: Logistics Insights podcast. Read on for, you guessed it, insights into the state of logistics.
Today we’re going over some of the operational basics of a warehouse through the lens of a product arriving and then leaving a fulfillment center, or warehouse—read on to learn more!
The English word ‘logistics’ comes from the French word ‘logistique’ and traces back to 1846 when it was included in a book about warfare. Today we’re exploring what logistics really means in correlation with what iDrive Logistics does.
If you’re familiar with logistics and the world of transportation in business, you may have heard the terms ‘TMS’ and ‘WMS’ thrown around. What you may not have heard of before is a TWMS. Read on for more insights!
Inflation has continued to be an important topic and there are a wide range of predictions of what comes next. What’s certain? Consumers have high expectations of the shipping and delivery experience, regardless of who they're ordering from
When you hear ‘carrier’ you likely think of the big guys: UPS, FedEx, the USPS, etc. But when you hear of regional carriers, what comes to your mind? Today we’re explaining who regional carriers are and what they do.
While an ERP is not a TMS, a WMS, or ShipCaddie TWMS, this article brings up an important topic. When implementing new software, it is essential to plan every aspect thoroughly and be prepared for unexpected possibilities.
Do you keep an eye on what’s happening in the news regarding e-commerce and logistics? If you don’t, don’t worry, we’ve gathered the top articles we over here at ShipCaddie TWMS have been paying attention to from the last few weeks.
What does small parcel mean, anyway? What is the GRI? How about dimensional weight? Today we’re breaking down some of the most common terminology in the small parcel market (including what small parcel really means).
The e-commerce fulfillment landscape never sleeps. One of the biggest recent announcements is that Shopify is looking to buy Deliverr to resolve some of their issues with fulfillment.
Recently the USPS announced several new fees, including a dimensional non-compliance surcharge as well as a non-standard fee. Read on to learn more about the USPS' 10-year plan and how recent changes will impact shippers.
Plenty of businesses have been missing out due to out-of-stock issues over the last few months. So how can you avoid losing money because of out-of-stock problems? One of the best ways is by implementing technology that fosters visibility.
The transportation landscape has been shifting drastically of late and it can be hard to know how to increase reliability and cut down on costs. The number one resource in determining the best fit for your business? Data.
Returns are a huge deal for today’s e-commerce customers and often determine how a customer perceives a business. Recently, PayPal purchased the returns firm Happy Returns. Read on for more insight!
Are you a shipper and curious why there is so much talk about data in the small parcel space? It might be because there is so much value associated with having good data.
Have you wondered about inflation’s impact on the soaring amount spent on e-commerce? This article from Retail Dive goes into detail on a recent study done by Adobe about inflation and e-commerce, and we highly recommend giving it a read!
The conflict in Ukraine has dragged on for over two dismal weeks now, with no clear end in sight. The loss of life is horrendous and the impact can be felt worldwide. We are addressing the questions e-commerce businesses may be facing.
Read more for insight on consumer behavior and other catalysts that have pushed shippers to aim for faster fulfillment.
We’re here to cut through the noise and teach shippers what they need to know in order to make the best decisions for their operation and their bottom line. Enter 'Tee Up: Logistics Insights'.
We are breaking down fulfillment vocabulary and lingo. We've got you covered from 'DC' to 'SKU'!
Supply chain and logistics have become the center of attention over the last couple of years, and the industries are not slowing down any time soon. Below is a roundup of recent headlines in the space that you should be aware of.
We are thrilled to welcome Brian Antar and the rest of the Shipmate Fulfillment team to the iDrive Fulfillment Network! Their 300,000 sq. ft. in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is a key addition to our network!
Several indicators and trends are opening the door for revolutionary opportunities on both the transportation side and the retail side of business.
There is no shortage of misconceptions or misunderstandings about transportation and logistics, but we are here to clear the air! We gathered a couple of misconceptions and are steering shippers in the right direction.
Transportation management systems are lifesavers for many companies, but how exactly do they work, and how do they connect to the e-commerce marketplaces your business sells on?
Carrier surcharges are additional fees that are applied to the base shipping cost for a package. Each surcharge helps cover the additional costs needed to compensate for extra labor or processing that special packages need.
The transportation and logistics industry is full of industry terminology, acronyms, and jargon that can be confusing. We are breaking down some of the top-searched transportation and logistics questions.
Reverse logistics is one area where it is essential to master the basics and then innovate with a solid foundation in place. We are walking through the basic principles of reverse logistics.
For growing e-commerce companies you have likely handled many major business components in-house, but with COVID-19 and explosive growth in online and D2C shopping, your seams are starting to burst. But what should you outsource?
Deciding to work with a 3PL, and which 3PL to partner with, is an important decision that should be determined on a case-by-case basis. We are breaking down the basics of a 3PL and the pros and cons of partnering with one.
As a growing business, it can be easy to focus on what you are trying to sell instead of who you are selling to and why they value what you have to offer. We are breaking down how to understand your ideal customer.
The COVID-19 pandemic is almost officially two years old in the United States, and over the past two years, both shippers and consumers have adjusted and re-adjusted their behaviors countless times.
Put your e-commerce knowledge to the test with our e-commerce quiz! Take the quiz (answer key at the bottom...no cheating!) and share the quiz with how many questions you got correct!
How well do you really know shipping and logistics? We put together this quiz to test your knowledge and help you learn a thing or two!
It’s an increasingly common feature of most ERP and WMS software platforms but, knowing exactly what it is will help you know if virtual warehousing is a necessary feature as you evaluate your warehousing and logistics technology.
We are just coming off a very busy holiday shopping season with record spending, and record returns have been on its heels. Read more on reverse logistics and returns as well as what other businesses are doing as a solution.
It’s that time of year when shippers are beginning to see the effects of General Rate Increases (GRI). This year, both FedEx and UPS are raising their rates by 5.9%, both of which increases are now in force.
On top of the recently announced UPS general rate increase which included a 1% increase in the fuel surcharge table across all thresholds, UPS has just announced another bump of 1%, effective January 3rd, 2022.
The last two years have been a wild ride for e-commerce companies and 2022 will have its own set of adventures for companies to navigate. However, no matter what the upcoming year looks like, there are three areas to focus on.
Negotiating a carrier agreement is a highly nuanced, complex process; but for businesses spending a large amount (> $100,000/year) on shipping, negotiating agreements becomes crucial for efficient and economical shipping.
We are highlighting some of our favorite articles from this past year covering everything from international shipping to warehouse technology! Stay tuned in 2022 as well for more articles and insight coming your way!
We are taking a look back at 2021 and rounding up our top articles and podcast episodes from this year! Stay tuned for more insight and content on all things shipping and supply chain in 2022!
This year the global supply chain has been portrayed as the Grinch that will steal Christmas. There's no doubt that serious supply chain hang ups will affect the holiday season, but what will the average consumer actually miss?
It's time to take control of your transportation spend.
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