What is the best way to use big data in logistics and transportation? In 2019 and beyond, businesses are under competitive pressure to turn the data they have into effective results. From overseas manufacturers to the terminal tractors and trucks at your warehouse, every piece needs to be in sync and taking advantage of the latest technology and data.

Transportation experts see organizations taking a “coherent and structured approach” to their newest initiatives. Whether it’s public transportation, warehouse shipping, or last-mile couriers, each segment needs to align its stakeholders under one vision of reliable, efficient logistics.

Logistics trends in 2019 include:

– Smart cities initiatives

– Customized service models

– Money-back guarantees

– Results-based investments using big data

– IoT solutions to solve TL, LTL, and parcel delivery issues

– Driverless vehicles to solve the shortage crisis

– Reducing transportation costs by minimizing loading and unloading delays

Controlling Costs and Improving Logistics Efficiency

New technology and approaches are emerging to cut down on the ever-rising costs of transportation. Once you have the data to identify bottlenecks, prevent overstocking, and streamline the supply chain, you need to put a plan into action.

At the warehouse, the digital age has already made inventory tracking easier. Transportation needs to catch up. All the speed in the world for ordering and picking doesn’t matter if you can’t get the trucks on the road just as fast.

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Robotics, in combination with warehouse equipment, has become a dynamic means of boosting productivity with lower costs. Exoskeleton robots are now poised to become the next big innovation in supply chain and logistics.

Could exoskeleton robots have an application in your warehouse operations? Here’s what you should know about this fascinating technology.

What Are Exoskeleton Robots?

Exoskeleton robots are wearable devices that incorporate electric motors, pneumatics and hydraulics to mimic or augment actual human movements. These devices afford a greater degree of strength and endurance than workers could achieve on their own.

Applications of exoskeleton robots cut across a wide range of fields, from manufacturing and supply chain to healthcare and military. As a result, the market is expected to reach an astonishing $2.8 billion by the year 2023, for a compound annual growth rate of 45.2 percent.

Advantages of Exoskeleton Robot Use

Muscle fatigue and overuse are primary limitations in a number of activities. An exoskeleton robot lets the user remain functional and productive beyond the point at which they would normally have to stop.

Exoskeleton robots are currently incorporated extensively in two industries:

– Healthcare services use exoskeletons for injury rehabilitation to help muscles recover efficiently.

– The military uses exoskeletons in combat situations to reduce fatigue and injury risk among soldiers.

Full-body exoskeletons aren’t yet ready to be rolled out commercially, but upper- and lower-body exoskeletons have great potential as ergonomic aids for warehouse workers who perform repetitive tasks.

Make Safety a Priority with Ergonomically Designed Warehouse Equipment

Battery-powered warehouse equipment like our best-selling CartCaddyShorty includes features such as variable speed twist grips to prevent common repetitive motion injuries. Use our convenient online chat feature to learn more from our helpful sales engineers.

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Whether it’s automated warehouse equipment or integrated software systems, there’s a constant stream of trends affecting supply chain management today. Keeping up with these changes is essential in order to meet increasing customer demands.

What’s on the horizon for 2019? Here are some supply chain trends to focus on over the next twelve months.

Emerging Technologies

High-tech innovations continue to reshape every facet of the supply chain industry. Drones, artificial intelligence and highly developed robots are part of the next wave of technology making its way into warehouses and transportation.

Supply Chain Visibility

Ebbs and flows such as seasonal business have traditionally made it difficult to forecast supply chain workloads. Features such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and Big Data give managers real-time information they can use to accurately predict demand shifts and respond quickly to problems.

Sharing Economy

As retailers look for ways to be flexible enough to accommodate customer demand while keeping costs low, on-demand warehousing and logistics is seen as a viable solution. The sharing economy is projected to grow from $14 billion in 2014 to $335 billion in 2025.

Evolving Customer Channels

Change in customer channels has actually been an ongoing trend over the last few years. Traditional brick-and-mortar retail continues to move into direct-to-consumer, with 40 percent of brands now selling DTC. By the year 2025, DTC sales are expected to reach $130 billion.

Warehouse Equipment for Today’s Supply Chain Needs from DJ Products

While many elements of the supply chain may change, one constant is the need for efficient, reliable and safe warehouse equipment. We offer a full line of electric tugs, movers and pushers to suit any application. Visit our website for immediate assistance from our friendly sales engineers.

The post Be On the Lookout for These New Emerging Supply Chain Technologies and Trends appeared first on DJ Products.

The Trump administration says that they want the U.S. to “reclaim all of the supply chain and manufacturing capability” that they believe have been lost to overseas competitors.

Warehousing Outlook in the Trump Era

Over at Material Handling & Logistics, industry experts point to a Cushman & Wakefield study that predicts major changes — but that President Trump will stop short of pulling out of NAFTA or initiating a trade conflict with China.

At DJ Products, we keep tabs on the industry because our warehouse movers and tugs can play an integral role in a company’s speed and agility in changing circumstances. Here’s what seems clear about Trump Administration policy and the warehousing industry:

• Imports from countries that subsidize their goods below market value may get tariffs added.

• U.S. warehouses, which have increased by 3.5 billion square feet since the start of NAFTA in 1995, will continue to see plenty of trade with Canada and Mexico.

• China’s growing wealth and consumerism will help increase the amount of U.S. exports to China.

Warehouse Movers and Tugs for Material Handling Efficiency

Whether your warehouse handles imported goods or serves as a logistics center for a U.S. manufacturer, the years ahead will hold plenty of changes no matter which Trump Administration trade policies take effect.

DJ Products can help your business grow and improve efficiency with industrial cart movers, warehouse movers and tugs.

The post Will President Trump’s Focus on Imports and Exports Impact the Nation’s Warehouses? appeared first on DJ Products.

Predicting Sales Based on Port Activity

The Global Port Tracker is a monthly report generated by the National Retail Federation (NRF) in conjunction with consulting firm Hackett Associates. Based on activity at major retail container ports, the NRF predicts that sales will grow between 3.7 percent and 4.2 percent over 2016’s numbers.

Port activity is measured in twenty-foot equivalent units, or TEUs, which equate to a 20-foot-long cargo container. According to Global Port Tracker, the ports it covers handled 1.58 million TEUs in December 2016, which was a 10.2 percent increase from the previous December.

Total cargo volume in 2016 equaled 18.8 million TEUs. That number was up 3.2 percent from 2015, which in turn showed a 5.4 percent increase over 2014.

What’s in Store for 2017?

Jonathan Gold, vice president of Supply Chain And Customs Policy for NRF, explains that greater quantities of imports flowing through ports usually indicates a corresponding growth in sales. This trend led NRF to forecast 9.4 million TEUs during the first half of 2017, for a healthy 4.6 percent increase over the same period in 2016.

Move Inventory Efficiently with Warehouse Tugs from DJ Products

When inventory is flowing through your warehouse, every minute counts. A single employee can move loads up to 10,000 pounds quickly and safely with our CartCaddy5WP. Visit our website and let our friendly sales engineers help you find the right solution from our full line of electric warehouse tugs.

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