Unexpected changes to the balance of essential supply chain components have impacted shipping and fulfillment across the country in recent weeks. Ports have faced a number of simultaneous challenges — container shortages, drayage backlogs, and much more — but it looks like things are heading in the right direction thanks to some quick thinking and temporary solutions. After all the supply chain doom and gloom that we’ve heard about in recent months, it’s a welcome change.
The holiday shopping season is already in full swing, with customers placing orders at a record pace so far this year. Some part of that is due to early warnings about fulfillment backups — rather than risk a stressful last-minute waiting game, shoppers are getting all their holiday shopping done now.
Sustainability is very much in the spotlight right now. Part of this focus is a natural extension of the coverage from negotiations at COP26, the recent United Nations Climate Change Conference held in Glasgow. Cuts to greenhouse gas emissions have been a hot topic as government officials, business leaders, and cultural fixtures negotiate a path forward for the planet.
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It’s not often that the supply chain gets a lot of press (outside of the holiday season, of course). However, the usually behind-the-scenes operations at ports, warehouses, and on America’s roadways have taken center stage in the public consciousness in 2021. Why is that?
2020 was an exceptionally difficult year for the United States Postal Service, one that was cluttered by slowdowns, political conflict, and historically high demand. Long running financial issues ran headlong into a pandemic-related uptick in shipping from ecommerce outlets, which then was exacerbated by significant operational and process changes from top to bottom. The result was a lot of speculation about the health and viability of the agency in a post-pandemic world.
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After eighteen months of severe disruption, things are returning to something that resembles normal in many parts of the United States.
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The Senate recently advanced a $1 trillion infrastructure bill that, if signed into law, will include major investment for the nation’s transportation, water, and power infrastructure. It also allocates funds for expanded broadband internet access, research and development for clean energy technologies, and much more.
The IPCC just released their 2021 report, and the biggest takeaway is that we should be acting right now to work toward zero-emissions goals. As consumers and businesses internalize these revelations, more are looking seriously into their supply chains for ways to improve their carbon footprint.
AI and automation in the trucking industry have come a long way in a very short period of time. While full hands-free automation is still somewhere on the horizon, technology is already improving efficiencies and creating better working conditions for drivers on the road.
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This past year and a half has been unprecedented on many, many levels. The earliest months of the COVID-19 pandemic ground production to a halt in some segments, while creating rushes on other consumer goods that strained supply chains around the globe.
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