Perhaps the biggest challenge facing the distribution industry today is the rise of the impatient customer. According to a recent report, 50% of customers would abandon a purchase if delivery choices were unsatisfactory. Customers want the goods they have ordered not only as quickly as possible, but also within a specified delivery time. Gone are the days of “your parcel will be delivered between 8am and 8pm within the next five to seven working days.”

JD.com, one of China’s largest e-commerce companies, has launched a new accelerator program called AI Catapult that focuses on blockchain and artificial intelligence startups.

Tremendous strides by innovators have resulted in some fascinating and intriguing enhancements to the transportation industry. In fact, in many ways, it feels like the future of the transportation industry is already here. These developments will cause transportation companies to rethink job descriptions and figure out when humans should be at the helm or when they should defer to smart machines for safety, cost savings and capabilities.

Amazon could move the needle for delivery solutions, but will others follow suit, or even be able to keep up?

The logistics market has been rocked by reports that Amazon is preparing to launch a delivery service for businesses, positioning it to compete directly with the likes of UPS and FedEx.

With unlimited e-commerce potential on the horizon, it is worth exploring if an experienced third-party logistics (3PL) provider can help you accommodate growth and ensure an optimal customer experience.

The type and capabilities of supply chain technology is expanding, and technology will only grow more important in effective supply chain management in 2018.

2017 may be remembered as the year we finally figured it out. After years of spending on the components of industrial technology, professionals in the supply chain and manufacturing disciplines should begin to see the fruits of their investments, as new capabilities and efficiencies begin to surface.

IBM has announced that it's collaborating with some of the world’s biggest food companies in a groundbreaking trial which will use blockchain - the ledger system which underlines global cryptocurrency Bitcoin - as means of trying to improve food safety.

Logistics management can be rewarding, satisfying, and lucrative – but for companies and consumers alike, it’s still only a means to an end. The end is profit and happy consumption. And in 2018, the logistics industry will confront many challenges in delivering both. Here’s why: