E-commerce is no longer a future trend – it is a retail segment threatening to overtake bricks-and-mortar in even the most traditional economies. This business model has arguably had the single most significant impact on how modern supply chains operate, and with ever-evolving consumer demand – is likely to do so for years to come.

We asked our supply chain experts to unpack the concepts of drop shipping vs. 3rd party fulfilment centres as viable supply chain options for e-commerce businesses.

As industries become more and more commoditised, there is a growing understanding that value is not necessarily intrinsic to the product sold, but in the manner in which this product is brought to market. Such commoditisation has resulted in organisations seeking opportunities to create competitive advantage through various partnerships, be it through outsourcing non-core functions to niche support organisations, or manufacturing bases in geographies that offer low costs per item produced. Globalisation has indeed created a one-world market and increasing digitisation is building an economy where the location of services is no longer as relevant as the value such create.

Disruptions across the board from the flow of raw materials to the distribution of end markets have in the last few years challenged the competitiveness and success of even well-rooted industries. In order to continue to harness future growth, organisations need to look beyond the traditional silo approach to doing business and instead seek collective opportunities that expand across various business sectors.

Supply Chain and Logistics terminology can seemingly not keep up with the rapid evolution of the industry. For years we have become accustomed to organisations adopting 3-or-4PL business models, but of late abbreviations such as 5, 6 and even 7PL beginning to become part of the logistics lexicon, but what exactly to do these terms mean?

It keeps you awake at night, it is on your mind always, your phone buzzes at all hours of the day, it is temperamental, tricky to handle and everyone has advice on how to do it better. A relationship? No…it’s your supply chain. As a supply chain professional you likely eat, breathe and sleep every detail of your operation and obsess over every transaction, load and shipment. Here are some ways to keep the passion for supply chain alive within your organisation.