Introducing The Otterly Informed Shipper: Beyond TMS and Supply Chain News
Hello! I’m Karen Sage and welcome to Shipwell’s monthly newsletter where you'll find my take on the most relevant topics within supply chain logistics, thoughtful feedback and commentary from our community, plus tips, ideas, and strategies on how to roll with the punches to keep things moving, and maybe have some fun along the way.
Despite its vital role in our global economy, when I first began working in the supply chain 8 years ago, the public rarely discussed the industry. Now, whether you’re speaking to your warehouse manager, a neighbor at the grocery store, or scrolling through the latest in your newsfeed, it’s become a prominent topic for just about anyone. In fact, it seems like the only thing that’s truly certain in the supply chain today is that there will always be some new issue being being reported on. To put this into another perspective, just within the time since I joined Shipwell 4 months ago we’ve seen headlines like the near-aversion of a complete railway shutdown, a renewed focus on near-shoring due to ongoing geopolitical conflict, wild swings in China due to the handling of the pandemic and their reopening, and all sorts of other issues that, just a few years ago, the average person likely wouldn’t have even been aware of, much less have any insight or an opinion on.
The fact that attention has shifted to the issues that impact our supply chains is, of course, a good thing and step towards progress. But, there’s a difference between being aware of the issues, and being truly informed on and understanding them. And one thing I was quick to notice when I joined Shipwell (and in fact one of the main reasons I did so) is that they genuinely understand these issues. And not only that, but they work around the clock to help solve them.
In a year that saw the collapse of numerous other technology providers, Shipwell was one the few that not only saw growth, but record-setting growth. And we owe that success to the wealth of knowledge that comes from combining industry experience with constant feedback and insight from our customers.?
And that’s what this newsletter is all about. I invite you to follow this newsletter as we dive into the most relevant supply chain topics each month. We encourage you to share your thoughts, ideas, frustrations, and individual perspective in the comments section. And if you’re interested, we’d love for you to follow us on our main LinkedIn page to stay up to date daily with the latest Shipwell news and how we may be able to help you run your supply chain more efficiently.
Looking forward to sharing and connecting with each of you here.
Karen Sage — CMO, Shipwell
This Month’s Topics
Taking a look back
Since 2023 has just begun, we thought we’d start this edition off with some reflection. In a year that saw so many supply chain technology providers being forced to make drastic cuts to their workforce and others to close their doors forever, Shipwell continued to thrive. Turning out powerful new capabilities, receiving prestigious award recognitions and forging exciting new partnerships, they turned one of the most challenging years for supply chains into their most successful yet. And they did it by focusing on what matters most to their customers.
So what does 2023 have in store?
Despite the optimism of early 2022, last year brought more than its share of challenges to the supply chain — and 2023 seems poised to continue that trend. From talent shortages and geopolitical issues to changes in the way companies are looking at sustainability, check a short summary of our top 5 predictions on what to anticipate in the year ahead below, and click the link to dive deeper into the issues.
1. Supply chain resiliency will take center stage
With the ever-growing list of risks that can disrupt supply chains – from natural disasters to political instability – companies are under pressure to increase the flexibility of their operations and gain a clearer understanding of their vulnerabilities.?
2. Ever-increasing digital sales channels will bring new challenges
From product subscription services to delivery options, brick-and-mortar retailers are increasingly leveraging their own knowledge of their customers’ purchasing behavior to provide them with tailored digital sales options and adding new logistical challenges.
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3. Sustainability initiatives will continue to cause a buzz, but most will fall short
The world’s focus on sustainability is only likely to increase while the public’s intolerance of ‘greenwashing’ practices continues to fall. However, these initiatives are likely to remain inactive unless investors begin to push back.
4. Despite recent layoffs in the industry, talent shortages will continue?
Most of the attention has been on recent layoffs across the industry, but many businesses and technology companies are still finding it difficult to attract enough talent, and this issue will need to be addressed in order to stay afloat.
5. Geopolitics will reshape supply chains, resulting new areas of congestion
To safeguard against global instability, many have begun looking to shift operations to closer or more stable areas. While this shift has clear benefits, it will also alter some of the world’s most significant supply chains and introduce new challenges.
Community topic highlight
Have a question? A topic you think worth discussing? Something you’d like us to focus on? Leave a comment and we may feature it right here in the next issue!
Since this is our first issue, we don’t have any subscriber feedback to draw from just yet, so instead we’ll highlight an issue that our customers have regularly expressed around automation — more specifically, automation in the procurement department.?
Things had to move fast in 2022, and old-school procurement departments just couldn’t keep up. So it’s no surprise that one of our most requested features was a way for shippers to take back control, and we delivered the solution with RFP Automation.?
Of course, despite the value that automation can bring to supply chains, it’s also a notoriously difficult value to calculate. What are the actual benefits? Are there limitations? What’s needed to get started? How much can I expect to save? Knowing this, we put together a guide on determining where it would fit into your existing process, and what you need to make it possible.
Stay tuned!
Wondering what’s next for the supply chain? How can businesses stay ahead of the issues? What’s up with the pink otter? There’s always more to discuss, and that’s what we’ll be doing right here next month! So if you come across an interesting article, have a useful tip to share, want to showcase an industry initiative or individual, or just want to give feedback on the newsletter itself, leave a comment below.
And don’t forget to subscribe for your chance to win a $100 gift card!*
Meme of the month
*User must subscribe to this newsletter before 11:59pm, March 1, 2023 to enter the contest. Winner will be selected by a random draw on March 2, 2023 and notified by LinkedIn message. Limit one entry per user. Click here to view full terms and conditions.
What's the origin story on that cute little Otter fella?