Last Mile to Grocery Aisle: The Week’s Stories Impacting Supply Chains
Ready for a look into what’s shaking up the world of logistics beneath the surface? We’ve got some intriguing stories lined up. OneRail is turning heads with a Gartner honor for the second straight year, while cities are wondering if those delivery lockers you’ve seen popping up might be the future. Have you ever thought about the tires on those delivery vans zipping around your neighborhood? Bridgestone has, and they’ve cooked up something interesting. Meanwhile, thanks to AI, your local grocery store might be getting smarter than you think. And if you’re curious about the bigger economic picture, we’ve got some fresh numbers on how wholesalers are doing. Let’s break it all down.
OneRail Steals the Spotlight Again in Gartner’s Latest Guide on Last Mile Delivery
First, we at OneRail are proud to announce our back-to-back recognition by Gartner as a Representative Vendor in its Market Guide for Last Mile Delivery Technology Solutions, an honor that we don’t take lightly.??
How OneRail Keeps Winning
Our approach to final mile delivery is why we keep catching Gartner’s eye. Our OmniPoint? Platform goes beyond shipping to find the smartest, fastest way to get your package where it needs to go. We’ve got nearly 12 million drivers and a huge courier network covering over 400 major cities across North America. We coordinate all this in real time, hitting a 99% on-time delivery rate. And if anything goes wrong, our 24/7 Exceptions Assist? team is on it immediately.??
Why This Recognition Matters
Gartner’s shout-out is a big deal — not just a pat on the back. For anyone in the supply chain, it’s a clear signpost pointing toward a tool that can seriously up your delivery game. This recognition stresses that our approach is effective and trend-setting. With tools that offer real-time tracking, routing and customer feedback, we are truly taking last mile logistics to the next level, and you can see so for yourself with a complimentary copy of the 2024 Market Guide for Last Mile Delivery Technology Solutions here .
Is the U.S. Ready to Embrace Delivery Lockers?
As daily life ramps back up to pre-pandemic hustle, with more people heading back to offices, the annoying issue of missing a package delivery is becoming all too common. Meanwhile, porch piracy is soaring. Are delivery lockers the solution everyone’s been waiting for? ??
The Rise of Delivery Lockers
The smart parcel locker market is booming, fueled by a push for more secure and efficient delivery methods. According to the Infinity Business Insights report from July 9, these lockers offer security and a greener option, cutting down on the miles delivery vans need to travel. In the U.S., major carriers use lockers for over 140,000 packages. Yet, despite these numbers and the average American household receiving 162 packages in 2022 — 55% higher than the global average — there’s still a surprising gap in widespread locker use.
Are Lockers the Future of Delivery?
The delivery world is abuzz with talk of package lockers and at Home Delivery World 2024, it was the hot topic. New York City’s getting in on the action, trying out public sidewalk lockers that can stash 25 packages each. Pretty cool, right? Many think this could catch on nationwide, especially with Europe’s smart locker adoption, resulting in less traffic and tidier streets. That said, could everyone from city planners to delivery companies see lockers as a fix for the delivery ecosystem and budget woes one day?
Bridgestone Rolls Out a Game-Changer for Delivery Fleets
Meet Bridgestone Americas’ newest innovation: the BDR-AS3 retread . This tough-as-nails tire can handle the intense demands of package and last mile delivery operations, no matter what conditions the road throws at it.
Enhanced Performance Meets Advanced Technology
Imagine you’re a delivery driver , battling all sorts of weather as you drive city streets and highways. Now picture a tire that’s got your back through it all — the BDR-AS3 from Bridgestone’s Bandag line. This all-season tire lasts nearly 20% longer than the old model, thanks to its deep 22/32nd tread design and innovative 3D siping. Plus, its certification with the 3 Peak Mountain Snowflake (3PMSF) and a traction index 73% above the necessary standard highlights its readiness for even the harshest winter roads.?
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A Strategic Expansion to Support Growing Demand
Bridgestone is going the extra mile and putting its money where its mouth is. They’ve pumped $60 million into their Abilene, Texas factory, expanding it to the size of a football field to crank out those BDR-AS3 tires and keep pace with skyrocketing demand. With online shopping through the roof and packages darting around like never before, Bridgestone’s got its finger on the pulse by making sure delivery drivers have top-notch gear to tackle the road ahead.
AI: The Secret Ingredient Boosting Omnichannel Engagement for Grocers?
Forget just stocking fresh produce — today’s grocery game is about giving shoppers a smooth experience, whether on apps or strolling the aisles. Grocers are spicing things up with AI , using smart tech to take the omnichannel experience to new heights.? ??
AI Powers Personalized Shopping Experiences
eGrowcery’s latest AI tool is shaking up the grocery game, and it’s got both shoppers and store owners excited. Imagine browsing your local store’s website and getting personalized recipe suggestions with a simple “add to cart” option at your fingertips. It’s like having a mind-reading chef who knows what you’re craving and when. Patrick Hughes, eGrowcery’s CEO, says this tech is about making shopping a breeze while boosting sales. But the real magic happens when this AI connects your online browsing with your in-store habits, creating a seamless experience , whether tapping on your phone or pushing a cart down the aisle.??
Leading Grocers Adopt AI for Enhanced Interaction
Major grocery chains are also fully on the AI bandwagon, and the results are impressive. Kroger has implemented sophisticated AI to enhance its search functionality, making product discovery almost intuitive. Meanwhile, Walmart has taken a bold step into the future with generative AI that handles conversational queries so that customers can naturally interact with the search function. Every interaction aims to strengthen brand engagement so customers feel understood and valued. ??
Wholesaler Sales in May: A Snapshot of Growth and Challenges
May’s Census Bureau figures show wholesale figures are inching up — both from last month and last year. Let’s close out this weekly wrap-up with a quick look at what’s cooking.
A Closer Look at May’s Sales Figures
Wholesale numbers for May are in, and it’s a mixed bag. We hit $666.7 billion in sales — up a smidge from April and nearly 2% from last year. That’s not too shabby, considering the economic rollercoaster we’ve been on. But here’s where it gets interesting: some parts of the industry are killing it, while others are getting crushed. Car parts and electrical goods? They’re up 4.0% and 8.3% from last year. But if you’re in furniture or metals, you might feel the pinch, as they dipped -8.5% and -9.8%, respectively.
Inventory Trends and the Sales Ratio
Now, let’s take a closer look at the inventory picture. May wrapped up with $901.7 billion in stock — a slight uptick from April but down from last year. The real story, though, is in the inventory-to-sales ratio. It’s holding steady at 1.35, down from 1.39 year-over-year, which suggests wholesalers are fine-tuning their stock management and walking that tightrope between meeting demand and avoiding excess. But in this market, things can turn on a dime.
The Future of Retail: It’s in Your Hands (and on Your Doorstep)
We’ve zoomed through a world of smart lockers, AI shopping assistants and tires that practically drive themselves. It’s clear that logistics are changing fast, and it doesn’t matter whether you’re a retailer or wholesaler. So, how can your business keep up? Here’s how OneRail can help:
No matter your industry, OneRail can transform your logistics strategy. Schedule a demo today to find out how.
First seen on the OneRail blog at https://www.onerail.com/last-mile-to-grocery-aisle-the-weeks-stories-impacting-supply-chains/