Waves of Change: How Strikes, AI & Beach Brands Are Making Moves
Batten down the hatches and brace for impact, because many things are rocking the supply chain boat this week. Dockworkers ended their strike after three days, scoring a jaw-dropping pay bump. Smart cities unleash AI to tame urban last mile delivery chaos. Meanwhile, eco-conscious investors turn up the heat, demanding greener supply chains. Beach bums shed a salty tear as an iconic Florida brand abandons brick and mortar for digital, and B2B buyers ghost their sales reps for the comfort of online shopping. Let’s sink our teeth into this.?
Port Strike Ends: ILA & USMX Shake Hands on 61% Wage Hike
The 45,000 dock workers who walked off their jobs last week can now breathe a sigh of relief. After shutting down 36 ports across 14 major marine hubs from New England to Texas, the first International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) strike in 50 years has come to a close, at least for now.??
A $4 Per Hour Raise & Contract Extension
The ILA and United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) have hammered out a deal to shake up the maritime industry. Workers will receive a whopping 61% pay raise, translating to $4 per hour over the next six years. But that’s not all — the master contract has been extended to January 15, 2025, giving both sides more time to iron out any remaining wrinkles.
Back to Business: Ports Reopen & Political Pressures Ease
With the strike ending, your supply chain can start moving again, whether you’re a retailer worried about inventory shrinkage or a wholesale exporter itching to ship your goods. Plus, being that this is a high-intensity election season, it also takes the heat off the Biden-Harris administration, as they don’t need to invoke the Taft-Hartley Act. However, as we point out in our piece on logistics and delivery continuity in the face of supply chain “black swans,” strikes are just one type of “black swan” event that can disrupt your supply chain. You need to plan for a range of potential disruptions, from labor disputes to natural disasters, to maintain resilience, and this recent strike serves as a reminder. Comprehensive disaster planning strategies to maintain supply chain continuity in the face of unexpected events has never been more important.
Package Perfection: Cities Get Creative with Last Mile Delivery Solutions
Traffic-choked streets and frustrated delivery drivers circling the block — sound familiar? Urban logistics has hit a wall, but smart cities are pulling out their digital toolkits to break through. From cloud-powered route planning to AI-managed loading zones, tech is reshaping how packages reach customers’ doorsteps.
The Last-Mile Marathon: Sprinting Past Old Roadblocks
Last mile logistics in urban environments can be an absolute nightmare. Narrow streets, nowhere to park and traffic that seems to have a mind of its own. But here’s the good news: Smart cities are cracking the code. Take New York City — they slapped some intelligent sensors on the curb, and quickly, double parking took a nosedive while loading zones started moving faster. Or look at London — they got creative with flexible curb spaces and saw freight productivity jump by 21%. ? ?
Cloud Power & Curb Data: Building a Smarter Delivery Network
The future of urban logistics isn’t just about individual tech fixes — it’s about creating an interconnected, data-driven delivery ecosystem. Think of cloud platforms as the brain of the operation, crunching massive amounts of data from all over town in real time. Now, toss in some standardized data protocols (like the Curb Data Specification that the Open Mobility Foundation is pushing for), and you’ve got a recipe for delivery magic. Think delivery routes that twist and turn based on up-to-the-minute traffic and loading zones that expand and shrink as needed.??
Investors Turn Up the Heat on Supply Chain Sustainability
The MIT Center for Transportation and Logistics (MIT CTL) and the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) just released their 2024 State of Supply Chain Sustainability report, which has some eye-opening findings.??
Money Talks: Investors Want Action, Not Just Promises
The pressure is mounting for supply chains to go green, not only to cater to eco-friendly customers. The report shows investor pressure to clean up supply chains has shot up by 25% in just five years. That’s the most significant jump of any factor pushing for change. If you’re not already fielding calls from shareholders about your carbon footprint, get ready — they’re coming.
The Scope 3 Stumbling Block
Even companies with the best intentions are hitting a wall when it comes to Scope 3 emissions. We’re talking about the carbon footprint from your suppliers, customers and everything in between. It’s a massive chunk — up to 75% of a company’s total emissions — and it’s proving to be a real headache to track and manage. So much so that only 33% of surveyed companies have a net-zero goal, and of those that do, many have no idea how to achieve it. The tech and strategies to tackle this beast just aren’t there yet for most businesses.
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Salt Life Stores Close: The End of an Ocean Era?
Remember those “Salt Life” stickers plastered on every other car from Jacksonville to the Keys? The brand behind them is making waves — and not the kind you surf. Salt Life is shutting down all its physical stores and pivoting to digital instead. It’s a big deal for a company that’s been as part of Florida’s DNA as sunburns and flip-flops since 2003.
Boardwalk to Bandwidth: Salt Life’s New Horizon
So what’s the deal? Salt Life got scooped up by Iconix International Inc. and Hilco Consumer-Retail Group in a bankruptcy auction following financial troubles at its parent company, Delta Apparel Inc. Now, instead of browsing racks of beachy tees and surf gear, you’ll be clicking through their website or finding their stuff in other stores. For a brand that’s all about the ocean lifestyle, it’s a radical change.?
Last Call for Beach Bums: Grab Your Gear While You Can
If you’re feeling nostalgic (or need a new pair of board shorts), you’ve got a small window to hit up those 28 Salt Life stores one last time. They’re having a massive “everything must go” sale with up to 40% off. It’s like Black Friday, but with more sunscreen. Better move fast, though — by October 20, those gift cards you’ve been hoarding will be about as useful as a surfboard in a desert. After that, Salt Life’s physical presence will be little more than an afterthought.?
With that said, we can’t discuss Florida without expressing our thoughts for those affected by Hurricane Milton, including our own HQ team. We’ve activated our disaster plan and are fully committed to supporting the community and maintaining operations as safely as possible during this challenging time.?
McKinsey Survey Unveils the New Face of B2B Buying: e-Commerce Leads the Way
McKinsey’s 2024 B2B Pulse Survey paints a picture of a digital revolution in business buying. They surveyed nearly 4,000 decision-makers worldwide, and guess what? Online shopping isn’t just for consumers anymore. For B2B companies with digital channels, e-commerce has knocked traditional sales off its pedestal; a third of their revenue now comes from digital pipelines.??
Digital Deals Dominate, Face-to-Face Fades
The era of sealing deals over power lunches is waning fast. In-person sales have plummeted, shedding five percentage points in just one year. Today’s B2B buyers are flocking to the convenience of remote purchasing and self-service platforms. They’re even comfortable dropping over $500,000 through digital channels, shattering long-held beliefs about big-ticket sales needing the personal touch.
The Trio Reshaping B2B Buying
The survey also vividly depicts three distinct buyer personas now driving the market. There’s the “Adapters,” 44% of buyers who value relationships but cautiously explore new channels. The “Innovators,” a tech-savvy 20%, eagerly embrace digital tools and even leverage AI for supplier research. And then there are the “Seekers,” 36% of buyers who demand seamless omnichannel experiences across all touchpoints and won’t hesitate to switch if disappointed. While their approaches vary, all three groups share a growing appetite for exceptional interactions and cutting-edge solutions.?
All Aboard the OneRail Express: Your Ticket to Supply Chain Zen
In this wild world of logistics, you need a partner who can roll with the punches. With last mile delivery companies like OneRail on your side, you have a partner that can turn your delivery challenges into successes:
No matter your industry, OneRail can transform your logistics strategy. Schedule a demo today to find out how.
As first seen on the OneRail blog at https://www.onerail.com/waves-of-change-how-strikes-ai-beach-brands-are-making-moves/