Supply chain

Two new funds have emerged targeting investment in logistics and supply chain startups, increasing the number of vehicles for early stage technology companies to get access to capital.

US imports are expected to remain high through most of 2021, which is leading some retailers such as Dollar Tree to forecast additional shipping costs for the year.

Sustained strong import volumes from Asia and tight capacity have forced perishable food importers and exporters to compete with dry goods shippers for space and equipment.

Technology incubator ZeBox chose Virginia to locate its third branch to foster maritime and logistics startups based on the state’s burgeoning tech ecosystem and its corporate partner’s broader economic development in the state.

Too often procurement “activity” at a company is episodic and rarely strategic, and this is particularly true in the transportation category.

The race for multimodal visibility is heating up as project44, fresh off a $100 million funding round, acquires container visibility specialist Ocean Insights for an undisclosed amount.

The Texas legislation being questioned by two Federal Maritime Commissioners stemmed from concerns among non-container port users that the growing volume of containerships calling Houston are disrupting the ability of other vessels to transit in an efficient manner.

Kuehne + Nagel turned around a weak first half of 2020 when the pandemic slashed demand, building back its business with air cargo profitability leading the way.

Sustained demand will keep volume high deep into 2021 and fill all available ocean capacity, so delaying contract talks with carriers could leave shippers stuck on the volatile spot markets.

Global supply chains are remarkably resilient on a day-to-day basis, but where the problem lies is in the ability to handle larger systemic risks brought on by broad, unexpected events.

Descartes has acquired foreign trade zone software specialist QuestaWeb as the global trade management solutions market continues to consolidate.

A panelist at JOC’s virtual TPM21 suggested that tasks traditionally offshored to save money, such as invoicing, invoice management, and documentation, could be automated for additional savings.

One TPM21 panel speaker said it is rare that he comes across companies with good data quality even though he considers that a basic necessity, particularly when it comes to negotiating with carriers

Online ocean freight quotes became a lifeline for forwarders during COVID-19, yet also highlighted risks of uncertain capacity and volatile rates

The case for container lines to invest in sensor hardware to provide visibility to shippers has been made easier by a profitable 2020 and a greater need to track scarce container assets.

Truckload carrier Werner Enterprises is expanding its Edge technology platform to brokerage partners and shippers, tightening its focus on landside logistics after offloading its ocean and air forwarding unit.

ReverseLogix’s cloud-based automation platform can help reduce the cost of merchandise returns by as much as 15 percent, according to founder and CEO Guarav Saran.

US seafood exporters are among the hardest hit by stricter COVID-19 testing requirements in China that some shippers have decried as non-tariff trade barriers.

A global scarcity of containers could push cargo owners to invest in so-called shipper-owned containers, but the majority of forwarders surveyed by container selling and leasing platform Container xChange weren’t able to supply such a service.

Financial services group ODDO has invested in shipment management software provider BuyCo as part of a broader aim to tether logistics data to new trade finance products intended to provide an alternative to letters of credit.

The head of Maersk’s venture capital arm, and his counterpart on the business side of the container line, are starting a new independent fund to invest in later stage supply chain and logistics startups.

Relay Payments is expanding its "lumper payment" platform, allowing truck carriers and brokers to automate the settlement of cargo unloading fees to receiving facilities.

The need to handle rising LCL and air freight volume within its network is behind the acquisition by Rhenus of a rival’s forwarding business in Germany.

The Federal Maritime Commission will take a deep look into the detention and demurrage practices in Southern California and New York and New Jersey, requiring ocean carriers and maritime terminal operators to answer questions about their policies related to importers and exporters.

A trade finance startup this week got $7.8 million venture capital investment to arm exporters and logistics providers in Mexico with access to working capital.

The field to supply the shipping industry with container level visibility is getting more crowded, with Bay Area-based Vizion API getting seed funding to build more complete container status data.

Cross-border carriers lack a load board analogous to the widely-used tools available to drivers on US domestic moves, something the broker and technology provider Forager is attempting to address.

A growing gap between inventory and sales in many US business sectors is projected to drive replenishment, expedited shipping, and high levels of imports for months to come.

Flexport has developed its own spin on an age-old forwarding solution, the purchase order management system, by focusing on messaging between importers and suppliers.

DSV said it is becoming a sustainability consultant for shippers as it put forth carbon reduction goals last week that govern both emissions it controls and those it doesn’t.

RIM Logistics turned to an early stage forwarding software provider to help it migrate internal data into customer dashboards so it could avoid losing business to forwarders with intuitive user interfaces

Forwarders are viewing traditional backbone operating systems not as a one-stop technology shop, but rather as a vehicle to attach complementary tools that help them serve shipper customers better.

SF Holdings’ acquisition of Hong Kong-based forwarder Kerry Logistics is a move by SF to expand its international presence.

Instant freight quoting is becoming a divided market, with one end focused on large shippers and the other on small and medium-sized businesses, according to Freightos’ annual State of Online Freight Sales survey.

Greater coverage of air and ocean markets through its acquisition of Panalpina has driven up profitability at DSV, and the forwarder is expecting an even better result this year.

Investment continues to surge into technologies that enable small truckload carriers to improve administrative and operational aspects of their businesses, with SmartHop’s $12 million funding round the latest example.

Through two pilot programs, US Customs Border and Patrol (CBP) is gathering additional information on potential high-risk shipments and also allowing for electronic document filing on international e-commerce shipments valued at $800 or less.

E2open returned to the public markets Friday after a six-year absence, a move that will allow the supply chain software provider to continue to grow organically and through acquisitions.

French and German consumers plan to either completely stop or order less goods online from the United Kingdom, according to a recent Pitney Bowes survey.

Momentum toward digital quoting and booking in ocean shipping is undeniable, but it remains to be seen whether shippers and forwarders will demand — and container lines are actually capable of delivering — truly dynamic pricing.