How Commerce Is Helping Us Clean Up Ocean Plastic

You already know that literal tons of plastic are floating in the oceans, causing a plethora of ecological and health-related problems. Aside from keeping plastics waste out of the ocean, some companies are now actively pulling the plastic out to be reused as feedstock for production. Who are they and how can you better utilize [...]

 

You already know that literal tons of plastic are floating in the oceans, causing a plethora of ecological and health-related problems. Aside from keeping plastics waste out of the ocean, some companies are now actively pulling the plastic out to be reused as feedstock for production. Who are they and how can you better utilize this reclaimable resource — both for the benefit of the earth and your pocketbook? As we look out at our oceans, giant, swirling, plastic juggernauts...
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Cities Turn to Drones, Delivery Bikes to Make Last M...

Traditional delivery trucks are the backbone of the modern delivery business for good reason. They’re built to haul large amounts of cargo over long distances, and they do their job well. However, as urban centers become ever more congested, and online shopping becomes more popular, the drawbacks to these vehicles are becoming ever more obvious. [...]

Traditional delivery trucks are the backbone of the modern delivery business for good reason. They’re built to haul large amounts of cargo over long distances, and they do their job well. However, as urban centers become ever more congested, and online shopping becomes more popular, the drawbacks to these vehicles are becoming ever more obvious. Sending a large truck through densely packed streets with limited parking creates more greenhouse gases and slows delivery times. Add more orders every year, and...
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Warren Buffett, Walmart, and the Shift to Ecommerce

In February, billionaire investor Warren Buffett announced that he was dropping 90 percent of his stock in Walmart. This is a grim prophecy for the retail juggernaut, which faces stiff competition in rival Amazon. Walmart, in addition to encouraging customers to order online and pick up in store, has recently announced the launch of a new [...]

In February, billionaire investor Warren Buffett announced that he was dropping 90 percent of his stock in Walmart. This is a grim prophecy for the retail juggernaut, which faces stiff competition in rival Amazon. Walmart, in addition to encouraging customers to order online and pick up in store, has recently announced the launch of a new online marketplace called “Store No. 8” in an effort to stay relevant in an increasingly digital marketplace. It’s common knowledge these days that ecommerce is...
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Viral Marketing: How Meme Culture is Making Sales

We live in an age dominated by meme culture. New pictures, videos, and ideas are gaining popularity and spreading like wildfire in a matter of days. For anyone involved in advertising, this might seem like a dream come true. It’s exactly what anyone wants for their product - instant, cheap, large-scale marketing campaigns that essentially [...]

We live in an age dominated by meme culture. New pictures, videos, and ideas are gaining popularity and spreading like wildfire in a matter of days. For anyone involved in advertising, this might seem like a dream come true. It’s exactly what anyone wants for their product – instant, cheap, large-scale marketing campaigns that essentially run themselves. However, actually getting a meme to launch – especially if your end goal is to sell a product – can be extremely difficult....
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What is Blockchain?

Move over, Bitcoin. Blockchain technology is increasingly gaining ground beyond trading cryptocurrency. But what exactly is it and how will it affect the world of logistics (among other things)? As a current inhabitant of the 21st century, you are already familiar with how technology brings people and businesses together with ease. Social media, online shopping, news, [...]

Move over, Bitcoin. Blockchain technology is increasingly gaining ground beyond trading cryptocurrency. But what exactly is it and how will it affect the world of logistics (among other things)? As a current inhabitant of the 21st century, you are already familiar with how technology brings people and businesses together with ease. Social media, online shopping, news, you name it, the Internet has it just a few clicks away. But with such an open channel for commerce and communication, there comes some...
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What We Know About Amazon’s Drone Delivery Program

Despite the green light for small businesses to begin experimenting with their own drone delivery programs, corporate behemoths such as Google, Walmart, and Amazon are still heavily restricted from blotting out American skies with swarms of robots. With most of the others’ details left in the dark, Amazon has been more vocal about its own [...]

Despite the green light for small businesses to begin experimenting with their own drone delivery programs, corporate behemoths such as Google, Walmart, and Amazon are still heavily restricted from blotting out American skies with swarms of robots. With most of the others’ details left in the dark, Amazon has been more vocal about its own drone delivery program as it begins testing in the United Kingdom where regulations aren’t nearly as stringent. Though we can’t say for certain, the unveiling...
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What is AmazonFresh?

As ecommerce continues to grow and adapt to market demands, industries such as online grocery shopping grow with them. And as one of the major drivers of that change, Amazon is looking at rolling out its AmazonFresh program not only within the United States, but in Europe and even Southeast Asia. But what does the [...]

As ecommerce continues to grow and adapt to market demands, industries such as online grocery shopping grow with them. And as one of the major drivers of that change, Amazon is looking at rolling out its AmazonFresh program not only within the United States, but in Europe and even Southeast Asia. But what does the future of online grocery delivery look like now? Just as digital retailing giant Amazon wants to redefine delivery through the use of drones, now it...
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Earthbound Delivery Drones on the Horizon (and the S...

For fans of I, Robot, it looks like science fiction, yet again, is bleeding into reality. While we’ve still got a ways to go before human-like androids act as personal plastic-formed assistants, one company is rolling out earthbound delivery drones to make last-mile delivery runs. While the drones of the air neither reap, nor sow, [...]

For fans of I, Robot, it looks like science fiction, yet again, is bleeding into reality. While we’ve still got a ways to go before human-like androids act as personal plastic-formed assistants, one company is rolling out earthbound delivery drones to make last-mile delivery runs. While the drones of the air neither reap, nor sow, nor have the strength to carry heavier weight packages, robotics company Starship Technologies is taking a more grounded approach to drone-driven logistics. By implementing compact,...
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The Benefits of Dimensional Weight Over Physical Wei...

As more and more shipping companies are switching over to dimensional weight pricing, a lot of people are wondering what the deal is. Why not stick with the traditional physical weight pricing model -- after all, the heavier the package, the more it should cost, right? It turns out physical weight might not actually be [...]

As more and more shipping companies are switching over to dimensional weight pricing, a lot of people are wondering what the deal is. Why not stick with the traditional physical weight pricing model — after all, the heavier the package, the more it should cost, right? It turns out physical weight might not actually be the best way for shipping companies to manage their cargo. Not to mention the complications it causes for both them and the businesses that rely...
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Online Grocery Sales Swell to $48 Billion Globally

As omnichannel and ecommerce continue to grow, so too do the offerings of what one can buy over the Internet. Food and fast-moving consumer goods are quickly taking over a decent market share, reaching almost $50 billion worldwide, with no indicator of slowing down anytime soon. According to a report from Kantar Worldpanel, the fast-moving [...]

As omnichannel and ecommerce continue to grow, so too do the offerings of what one can buy over the Internet. Food and fast-moving consumer goods are quickly taking over a decent market share, reaching almost $50 billion worldwide, with no indicator of slowing down anytime soon. According to a report from Kantar Worldpanel, the fast-moving consumer goods (or FMCG, which are defined as “processed foods, soft drinks, and toiletries that sell quickly at a relatively low cost”) market grew only...
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What Do You Know About Vendor-Managed Inventory?

Owning your own business is tough work, especially when you have inventory to take care of. Between predicting customer trends and seasonal supply and demand, trying to maintain the right amount of stock in your warehouses is just the tip of the iceberg, let alone everything else it takes to keep a business going. The [...]

Owning your own business is tough work, especially when you have inventory to take care of. Between predicting customer trends and seasonal supply and demand, trying to maintain the right amount of stock in your warehouses is just the tip of the iceberg, let alone everything else it takes to keep a business going. The nice thing about technology, however, is that it inspires new ways of accomplishing old tasks if not directly through application, then indirectly through process. Vendor-managed...
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How Ecommerce is Cutting Down Shopping’s Carbon Foot...

Of all the conveniences the 21st century has to offer, online shopping has to be one of the best. From computer, tablet, or smartphone, in just a few clicks, you can order anything from armchairs to zebra-print neckties and have it sent straight to your house. But more orders means more delivery trucks, and more [...]

Of all the conveniences the 21st century has to offer, online shopping has to be one of the best. From computer, tablet, or smartphone, in just a few clicks, you can order anything from armchairs to zebra-print neckties and have it sent straight to your house. But more orders means more delivery trucks, and more delivery trucks means more greenhouse gases, right? Well… not exactly. CO2 emissions associated with retail and ecommerce product pathway stages. Image source: Anna Argyridou (via...
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