What we're reading: Online order delays, the rise of the machine, and more

Labor shortage could delay your online orders

As online sales growth continues to outpace that at physical shops, experts say retailers are already having trouble filling positions in the heart of their digital operations—their warehouses. 

A continuation of this trend could be particularly troublesome for companies during the peak shipping days of the winter holiday season, when distribution centers often require two to five times the staffing, said Frank Layo, a partner at supply chain consulting firm Kurt Salmon. 

Source: cnbc.com

 

In Japan, the rise of the machines solves labor and productivity problems

What would robots in the distribution center look like? This article describes how one drug wholesaler in Japan has cut its workforce in half by employing robots, which currently handle 65 percent of its item picking.

Source: Bloomberg Business

 

E-commerce Growth in India

India is projected to be the fastest-growing B2C e-commerce market in the BRIC countries in the next five years. This conclusion is drawn in a new publication by Germany-based secondary market research expert yStats.com. The report, titled “India B2C E-Commerce Market 2015” also reveals the main challenges faced by online retail in this country, including underdeveloped logistics and low credit card penetration.

Source: Ystats.com via Pressebox   

 

Is your warehouse management system as agile as your business?

Being able to evolve and adapt your business processes to changing demands is a critical component to your success. A new Warehouse Management System RFP template can help.

Source: HighJump

 

The impact of reusables theft

This microsite from reusable packaging manufacturer Rehrig Pacific details how much the theft of reusables costs companies each year and strategies for battling the growing problem.

Source: Rehrig Pacific

 

Shyp Thinks It’s Solved the Problem of Push-Button Shipping

Shipping? Yep, there’s an app for that. 

A new service from San Francisco-based startup Shyp lets you snap a photo of anything you need to ship, then push a button inside an app. Within 20 minutes, a Shyp-dispatched courier comes to your doorstep and whisks away your items. Not much later, the app gives you a tracking number so you can watch as the package gets delivered—all for $5 per shipment. No post office lines, boxes, or packing tape necessary.

Source: Wired.com

 

In corn-growing states, tall crops pose seasonal road hazard

The broad leaves and thick stalks can stand up to 12 feet high, forming a wall of foliage that turns rural roads into long, narrow corridors of nothing but corn.

For drivers navigating the gravel roads that crisscross Midwestern farm country, the plants go by in a noiseless blur of green, yellow and brown. But the annual crop brings an often-ignored danger: Some roads are so sheltered by the towering corn that motorists can't see each other until just before they collide, with potentially deadly results.

Source: Des Moines Register