Lineage Logistics rolls out EV trucks in Kan., Calif. | FedEx revamps structure for cost savings | How TD Synnex employees helped shape ESG initiatives
Lineage Logistics has five battery-powered Orange EV trucks from Hirschbach Motor Lines deployed in the Kansas City, Kan., area, where they run about 20 hours a day, six days a week. Lineage, which stores and transports temperature-controlled food products, is also using 10 Orange EV trucks in California.
FedEx plans to fully consolidate its Express and Ground delivery units into a single business unit by June 2024 as part of a $6 billion cost-saving plan and shift to become a "unified, fully integrated air-ground network," according to executives. This will drive changes such as "one van, one neighborhood deployment," increased use of the freight-rail network and altered flight schedules, and overall is a "pivotal moment" in the company's history, says FedEx Chief Executive Raj Subramaniam.
TD Synnex's commitment to social responsibility grew from within because its environmental, social and governance program is "based on the priorities of our people," CEO Rich Hume said. Among the company's initiatives are limiting carbon emissions and adding an accounting tool to track them.
Third-party logistics providers accounted for the most significant share -- 41% -- of big-box warehouse leasing footage in North America in 2022, marking a first in a decade of tracking by CBRE Group. First-year rent growth jumped 23% last year, the national vacancy rate was 3.3%, and a record-breaking 455 million square feet is under construction.
Manually entering orders to generate invoices is an outdated process that can end up costing distributors time and money, according to Karthik Chidambaram, founder and CEO of DCKAP. Among the pitfalls of failing to embrace automation: Processing takes too much time, errors can creep in, resources could be better utilized and growth is likely to be stunted, Chidambaram writes.
Researching prospects takes up about six hours of a top salesperson's time because it keeps attention focused on the most likely candidates, writes Isha Bell of The Center for Sales Strategy, who shares typical prospecting mistakes. Nurturing and tracking those potential buyers is just as important as researching them, Bell notes.
Boost employees' performance by trusting them to do their work, recognizing their success, giving them constructive feedback and providing opportunities for growth, writes Cyndi Wenninghoff, the employee success director at Quantum Workplace. "This creates an environment where employees can contribute ideas and improve performance across the organization," Wenninghoff writes.
Before initiating a difficult conversation, get clear on what you want to say, choose a time and a place that's private, stay calm, listen deeply and be ready to offer solutions, writes Steve Keating. "This can help to create a sense of collaboration and can lead to a more positive outcome," Keating writes.
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