The National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors is acquiring Modern Distribution Management, a leader in the distribution media space and a primary source of industry-related data, insights and thought leadership. NAW President and CEO Eric Hoplin called the acquisition "a declaration of NAW's unwavering commitment to distributor success," while MDM CEO Tom Gale said the deal "opens a vibrant new chapter" for the publication. MDM will maintain its editorial independence and continue providing objective and insightful industry analysis.

Cargo thefts were up 68% year-over-year for the fourth quarter and 57% for the year as thieves amassed nearly $130 million worth of goods with a concentrated focus on California, Florida and Texas, according to CargoNet. Logistics executives are testing new tools, such as Overhaul's new smart door seal, but say more solutions are needed.

Metalworking and MRO supplies distributor MSC Industrial Supply is acquiring KAR Industrial, a Canada-based metalworking distributor that supplies measuring and cutting tools, machine tool accessories and other manufacturing supplies. MSC's latest acquisition expands its metalworking reach in Canada and provides KAR customers to a wider product assortment and ecommerce channel. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Amazon's French operator is facing a $34.9 million fine over allegations by the French Data Protection Authority that Amazon's employee monitoring system, which includes scanners that track performance and activity, is "excessively intrusive," and a separate fine over the security of its video surveillance. Amazon has addressed a number of issues brought up in the investigation, but said it plans to appeal the fine, saying its warehouse management systems are part of the industry standard and the agency's conclusions "are factually incorrect."

Multitenant, cloud-based warehouse management systems can help organizations optimize inventory, order and labor management, while also streamlining receiving, picking, packing, shipping and distribution operations, writes Will Quinn, director of industry solution and strategy for Infor Distribution. Other benefits include facilitating the returns and reverse logistics process, enhancing the use of space, offering comprehensive analytics and reporting, and scalability to support infrastructure and regulatory compliance, Quinn writes.

As more organizations seek a balance between environmental responsibility and operational efficiency, they are ramping up their investments in the technologies behind sustainable logistics, including AI and machine learning, which help make route planning smarter and more fuel efficient, writes Nimish Gupta, head of engineering for beans.ai. Other technologies and trends include blockchain to enhance supply chain transparency, switching to renewable energy sources, investing in circular supply chains and industrywide collaboration and supportive policies, Gupta notes.

Shippers that had been adding carriers in the summer amid potential strikes and tighter capacity have been reversing course and consolidating for three consecutive months, according to project44 data. FedEx and UPS are enticing businesses with discounted rates, while regional carriers are trying to remain competitive with efforts such as collaborating with peers.

Jessie Johnson and Katie Linford, analysts at Forrester, outline three AI trends for business-to-business marketing: exploring how data quality is hampering B2B AI adoption, how the "glare of generative AI's spotlight" is causing some to pursue quantity over quality content and the need to foster workforce trust in AI. "Marketing leaders must promote a culture of ideation, experimentation, continuous learning, collaboration and agility as the foundation for AI literacy," the pair write.

Frequent C-suite changes, especially those involving the bulk of its officers, can wreak havoc on employee confidence, writes Alaina Love, CEO of Purpose Linked Consulting, who shares five leadership actions to avoid. Wiping the slate clean is a mistake, Love explains, because "firing everyone from a previous administration says a lot about a CEO's belief in their ability to lead."

Goldman Sachs' head of trading strategy, Joshua Schiffrin, says the Federal Reserve will cut rates in March and three more times in the year, and inflation will reach the Fed target of 2%. The executive also expects central banks in Europe and the UK to follow the Fed and begin lowering interest rates.

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