Amazon's AmazonCommercial platform is an entry into jan/san products and could portend additional private-label product categories. "I believe this is just the beginning for Amazon and not just a test, and our team expects Amazon to ramp up their B2B private label offering very quickly over the next two to four quarters," said Brian Fricano, CEO of SustainableSupply.com.

The US Postal Service, UPS and other delivery services should pick up some of the business forfeited by FedEx when it ended its ground delivery contract with Amazon, observers say. Amazon's own logistics operation will likely also help make up the difference.

Collaboration has become more important among shippers and carriers because of higher logistics costs, says Michael Zimmerman, a partner with A.T. Kearney and co-author of the 2019 State of Logistics Report. "I think there has been a shift in the recognition of the importance of logistics and supply chains, which is going to keep feeding that collaboration and bring us better results in supply chains whatever happens in the economy," Zimmerman said.

Tessa Burg outlines seven ways business-to-business marketers can generate leads and encourage conversions on social, including targeting prospects on the platforms they most frequent and boosting organic content with paid posts that contain compelling calls to action. Ensure staff managing social media have the autonomy to quickly respond to questions from prospects, use social to demonstrate how products or services solve problems and show the human side of your company by encouraging staff to become social advocates, she advises.

Verint's Nancy Porte offers three ways business-to-business marketers can improve customer experience by cultivating brand advocates. She recommends that customer advocacy programs be managed by dedicated staff, that marketers help brand ambassadors shape their storytelling and that incentives such as reward points are offered to encourage participation.

The ideas behind behavioral science can help organizations encourage leaders and employees to build better habits and skills without resorting to coercion or direct instruction, writes Liliana Chitnis. She outlines how to develop a written plan for a nudge campaign and strategies to measure its effectiveness.

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