Unionized dockworkers on the East and Gulf Coasts secured a 62% pay raise over six years and new restrictions on automation in a tentative labor agreement with port operators. Reached just days before a strike deadline, the deal requires companies to hire additional dockworkers when adding semiautonomous equipment, a wrinkle that improves job security while allowing for some technological advancements. The contract, which union members will soon vote on, could increase shipping costs.
Technical debt is a major challenge for wholesalers and can lead to increased maintenance costs, reliance on key personnel and stifled innovation, writes DataXstream CEO Tim Yates. Wholesalers should identify outdated processes and tools, areas ripe for digital transformation and gaps in functionality through tools that offer real-time insights, enhance sales and support transactions.
The US economy added 256,000 jobs in December, significantly exceeding the forecast of 155,000. Meanwhile, the unemployment rate decreased to 4.1% from 4.2%, indicating a strengthening labor market.
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DHL Supply Chain has acquired Inmar Supply Chain Solutions to strengthen its position in the returns management sector with the addition of 14 US warehouses, enhancing DHL's logistics network and capabilities in handling returned merchandise. Retail returns have increased significantly as a result of generous return policies introduced during the pandemic to boost online shopping.
US trucking carriers anticipate a recovery in spot rates by the year's second half, with 39% expecting it in the second quarter and 21% in Q3, according to a TD Cowen survey. Business growth expectations have reached a five-quarter high, with 67% of respondents more confident about the economy than three months earlier.
Nearly two-thirds of US marketers have integrated AI into their workflows, according to a survey by Adobe Experience Cloud. Marketers who have adopted AI are 21% more likely to have budget increases and are 20% more likely to be expected to improve content production than those who have not integrated the technology.
Supply chain disruptions from geopolitical tensions, tariffs and natural disasters are prompting companies to invest in autonomous supply chains powered by AI, writes Inge Oosterhuis, a senior managing director at Accenture. However, Oosterhuis notes that technology alone isn't enough, emphasizing the importance of people-first strategies to ensure successful transformation.
Benchmark your sales and growth expectations for 2025 with MDM’s annual industry forecast, review of macroeconomic and distribution-specific trends, and the latest exclusive Baird-MDM MarketPulse survey insights. Join Baird Senior Research Analyst David Manthey, NetSuite VP Ranga Bodla and MDM Strategic Advisor Tom Gale on Thursday, Jan. 16, at 1 p.m. for the data and insights on how to best navigate the conflicting market signals shaping 2025.
Join us in Washington, D.C., January 27-29 for NAW's Executive Summit, bringing together the best and brightest leaders from the wholesale distribution industry. Learn more here.
Prioritize your organization's greatest asset — your people. NAW’s premier education programs, such as the online Management Academy and the in-depth Distribution Leadership Program at THE Ohio State University, are designed to equip your high-potential employees with the skills and insights they need to lead and succeed. Ensure your rising stars are prepared to drive your business forward by investing in their growth today. Learn more about how NAW can help you develop the leaders of tomorrow.
The National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors (NAW) is one of America’s leading trade associations, representing the $8 trillion wholesale distribution industry. Our industry employs more than 6 million workers throughout the United States, accounting for approximately 1/3 of the U.S. GDP. 250,000 wholesale distribution companies operate across North America, including all 50 states. Learn more.
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