Optimas Solutions launched its "Forward Faster" initiative last year with a four-part focus: simplify, connect, drive and empower, Optimas Americas President Daniel Harms says. Going forward, the distributor will use business intelligence insights, machine learning and predictive analytics "to make smarter, faster decisions" while standardizing processes and ensuring quality, Harms says.

Amazon will no longer open 42 planned US facilities and has postponed another 21, affecting a combined total of almost 53 million square feet of space, according to consulting firm MWPVL International. The company is also closing two Baltimore-area delivery stations that together have more than 300 employees.

The Federal Trade Commission has started reviewing Amazon's deal to purchase Roomba manufacturer iRobot to see whether it raises any antitrust concerns, according to sources familiar with the matter. The FTC is expected to examine concerns related to competition and data in the review, which will likely be followed by a more in-depth investigation.

Artificial intelligence and augmented analytics can help companies reduce volatility in their supply chains, according to Fred Fontes Gerards, general manager of customer success at Aera Technology. Newer supply chain software and planning platforms can also support better decision making, provide visibility and prevent disruptions, other industry experts say.

Clothing retailers American Eagle Outfitters and Gap are pitching their logistics knowledge, distribution networks and warehouses to other companies, hoping that even their competitors will use their services to keep goods moving. However, worries about loss of competitiveness and data privacy may impede the retailers' plans.

Business-to-business marketing is no longer a niche, with 72% of US businesses primarily in the B2B category and the industry experiencing more rapid growth than fast-moving consumer goods, write the B2B Institute's Peter Weinberg and Jon Lombardo. This is the "B2B century," the pair write, noting it "will require the same skills as the B2C century: the ability to understand the customer's needs, ensure the product is easy to mind and easy to find, and build distinctive brands that can charge higher prices."

Jay Schwedelson, founder of SubjectLine.com, talks in this podcast about what's working for business-to-business email marketing, explaining why open rates are a useful metric, why A/B testing is vital and why high frequency is most effective as long as content is relevant. "Personalization in B2B takes on many forms, and it absolutely boosts performance," Schwedelson says.

Avoid micromanaging your team by adapting your style to each member's preferences, clearly communicating expectations and goals and fostering a sense of accountability, writes Rashan Dixon. "As a manager, you want your workers to feel a sense of ownership because then they'll feel accountable for the project's success," Dixon writes.

Dissatisfaction can spring from many areas of life, including unrealistic expectations, but that feeling can be useful when it creates the motivation needed to change or try new things, writes Gregg Vanourek. Vanourek offers 21 "dissatisfaction destroyers," such as practicing gratitude, releasing negative thoughts and emotions and avoiding the tendency to take things personally.

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