David Maloney has been a journalist for more than 35 years and is currently the group editorial director for DC Velocity and Supply Chain Quarterly magazines. In this role, he is responsible for the editorial content of both brands of Agile Business Media. Dave joined DC Velocity in April of 2004. Prior to that, he was a senior editor for Modern Materials Handling magazine. Dave also has extensive experience as a broadcast journalist. Before writing for supply chain publications, he was a journalist, television producer and director in Pittsburgh. Dave combines a background of reporting on logistics with his video production experience to bring new opportunities to DC Velocity readers, including web videos highlighting top distribution and logistics facilities, webcasts and other cross-media projects. He continues to live and work in the Pittsburgh area.
When employees at Awana don their voice headsets and begin their daily shifts, they're doing much more than simply filling orders. They are experiencing a mature technology that has evolved well beyond its roots in order picking.
Awana is a direct distributor of educational materials and products for church youth groups, serving more than 11,200 churches representing over 100 denominations. The Chicago-area company began its voice journey 11 years ago when it installed the Jennifer voice system from Lucas Systems to direct its order selection activities. Things quickly snowballed from there. "We started with picking and immediately saw that the payback was so significant that we added other functions within six months," recalls Steve Hale, director of distribution. Those functions included receiving, putaway, and returns.
Awana's history with voice mirrors the way the application of these systems has evolved. While picking has always been the sweet spot for voice, many users have successfully expanded the technology into other areas, including replenishment, cycle counting, load building, and shipping. In fact, just about any warehouse function can be voice-enabled, often with little, if any, incremental expense. Once a company has made the initial investment in hardware and software, there is little cost to extend voice to these other tasks.
Awana recently upgraded to new voice software that allows workers to run their mobile voice applications on smartphones and to combine scanning and device displays with voice, leveraging one of the many developments that have taken place in voice-directed technology in recent years. But as game-changing as this and other hardware-related advancements may be, perhaps the biggest change going on in voice is its newfound ability to optimize processes and manage worker performance.
NOT YOUR FATHER'S SYSTEM
If you haven't examined the capabilities that voice can offer for a while, it might be worth another look. By all accounts, the technology has come a long way in the last decade and a half.
"In the early days of voice, it was cumbersome and expensive," recalls Keith Phillips, president and CEO of voice system provider Voxware. "I'm not sure the market really understands how much voice has evolved over the past 15 years," he adds. "It's a totally different technology than it was even five years ago."
Both the hardware and software for voice systems have steadily improved. Batteries last longer, the units are smaller and lighter, and the addition of Bluetooth has eliminated the need for a wire to connect the voice terminal to a headset.
During the past few years, voice providers also began moving from systems that worked only on dedicated voice terminals to more flexible software that can run on a variety of devices, many of which feature screens and built-in scanners. This advancement allows users to incorporate scanning into activities prompted by the voice system, allowing them to, say, scan a bar code on an incoming pallet rather than read 16 digits into the system.
Food and pharmaceutical distributors are taking things a step further, combining voice with scanning to gather data on their products-in-process to comply with pedigree laws and to establish chain-of-custody documentation. Lot numbers, expiration dates, and product weights are among the data that can either be scanned or "voiced" into the record.
The trend toward incorporating voice technology into screen-based devices has also helped streamline DC operations. For instance, the screen might display additional instructions or information about the product, including a photo to assure the right item is picked. In some cases, the device might be an electronic tablet that can be mounted onto a lift truck and used with a wireless headset, which allows the worker to hop off the truck to perform a task directed by voice software that's either resident on or relayed through the tablet.
Voice is also being used in conjunction with pick-to-light and put-to-light technologies. As Ken Ruehrdanz, manager of distribution systems market at solutions supplier and integrator Dematic, explains, a put-wall technology can be combined with voice for effective picking of multiple orders. The put-wall consists of stacked cubbies, similar to large mail slots, where products for specific customers can be gathered. "A user can deploy voice-directed technology to batch pick all needed orders and then use the light-directed put-wall to separate the items into individual customer orders," he says.
NEW VOICES BEING HEARD
While the expansion of voice to other hardware devices has undoubtedly boosted the technology's flexibility and value, the real breakthroughs have come on the software end. The newest software offerings take data collected from various warehouse functions and process it through analytic algorithms to optimize warehouse workflows and improve labor management.
"What we are seeing now is that voice systems are becoming an information source that can be combined with a warehouse management system (WMS) that then becomes a productivity hub," says Jason Franklin, product manager, labor and business intelligence at Intelligrated, a manufacturer of automated material handling systems. In addition to being integrated with the WMS, voice data can also be exchanged with warehouse control systems and other software to optimize warehouse processes. That means that if, say, a bottleneck develops in packing, the software could redirect workers from picking to the pack area to improve downstream flow. "Voice is a piece of the puzzle that when combined with data from these other systems, can take things to a whole new level," Franklin adds.
One company that now offers optimization tools is Lucas, which includes these capabilities in the latest version of its Mobile Work Execution Software Suite. Among other capabilities, the software can perform smart batching. Typically, a voice system receives pick assignments from a WMS. But if the facility isn't using a WMS or if it's using a WMS that cannot batch, the voice software can "look" at the items needed for orders and perform batching on the fly.
Another capability available in many of the voice software suites is the ability to interleave tasks. With interleaving, an employee who is picking items for orders might be asked to replenish a location before selecting items from that slot. Or he/she could be prompted to count the items at that location for inventory purposes once a pick is completed. Or a worker who has finished picking cartons might be directed to stack them on a pallet and load them onto an outbound trailer. As with batching, these interleaving tasks can also be done independently of a warehouse management system.
Performance management is quickly becoming a "must have" feature in voice systems as well. Supervisors can now dial in and listen to the voice system's prompts to see how a worker is responding. "That allows coaching to build up that individual's performance," Franklin says.
The labor management capabilities also include dashboards that allow supervisors to view individual performance in real time. This monitoring capability can be relayed to a manager's mobile device for on-the-floor adjustments. Key performance indicators (KPIs) and other performance benchmarks can be loaded into the system to provide performance comparisons to establish standards.
Jay Blinderman, director of product marketing for Honeywell's Vocollect Solutions division, says the newest version of his company's Workflow Performance Solution can "help take average performers and help them to excel." Blinderman explains that the system measures time stamps of various activities, such as travel to a pick location and time spent actually picking, and determines if the worker is meeting performance expectations. Along the way, the software can provide voice reminders to the worker to help him or her stay on track.
SOUND OF THE FUTURE
As for what's next, given the growing number of mobile platforms now in use, it's probably no surprise that voice companies are looking to make their systems as device-agnostic as possible. For instance, Jeff Slevin, COO of Lucas Systems, says that his company is now delivering its Jennifer applications on smartphones running the Android operating system in addition to traditional warehouse devices running Windows Mobile. "We are working to provide the greatest flexibility possible on the mobile device side," Slevin says.
With some solutions, workers using different operating platforms can run the same systems side by side, which makes upgrades easy and allows users in different parts of the DC to use the best device for the job (for instance, workers in a freezer could use a freezer-rated Windows device while their counterparts in ambient areas could use an Android unit.) Awana, for example, has chosen to run the latest upgrade of its Lucas Jennifer solution on Motorola Luge Android smartphones. The smartphones, which use Bluetooth to connect to the workers' headsets, are used in a protective case that can fit in a pocket or be attached to a belt.
Intelligrated's voice system runs on a server and is not dependent on the software residing internally on the individual device. A worker with a smartphone can actually dial the server on his phone to log into the system. Doug Brown, Intelligrated's head of product strategy for voice solutions, says this means that voice can be used anywhere, as the systems can be deployed independently of an IT infrastructure or Wi-Fi network.
One of the places vendors expect to see voice deployed in the future is the retail store. Nearly all of the major voice vendors have pilot programs under way to use voice for tracking store inventory, replenishing store shelves, and filling orders in an omnichannel retail environment. The same ability to track, monitor performance, and provide productivity and accuracy that voice has traditionally provided to the warehouse can now be available anywhere—anywhere a phone can be used, that is.
Nearly one-third of American consumers have increased their secondhand purchases in the past year, revealing a jump in “recommerce” according to a buyer survey from ShipStation, a provider of web-based shipping and order fulfillment solutions.
The number comes from a survey of 500 U.S. consumers showing that nearly one in four (23%) Americans lack confidence in making purchases over $200 in the next six months. Due to economic uncertainty, savvy shoppers are looking for ways to save money without sacrificing quality or style, the research found.
Younger shoppers are leading the charge in that trend, with 59% of Gen Z and 48% of Millennials buying pre-owned items weekly or monthly. That rate makes Gen Z nearly twice as likely to buy second hand compared to older generations.
The primary reason that shoppers say they have increased their recommerce habits is lower prices (74%), followed by the thrill of finding unique or rare items (38%) and getting higher quality for a lower price (28%). Only 14% of Americans cite environmental concerns as a primary reason they shop second-hand.
Despite the challenge of adjusting to the new pattern, recommerce represents a strategic opportunity for businesses to capture today’s budget-minded shoppers and foster long-term loyalty, Austin, Texas-based ShipStation said.
For example, retailers don’t have to sell used goods to capitalize on the secondhand boom. Instead, they can offer trade-in programs swapping discounts or store credit for shoppers’ old items. And they can improve product discoverability to help customers—particularly older generations—find what they’re looking for.
Other ways for retailers to connect with recommerce shoppers are to improve shipping practices. According to ShipStation:
70% of shoppers won’t return to a brand if shipping is too expensive.
51% of consumers are turned off by late deliveries
40% of shoppers won’t return to a retailer again if the packaging is bad.
The “CMA CGM Startup Awards”—created in collaboration with BFM Business and La Tribune—will identify the best innovations to accelerate its transformation, the French company said.
Specifically, the company will select the best startup among the applicants, with clear industry transformation objectives focused on environmental performance, competitiveness, and quality of life at work in each of the three areas:
Shipping: Enabling safer, more efficient, and sustainable navigation through innovative technological solutions.
Logistics: Reinventing the global supply chain with smart and sustainable logistics solutions.
Media: Transform content creation, and customer engagement with innovative media technologies and strategies.
Three winners will be selected during a final event organized on November 15 at the Orange Vélodrome Stadium in Marseille, during the 2nd Artificial Intelligence Marseille (AIM) forum organized by La Tribune and BFM Business. The selection will be made by a jury chaired by Rodolphe Saadé, Chairman and CEO of the Group, and including members of the executive committee representing the various sectors of CMA CGM.
The global air cargo market’s hot summer of double-digit demand growth continued in August with average spot rates showing their largest year-on-year jump with a 24% increase, according to the latest weekly analysis by Xeneta.
Xeneta cited two reasons to explain the increase. First, Global average air cargo spot rates reached $2.68 per kg in August due to continuing supply and demand imbalance. That came as August's global cargo supply grew at its slowest ratio in 2024 to-date at 2% year-on-year, while global cargo demand continued its double-digit growth, rising +11%.
The second reason for higher rates was an ocean-to-air shift in freight volumes due to Red Sea disruptions and e-commerce demand.
Those factors could soon be amplified as e-commerce shows continued strong growth approaching the hotly anticipated winter peak season. E-commerce and low-value goods exports from China in the first seven months of 2024 increased 30% year-on-year, including shipments to Europe and the US rising 38% and 30% growth respectively, Xeneta said.
“Typically, air cargo market performance in August tends to follow the July trend. But another month of double-digit demand growth and the strongest rate growths of the year means there was definitely no summer slack season in 2024,” Niall van de Wouw, Xeneta’s chief airfreight officer, said in a release.
“Rates we saw bottoming out in late July started picking up again in mid-August. This is too short a period to call a season. This has been a busy summer, and now we’re at the threshold of Q4, it will be interesting to see what will happen and if all the anticipation of a red-hot peak season materializes,” van de Wouw said.
The report cites data showing that there are approximately 1.7 million workers missing from the post-pandemic workforce and that 38% of small firms are unable to fill open positions. At the same time, the “skills gap” in the workforce is accelerating as automation and AI create significant shifts in how work is performed.
That information comes from the “2024 Labor Day Report” released by Littler’s Workplace Policy Institute (WPI), the firm’s government relations and public policy arm.
“We continue to see a labor shortage and an urgent need to upskill the current workforce to adapt to the new world of work,” said Michael Lotito, Littler shareholder and co-chair of WPI. “As corporate executives and business leaders look to the future, they are focused on realizing the many benefits of AI to streamline operations and guide strategic decision-making, while cultivating a talent pipeline that can support this growth.”
But while the need is clear, solutions may be complicated by public policy changes such as the upcoming U.S. general election and the proliferation of employment-related legislation at the state and local levels amid Congressional gridlock.
“We are heading into a contentious election that has already proven to be unpredictable and is poised to create even more uncertainty for employers, no matter the outcome,” Shannon Meade, WPI’s executive director, said in a release. “At the same time, the growing patchwork of state and local requirements across the U.S. is exacerbating compliance challenges for companies. That, coupled with looming changes following several Supreme Court decisions that have the potential to upend rulemaking, gives C-suite executives much to contend with in planning their workforce-related strategies.”
Stax Engineering, the venture-backed startup that provides smokestack emissions reduction services for maritime ships, will service all vessels from Toyota Motor North America Inc. visiting the Toyota Berth at the Port of Long Beach, according to a new five-year deal announced today.
Beginning in 2025 to coincide with new California Air Resources Board (CARB) standards, STAX will become the first and only emissions control provider to service roll-on/roll-off (ro-ros) vessels in the state of California, the company said.
Stax has rapidly grown since its launch in the first quarter of this year, supported in part by a $40 million funding round from investors, announced in July. It now holds exclusive service agreements at California ports including Los Angeles, Long Beach, Hueneme, Benicia, Richmond, and Oakland. The firm has also partnered with individual companies like NYK Line, Hyundai GLOVIS, Equilon Enterprises LLC d/b/a Shell Oil Products US (Shell), and now Toyota.
Stax says it offers an alternative to shore power with land- and barge-based, mobile emissions capture and control technology for shipping terminal and fleet operators without the need for retrofits.
In the case of this latest deal, the Toyota Long Beach Vehicle Distribution Center imports about 200,000 vehicles each year on ro-ro vessels. Stax will keep those ships green with its flexible exhaust capture system, which attaches to all vessel classes without modification to remove 99% of emitted particulate matter (PM) and 95% of emitted oxides of nitrogen (NOx). Over the lifetime of this new agreement with Toyota, Stax estimated the service will account for approximately 3,700 hours and more than 47 tons of emissions controlled.
“We set out to provide an emissions capture and control solution that was reliable, easily accessible, and cost-effective. As we begin to service Toyota, we’re confident that we can meet the needs of the full breadth of the maritime industry, furthering our impact on the local air quality, public health, and environment,” Mike Walker, CEO of Stax, said in a release. “Continuing to establish strong partnerships will help build momentum for and trust in our technology as we expand beyond the state of California.”