Smart glasses for order picking: Picavi, a developer of pick-by-vision solutions for the warehouse sector, has expanded its portfolio with Glass Enterprise Edition 2, a wearable computing device for order picking (see photo above). The updated glasses come with new technical specifications. These include a Qualcomm quad-core processor and the Android 8.1 operating system, also known as Android Oreo. The new hardware makes the glasses faster and increases battery life, the manufacturer says.
The Glass Enterprise Edition 2 is also part of the Android Open Source platform, making the glasses easy to customize, the company says. (Picavi GmbH)
Cloud-based damage-monitoring solution: SpotSee, an Internet of Things end-to-end solution provider that enables customers to spot damage in their operations and see it in real time, has added temperature-threshold monitoring capabilities to its SpotBot Cellular impact-monitoring device.
With this additional information accessible anywhere through the SpotSee Cloud, users are able to ensure that temperature-sensitive items, such as food and beverage products, are not exposed to conditions that compromise quality, the company says.
SpotBot is a real-time damage-monitoring solution that helps quality, plant, and supply chain managers as well as forwarders and truckers easily see where and when impacts or temperature deviations occur and the potential severity of the damage. This allows possibly damaged shipments to be stopped and properly addressed before delivery. (SpotSee)
Mobile crane:
Material handling and automated equipment manufacturer Air Technical Industries has developed the "MIRA" (mobile industrial robotic arm) mobile crane. The robotic knuckle boom has nine axes of articulation that allow it to perform a multitude of tasks that are difficult or dangerous for humans to perform.
The unit has an extended reach of 156 inches and height of 192 inches. Its functional capabilities are mobility, steering, mast rotation, main-arm lift, knuckle reach, automatic and effector leveling function, pitch, roll, and gripper. Optional attachments include a round ram for lifting coils, a scoop to pick up bulk items, and lifting forks.
MIRA is battery powered and has joystick- and pushbutton-operated radio controls. It can be equipped with a searchlight and camera so that the operator can remotely see all the tasks at hand.
The robotic arm is available in capacities of 250, 400, and 1,000 pounds and arm lengths of 96, 120, and 156 inches. (Air Technical Industries)
Mobile computer: Honeywell, a manufacturer of safety and productivity solutions, has introduced the next-generation Dolphin CT40 mobile computer, an enhanced version of its go-to mobile computing solution for retail store associates and highly mobile workers.
The computer is a full-touch device for retail, light transportation and logistics, and direct store delivery applications. The CT40 is built on Honeywell's Mobility Edge platform, which provides a unified hardware architecture and set of software tools that streamline deployment and management of mobility solutions. The scalable platform allows IT departments to develop and certify a software application a single time before deploying to enterprise mobile devices.
The new enterprise-class CT40 is now push-to-talk- and VoIP-ready, eliminating the need to have multiple devices for in-store communications and inventory management. The CT40 is an Android Enterprise Recommended device, meaning that it has been validated by a Google-led initiative that helps businesses select, deploy, and manage Android devices and services best suited to their enterprise needs.
The mobile computer can be connected to Honeywell Operational Intelligence, a cloud-based software solution that tracks, manages, and optimizes mobile computers across all locations throughout the operational lifecycle and the return-to-manufacturer authorization process. (Honeywell)
Pick-to-light workstation:
Creform Corp. has designed a new workstation that is suitable for assembly operations that require light-guide picking to control process flow and help reduce errors.
Parts for an assembly operation can be presented on shelves or gravity-flow lanes above and below the work surface. Each part location features a light for guided picking. Each light features a three-digit display for quantity information as well as a pushbutton or infrared sensor for pick acknowledgment. The pick-to-light system is self-contained in the workstation and is powered by a basic PC and a controller mounted to the side of the workstation.
Picking job "recipes" are easily created and maintained using simple and easy-to-understand and -manipulate Excel templates. A recipe is initiated with a bar-code scan.
This station can be configured for a stand-up or a sit-down position. Secured to each of the workstation's four vertical legs is a hydraulic cylinder so the work surface's height can be adjusted to optimize the ergonomics for each worker.
The workstation measures 67 inches wide by 26 inches deep by 81 inches high but can be easily reconfigured to meet the client's needs, the company says. (Creform)
Autonomous forklift maker Cyngn is deploying its DriveMod Tugger model at COATS Company, the largest full-line wheel service equipment manufacturer in North America, the companies said today.
By delivering the self-driving tuggers to COATS’ 150,000+ square foot manufacturing facility in La Vergne, Tennessee, Cyngn said it would enable COATS to enhance efficiency by automating the delivery of wheel service components from its production lines.
“Cyngn’s self-driving tugger was the perfect solution to support our strategy of advancing automation and incorporating scalable technology seamlessly into our operations,” Steve Bergmeyer, Continuous Improvement and Quality Manager at COATS, said in a release. “With its high load capacity, we can concentrate on increasing our ability to manage heavier components and bulk orders, driving greater efficiency, reducing costs, and accelerating delivery timelines.”
Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but it follows another deployment of DriveMod Tuggers with electric automaker Rivian earlier this year.
The “2024 Year in Review” report lists the various transportation delays, freight volume restrictions, and infrastructure repair costs of a long string of events. Those disruptions include labor strikes at Canadian ports and postal sites, the U.S. East and Gulf coast port strike; hurricanes Helene, Francine, and Milton; the Francis Scott key Bridge collapse in Baltimore Harbor; the CrowdStrike cyber attack; and Red Sea missile attacks on passing cargo ships.
“While 2024 was characterized by frequent and overlapping disruptions that exposed many supply chain vulnerabilities, it was also a year of resilience,” the Project44 report said. “From labor strikes and natural disasters to geopolitical tensions, each event served as a critical learning opportunity, underscoring the necessity for robust contingency planning, effective labor relations, and durable infrastructure. As supply chains continue to evolve, the lessons learned this past year highlight the increased importance of proactive measures and collaborative efforts. These strategies are essential to fostering stability and adaptability in a world where unpredictability is becoming the norm.”
In addition to tallying the supply chain impact of those events, the report also made four broad predictions for trends in 2025 that may affect logistics operations. In Project44’s analysis, they include:
More technology and automation will be introduced into supply chains, particularly ports. This will help make operations more efficient but also increase the risk of cybersecurity attacks and service interruptions due to glitches and bugs. This could also add tensions among the labor pool and unions, who do not want jobs to be replaced with automation.
The new administration in the United States introduces a lot of uncertainty, with talks of major tariffs for numerous countries as well as talks of US freight getting preferential treatment through the Panama Canal. If these things do come to fruition, expect to see shifts in global trade patterns and sourcing.
Natural disasters will continue to become more frequent and more severe, as exhibited by the wildfires in Los Angeles and the winter storms throughout the southern states in the U.S. As a result, expect companies to invest more heavily in sustainability to mitigate climate change.
The peace treaty announced on Wednesday between Isael and Hamas in the Middle East could support increased freight volumes returning to the Suez Canal as political crisis in the area are resolved.
The French transportation visibility provider Shippeo today said it has raised $30 million in financial backing, saying the money will support its accelerated expansion across North America and APAC, while driving enhancements to its “Real-Time Transportation Visibility Platform” product.
The funding round was led by Woven Capital, Toyota’s growth fund, with participation from existing investors: Battery Ventures, Partech, NGP Capital, Bpifrance Digital Venture, LFX Venture Partners, Shift4Good and Yamaha Motor Ventures. With this round, Shippeo’s total funding exceeds $140 million.
Shippeo says it offers real-time shipment tracking across all transport modes, helping companies create sustainable, resilient supply chains. Its platform enables users to reduce logistics-related carbon emissions by making informed trade-offs between modes and carriers based on carbon footprint data.
"Global supply chains are facing unprecedented complexity, and real-time transport visibility is essential for building resilience” Prashant Bothra, Principal at Woven Capital, who is joining the Shippeo board, said in a release. “Shippeo’s platform empowers businesses to proactively address disruptions by transforming fragmented operations into streamlined, data-driven processes across all transport modes, offering precise tracking and predictive ETAs at scale—capabilities that would be resource-intensive to develop in-house. We are excited to support Shippeo’s journey to accelerate digitization while enhancing cost efficiency, planning accuracy, and customer experience across the supply chain.”
Donald Trump has been clear that he plans to hit the ground running after his inauguration on January 20, launching ambitious plans that could have significant repercussions for global supply chains.
As Mark Baxa, CSCMP president and CEO, says in the executive forward to the white paper, the incoming Trump Administration and a majority Republican congress are “poised to reshape trade policies, regulatory frameworks, and the very fabric of how we approach global commerce.”
The paper is written by import/export expert Thomas Cook, managing director for Blue Tiger International, a U.S.-based supply chain management consulting company that focuses on international trade. Cook is the former CEO of American River International in New York and Apex Global Logistics Supply Chain Operation in Los Angeles and has written 19 books on global trade.
In the paper, Cook, of course, takes a close look at tariff implications and new trade deals, emphasizing that Trump will seek revisions that will favor U.S. businesses and encourage manufacturing to return to the U.S. The paper, however, also looks beyond global trade to addresses topics such as Trump’s tougher stance on immigration and the possibility of mass deportations, greater support of Israel in the Middle East, proposals for increased energy production and mining, and intent to end the war in the Ukraine.
In general, Cook believes that many of the administration’s new policies will be beneficial to the overall economy. He does warn, however, that some policies will be disruptive and add risk and cost to global supply chains.
In light of those risks and possible disruptions, Cook’s paper offers 14 recommendations. Some of which include:
Create a team responsible for studying the changes Trump will introduce when he takes office;
Attend trade shows and make connections with vendors, suppliers, and service providers who can help you navigate those changes;
Consider becoming C-TPAT (Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism) certified to help mitigate potential import/export issues;
Adopt a risk management mindset and shift from focusing on lowest cost to best value for your spend;
Increase collaboration with internal and external partners;
Expect warehousing costs to rise in the short term as companies look to bring in foreign-made goods ahead of tariffs;
Expect greater scrutiny from U.S. Customs and Border Patrol of origin statements for imports in recognition of attempts by some Chinese manufacturers to evade U.S. import policies;
Reduce dependency on China for sourcing; and
Consider manufacturing and/or sourcing in the United States.
Cook advises readers to expect a loosening up of regulations and a reduction in government under Trump. He warns that while some world leaders will look to work with Trump, others will take more of a defiant stance. As a result, companies should expect to see retaliatory tariffs and duties on exports.
Cook concludes by offering advice to the incoming administration, including being sensitive to the effect retaliatory tariffs can have on American exports, working on federal debt reduction, and considering promoting free trade zones. He also proposes an ambitious water works program through the Army Corps of Engineers.
ReposiTrak, a global food traceability network operator, will partner with Upshop, a provider of store operations technology for food retailers, to create an end-to-end grocery traceability solution that reaches from the supply chain to the retail store, the firms said today.
The partnership creates a data connection between suppliers and the retail store. It works by integrating Salt Lake City-based ReposiTrak’s network of thousands of suppliers and their traceability shipment data with Austin, Texas-based Upshop’s network of more than 450 retailers and their retail stores.
That accomplishment is important because it will allow food sector trading partners to meet the U.S. FDA’s Food Safety Modernization Act Section 204d (FSMA 204) requirements that they must create and store complete traceability records for certain foods.
And according to ReposiTrak and Upshop, the traceability solution may also unlock potential business benefits. It could do that by creating margin and growth opportunities in stores by connecting supply chain data with store data, thus allowing users to optimize inventory, labor, and customer experience management automation.
"Traceability requires data from the supply chain and – importantly – confirmation at the retail store that the proper and accurate lot code data from each shipment has been captured when the product is received. The missing piece for us has been the supply chain data. ReposiTrak is the leader in capturing and managing supply chain data, starting at the suppliers. Together, we can deliver a single, comprehensive traceability solution," Mark Hawthorne, chief innovation and strategy officer at Upshop, said in a release.
"Once the data is flowing the benefits are compounding. Traceability data can be used to improve food safety, reduce invoice discrepancies, and identify ways to reduce waste and improve efficiencies throughout the store,” Hawthorne said.
Under FSMA 204, retailers are required by law to track Key Data Elements (KDEs) to the store-level for every shipment containing high-risk food items from the Food Traceability List (FTL). ReposiTrak and Upshop say that major industry retailers have made public commitments to traceability, announcing programs that require more traceability data for all food product on a faster timeline. The efforts of those retailers have activated the industry, motivating others to institute traceability programs now, ahead of the FDA’s enforcement deadline of January 20, 2026.