Ben Ames has spent 20 years as a journalist since starting out as a daily newspaper reporter in Pennsylvania in 1995. From 1999 forward, he has focused on business and technology reporting for a number of trade journals, beginning when he joined Design News and Modern Materials Handling magazines. Ames is author of the trail guide "Hiking Massachusetts" and is a graduate of the Columbia School of Journalism.
Sure, you may have gotten a good price on that scan gun, with its blazing-fast read rates and rock-solid wireless connection. But how good is that mobile device at its most important job: keeping your DC workforce happy enough that they show up for their next shift? After all, a handheld computer is not much use unless there’s a hand to hold it.
Turnover remains high in logistics; the churn rate among employees in the transportation, warehousing, and utilities sectors in 2021 was 49.0%, compared to the national average of 47.2%,according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ latest "Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey" report. That trend has been exacerbated by a post-pandemic shift to gig work and short-term contract jobs. And recruiting replacement staff hasn’t been easy, with unemployment rates running below 4% in recent months.
When labor is tight, workforce retention is the key to success in managing a warehousing and fulfillment operation. And providing cool technology is a powerful strategy for keeping workers happy on the job, according to Zebra Technology Corp.’s “Warehousing Vision Study.”
The Zebra survey found that technology can help attract workers—83% of associates claim they are more likely to sign on with an employer that provides them with updated tech tools versus one that provides older devices or none at all. And it can also help with retention—92% of warehouse associates agree on some level that technology advancements will make a warehouse environment more attractive to workers.
Determining what type of technology to invest in is one of the biggest issues facing businesses and IT decision-makers today. So what should you look for in the mobile devices you give your workers to help ensure they’ll keep showing up day after day?
STICKING WITH THE TRIED-AND-TRUE
Experts say that where mobile technology is concerned, the logistics sector is currently in a time of transition from an older generation of devices—ones featuring physical buttons and text-based interfaces—to newer touchscreen, app-based models. In that regard, the warehousing industry lags behind the world of consumer electronics, which long ago discarded Palm Pilot- and Blackberry-style devices in favor of Apple- and Android-based smartphones.
As for why the sector has been slow to catch up, part of the reason is that the old-fashioned warehouse devices simply work well, says Mark Wheeler, director of supply chain solutions at Zebra. “We are midstream in the transition because if it works in the warehouse, you need a good reason to change it. When you change devices, you have to deal with change management, testing, and process definition. So we’re still in a time of transition to mobile devices with more advanced features, like wearables and voice interfaces.”
But even as the market evolves, there will probably always be demand for some of the features found on the older-generation handhelds, such as physical buttons, Wheeler says. “Do we still need hard keys? Yes, because you can touch them without looking at the screen. You can do ‘blind keying,’” he explains. “If a job is highly repetitive, like picking, replenishment, or scan verification, then [users] know what the device is going to show before it does it. So you still see [text-] and character-based user experiences; they’re prevalent and effective.”
Though the latest models may not look all that different from their predecessors, their capabilities are typically light-years ahead of those found on the earlier devices. One reason is the rise of fifth-generation (5G) wireless networks, which offer far more bandwidth and lower latency than legacy systems, supporting sensor-based data collection, Wheeler says. Instead of scanning one item at a time, sensor-based devices can gather information from many inputs automatically—including radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags, machine vision images, and, of course, the classic bar code. For instance, some models can take a picture of a shelf full of boxes or totes and scan all of the bar codes visible in the image with a single click.
SCAN GUNS THAT SEE DOUBLE
It’s not hard to see the appeal of a device that both expedites the scanning process and offers ergonomic benefits. Those attributes are crucial at a time when companies are concerned about worker fatigue, according to Ilhan Kolko, chief product officer and president of North America for ProGlove, a company that makes wearable scanners. “The labor shortage makes retention the number-one priority. That shortage and its stress on supply chains—Covid and its aftermath being a major stress—is putting a spotlight on human wellbeing, which is long overdue.”
Mobile technology can help in that regard by enabling workers to complete their tasks—whether it’s picking orders, sorting parcels, or some other job—with a single device, Kolko says. He adds that to address that need, ProGlove offers multiscanning devices that allowworkers who are picking multiple orders to read six or eight bar codes at a time.
Mobile computer developer Scandit sells a similar device. The company says its MatrixScan model can read multiple bar codes at one time by taking a picture of a shelf or rack and scanning all of the codes captured in the shot.
While that capability represents a significant improvement over scanning individual items in sequence, it’s just the first step toward the ultimate goal of connecting warehouse workers to a much wider array of codes, tags, and other information sources, says Chris Annese, Scandit’s vice president sales for the Americas. He adds that as a move in that direction, the company has developed a sophisticated software platform that lets users capture data not just from bar codes, but also from text, ID tags, and other sources.
“This approach gives superpowers to transportation and logistics workers because it digitizes their workflow from end to end,” Annese says. “That increases efficiency and productivity by simplifying and automating tasks, whether it involves van loading, proof of delivery, pickup and dropoff, or whatever. Digitalization has become reality.”
Despite that promise, “smart data capture” has been slow to gain traction in the logistics sector. There are a couple of reasons for that, Annese says. One is that advances in battery technology have not kept up with other advancements in handheld computers, preventing many devices from functioning throughout a full eight-hour shift, he says. Another is the prevalence in the DC market of classic laser scanners, which Annese describes as purpose-built, dedicated devices that are designed to do one task only: scan bar codes. These obstacles notwithstanding, Annese believes the tide will turn as companies begin to realize that workers need devices like smartphones and tablets to transition to the era of smart data capture.
THE ALWAYS-CONNECTED WORKER
One factor that’s likely to accelerate the transition to multipurpose smart devices in the warehouse is the workers themselves—or to be precise, their expectations regarding the technology they use on the job. “Now our customers are asking for smart devices because those are also coming into their daily lives,” Kolko says. “We enjoy the apps in our daily lives, with all the user experience options. No one wants to step down from those when you use business devices.”
Market statistics back him up. The adoption of wearable technology such as fitness trackers and smart watches has risen quickly among American consumers in recent years,according to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s “Internet Use Survey.” That research showed that the percentage of people who use wearable technology had risen to 16.19% of the U.S. population in November 2021 from 8.17% in November 2017.
As mobile devices become smarter, faster, and easier to use, the logistics workforce is reaping the benefits. Armed with better technology, warehouse staffers can become more productive on every shift, “build” a better synchronization between the physical and digital worlds, and—crucially—enjoy their jobs more. These new tools are not yet commonplace, but change is coming.
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.”