Forecasting the Final Mile for 2021

Watch the webinar with slides here: www.etractechnologies.com/content-library/usps-vaping-ban-webinar How can vaping companies make a seamless switch from USPS to a network of regional and local carriers who are willing and ready to deliver?  Midwest Distribution, a long time distributor of vaping and accessory products will be there to share how they navigated away from large national carriers, to the safe harbors of a delivery network. During the webinar, you will also hear: An overview of the USPS ruling and what it entails Locating a network to continue deliveries for vaping products Onboarding new regional and local carriers Maintaining visibility throughout the switch If you're in need of a distributor, check out Midwest Distribution: www.midwestgoods.com To access a comprehensive delivery network and maintain visibility, see a demo of eTrac here.

Today's supply chains are full of capacity shortages, frustrated customers, more returns, and higher costs.  As we enter the "new normal", now is the time to make changes that will protect your capacity into the future through network diversification. Moving to a diverse network that includes regional and local carriers offers a more secure supply chain, however, many companies make crucial mistakes during the transition.  We talked with Nate Skiver of LPF Spend Management on how successful companies diversify their delivery networks. We covered:  Why your perception of high costs needs to change How to start the diversification process to ensure success  His tools for managing a diverse network  Watch the full webinar. Learn more about eTrac Technologies. Learn more about Nate Skiver. Learn more about LPF Spend Management.

Micro-fulfillment centers are appearing faster than ever before. The size and proximity to end-consumers make these centers crucial in a competitive supply chain. What is the future of micro-fulfillment centers (MFCs) and how can your company leverage them for continued final mile improvement? Colman Roche, V.P. of eCommerce and Retail at Swisslog, shared his insight on the future of MFCs. During this webinar, he covered: What your company needs to create a MFC The keys to a successful MFC Where MFCs are going and how your company can be prepared For more final mile resources, visit www.eTracTechnologies.com Learn more about Swisslog here. Connect with Colman Roche here.

Peak 2020 left many supply chains scrambling. Last minute capacity caps by the major national delivery carriers left millions of orders delayed and undelivered for the holiday season. Is 2021 going to bring a similar experience? Jim Tompkins, a well-known consultant with decades of experience in logistics, will provide his insights on how companies should be preparing for the upcoming peak season, can help protect their supply chain and ensure a prosperous season. We discussed: Expected restraints and speed bumps for the 2021 peak season Holiday consumer behaviors that may change supply chains What steps to take now to begin preparing for peak This episode is the audio from a webinar. To watch the full webinar, visit: www.etractechnologies.com/content-library/final-mile-peak-2021-jim-tompkins About Jim Tompkins Dr. James A. Tompkins is an international authority on designing and implementing end-to-end supply chains. As the founder and chairman of Tompkins International, his focus over the last several years has been in the areas of digital commerce, unichannel and supply chain reinvention. His 40-plus years as CEO of Tompkins International and his focus on helping companies achieve profitable growth give him an insider’s view into what makes great companies even better. Jim is a thought leader, sharing insights on supply chain excellence through his thousands of presentations around the world and his YouTube videos have had over a million views.  He has written or contributed to more than 30 books and over 1,000 articles and has been quoted in hundreds of business and industry magazines. Find Jim Tompkins on LinkedIn here: www.linkedin.com/in/jimtompkins1/ Find more final mile resources: www.etractechnologies.com/ See a demo of eTrac: www.etractechnologies.com/see-a-demo

5G is going to have a huge impact on logistics and the final mile -- are you ready? We sat down with Bill Wark of floLIVE and Michael Hegeman of eTrac Technologies to discuss what 5G means for logistics and final mile visibility. We discussed: The foundational changes 5G will make to logistics and the final mile Innovations stemming from 5G that can be implemented The processes companies should take in rolling out 5G View the complete webinar:  https://www.etractechnologies.com/content-library/webinar-bringing-5g-to-the-final-mile Learn more about Bill Wark:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/billwark/ Learn more about Michael Hegeman:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelhegeman/ Learn more about floLIVE: https://flolive.net/ Find more final mile resources here: www.eTracTechnologies.com

Is there such a thing as a Shipper of Choice? Can shippers protect capacity and improve their customers delivery experience by taking the strides to improve their relationship with their carriers? Spoiler: yes.  We sat down with Lorena Camargo of Pearl Trans and Harold Boyett of Blue Streak to learn how shippers, 3PL's and other logistics intermediaries can improve their relationships with their final mile carriers. We discussed how initial discussions, alignment of values, and technology all play into a positive relationship.  Meet the speakers: Lorena Camargo: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lorena-camargo-a3874655/ Harold Boyett: https://www.linkedin.com/in/haroldboyett/ Emily Henderson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hireemilyhenderson/ Additional Resources Watch the full webinar: https://www.etractechnologies.com/content-library/webinar-shipper-of-choice-myth-or-reality More final mile resources: https://www.etractechnologies.com/content-library About eTrac Technologies: https://www.etractechnologies.com/

Many companies are striving to achieve a more sustainable last mile, but is it possible? Navigating the current logistics model to overcome the challenges brought by 3rd party carriers, independent contractors, and “business as usual” seems daunting. IKEA has decided to dive head first into sustainability, pledging to be emissions free by 2025. How are they conquering logistics-norms to achieve this? We sat down with Steven Moelk of IKEA to discuss how they:  Brought together their delivery network of 3PLs to get on board with EV’s Overcame the challenges of working with independent contractor carriers and drivers while mandating truck standards The tools they’re using to motivate ICs and carriers to use EV’s Where they see sustainability going in the future During the podcast, Steven mentions an app they use called Fluid Truck. eTrac Technologies has no affiliation with Fluid Truck, but you can learn more about them here: https://www.fluidtruck.com/ Steven Moelk can be found on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steven-moelk-22265614/ For more resources on the final mile, visit www.eTracTechnologies.com. 

How do the top companies reach their last mile? Hear their stories and learn from their experiences in our new series: Forging the Final Mile. Join us as we sit down with Adam Bridges, Senior Director of Operations and head of last mile for J.B. Hunt. He’s forged the final mile initiative for one of the largest 3PL’s in the world. During the webinar, we will discuss: How J.B. Hunt made the decision to pursue the last mile Purchasing last mile assets vs. partnering with third party companies Managing growth and scaling your last mile footprint Knowing your team’s strengths and deciding what to outsource How their plan has pivoted in a pandemic world For more final mile resources, visit www.eTracTechnologies.com. 

What's coming to the last mile in 2021? Luanne Allen and Emily Henderson discuss their predictions for the new year and the pivots that are sure to come, including: Growth in drone deliveries Changes to how consumers receive their orders Sustainability and packaging changes Capacity expectations The end of a singular-carrier system Cold-chain strain For more information on the last mile, visit www.eTracFinalMile.com See a demo of eTrac at www.eTracFinalMile.com/request-a-demo/

Who has time to watch a webinar anyways? (If you do, watch full recording here.) We broke out the audio of one of our most popular webinars where we sat down with Jeff Boutwell to answer some of the most frequently asked questions about our Carrier Partner Network. If you're not familiar with our network, it is a comprehensive database of regional and local last mile carriers who you can utilize to start or grow your last mile footprint. In this podcast we cover: Why you might choose to use regional and local carriers to reach the last mile What kind of carriers we have in our network and what services they provide How you can access these carriers to quickly pivot, grow, or establish your last mileThis episode was originally recorded as a webinar.  To watch the full webinar with slides, click here.  Want to learn more about the Carrier Network? See a demo of eTrac here. For more last mile resources, visit: www.eTracFinalMile.com.