Supply Chain Cash Circulator – Business Sales Show Fastest Growth since March 2011

The U.S. Census Bureau reported business inventories in September increased 0.7 percent from August to a seasonally adjusted $1.61 trillion. Business sales increased 1.4 percent, the fastest rate of growth since March 2011, to a record $1.26 trillion.

Remember September? Lots of domestic and global eco-gloom. Still, these figures identify underlying belief in business growth, and confidence with owners and management to invest in themselves. Uncertainty’s probably here to stay (been around a while…), though we’re confident our country’s businesses will prosper no matter the temporary obstacle-of-the-month.

U.S. Manufacturing Up 60 Percent since 1990 Despite Multiple Recessions and Export Restrictions – That’s Testament to Industrial Strength

As chronicled by Supply Chain Digest, the Federal Reserve has mapped overall manufacturing in the United States having produced a 60.4% gain since 1990. Considering the frequent, lengthy recessionary periods endured domestically (geo-depressions in many instances), this is remarkable sustainability. Factor policy and economic challenges to U.S. product exports, and that figure moves to amazing in stature.

While this country’s place in research, development and manufacturing is evolving with the balance of world geo-economics, its abilities remain in a robust role of leadership. We’ll all do well keeping this top-of-conscience as challenges tempt this faith. We have produced, and will continue, as our industrial abilities and personal resolve remain enduringly strong.

Painless Supply Chain Lean-Out Option

Supply Chain Movement reviewed KPMG’s latest report that investigates how supply chain directors are managing in this uncertain world. A key finding: identifying opportunities to squeeze further costs out of the end-to-end supply chain to drive profitability, and understand the true supply chain cost to serve, was primary and prominent to the supply chain professionals surveyed. Volatility was the driver, to counter the costs of increasing economic, geopolitical and environmental effects on their operations. This component of lean supply management revolved around identifying opportunities to squeeze further costs out of the end-to-end supply chain to drive profitability.

For a painless supply chain lean-out option, consider Data2Logistics. They can enhance your transportation operations, helping meet your goals for cost reduction and improved oversight. They provide focused resources to support projects relating to pooled purchasing, RFP management, carrier negotiations, TMS software, inbound routing, and network analysis, along with informed audit and freight payment services. Their cost-waste removal reach provides ability to support all modes of transportation, optimizing logistics operations domestically and globally.

Saving money without sacrificing service – lean the lenient way.

Business Intelligence a Wise Supply Chain Move

Inbound Logistics quoted a recent enlightening Aberdeen Group report; here’s a telling excerpt:

Companies that want to effectively manage their supply chain must invest in business intelligence (BI) software, according to a recent Aberdeen Group survey of supply chain professionals. Survey respondents reported the main issues that drive BI initiatives include increased global operations complexity, lack of visibility into the supply chain, a need to improve top-line revenue and increased exposure to risk in the supply chain. Fluctuating fuel costs, import/export restrictions and challenges, and thin profit margins are driving the need for businesses to clearly understand all the factors that affect their bottom line.

Data2Logistics’ cloud-based business intelligence tools consolidate user’s disseminated shipping data to provide insightful clarity throughout their supply chain moves, leading to shipping savings averaging 5% - 15% annually. That’s intelligent economics.

Data2Logistics to Present at the 10th Annual Supply Chain and Logistics Summit North America 2012

This just in:

Fort Myers, Florida and Rotterdam, Netherlands November 26, 2012 – Global supply chain information and technology company Data2Logistics announces participation at the 10th Annual Supply Chain and Logistics Summit North America 2012, December 3-5 at the Hyatt Regency Dallas. Data2Logistics’ will present the Interactive Workshop – Transportation and Logistics: Optimizing Freight Rates, covering transportation strategy planning supporting shipper’s corporate goals, including plan benchmarking, freight rate negotiations, and identifying, documenting, and recovering carrier overcharges through invoice auditing. Data2Logistics’ staff will also be greeting guests at the convention’s events and in their expo hall location.

The 10th Annual Supply Chain and Logistics Summit North America 2012 will provide attendees the opportunity to learn from examples of industry leaders addressing universal supply chain challenges, networking and benchmarking among peers from a broad array of industries, discovery of new tools, tactics and technologies to improve performance, enhance resiliency, and reduce cost. The goal is for attendees to take away supply chain management best practices and lessons learned from other organizations, and apply them to their own decision-making process.

Cobblers, Shoes and Supply Chains

China’s losing market share in US and other countries’ footwear imports; a continuing tight labor markets’ the driver rapidly eroding their share of exports, as other nations including Vietnam are upping their game.

It more than shoes; the manufacturing map’s rapidly expanding for many wares, as resources are compounding in regions constructing infrastructures supporting manufacturing economic development. It’s working, companies around the world are aware of these evolving options, and making investments themselves to secure production. Seems China’s ‘engaging capitalism’s core for economic gain’ playbook has landed the visitor’s locker room. Who’s up next? Cuba?

If international manufacturing affects you, you’re probably surveying supply chain options, and their associated costs, so keep in-mind the opportunities for savings in your route and carrier planning. Data2Logistics can enhance your transportation operations, helping meet your goals for cost reduction and improved oversight. They provide focused resources to support projects relating to pooled purchasing, RFP management, carrier negotiations, TMS software, inbound routing, and network analysis, along with informed audit and freight payment services. Their global reach provides ability to support all modes of transportation, optimizing logistics operations domestically and globally.

So when treading a new path (or even your current), it’s advantageous to run with Data2Logistics.

Fastest Growing Markets for U.S. Exports

As anticipated, India will be the fastest growing market for U.S. exports in the here-before-we-know-it future, set to rise at an average rate of 12 percent per year from 2016 to 2020, then 10 percent annually from 2021 to 2030, according to a recent HSBC Commercial Banking report.

Immediately in addition to India, China, Vietnam, Indonesia, Egypt, Turkey, Poland and Mexico are anticipated to see significant trade growth during the next three years.

In another hopeful sign, the report also forecasts U.S. export growth to Europe to encouragingly recover to 6 percent per year from 2012 to 2020.

If you’re shipping globally, Data2Logistics is a time-tested advisor that provides solutions for supply chain challenges. Through their suite of services, expertise and industry know-how, Data2Logistics enhances transportation operations, incorporates controls and ultimately meet company’s goals for cost reduction and improved oversight. Their services go beyond traditional audit and freight payment, having the ability to provide focused resources to support projects relating to pooled purchasing, RFP management, carrier negotiations, TMS software, inbound routing, and network analysis. Their reach provides ability to support all modes of transportation, optimizing logistics operations. As they say: Ship Smarter and Save!