Disruptive Innovation is a Necessity

I am heading to “Home Delivery World” in about a month and am excited to go to a show that is manically focused on logistics and supply chain. I have years of working with e-commerce, pharma, & manufacturing organizations, that require small parcel delivery and I can never think of a more exciting time in the space. Now when I go to an event I am there to learn and gain insight to connect with my partners and customers!

Now I am very intrigued by the decision to resurrect brick & mortar presence though most large retailers have seen massive spikes in e-commerce purchases. Considering Shopify is laying off workers because they believed that the e-commerce growth would continue, are companies seeing a long-term pullback in e-commerce? Or just a short-term abatement? I am looking to my logistics experts at the show to share their ideas.

Inflation is the issue so many companies are now learning to deal with daily- choosing to raise prices or eat margin will always be a difficult decision. So, I further wonder, are large retailers handling the constant increase in shipping costs without passing the charge off to customers? Many platforms can rate shop, which eases the pain of cost increases. Nonetheless, all carriers are raising costs within weeks, if not days of each other meaning there is no escaping it for the shippers. I never forget that the price of something will always reflect the sum of its cost inputs.

“Necessity is the mother of invention.” This is an old proverb we take for granted but it applies today more than ever. We have inflation, pull forward in e-commerce demand, supply chain issues, workforce concerns, delivery limitations, tremendous growth in surcharges and so many more worries. Innovation is not only needed but paramount for the logistics area. What are new companies doing in technology, last mile, and alternative delivery networks? Moreover, are retailers going to be more innovative? As an example, American Eagle created Air Terra, forcing carriers to start bringing transformation and value to the table. What innovation and value are large retailers and B2B players looking for in today’s market?

I am attending this event with open ears and an open mind. I know some of our partners like Fillogic are revolutionary and technically savvy and will be at the event as well. . We know we are innovative and challenging the norms in the small package delivery space. It is time for a break in tradition and a change of direction. We are a new method…a new way.. that will forever change the face of logistics.