Week of October 31st, 2022
Linking supply chain news with dangerous goods compliance
The holidays are just around the corner and shippers, carriers and consumers all have their eyes on the supply chain and getting goods to shoppers.
Let’s examine some recent industry news.
SUPPLY CHAIN NEWS
- This Black Friday Promises the Gift of Fewer Supply Chain Issues: For the most part, retailers are well stocked for Black Friday sales. In fact, frequent discounts are expected.
- UPS Expects Holiday Package Surge to Peak Later This Year: UPS expects package volumes to peak later in the month of December compared to 2021, as consumers shift closer to pre-pandemic behaviors by shopping later in the season.
- Consumers Expecting Issues in Survey on Holiday Supply Chain Issues: While retailers started preparing for the holiday season even earlier this year, consumers are still haunted by the ghost of the supply chain past, survey data shows.
- US Holiday Shopping 2022: ’Tis The Season to be (Cautiously) Optimistic: Despite continued economic uncertainty, US shoppers are looking forward to spending for the holidays. Retailers that offer good value will come out on top.
- Four Tips for Last-Mile Success This Holiday Peak Season: Not meeting customers’ delivery expectations can cost a business customer loyalty and revenue. Here are four tips to help businesses avoid some of the most common causes of failed deliveries.
- 5 Actionable Insights for E-Commerce Sellers Ahead of the Holiday Season: During the holiday season e-commerce businesses must adequately prepare for larger volumes of orders and keep customers satisfied.
OUR PERSPECTIVE
- Large numbers of DG shipments this holiday season. We may not see as much e-commerce growth as in previous years, but the upcoming holiday season promises to be busy. And many of the goods being shipped are hazmat – from nail polish and other cosmetics to alcoholic beverages and electronics. Unfortunately, many shippers simply don’t know that they’re shipping hazmat. It’s important for shippers to know what their shipping and how to compliantly ship those items because even simple errors in labeling, marking and documentation are a major cause of delayed or returned shipments .
- Lithium batteries are hazmat. While all sorts of common e-commerce items are classified as hazmat, one that’s most likely to give e-shippers headaches is lithium-ion batteries. Many of the most popular gifts use large format lithium batteries, including power tools, leaf blowers, snow blowers and e-bikes, and are fully regulated hazmat and have stricter regulations and larger fines than many other dangerous goods. Make sure your lithium battery shipments are safe and compliant because non-compliant battery shipments can hurt your bottom line, and in a worst-case scenario can injure or even kill workers in the supply chain.
- Automate DG processes to keep goods moving. During the busy holiday season, every worker and every minute count. But too many shipping operations waste workers’ minutes by having them repeat routine tasks, hunt down information or re-do tasks done wrong the first time. Automating DG shipping processes – and integrating it with TMS, WMS or ERP systems – can keep everyone working at a higher rate of efficiency, with fewer errors…and help make sure shipments aren’t delayed.
To learn more about Dangerous Goods software or how to establish a safer, more compliant supply chain, visit https://www.labelmaster.com.
Have questions about Dangerous Goods transport? Call the Labelmaster Regulatory Hotline at 1.800.621.5808.
Automation is the key to handling today’s supply chain challenges. But without true Dangerous Goods automation, you may be operating at a competitive disadvantage.
Integrating Labelmaster’s DGIS with your existing TMS, ERP, WMS or OMS platforms puts Dangerous Goods information in the same window as all your other shipping information. Hazmat shipments become as simple as non-regulated shipments—a seamless part of your normal workflows.
Our new eBook explains how integrating DGIS with your existing automation platforms can help your organization sustain success in today’s supply chain.
