#demand-planning
(147 articles)U.S. Retail Sales Rise in May, Signaling Strong Consumer Demand
U.S. retail sales rose in May according to both the Commerce Department and the CNBC/National Retail Federation Retail Monitor, signaling strengthening consumer demand after a softer period. This upti
Rhenus Warns: New Era of Volatile Shipping Demand Ahead
Rhenus, a major global logistics provider, has signaled a fundamental shift in shipping demand patterns that extends beyond the historically predictable peak season cycles. Rather than the traditional
Freight Volume Poised for Recovery After 40-Month Decline
The Cass Freight Index reveals a potential inflection point in the U.S. freight market after nearly four years of consecutive year-over-year volume declines. May 2026 data shows multimodal shipments d
Grocery Outlet Deploys AI Ordering to Optimize Dynamic Inventory
Grocery Outlet is implementing Afresh's AI-powered ordering technology to enhance its supply chain operations across all store categories. This modernization initiative is designed to better manage th
Manufacturers Stockpile at 3-Year High Amid Supply Disruption
Manufacturers are building inventory reserves at levels not seen in three years, signaling heightened concern about imminent supply chain disruptions. This stockpiling behavior reflects systemic anxie
Inflation & El Niño Disrupt Demand, Threaten ₹5T Fiscal Impact
A new report warns that the combined effects of persistent inflation and El Niño weather patterns pose significant risks to consumer demand in India, with potential fiscal implications reaching ₹5 tri
Kraft Heinz Strengthens Resilience Through End-to-End Supply Chain Visibility
Kraft Heinz's adoption of end-to-end supply chain visibility represents a strategic shift toward proactive rather than reactive supply chain management. By implementing integrated tracking and monitor
Tesla Delivery Delays Stretch for Months, Frustrating Buyers
Tesla is experiencing significant delivery delays that extend multiple months into the future, creating frustration among customers awaiting vehicle delivery. This bottleneck reflects broader challeng
Trade Policy Uncertainty Darkens Euro Area Economic Outlook
The European Central Bank has published an assessment of how trade policy uncertainty is constraining economic activity across the euro area. This represents a critical macroeconomic headwind that dir
U.S. Imports to Decline After June, Global Port Tracker Warns
The Global Port Tracker report signals an anticipated contraction in U.S.-bound import volumes starting after June, representing a shift in seasonal demand patterns that will ripple across port operat
Logistics Challenges & Best Practices: DHL Supply Chain Guide
DHL's analysis of contemporary logistics and supply chain challenges reveals that organizations face a complex intersection of operational, strategic, and external pressures that demand proactive mana
Sportsman's Warehouse Boosts In-Stock Reporting With Inventory Tech
Sportsman's Warehouse is implementing advanced inventory management technology to enhance its in-stock visibility and reporting capabilities across its retail network. This investment reflects a broad
Agentic AI Transforms Supply Chain Disruption Response
Agentic artificial intelligence represents a paradigm shift in how supply chain organizations respond to and mitigate disruptions. Unlike traditional reactive approaches, agentic AI systems operate au
C.H. Robinson Launches AI Platform to Automate Global Supply Chain Operations
C.H. Robinson, one of the world's largest third-party logistics providers, has introduced an artificial intelligence system designed to autonomously manage and optimize global supply chain operations.
Air cargo supply chains face mounting volatility pressures
Supply chain volatility is embedding itself as a structural feature rather than a temporary disruption in global air cargo markets. Rather than returning to pre-pandemic stability, the industry faces
Legacy Risk Systems Fail to Predict Supply Chain Disruptions
Traditional risk management systems are proving inadequate in their ability to forecast and mitigate supply chain disruptions, according to analysis from Supply & Demand Chain Executive. This structur
Yusen AI Radar Predicts Supply Chain Disruptions in Real-Time
Yusen Logistics has unveiled an artificial intelligence-powered supply chain disruption radar designed to identify and forecast operational risks before they materialize into costly delays or service
Preparing Supply Chains for Unexpected Demand Surges
This article addresses a critical challenge facing modern supply chain professionals: how to maintain operational continuity when faced with sudden, unpredictable demand spikes. Unlike seasonal or cyc
Coronavirus Disruption: Critical Supply Chain Lessons for Risk Resilience
The coronavirus pandemic exposed critical vulnerabilities in global supply chains, revealing how concentrated sourcing, limited supplier diversification, and inadequate inventory buffers can cascade i
Supply Chain Disruption: Is Recovery Underway Globally?
Reuters investigates whether the acute phase of global supply chain disruptions that plagued international trade over the past years is approaching resolution. The article examines recovery signals ac
Global Shortages Persist: Supply Chain Faces Structural Shifts
The 2021 shortage crisis represents more than temporary disruption—it signals a fundamental recalibration of global supply networks. Rather than a quick bounce-back to pre-pandemic equilibrium, supply
Supply Chain Problems: Key Disruptions and Strategic Solutions
Supply chain disruptions continue to pose significant challenges for businesses across multiple sectors globally. The Institute for Government analysis highlights persistent vulnerabilities in logisti
Microsoft Addresses Global Supply Chain Disruption with Digital Solutions
Microsoft has positioned itself as a solution provider for enterprises grappling with persistent global supply chain disruptions. The technology giant recognizes that modern supply chain challenges—sp
Supply Chain Disruption: Definition, Causes & Management
Supply chain disruption represents a critical operational challenge that impacts businesses across all sectors and geographies. This comprehensive resource from ClearTax defines disruption as any unex
Peak Season Logistics: Why Management Matters for Supply Chains
Peak selling seasons present significant operational challenges for global supply chains, requiring robust logistics management to handle demand surges, capacity constraints, and service delivery pres
Q2 2026 Shipper Rate Report: Market Trends & Rate Outlook
FreightWaves and Trimble have released their quarterly Shipper Rate Report for Q2 2026, leveraging proprietary SONAR datasets to provide shippers with actionable rate and demand intelligence. The repo
Global Supply Chain Trends: Sourcing, Ecommerce & Cold Chain
The article highlights three interconnected mega-trends reshaping global supply chain operations: strategic sourcing rebalancing away from traditional concentration points, accelerating ecommerce-driv
Scandiweb Launches AI-Powered Stock Control Platform for Retail Resilience
Scandiweb has unveiled a specialized stock and shipment control platform built on the OperaLayer framework, designed to equip retailers with real-time visibility and exception management capabilities.
Chief Economists' May 2026 Outlook: What Supply Chain Pros Need to Know
The World Economic Forum has released its Chief Economists' Outlook for May 2026, providing critical economic forecasting data that supply chain professionals must integrate into their strategic plann
Why Retailers Struggle to Keep Shelves Stocked: 11 Key Products
Retail environments face persistent inventory challenges as stores struggle to maintain adequate stock levels across multiple product categories. This article identifies 11 product types that retailer
ExxonMobil & Kinaxis Launch Next-Gen Supply Chain Platform
ExxonMobil and Kinaxis have partnered to develop a next-generation supply chain management solution specifically designed for the oil and gas sector. This collaboration represents a strategic technolo
U.S. Rail Freight Surges 7.2% YoY; Intermodal Leads Growth
U.S. rail freight volumes demonstrated robust growth in the week ending May 23, with total combined carloads and intermodal units reaching 523,574—a 7.2% increase year-over-year according to the Assoc
Startup Supply Chain Platform Helps Retailers Manage Disruptions
A newly profiled startup is addressing a critical pain point for retail organizations struggling with supply chain volatility and operational complexity. The company's platform appears to help retaile
Logistics Teams Deploy Advance Planning for U.S. Snow Storm
A significant winter weather event prompted logistics providers serving the U.S. floral and perishable goods sector to activate pre-established contingency plans. The proactive deployment of logistics
Target Improves Q1 Inventory Turns With AI and New Facilities
Target reported improved inventory turn metrics in Q1, signaling enhanced operational efficiency through strategic investments in technology and physical infrastructure. The retailer is deploying arti
Six Key Supply Chain Trends Reshaping Global Logistics in 2022
KPMG's analysis of six key supply chain trends for 2022 provides critical foresight into the structural challenges reshaping global logistics. These trends encompass persistent capacity constraints, e
How COVID-19 Supply Chain Disruptions Continue Fueling Inflation
The COVID-19 pandemic triggered unprecedented supply chain disruptions that have had cascading effects on inflation rates well into the post-pandemic recovery period. Rather than recovering immediatel
Target Elevates Supply Chain Operations for Better Inventory Reliability
Target is making significant investments to strengthen its supply chain operations and enhance inventory reliability across its distribution network. This strategic initiative reflects the retail sect
Inventory Visibility: Retail's Shield Against Supply Chain Shocks
In an era of escalating geopolitical tensions, retailers face unprecedented supply chain volatility that extends far beyond traditional operational disruptions. This article emphasizes that **inventor
Box Shipping Industry Faces Potential 2026 Downturn
Industry watchers are increasingly flagging 2026 as a critical inflection point for the container shipping sector, with mounting evidence suggesting that elevated demand and pricing conditions of rece
APEC Growth Stalls at 3.7% Amid Tariff Wars and Trade Tensions
The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) region is experiencing significantly below-trend economic growth of just 3.7%, driven primarily by escalating trade tensions and tariff implementations amo
Freightos Live Tour: Converting Freight Forecasts into Operational Action
Freightos is hosting a live tour event focused on bridging the gap between freight forecasting capabilities and actionable supply chain decisions. The initiative addresses a critical challenge in mode
Supply Chain Strain Hits Peak Since 2022 as Firms Stockpile
The GEP Global Supply Chain Volatility Index has signaled that supply chain strain is reaching its highest point since the 2022 crisis period, driven by defensive corporate behavior and persistent inf
Yamato Holdings Stock: Logistics Demand & Earnings Analysis
Yamato Holdings, Japan's dominant parcel delivery and logistics operator, is under investor and market scrutiny as logistics demand patterns shift and earnings expectations come into focus. The articl
Economy Running on Inventory Buffers: What Trade Data Reveals
Recent trade data indicates that the global economy is increasingly dependent on accumulated inventory buffers rather than sustained demand growth. This pattern suggests companies built strategic stoc
Under Armour Achieves 25% SKU Reduction Goal
Under Armour has successfully achieved a 25% reduction in its stock-keeping units (SKUs) over the past two years, marking a significant milestone in the company's inventory optimization strategy. This
Japan Faces Hidden Naphtha Supply Crisis Amid Panic Buying
Japan is experiencing growing concern over naphtha supply availability as panic buying behavior emerges across the market. Naphtha, a critical petrochemical feedstock derived from crude oil refining,
Box Shipping Demand Loss May Offset Supply Chain Disruption Gains
Lloyd's List has raised concerns that weakening demand for box shipments could become a more significant headwind for the logistics industry than gains achieved from recent supply chain disruptions. T
Target hires Walmart veteran to boost supply chain, inventory reliability
Target has recruited Jeff England, a supply chain executive with a track record at Walmart and recent experience at QXO improving inventory optimization, to lead its supply chain and logistics operati
Cass Freight Index Shows Mixed April Signals, Hints Second-Half Recovery
The Cass Freight Index, a widely-watched barometer of North American freight demand, is sending conflicting signals in April as the logistics market navigates broader economic uncertainty. While mixed