As e-commerce and the global economy continue to expand, supply chains everywhere feel the strain.

According to the Institute of Supply Management, manufacturing activity grew again in February, marking the sector’s 18th consecutive month of growth. The institute also revealed that the overall economy has grown for 105 consecutive months since the recession of the late 2000s. Both of these growth measurements have e-commerce to thank, as the U.S. Department of Commerce found that online sales in the country rose 16 percent between 2016 and 2017.

All those sales require a supply chain that can handle the increased load, and companies across multiple industries are looking for advantages in this progressively competitive landscape. Read the full article here.

Self-driving cars are all the rage these days, with everyone from Hyundai to General Motors getting in on the action. The technology represents big business, with Intel and Strategy Analytics reporting that the autonomous vehicles could add $7 trillion to the global economy by 2050.

Regardless of how tempting it might seem, the fastest and cheapest route is not always the right choice.

Think about the last time you bought a nice outfit. Snagging a suit off the discount rack at a department store will save you a few bucks today, but it’s not likely to impress anyone at your next job interview. You could also invest some extra money now to get a custom-made garment from a local tailor, ending up with an outfit that makes you look like a million bucks. Five years down the road, which suit do you think will still be in your wardrobe?

In other words, inexpensive fixes can come back to haunt you. A tailored option will be your new best friend, and a one-size-fits-all solution will not likely stand the test of time. Finding an ideal third-party logistics (3PL) partner requires the same sort of careful consideration and pragmatism as buying a treasured article of clothing.

Last year, I moved into a house that is more than 100 years old. While I hope to eventually turn it into my dream home, saying it's a fixer-upper would be a massive understatement.

The home needs a lot of work, so I spend most of my weekends covered in paint and sawdust, working on projects to upgrade and customize the home to my liking. I'm a fairly handy guy, and I face a difficult decision with each new project: Do I tackle it myself, or should I hire someone who can offer expertise on the job at hand?

Businesses face a similar decision when they're ready to implement a transportation management solution (TMS). Do they place the burden of implementing a TMS on their internal team? Or do they partner with a logistics service provider (LSP) that has years of industry knowledge and experience?