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.

Scalability has been a corporate focus for the better part of a decade. Businesses that want to consistently hit new benchmarks with minimum strain on their human, financial, and operational resources cannot do it by themselves, though. They must develop mutually beneficial relationships with experienced partners.

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.

According to a survey from the Harvard Business School, outsourcing key components of business operations has increased in recent years.  Almost half of respondents to that survey said they preferred outsourcing to hiring new, full-time employees.  Only 1 in 4 felt that hiring new employees was preferable to outsourcing.