The Last Mile in Crowded Cities

We have to be open to radical alternatives to last mile supply chain delivery methods.  Here are some suggestions from MIT researchers.  Many have been tried around the world.  An open mind and entrepreneurship-style innovation will be the winning strategy.  Keep an open mind and test, test, test how customers or users like it in an iterative fashion!

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Source: Redefining the Last Mile in Crowded Cities

Rethinking pricing at container terminals

McKinsey has a new scheme for container pricing. They hope it will save the industry.  To be sure, segmented pricing is always good for incumbents, and port terminals often have a kind of monopoly, since once you’ve chosen a shipping carrier there are only certain ports and terminals it calls at.  But for customers (shippers of goods)? And will they really put up with it in the very competitive transport marketplace.  I think they have the bargaining power today.

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An innovative approach that creates incentives for efficiency could generate up to $3 billion in value for operators and their customers. A McKinsey & Company article.

Source: How to rethink pricing at container terminals | McKinsey & Company

CMA CGM to acquire NOL for $2.4b, bring APL into Ocean3 Alliance

Another example of supply chain integration in the ocean shipping – port arena. And more on the merger saga for 2015-2016.

American Shipper

Source: CMA CGM to acquire NOL for $2.4b, bring APL into Ocean3 Alliance | AS Daily Newsletter | AS Daily | American Shipper