Charles & David explore the labor strike's impact on the North American supply chain and the dire future of the crown corporation.

Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDh0IosEzaw&t=1s

Check us out on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lidd-consultants

This year, you might have noticed a trend: livestreams and on-demand video with shopping features built right into the viewing experience. You can see it everywhere from TikTok to the Victoria Secret fashion show. This new form of ecommerce creates frictionless purchasing opportunities for customers, but how does it really work for the businesses doing the selling?

In this episode, Nicola and Mathieu take over the podcast to explain exactly how it works. Drawing on their respective expertise in marketing and supply chain technology to explain how a product goes from your screen, to your doorstep.

Buckle up for this week's Behind The Headlines episode! 🎙️ We're exploring two hot topics shaking up the supply chain:

First up, the demise of De Minimis! The Biden administration's proposal to close this e-commerce loophole could have major repercussions for businesses and consumers alike. Say goodbye to those $11 jeans from Shein?

Next, the GLP-1 revolution! These so-called miracle weight-loss drugs are changing lives, but could they also disrupt the food industry? We're exploring the potential impact on everything from snack sizes to supermarket layouts.

Further reading:

• The Supply Chain Impacts of GLP-1 Drugs and the Demise of the De Minimis Loophole (LIDD)
• De Minimis: Supply Chain Trifles the Law Should be Concerned With (artofprocurement.com)
• What would the demise of de minimis mean for supply chains? | Supply Chain Dive
• Nestlé is releasing a lineup of frozen food for people on Ozempic and other GLP-1 drugs | CNN Business
• Could weight-loss drugs take a bite out of junk food consumption? (economist.com)
• How Supplement Stores, Gyms, etc. Are Trying to Tap Into the Ozempic Boom - The New York Times (nytimes.com)

The #IFDASolutions Conference 2024 is right around the corner and on this week's episode of It's the End of the Week we're giving a sneak peak at two LIDD-hosted sessions during the event. Join Jennifer Hall as she chats with Angie Sabourin, ing, P. Eng & Jeff Hamilton about supply chain planning and automation in foodservice contexts.

📅 Insights to Action in Supply Chain Planning hosted by Jeff Hamilton & Emilio Colangelo: Learn about a straightforward roadmap for shifting from reactive to proactive supply chain management.

🤖 Not will, but where will the Robots take over? Automating with Robots in Foodservice hosted by Angie Sabourin, ing, P. Eng & Jeff Hamilton: Learn how AMRs can be incorporated reliably into foodservice contexts to streamlines operations and improve overall cost productivity.

Learn more about LIDD's presence at IFDA Solutions Conference 2024: https://ow.ly/VQQy50TeJcN

What are extensions? How do they work? When should I build my own? Get answers to all these questions and more in the latest edition of It's the End of the Week! This week, Charles is joined by Mathieu to discuss all things extensions in the Microsoft Business Central platform.

It's a food fight!

On this week's episode of It's the End of the Week, Charles & David break down recent reports that Walmart has pulled ahead of Amazon in their mad dash for grocery. Tune in to get a deeper look and how their different approaches to distribution in Walmart's success.

Further Reading:

• https://lidd.com/food-fight-inside-the-walmart-amazon-grocery-brawl/
• Walmart, Amazon In High-Tech Food Fight
• July 2024 State of the Grocery Industry

Cette semaine, Angie et David sont de retour pour une nouvelle édition « Tête-à-tête » de « C'est la fin de la semaine » !

Le duo se penche sur l'automatisation des entrepôts en explorant les systèmes de livraison à la personne, les systèmes de stockage et de déstockage automatisés et les robots mobiles autonomes. Angie nous donne également quelques conseils sur la meilleure façon de mettre en œuvre un système de gestion d'entrepôt (WMS).

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjMK58nhecI

Read: LIDD.com/insights

Can you really automate everything? With Power Platform, sure you can. Almost.

This week, Romain & David break down how Power Automate can be used to automate business processes for businesses of all structures and sizes, with a case study from a past client.

Read: https://lidd.com/automate-almost-everything-with-power-platform/

This week, Charles is joined by NetSuite extraordinaire Isaiah Reisman-Tremonte to discuss the move to asset-based accounting in the platform and how to get the most out of.

Read more: LIDD.com/insights

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LIDDConsultants

The foodservice industry is undergoing a significant transformation, driven by advancements in AI and automation technologies. From the back of the house to the front of the house, these technologies are streamlining operations, improving efficiency, and enhancing the overall customer experience.

Read: https://lidd.com/foodservice-automation-ai/

Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhF3Kqt8hsk

The retail landscape is undergoing a significant transformation, particularly in the luxury sector. The recent $2.65 billion acquisition of Neiman Marcus by the Hudson's Bay Company (HBC), facilitated through its subsidiary Saks Fifth Avenue, is a testament to this shift.

Watch: YouTube.com/LIDDConsultants

Further Reading:

• Hudson's Bay Company to buy luxury retailer Neiman Marcus in $2.65B US deal
• Saks Fifth Avenue parent HBC to acquire Neiman Marcus Group in $2.65 billion deal
• HBC, Parent of Saks Fifth Avenue, to Acquire Neiman Marcus Group for $2.65 Billion and Establish Saks Global, a Technology-Powered Luxury Retail Company

An order management system (OMS) can be an extremely valuable tool for businesses looking to streamline their supply chain and improve customer satisfaction.

On this week's episode of It's the End of the Week, Angie is joined by Matt Boland of Korber Supply Chain Software to talk all thing OMS. How does it work? Why should businesses care? How do they differ from ERPs? Get answers to these questions and more!

Read; https://lidd.com/order-management-system-korber-supply-chain/

With the right approach, the process of updating your #ERP to a new version can be a breeze.

On this week's episode of It's the End of the Week!, Charles Fallon is joined by Zoe Mougios, Project Manager in LIDD's Microsoft Dynamics practice, to discuss best practices for keeping Business Central up to date. Tune in for a discussion on the distinctions between minor & major updates, the timelines they are rolled out, and how you can prepare to ensure your Business Central instance does everything you need it to do on day 1 of the new update.

Warehouse automation is more than just robots and conveyor belts. It's a complex dance of software and hardware working together to orchestrate the operation of your warehouse.

On this episode of It's the End of the Week, Jeff & Jean-Martin take over the podcast to discuss the layers of software driving warehouse automation, as well as how the emergence of multi-agent orchestration is enabling operators to select the best equipment from different vendors without loss of efficiency.

Watch: YouTube.com/LIDDConsultants

Listen: Anywhere you get your podcasts.

Further Reading:

• Multi-Agent Orchestration – The Symphony of Warehouse Automation
• Understanding the Role of AMRs in Automated Facilities
• Interoperability – The Intralogistics Orchestration Challenge
• Pharmaceutical Supply Chains: A Call to Supply Chain Executives in Healthcare
• A Practical Approach to Automation
• The Future is MAO

If you have more questions about multi-agent orchestration, reach out to Jean-Martin and the Onomatic team directly: https://onomatic.com/smart-warehouse-automation-experts-contact-us/

Sobeys, Canada's second-largest grocery chain, and Ocado, the UK-based online grocery and technology company, have ended their partnership. This unexpected split has sent shockwaves through the industry, leaving our hosts with the task: what does this mean for e-commerce grocery in Canada?

Source: https://ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/sobeys-parent-empire-scaling-back-e-commerce-investment-amid-profitability-woes-175853431.html?soc_src=social-sh&soc_trk=ma

If you've tried to buy sriracha hot sauce recently, you might have noticed something strange: It's getting hard to find. In fact, there's a nationwide shortage of this beloved condiment. What's going on? And what can this spicy situation teach us about effective problem solving?

Loblaws announces a $2 billion investment in small-format discount stores across Canada - is it the right play? On this week's episode, Charles & David break down the latest news of Loblaws' upcoming plan in the midst of ongoing boycotts and discuss its potential implications for the Canadian grocery industry as a whole.

Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) represent a dynamic and crucial facet of the business world. This episode with LIDD partner Jennifer Hall discusses the operational and strategic intricacies that organizations face during M&A processes. For those immersed in the world of corporate mergers and acquisitions, understanding the key components and challenges can make all the difference in a successful integration.

In the field of supply chain chain and operations management, an organization's technology portfolio is an essential consideration for achieving business objectives. Technology, however, is rarely a catch-all solution out of the box. That's where enterprise software developers come in.

Dollar stores around America are shutting down - what gives? In this week's episode, Charles & David sit down with Stephan, former dollar store executive, to discuss the reasons for the industry's persistent struggles.

Sources:

• Dollar stores are shutting down across America. They did this to themselves
• Dollar Tree to Shutter 600 Family Dollar Locations by End of 2024
• Dollar General plans 800 stores this year as rival Dollar Tree pulls back

When it comes to material handling equipment, compliance is non-negotiable. Over time, however, these regulations have undergone many changes. This week, David is joined by Gilles Ducharme of Structurack to discuss this evolution and what that means for the design and implementation of warehouses and distribution centers.

Dive into the complexities of tracking outsourced manufacturing in ERP systems in our latest episode of "It's the End of the Week".

From tracking raw materials to managing vendor charges, get expert insight from Isaiah and Charles on how ERP systems handle the manufacturing journey. Key topics include:

1️⃣ Costing in Outsourced Manufacturing: Discover how ERP systems help track costs associated with contract manufacturing.

2️⃣ Managing Complexity: Explore strategies for simplifying complex manufacturing processes within ERP systems.

The journey toward a lean manufacturing process can be daunting, but you don't have to go it alone.

On this episode Charles Fallon is joined by Ty Getz of SCPI to discuss all things manufacturing. Tune in to get an inside look at Ty's extensive expertise in manufacturing, including a step-by-step case study on the progression from level push to level pull manufacturing operations. Additionally, get some insight from Ty on when manufacturers should look to invest in a simulation project, and the benefits they can have in helping businesses make more effective decisions.

La distribución del comercio electrónico es el proceso de entrega de bienes y servicios a los clientes que los han pedido en línea. Es un proceso complejo en el que intervienen muchos factores diferentes, desde el tipo de bienes que se envían hasta las expectativas del cliente. Esta publicación analizará algunos de los factores más importantes a tener en cuenta a la hora de crear un sistema de distribución de comercio electrónico o ecommerce, basándose en una entrevista en podcast con dos expertos en la materia.

Watch: YouTube.com/LIDDConsultants

Listen: Anywhere you get your podcasts.

¿Quiere mantenerse a la vanguardia en el cambiante mundo de la distribución del comercio electrónico? Suscríbase a nuestro boletín para conocer las últimas novedades y tendencias del sector, o póngase en contacto con nosotros directamente en contact@lidd.com.

Sustainability is more than just a buzz word. A proper approach to reducing the footprint of your supply chain can generate real cost-savings and operational efficiency in addition to positive environmental impact.

#ItsTheEndoftheWeek and on this episode David Beaudet is joined by Jeff Hamilton to discuss how businesses can more effectively act on their sustainability goals.

PowerBI presents a formidable array of functionalities, and mastering its complexities unlocks a wealth of possibilities for efficiently organizing and reporting your business's data.

#ItsTheEndoftheWeek, and on this episode Mathieu and Jason take over the podcast alongside special guest Christine Mergl to discuss how organizations can get the most out of PowerBI. Take a sneak peak at some of the episode's key insights:

1️⃣ Strategic Planning is Crucial: It's not just about solving your immediate problems - you also need to think ahead to address future data analysis needs. This includes determining the granularity of data required, considering various data sources, and planning for scalability.

2️⃣ Ownership and Governance Matter: Have a clear understanding of who is responsible for data validation, testing, and maintenance to help prevent discrepancies and ensure a single source of truth.

3️⃣ Skill Development and Continuous Learning: While Power BI offers a user-friendly interface, mastering it requires time and effort. Learning Data Analysis Expressions (DAX) language for complex calculations and understanding the intricacies of data modeling are essential for efficient and scalable reporting.

Will AI transform warehouse and inventory management?

Its the end of the week, and on this episode Charles & David share their insights on how Natural Language Processing (NLP) and AI more broadly could transform the way warehouses are operated.

💬 Unstructured data like human speech can be transformed into structured, actionable data to be processed by a warehouse management system.

⏰ NLP functionality can enable decision makers to get real-time information from frontline warehouse personnel, enabling swifter resolutions to operational problems.

🤖 With NLP technology, operators can automate traditionally manual tasks such as data entry and analysis which helps to streamline supply chain processes and reduce operational costs.

Listen to the full episode anywhere you get your podcasts, or watch the episode here: https://youtu.be/459Y13WvvL0

#AI #artificialintelligence #NLP #supplychain #operations #warehousing #inventory #logistics #WMS

When navigating ERP implementations, balancing the expectations of different departments in your organization is a difficult task.

Its the end of the week, and on this episode Mathieu Galipeau is joined by Amanda Mayer and Romain Pietkowicz to identify strategies for facilitating communication and cooperation between operations, finance, and IT, in the implementation of new technology and processes.

C'est la fin de la semaine, et dans cet épisode, David est rejoint par Angie pour une conversation "en tête à tête" sur les mérites des approches alternatives de l'entreposage, comme les aménagements " fishbone ".

Dans le paysage complexe de la gestion de la chaîne d'approvisionnement, l'infrastructure physique sert de colonne vertébrale, orchestrant le flux continu de marchandises et de matériaux. Cependant, le passage du concept à un centre fonctionnel, ce qu’on appelle la mise en œuvre, est un processus complexe qui exige une planification, une conception et une exécution méticuleuse.

C'est la fin de la semaine, et dans cet épisode, David est rejoint par Raphael pour discuter des clés d'une mise en œuvre réussie d'un entrepôt. Écoutez l'épisode pour en savoir plus sur certains sujets clés :

1️⃣ Les différences entre une étude, une conception et une mise en œuvre.

2️⃣ Les pièges courants qui conduisent à des mises en œuvre d'entrepôts inefficaces.

3️⃣ Comment gérer au mieux la mise en place d'un entrepôt.

From the the time a fresh strawberry is picked and packed to it's placement on the shelves at your local grocery store, the opportunities for waste and loss are numerous.

It's the end of the week, and on this episode Gabrielle Tiven and Daniel Kelly take over the podcast to discuss their work with the Pacific Coast Food Waste Commitment to study the causes and solutions for waste and loss of fresh strawberries at every step of the supply chain.

During their time on the project, Gabrielle and Daniel had the chance to visit farms, pack houses, distribution centers, and grocery stores to collect data and observe how the fruit moves through the supply chain. Tune in to learn more about the project, including detailed explanations on the data collection process and the team's proposed solutions.

How do major retailers stack up on inventory, and what can the data tell us about the state of the industry in 2024?

It's the end of the week and on this episode, Charles Fallon is joined by Jennifer Hall to examine 2023 reporting from a selection of major retailers to discuss what the numbers mean and offer insights into the industry landscape where major retailers like Walmart and Nike dominate, and others have faltered.

Should your business take on digital transformation?

It's the end of the week, and on this episode Charles & David are joined by Mathieu Galipeau to answer that question. Tune in to learn more about what digital transformation is, what it could mean for your business, and how to determine when it's the right time to switch. Here are just some of the many indicators they explain in this episode:

1️⃣ Functional limitations: Spreadsheets can only take you so far. At a certain scale, your business needs the depth of functionality that a specialized software can offer for optimal performance.

2️⃣ Frankenstein solutions: Dealing with a monster? A digital transformation roadmap can help identify and streamline your suite of software solutions to ensure every part of your business works together seamlessly.

3️⃣ Outdated Technology: Software needs support. As new technologies emerge, existing technologies fall into obscurity with minimal or no support, making it difficult for your business to operate at peak efficiency.

Its the end of the week! On this episode, David is joined by Alex to discuss how Salesforce can be leveraged for seamless integration between sales & operations teams through every step of the customer journey.

The Parti Quebecois (PQ) has proposed a new strategy to address the province's labor shortage: robots. This is a departure from the PQ's traditional pro-worker stance, and it has been met with criticism from some quarters. However, the PQ argues that automation is the only way to address the labor shortage in the long term.

Charles & David sit down to discuss whether they think these subsidies will work, as well as how this new policy proposal is an indicator of the broader trends against immigration in North America.

Additional Resources

• Parti Quebecois to unveil plan to reduce immigration, focus on demographics
• Is automation the answer to labor shortages?
• The impact of automation on jobs

In the 16 months since the announcement of the Kroger-Albertsons merger of $24.6 billion, the companies still find themselves at odds with regulators for approving the deal.

Its the end of the week, and on this episode Charles & David sit down to discuss the ongoing regulatory battle as it relates to the deal's potential impact on the grocery supply chain across the United States.

La productivité canadienne continue de chuter - y a-t-il une solution ?

C'est la fin de la semaine, et dans cet épisode Charles et David sont rejoints par Angie, responsable de la pratique des technologies d'entreposage de LIDD, pour répondre à cette question. Nous discuterons des raisons pour lesquelles les entreprises canadiennes ont investi dans la technologie à un rythme plus lent que les entreprises américaines, de ce que cela signifie pour la productivité et de ce que les entreprises canadiennes doivent faire pour mettre en œuvre des systèmes qui génèrent de la valeur à long terme.

#EsElFinDeLaSemana y en este episodio nos acompañan Germán Alonso y Jorge Espinosa para adentrarnos en el vibrante mundo de las pequeñas y medianas empresas (PYMES) y el comercio electrónico en México.

It's the end of the week and on this episode, Gabrielle Tiven takes over the show to sit down with Daniel Kelly and Isaac Jenne to talk about food waste and insecurity in Canada and the United States.

Tune in for a brief spotlight on LIDD's work with Food Banks Canada and the World Wildlife Fund, and get answers to some key questions about the global issue:

1️⃣ How do food banks operate and what role do they play in combatting food insecurity?

2️⃣ How does food waste occur across every stage of the supply chain?

3️⃣ What solutions are organizations deploying to combat these challenges?

#ItsTheEndOfTheWeek and in this episode our hosts Charles Fallon and David Beaudet are joined by Sabina Sasu to dive into integrations. From the social media apps on your phone to the intricate workings of your company's operations, application programming interfaces (APIs) are a central factor in ensuring the transfer of data and communication between computer programs. In the world of supply chain, APIs are used at every step to enable visibility and facilitate smooth operation.Join Charles, David & Sabina for an insightful discussion into APIs and walk away with a more acute understanding of some key topics: The History of APIs: First published in 1971, File Transfer Protocol (FTP) was the preferred method for integration for years. However, as time has gone on and needs have evolved, FTP has become largely obsolete. In particular, the post-2000s boom in web-based stores, media, and more necessitated a seamless and quick transfer of data that FTP could no longer keep up with. APIs emerged to fill that gap, as they offered a simpler means of connecting a database to a website's front-end that enabled end-users to more quickly gain access to the information they needed. Nowadays, the development of APIs such as Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP) and Representational State Transfer (REST) have revolutionized the way businesses can deploy integrations in their information systems. SOAP vs REST: While the two protocols share similarities in their HTML-like appearance, they are ultimately used for very different purposes. REST APIs are speedy at transferring data, and can invoke the four fundamental functions of CRUD: create, read, update and delete. SOAP APIs on the other hand are adept at conducting real-world operations, such as facilitating the shipment of a company's sales orders.

Logistics automation is transforming supply chain operations and improving employee satisfaction. But it's not just about picking your automation equipment and sending it off to the vendor. There's a crucial phase between solution selection and implementation that can't be overlooked: getting your organization ready for automation. How prepared is your company? Tune in for an insightful discussion on some key topics: 1️⃣ The push towards automation: Labor shortages, escalating logistics costs, and the need for rapid eCommerce fulfillment are driving companies to embrace warehouse automation. 2️⃣ Technological advancements: Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) and Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) are transforming the logistics landscape. They offer scalable solutions that can adapt to changing business needs and volume fluctuations. 3️⃣ Preparing for automation: The transition to automation requires careful planning and preparation. This is where LIDD's logistics automation readiness tool comes in handy. It helps you asses your current state, identifying potential areas for improvement and eliminating risks before implementation.🔗 Fill out the assessment to ensure your business is properly prepared for automation. http://bit.ly/3sHaT0N

Ever wondered how the adventurers of the 17th century established a complex trade network in pursuit of beaver furs? Delve into the riveting world of the fur trade supply chain and discover how these pioneers tackled logistics challenges long before the age of modern technology.

LIDD founder, Charles Fallon, and guest speaker Gabrielle Tiven, discuss the history of the fur trade in Canada and the similarities of supply chain engineering then and now.:

1. Learn about Canada's 17th century fur trade and the competition between the Hudson Bay Company and Northwest Trading Company.

2. The striking similarities between the supply chain management of the past compared to now.

3. Gabrielle's upcoming book that delves deeper into Canada's fur trade to examine the engineering principles and supply chain network design at play.

Charles sits down with LIDD partner and NetSuite practice lead Ben V. to discuss all things business technology.

Charles and David sit down to discuss Rock Mountain Chocolate's plans to streamline their operations, while Funko remains stuck in the aftermath of the delayed implementation of their new warehousing processes. Rocky Mountain Chocolate: https://www.heraldnet.com/news/lawsuit-funko-misled-investors-about-arizona-move/ Funko: https://www.heraldnet.com/news/lawsuit-funko-misled-investors-about-arizona-move/

Charles and David sit down with Jeff Hamilton to discuss how supply chain consulting and data analytics have evolved over the years and where it could possibly go in the future.

What is interoperability? How does it work? These are questions we get all the time - and with the growing number of software ecosystems leveraging interoperability, now is the best time to learn about the benefits it can provide for your operation.

On this week's episode of It's the End of the Week, Charles Fallon sits down to talk with Mathieu Galipeau to discuss all things interoperability.

Charles & Jorge sit down to discuss the news of Shopify's layoffs and the sale of their logistics business to Flexport.

This week, we're back with another Behind the Headlines episode hosted by David Beaudet & Stephan Lauzon exploring two exciting retail topics as we head into Q4 2024.

🤖 First up: Retailers are looking to automate their operations, but they better get the ball rolling quickly. With vendors quickly filling up with capacity, some businesses may have a hard time getting an automated operation live in time for 2025 or even 2026 peak season. Start early!

🧰 Next up: Home Depot is planning to send executives into stores to work a shift for one day each year, to get them up to speed about how the retail operation is run from the ground.

Further reading:

• Peak Season Planning: Why You Need to Start Now
• How Retailers Are Staffing Up for the 2024 Holiday Season
• Walmart Automates 25- and 35-Year-Old Facilities to Double Productivity
• Home Depot Orders Corporate Staff to Take 8-Hour Retail Shifts

Remember the days when grocery stores battled for the lowest prices on national brands? Those days are fading fast. As dollar stores continue to expand and offer rock-bottom prices on familiar products, grocery stores are adopting a new strategy: private labels.

This shift isn't just about offering cheaper alternatives. It's about curation, differentiation, and locking in customer loyalty. By developing unique private label products that can't be found elsewhere, grocery stores are creating a distinct identity and drawing consumers away from the allure of dollar store deals.

Further Resources:

• 9 Grocery Retail Trends in 2024 | Oracle Canada
• Grocery Store Technology Trends - KPS Global®
• The state of grocery in North America 2023 - McKinsey & Company

Are food waste bans really working? We dive into the research and uncover the surprising truth about these state-level regulations. Learn why some states are succeeding while others struggle, and what it means for the future of food waste in America.