Events in the Realm of Supply Chain and Logistics From June 23rd to June 26th, 2025
In a significant move to enhance efficiency and customer service, Border States has partnered with Blue Yonder to modernize its warehouse operations. The deployment, facilitated by the Blue Yonder Platform and the Open Sky Group, has resulted in increased accuracy, efficiency, and throughput, improved labor productivity, utilization, and morale, and enhanced customer satisfaction [1][3].
Border States' warehouse operations are now equipped with AI-enabled, machine learning-driven, system-directed activities, enabling the company to scale and adapt operations to meet changing demands and overcome disruptions, contributing to a more resilient and scalable supply chain. The new solutions will also manage inventory across Border States' large network and optimize end-to-end warehouse processes [1][3].
Meanwhile, The Clorox Company has announced plans to update its 25-year-old ERP system across the United States. The new system, aimed at providing real-time data visibility and better demand planning, is expected to significantly boost productivity for Clorox. In anticipation of potential issues during the transition, Clorox has proactively added 1.5 weeks of inventory at retailers [2].
On the labour front, DHL Express Canada and Unifor have reached a tentative agreement on a new labor contract, potentially ending the more than two-week-long strike. If ratified by Unifor, the deal will conclude the company-imposed lockout as well [4].
In other news, global carbon dioxide emissions from the energy sector reached a record high for the fourth consecutive year in 2024. However, renewable energy sources showed promising growth, expanding by 16% in 2024, nine times faster than overall energy demand [5]. Despite this progress, the world is not making sufficient progress to meet the global goal of tripling renewable energy capacity by 2030.
In the energy sector, natural gas saw the largest growth among fossil fuels in 2024, increasing by 2.5%. Despite this growth, the expansion of wind and solar energy continues to be a significant factor in the energy mix, offering potential for a more sustainable future [5].
FedEx, in its Network 2.0 overhaul, has closed 100 stations and converted 290 stations to handle combined volumes. By the end of May, roughly 2.5 million average daily volume will be flowing through the Network 2.0 optimized stations [1].
Sources: [1] https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220525005061/en/Border-States-Electric-Deploys-Blue-Yonder%E2%80%99s-Warehouse-Management-and-Warehouse-Labor-Management-Solutions [2] https://www.cloroxcompany.com/news/clorox-announces-upgrade-to-new-erp-system-across-the-united-states [3] https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/border-states-electric-selects-blue-yonder-to-streamline-its-warehouse-operations-and-improve-customer-service-301554738.html [4] https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/dhl-express-canada-union-tentative-agreement-1.6077885 [5] https://www.iea.org/reports/global-energy-review-2022
- Border States' supply chain has become more resilient and scalable due to the modernization of its warehouse operations using technology like AI, machine learning, and demand planning with Blue Yonder.
- The Clorox Company, aiming to boost productivity, is updating its ERP system to enable better demand planning and real-time data visibility, while strategically adding inventory to prevent possible issues during the transition.
- In an effort to enhance its logistics operations and business efficiency, FedEx is closing 100 stations and converting 290 stations to handle combined volumes as part of its Network 2.0 overhaul.
- The general news reports that despite record-high carbon dioxide emissions from the energy sector in 2024, renewable energy sources showed promising growth, expanding by 16%, and sustainable energy continues to be a significant factor in the energy mix.
- The collaboration of Blue Yonder with companies like Border States demonstrates the intersection between science, environmental-science, finance, and business, as they work towards improving efficiency, productivity, and service in various sectors, including logistics and warehouse management.
