Sunday, January 26, 2020
According to a CNBC article, Amazon is already delivering half of its packages. It appears that Amazon is on target to pass by FedEx and UPS. They have had distinctly different strategies. FedEx curtailed its contract with Amazon in early 2019, and Amazon just retaliated by not allowing 3rd party sellers to ship via FedEx. On the other hand, UPS is doubled down with Amazon. Which will turn out to be better in the long run? And, as we know, USPS has been delivering packages for Amazon behind-the-scenes. Could they come out on top?
Or will Amazon just crush everyone? In recently touring the Ontario airport (the powerhouse in package shipping), it is clear Amazon has a long way to go to catch up in air freight but they are also known to speed by competitors. Amazon is slowly making inroads to ocean shipping as well. No matter who you think might win this race, if you ship or receive anything, you should pay attention!
What Should We Consider and/or What Impacts Could Arise?
Simply think about Sears. They were Amazon prior to Amazon entering the scene. Unfortunately, they didn’t keep up with changes occurring, and they are largely out of business. That annoying but not worrisome competitor might just speed by you if you aren’t staying relevant!
Additionally, from a supply chain and logistics point-of-view, there are substantial impacts. With the sheer relevance of the last mile, transportation infrastructure, customer perceptions, technology advancements and much more are becoming relevant. Undoubtedly, no matter your industry, it will be impacted since everyone relates to logistics. Not only logistics, but many industries relate to oil and gas prices or would be impacted by delays in materials etc. The impacts are widespread and substantial. Have you thought through your strategy and positioning based on these factors?
At a minimum, continually re-evaluate your supply chain road map and think through related impacts. These topics certainly relate to our new LMA-i, LMA-Intelligence series including the Amazon Effect, the Resilient Supply Chain and Future-Proofing and contact us if you’d like an assessment path-forward plan to accelerate your bottom line and customer performance.
About LMA Consulting Group – Lisa Anderson, MBA, CSCP, CLTD
Lisa Anderson is the founder and president of LMA Consulting Group, Inc., a consulting firm that specializes in manufacturing strategy and end-to-end supply chain transformation. She focuses on maximizing the customer experience and enabling profitable, scalable, dramatic business growth. Ms. Anderson is a recognized Supply Chain thought leader by SelectHub, named a Top 40 B2B Tech Influencer by arketi group, 50 ERP Influencer by Washington-Frank, a top 46 most influential in Supply Chain by SAP and named a top woman influencer by Solutions Review. She recently published, I’ve Been Thinking, 101 strategies for creating bold customer promises and profits. A regular content contributor on topics including a superior customer experience with SIOP, advancing innovation and making the supply chain resilient, Ms. Anderson is regularly interviewed and quoted by publications such as Industry Week, tED magazine and the Wall Street Journal. For information, to sign up for her Profit Through PeopleTM Newsletter or for a copy of her book, visit LMA-ConsultingGroup.com.
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Media Contact Kathleen McEntee | Kathleen McEntee & Associates, Ltd. | p. (760) 262 - 4080 | KMcEntee@KMcEnteeAssoc.com