We stayed the course but expanded our scope.
Some people plan vacations, and some celebrate with parties, but when the holidays arrive, we like to go back over the year's blog posts.
Why?
- To see if we actually made progress on the things we said we were going to do at the end of last year.
- To revisit the trends and themes that shaped our thinking about what to do next.
We ended last December's blog with this thought: "Our vision is to offer SMBs the assistance they need to compete in a global market by building, operating, and managing individual or shared fulfillment centers…so they can focus on procuring, selling, or repairing parts and supplies, while we concentrate on modernizing warehouse and distribution channels."
I'm happy to say we closed out this year with our vision intact and some big accomplishments under our belt.
Q1: How to fix a broken supply chain
- In January, we found ourselves immersed in the intricate web of supply chain resiliency; a compelling report from Deloitte made it clear that COVID had left a world of broken production and fulfillment systems in its wake.
- In February, we tackled the debate on whether in-house supply chain management was the best fix for most businesses or if collaboration with third-party logistics providers (3PLs) like Cura Group was still a better alternative.
- By March, we shifted our focus to the risks associated with keeping inventory offshore, prompting us to rethink how our clients should prepare to handle geopolitical instability, natural disasters, and other unforeseen disruptions.
Q2: New capabilities for better results
- April brought a renewed commitment to our mantra, "right parts, right place, right time", and our dedication to providing fully staffed custom storage facilities with all the benefits of flexible point-of-service inventory, but none of the investment in real estate, construction, or costly full-service 3PL arrangements.
- We backed up that promise in May when we announced new Warehousing-as-a-Service (WAAS) capabilities for cloud-based inventory management — because if your 3PL is still using a
traditional warehouse management system, you could be spending less on logistics.
- June marked the strategic launch of the Cura Retail Logistics Division, recognizing the symbiotic relationship between visual merchandising (the process of planning how to design and display products) and logistics (the process of managing inventory using warehousing, distribution, and customer service.)
Q3: Innovating for growth
- In July, we did a deeper dive into how design and logistics work together and why retail logistics is a team sport; sales channels, manufacturers, and logistics partners all need to be on the same page.
- In August, we embraced a global perspective with the inception of the Direct Selling International Expansion Global Alliance (DSIEGA), a partnership with two other global logistics
leaders aimed at facilitating the expansion of direct sales brands into international markets.
- The potential of warehouse automation to revolutionize global logistics took center stage in September, with artificial intelligence and robotics promising to reduce costs and ensure faster, more accurate deliveries.
Q4: Our new approach comes into focus
- October delved into reasons to upgrade point-of-use parts centers and emphasized the efficiency gained by holding critical inventory close to where it's needed. This approach, applicable across many industries, reduces costly downtime and improves both customer and employee satisfaction.
- By November, it was clear that our efforts to reinvent Cura Group from a "local distribution partner for small and medium businesses" to a "reliable global distribution platform" were paying off. Today, with our partners, we can offer fully staffed custom storage facilities, private or shared, that combine the best assets of online and in-person order and fulfillment services wherever they're needed.
- All of this brings us to December and our final blog of 2023, when we raise a glass to celebrate our achievements and wish our clients a happy and peaceful holiday season. Here's to another year of transformative journeys and successful global logistics for all!
About Cura
Contact us today to learn about Cura Group's comprehensive solutions for structural and creative package design and display building, warehousing, inventory management, and point-of-use distribution – from a single reliable logistics partner.
