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The Age of Efficiency: How Automation is Revolutionizing Global Logistics

Technology can help any size business move products almost anywhere.

In the sprawling world of international commerce, the logistics industry is the unsung hero that quietly ensures goods flow seamlessly across borders, oceans, and continents. Picture the last item you bought online — maybe it was a smartphone, a pair of sneakers, or even a book. Chances are, it traveled thousands of miles to reach your doorstep. 

Behind this impressive feat lies an intricate web of systems and processes that make global trade possible. And as the world becomes increasingly interconnected, the logistics industry must evolve along with it. Enter automation—a game-changer with the potential to redefine global logistics as we know it.

Topics: direct sales e-commerce business growth distribution strategy retail

10 Things You Need to Know About Expanding Your Direct Sales Operation into International Markets

How to Be a Global Direct Sales Company When You Don't Have Global Distribution

 

Think about the last time you visited a foreign country where you didn't know the language or the customs of day-to-day life. International travel can be intimidating and stressful until you figure out the lay of the land. Fortunately, tools like Google Maps and Siri Translate can make the experience of going to new places more rewarding.

Unfortunately, there are no electronic guides available if you’re a direct sales executive thinking about selling products outside your home market. You can't just Google "help me grow my business overseas" to get the help you need. Instead, success will depend on how quickly you can establish partner agreements, launch marketing and sales initiatives, and set up local fulfillment and customer service operations.

Topics: customer service e-commerce business growth distribution strategy retail

Designing A Great In-store Display is Only Half the Battle

 

 

Why You Need to Consider Design and Logistics to Create Effective Product Displays

A great in-store experience is essential to attract customers and drive sales. Product display, a critical component of that experience, is often overlooked and yet a thoughtful, well-designed retail display can be the difference between someone who makes a purchase and a shopper who walks out the door empty-handed.

Topics: customer service e-commerce business growth distribution strategy retail

Introducing the Cura Group Retail Logistics Division

 

 

When Visual Merchandising Meets Logistics, Good Things Happen

Visual merchandising is the process of planning how to design and display products in a way that highlights their features and benefits and entices customers to buy. Logistics is the process of managing inventory using warehousing, distribution, and customer service. Both are important for manufacturers and retailers trying to get popular products to customers as efficiently as possible.

Topics: customer service e-commerce business growth distribution strategy retail

Why Warehousing-as-a-Service Is a Better Way to Manage Inventory

If your 3PL still uses a traditional warehouse management system, you could spend less on logistics.

 

Are you thinking it might be time to improve your warehouse and distribution game? Curious about various warehouse management systems (WMS) and wondering which one is right for you?

Topics: customer service e-commerce business growth distribution strategy retail

Big Logistics Solutions for Smaller Businesses

Let our growing business help your growing business with a better global logistics solution.

 

Small and medium-sized businesses can now access big-company logistics at affordable prices through the "Build, Operate, Manage" approach offered by Cura Group. 

We began as a disruptor in the last-mile delivery business, providing turnkey package pick-up centers for e-commerce retailers in hard-to-serve markets.

Today we provide end-to-end packaging solutions and local distribution services that offer all the benefits of holding parts and products closer to customers without the investment in real estate, construction, or costly full-service 3PL arrangements that smaller companies just don't need.

Topics: e-commerce business growth distribution strategy last-mile distribution center parts distribution center

Why You Should Think Twice Before Bringing Warehousing In-House

In-house supply chain management seems like a good idea - until it's not.

 

By definition, successful companies are those that continuously find new ways to streamline operations, reduce costs, and increase efficiency. Many businesses will consider handling warehousing and distribution operations in-house if they think they can save money by eliminating an extra link in their supply chain. However, this isn't always the best option and can even have the opposite effect from what was intended. 

Here are a few reasons why companies should think twice before attempting to implement their own warehousing and distribution logistics solutions when they could partner with an alternative third-party logistics (3PL) service provider instead.

Topics: e-commerce business growth distribution strategy last-mile distribution center managed pick-up centers

Flexible Solutions Are Needed to Make Supply Chains More Efficient & Reliable

Picking up where we left off in December, this month we're talking about supply chain resiliency.

 

Last month we talked about the growing complexity and interconnectedness of global supply chains. We explained that businesses of every size have new opportunities to serve ever-larger markets, but they're also finding it harder to compete without innovative warehousing, inventory management, and distribution systems and strategies.

Nearly 9-out-of-10 supply chain professionals say they plan to invest in making supply chains more agile within the next two years." - Gartner Research

This month we're focused on why logistics is still a weak link when it comes to building a business that can survive through turbulent times, and why 89% of respondents to a recent industry survey say they plan to invest in making their supply chain more resilient. 

Topics: e-commerce business growth distribution strategy last-mile distribution center managed pick-up centers

2022 was another transformational year for SMB supply chains

Small and medium businesses are adapting to changes in the global supply chain, and so is Cura Group.

 

If we had to come up with one positive thing to say about experiencing a global pandemic in our lifetimes, it would have to be our newfound appreciation of industry's ability to continuously find new and better ways to get things done. And if 2020 was the year we all first experienced COVID quarantines and remote everything, then 2022 was the year when we shook it off and moved on.

Topics: e-commerce business growth distribution strategy last-mile distribution center parts distribution center

How Retailers Can Keep Holiday Returns from Ruining the Season

Holiday returns can add up to big losses. But big data can give retailers a competitive advantage and reduce shrinkage and fraud.

Holiday sales are the lifeblood of many retailers. But holiday returns can put a damper on end-of-year celebrations. Reportedly, 17.8% of holiday gifts were returned last year according to the National Retail Foundation.

With more people shopping online than ever before, more gifts arrive without try-ons or inspection. So... the shirt is the wrong size. The speaker isn’t compatible with the computer. Or he already has a socket wrench. That’s why rates for holiday returns are typically higher than the rest of the year, according to the National Retail Federation.

Topics: e-commerce holiday shopping e-commerce shopping fraud big data