This week’s news rundown kicks off with OneRail’s CEO Bill Catania shares insights on how AI is flipping delivery networks on their head. Meanwhile, it turns out Gen Zers aren’t as glued to their phones as we thought; new data shows young shoppers are actually hitting physical stores this holiday season (though boomers are still leading the way). Amazon also just ditched its store pickup/same-day delivery service, Amazon Today, while Kroger decided to get fancy with smart-tagged croissants (yes, really). And if you thought the recent port strikes were just another headline, wait until you hear how some savvy distributors played their cards right. Let’s get into it.
The Future of Your Deliveries: A Candid Chat with OneRail’s CEO
In a compelling episode of the eCom Logistics Podcast, OneRail founder and CEO Bill Catania shared his vision for the future of delivery networks, supply chain optimization and technology. Drawing from his experience launching several successful startups, Catania offered a unique perspective.
Startup to Scale: The OneRail Story
With multiple ventures under his belt, Catania detailed how OneRail has leveraged innovative aggregation strategies to tackle the complexities of last mile delivery. His approach to building real-time technology networks has not only transformed OneRail’s operations, but also set new standards for the overall industry.
The AI Effect on Supply Chain Decisions: Optimizing the Logistics Triangle
Catania also brought a fresh perspective to supply chain management that went beyond the usual AI and machine learning, and offered something genuinely valuable for supply chain leaders. His “Logistics Triangle” framework zeroed in on a challenge every logistics professional knows too well: getting inventory, transportation and consumer needs to work together smoothly. As anyone who’s managed deliveries can tell you, when these three pieces don’t align, it creates a domino effect of rising costs, late deliveries and unhappy customers — with the last mile often taking the brunt.
Rather than just theorizing, Catania walked listeners through real examples of how companies are using real-time data and AI to keep these three critical areas in check. What made his insights particularly valuable was their practicality: he showed how businesses are actually solving the age-old challenge of running efficient operations while keeping customers happy.
You can listen to the podcast episode or watch the YouTube version for the complete conversation.
Physical Stores Make a Comeback As Holiday Shopping Goes Omnichannel
Remember when holiday shopping meant bundling up and heading to crowded malls? That tradition is coming back strong, according to a new Experian survey of 1,000 American consumers: 47% of shoppers plan to browse brick-and-mortar stores this season, marking a significant return to pre-pandemic shopping habits. But here’s where it gets interesting: The way people shop splits sharply along generational lines, especially regarding digital preferences.
The Generation Gap: From Stores to Screens
Baby boomers lead the charge back to physical stores, with 50% ready to shop in person compared to 46% of Gen Xers and millennials, and 44% of Gen Z. When it comes to online shopping, the divide deepens — 33% of boomers prefer their desktop computers, compared to just 20% of Gen Z shoppers. Meanwhile, Gen Z dominates mobile shopping, with 36% choosing smartphones and tablets, while only 17% of boomers shop on mobile devices.
Spending Patterns Point to Mixed Consumer Confidence
Holiday budgets tell another fascinating story about generational spending power and preferences. While 52% of boomers and 45% of Gen Xers plan to maintain last year’s spending levels, younger generations show more economic optimism — 36% of both Gen Z and millennial shoppers expect to increase their holiday spending. Overall holiday spending looks promising, with PwC projecting $1,638 per shopper, marking a 7% jump from last year. Digital sales keep growing, too, with Adobe Analytics forecasting online retail sales to hit $240.8 billion between November and December, up 8.4% from 2023.
Amazon Drops Same-Day Delivery from Store Service — Who Will Fill the Void?
Amazon’s decision to end its Amazon Today program on January 24, 2025, marks a notable pullback from local store pickup and delivery, creating potential opportunities for other last mile delivery companies to fill the gap. While 175 Amazon employees will mostly find new roles within the company, retailers like PacSun, GNC and SuperDry must now look elsewhere for rapid local fulfillment solutions.
Why Amazon’s Pulling Back
The Amazon program’s strict requirements, including a 99% pickup readiness rate within one hour, created operational complexity for participating stores. Rather than maintain multiple fast-delivery programs, Amazon opted to double down on its dedicated same-day delivery facilities.
Local Delivery Companies Stand Ready to Step In
The end of Amazon Today creates a fresh opportunity for logistics service providers to partner with retailers needing same-day capabilities. Many stores have already invested in optimizing their in-store fulfillment to meet Amazon’s standards — making them prime candidates for new delivery partnerships. While Amazon focuses on its own facilities and infrastructure, agile local players could swoop in to help retailers maintain the rapid delivery options their customers now expect.
Kroger Rolls Out Smart Tags to Perfect Your Fresh-Baked Favorites
Walking into Kroger’s bakery section will soon feel different — smarter, actually. The grocery giant teamed up with Avery Dennison to embed tiny RFID chips in every pastry label, marking a major leap forward in keeping those croissants and cookies perfectly stocked. Jordan Poff, Kroger’s VP of Retail Operations, puts it plainly: These smart tags mean shoppers find what they want when they want it.
From Guesswork to Precision: A Baker’s New Best Friend
The new RFID system automatically and accurately tracks inventory, freeing workers to focus on what matters most — serving customers and crafting fresh-baked goods. Julie Varga, Avery Dennison’s VP of Identification Solutions, explains how these smart labels reduce waste from making too much while ensuring popular items stay stocked.
Making Fresh Fresher: Why Starting in the Bakery Makes Sense
Kroger picked its bakery department to launch these smart tags for a good reason — fresh matters here. RFID technology gives real-time insights into which treats are most popular and which are in danger of getting stale on the shelf, creating a win-win: Customers get fresher baked goods, while Kroger reduces waste from items sitting too long. It’s the first step in what could become a store-wide revolution in flawless inventory visibility and management.
Port Strike Field Notes: Winners, Losers & Lessons
When dockworkers went on strike earlier this month at 36 major ports, distribution leaders scrambled. The three-day shutdown sent ripples through supply chains, forcing quick decisions and revealing which companies had truly learned from past disruptions. While some distributors watched anxiously from the sidelines, others had already stocked their warehouses and rerouted shipments, proving that preparation — even for a brief crisis — makes all the difference.
Ready or Not: Mixed Industry Response
Large distributors with over $80 million in revenue flexed their muscles, increasing safety stock and shifting containers to West Coast ports, despite higher costs. Yet smaller companies largely waited and watched. Building materials distributor Palmer-Donavin noticed concerning silence from manufacturers until late September, highlighting communication gaps between suppliers and distributors. Border states took a different path, launching monthly “Supply Chain Updates” to strengthen supplier communications after harsh pandemic lessons.
The Price of Preparation vs. Paralysis
The shutdown’s aftermath hit company wallets differently. Ocean carriers slapped on new “local port charges” ranging from hundreds to thousands per container before the strike. Prepared companies paid more in warehousing and West Coast shipping costs, while reactive ones faced backlogs and delays. The National Retail Federation reports elevated import levels will continue, though port recovery could take weeks. For distribution leaders, the episode reinforced a hard truth from supply chain expert Panos Kouvelis: “All supply chains aspire to be resilient, but we always underinvest in it. It does not seem to pay off until the strike starts.”
Complex World, Simple Solution: OneRail
Supply chains are getting more complicated by the day, and that’s only about to ramp up this holiday season. But opportunities are opening up everywhere you turn, and OneRail can help you tap into them:
- Unparalleled Courier Network: Place your deliveries in trusted hands by tapping into OneRail’s massive national network, boasting over 12 million vetted drivers.
- OmniPoint® Platform: Leverage OneRail’s OmniPoint Platform for automated rate shopping, smart matching and real-time visibility to guarantee timely and cost-effective deliveries.
- Exceptions Assist™: Benefit from proactive monitoring, with a dedicated team of logistics experts at the ready 24/7 to tackle any challenges and disruptions, safeguarding your on-time delivery rate.
No matter your industry, OneRail can transform your logistics strategy. Schedule a demo today to find out how.
