This week’s headlines reveal a logistics industry caught between two worlds: one still hampered by legacy systems and regulatory bottlenecks, and another rapidly evolving into a landscape defined by real-time orchestration, intelligent automation, and hardened digital trust.

The transformation begins at the warehouse. As outlined in “Eight Capabilities Shaping the Next Generation of WMS”, modern Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) are no longer just inventory trackers—they’re becoming control towers. The next-gen WMS incorporates AI-driven optimization, no-code customization, and unified visibility across networks. Crucially, they now orchestrate humans and machines alike, bridging the growing automation-labor divide.

But inside the distribution center is just the start. “The Data-Driven Supply Chain: AI, Cybersecurity & Real-Time Monitoring” dives into how AI is reshaping entire ecosystems—from predictive replenishment to anomaly detection. Exception management, forward-deployed fulfillment, and dynamic inventory allocation are giving agile firms an edge. Still, siloed data and legacy ERP platforms limit many organizations from realizing AI’s full potential.

Cybersecurity and data governance, meanwhile, are no longer optional. With recent breaches still fresh in memory, logistics providers are deploying Zero Trust frameworks and encrypted APIs to secure their growing network of digital interfaces. A single exposed API could compromise everything from customs clearance to asset tracking.

Tariffs, however, are now the unexpected disruptors driving technological urgency. In “Tariffs Are the New Normal: Boardrooms Are Finally Demanding a Pivot to Real-Time Supply Chain Orchestration”, Kinaxis’ Mark Morgan explains how tariffs have become a constant, catalyzing a shift from batch planning to real-time orchestration. Boards are demanding resilience—not as a buzzword, but as a line-item performance metric. Simulation tools powered by AI now model hundreds of trade and sourcing scenarios in minutes, helping firms proactively dodge margin erosion. Speed isn’t a luxury anymore—it’s a boardroom mandate.

But while AI gives, policy takes. A sobering analysis in “The Policy Paradox: How US Tariffs and Tax Credits Risk Inflating Power Costs and Delaying the Energy Transition” reveals a self-inflicted dilemma: U.S. trade policy is raising the costs of batteries and renewables just as clean energy is needed to support exploding power demands from data centers and EVs. The tools to decarbonize are here—but we’re making them too expensive to deploy.

Amid all this uncertainty, one technology is quietly maturing: blockchain. In “Blockchain for Transparent and Secure Supply Chains: 2025 Update”, real-world use cases from Renault, Home Depot, and IBM show how blockchain is moving from theory to infrastructure. It’s reducing counterfeits, ensuring provenance, and delivering trust in environments where compliance and traceability are non-negotiable. But adoption still requires interoperability, governance, and mindset change.

Finally, “Smart Packaging & IoT Shipment Monitoring: What’s Working and What’s Not” shows how IoT sensors are unlocking real-time condition monitoring in high-risk shipments—pharma, electronics, and luxury goods. But the real challenge? Turning that data into action. Without deep integration into systems like TMS or ERPs, dashboards remain decorative instead of decisive.

In sum: The logistics leaders of 2025 aren’t just digitizing—they’re orchestrating. And the real winners? Those who turn disruption into an advantage before it even hits.

The post Logistics Viewpoints Weekly News: From Reactive to Real-Time – Supply Chains Rewrite the Rules appeared first on Logistics Viewpoints.

As supply chains adapt to rising complexity, automation has moved from an optional investment to a core operational strategy. Among the most impactful technologies supporting this shift are Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) and Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs). These systems are increasingly used to improve internal logistics, address labor challenges, and support responsive, data-driven operations.

AGVs vs. AMRs: What’s the Difference?

While both AGVs and AMRs transport materials within a facility, they differ in navigation, adaptability, and system architecture.

AGVs operate on fixed routes, often guided by magnetic strips, wires, or floor markers. They are best suited for predictable, repetitive transport tasks in static environments, while AMRs use sensors, cameras, and SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping) to dynamically navigate. They can adapt routes on the fly, avoiding obstacles and working well in more flexible or changing warehouse layouts.

Key Benefits of Mobile Robotics in Warehousing

Mobile robotic systems provide tangible value across operational, safety, and data visibility areas:

• Reduced Manual Labor
  AGVs and AMRs automate repetitive, physically intensive tasks, lowering injury risks and easing reliance on manual labor.
• Consistent Throughput
  Robots operate continuously without breaks or shift changes, making material flows more predictable and easier to plan.
• Optimized Use of Space
  Especially with AMRs, warehouses can be designed with narrower aisles and denser storage systems due to their navigation flexibility.
• Improved Data Integration
  Many AMRs integrate with WMS and ERP platforms to provide data on performance, usage, and maintenance, enabling smarter resource planning.

Real-World Industry Applications

These technologies are already delivering measurable value in various industries:

E-commerce Fulfillment

• AMRs assist in goods-to-person picking, reducing walking time and improving picking rates.
• AGVs move bulk-picked goods to shipping areas or replenish high-turnover inventory zones.

Automotive Manufacturing

• AGVs deliver parts to production lines just in time, supporting lean assembly processes.
• AMRs transport kits or sub-assemblies to workstations that vary based on the vehicle model or workflow.

Pharmaceutical Production

• AMRs operate in cleanroom environments, reducing human contact and contamination risk.
• Both AGVs and AMRs support secure, temperature-controlled handling of sensitive materials.

Third-Party Logistics (3PL)

• AMRs provide flexibility during seasonal peaks, handling picking, sorting, or replenishment tasks.
• AGVs are used for repetitive movements along stable paths, such as from inbound docks to storage.

Implementation Considerations

Introducing AGVs or AMRs into an operation requires careful alignment with facility layout, safety protocols, and IT infrastructure.

• Facility Mapping: AMRs require digital maps and may need updates as warehouse layouts evolve.
• Fleet Coordination: A fleet management platform is often necessary to manage robot traffic alongside human workers and forklifts.
• Cybersecurity: Because these systems connect to enterprise software, secure communications and access control are critical.

Ecosystem and Integration Trends

The market for mobile robotics is expanding, with vendors offering tighter integration with leading WMS and ERP providers. This is making it easier for companies to incorporate robotics into their existing digital infrastructure and scale deployments more efficiently.

Looking Ahead: Strategic Role of Robotics

AGVs and AMRs are increasingly part of broader warehouse modernization efforts. Their ability to enhance operational efficiency, support data visibility, and enable agile response to changing demand makes them valuable beyond their role in labor automation.

Organizations that align robotics with upstream systems—such as forecasting and inventory planning—are better positioned to navigate disruptions and optimize fulfillment strategies.

AGVs and AMRs are practical, proven technologies for improving warehouse operations. Their modularity, increasing affordability, and compatibility with digital systems make them accessible to a wider range of businesses—from large enterprises to mid-sized distribution centers. As warehouses continue to evolve, mobile robotics will play a central role in shaping more efficient, safe, and adaptive supply chains.

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Each executive summary provides a high-level view of ARC’s Market Research

• Primary Research (Technology Demos, Supplier Briefings, Customer Use Cases)
• Market Sizing and Five-Year Forecasts
• Navigation of an Ever-Changing Regulatory Environment
• Actionable Insights to Future-Proof Your Roadmap and Identify Market Trends
• Strategic Priorities and Innovation Drivers
• Supplier Ecosystems and Competitive Benchmarking

Start by downloading:

Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) – Get ahead in warehouse automation. From fleet coordination to pick optimization, see how AMRs are shaping the next-gen fulfillment center.
Download Executive Summary

Automated Storage & Retrieval Systems (AS/RS) – Cube-based storage, shuttles, unit-loads — we break down the systems revolutionizing storage efficiency.
Download Executive Summary

Global Trade Compliance (GTC) Systems – Navigate compliance with smarter tech. Discover how automation is streamlining customs and regulatory workflows.
Download Executive Summary

Global Trade Management (GTM) Solutions – Power end-to-end global trade. See how GTM platforms are enabling visibility, agility, and compliance at scale.
Download Executive Summary

Omni-channel Order Management Systems – Build frictionless fulfillment. Explore how advanced OMS platforms are transforming retail and direct-to-consumer strategies.
Download Executive Summary

Supply Chain Management Market Opportunity – Where’s the opportunity in global SCM? This report maps growth corridors across functions, technology, and regions.
Download Executive Summary

Supply Chain Planning – Smarter planning starts here. Explore trends in demand sensing, S&OP, and the evolving tech stack of supply chain planning.
Download Executive Summary

Transportation Execution  Systems – Digital freight is here. Learn how marketplaces and execution platforms are redefining agility in logistics.
Download Executive Summary

Transportation Management Systems (TMS) – Plan, execute, optimize. Unpack the platforms powering smart freight routing, carrier management, and cost control.
Download Executive Summary

Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) – Beyond inventory: WMS is the control tower of modern fulfillment. Dive into system trends and market movers.
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Ready to Dive In?

Start with a summary. Go deeper with the full report.

Download. Decide. Disrupt.

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This week’s news roundup highlights the transformative impact of AI integration, autonomous robotics, and strategic visions on the future of supply chains, on to the news:

How AI Can Help Tame Warehouse Complexity

Artificial Intelligence | By Steve Ross • 06/12/2025

The complexity of running the warehouse only continues to increase. Supply chain leaders face macro-challenges such as the pressure for sustainability, labor shortages and the effects of inflation on operating margins…

Autonomous Drones and Robotics: The Future of Warehousing and Last-Mile Delivery

Robotics | By Jim Frazer • 06/11/2025

Autonomous systems are becoming an integral part of modern logistics infrastructure. The convergence of robotics, artificial intelligence, and sensor technologies is enabling new levels of automation in both warehouse operations and last-mile delivery. These systems are no longer in the prototype phase; they are in active deployment across multiple industry sectors…

Amazon’s $10 Billion Move: North Carolina to Host Next AI Powerhouse

Artificial Intelligence | By Logistics Viewpoints Editorial Team • 06/09/2025

Amazon announced it will invest $10 billion to build new data centers in North Carolina as part of its broader effort to expand artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure. This move is part of a larger capital expenditure plan of up to $100 billion in 2025, primarily focused on AI…

Manhattan Momentum 2025: Agentic AI: Expanding Automation Across the Supply Chain

Artificial Intelligence | By Jim Frazer • 06/09/2025

I had the opportunity to attend Momentum 2025 in Las Vegas, Manhattan’s annual user conference focused on supply chain and commerce innovation. The sessions provided clear insights into the company’s strategic direction, technology roadmap, and leadership transition—highlighting a focus on platform unification, practical AI deployment, and long-term operational alignment…

People + AI: Augmenting the Supply Chain Workforce

Artificial Intelligence | By Jim Frazer • 06/05/2025

As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes more integrated into supply chains, companies are focusing on how it can support human workers. Most effective AI implementations today are designed to improve decision-making, reduce routine tasks, and increase operational efficiency through human-in-the-loop systems and decision support tools…

The Critical Role of Provenance in Cybersecurity and Supply Chains

Cybersecurity & The Supply Chain | By Larry O’Brien • 06/05/2025

The Power Inverter Kill Switch Story Underlines The Importance Of Provenance in Cybersecurity and the Supply Chain. Do you really know what your production assets contain?

How to Navigate the Chaos of Trade Disruption with the Cynefin framework, AI and Optimization.

Guest Commentary | By Nari Viswanathan • 06/05/2025

Supply Chain leaders (CSCOs) are responsible for driving strategic growth, fostering innovation within their supply chains, and ensuring long-term value creation. However, many companies are now confronted with challenges such as abrupt tariff increases, supply chain instability, and delays in the delivery of critical components…

Manhattan Associates’ Strategic Vision – Unifying Platforms Integrating AI and Leading the Future

Breaking News | By Jim Frazer • 06/04/2025

At this year’s keynote, Manhattan Associates outlined its current strategic direction, underscoring platform unification, AI integration, and leadership transition. The presentations provided a clear account of the company’s continued investment in product development and operational capabilities, alongside practical use cases from customer deployments…

CeMAT Southeast Asia & LogiSYM Asia Pacific 2025: Robotics Drive Forward as Supply Chains Strategize

Breaking News | By Fox Chen • 06/03/2025

CeMAT Southeast Asia and LogiSYM Asia Pacific were co-located for the second consecutive year at Singapore EXPO, creating a comprehensive platform for the region’s logistics and supply chain community. Meanwhile, LogiSYM Asia Pacific, a well-established event with over a decade of history, brought together professionals from supply chain, logistics, and shipping sectors for strategic discussions on resilience, digitalization, sustainability, and global trade dynamics…

How to Optimize Fulfillment with Unified Data by InterSystems’ Chris Cunnane

Guest Commentary | By Chris Cunnane • 06/03/2025

Order fulfillment is the complete process from when an order is placed until the shipment is delivered. Accurately fulfilling thousands of orders for millions of items is extremely challenging. Many large organizations have multiple systems for order, warehouse, or transportation management that are barely integrated – frequently not at all. However, large organizations are often equipped to handle fulfillment in-house, leveraging their extensive resources and capabilities. An organization with tens of thousands of different products may have to move them across many modes of transportation, IT systems, and third-party logistics partners, all adding to complexity, as well as loss of visibility and control…

How LTE-M and NB-IoT Are Revolutionizing Asset Tracking in Global Supply Chains

High Tech & Electronics Industry | By Jim Frazer • 06/02/2025

In the past, tracking a shipping container across continents or monitoring the temperature of a pharmaceutical package in a rural warehouse came with trade-offs: cost, power drain, or unreliable coverage. Asset visibility was reserved for high-value goods, while the rest of the supply chain operated on estimates, paper trails, and phone calls.

This is changing. Two cellular technologies—LTE-M and NB-IoT—are now reshaping long-distance asset tracking. Designed specifically for low-power, wide-area connectivity, they are not flashy or fast, but they are practical. And that practicality is unlocking a new standard of visibility across logistics networks.

Download Executive Summaries of ARC’s Supply Chain Market Research

Each executive summary provides a high-level view of ARC’s Market Research

• Primary Research (Technology Demos, Supplier Briefings, Customer Use Cases)
• Market Sizing and Five-Year Forecasts
• Navigation of an Ever-Changing Regulatory Environment
• Actionable Insights to Future-Proof Your Roadmap and Identify Market Trends
• Strategic Priorities and Innovation Drivers
• Supplier Ecosystems and Competitive Benchmarking

Download each of the summaries here: https://logisticsviewpoints.com/discover-the-future-through-logistics-supply-chain-market-research/

The post AI Integration, Autonomous Robotics, and Strategic Visions: The Future of Supply Chains – News for the Week of June 8th appeared first on Logistics Viewpoints.

Amazon announced it will invest $10 billion to build new data centers in North Carolina as part of its broader effort to expand artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure. This move is part of a larger capital expenditure plan of up to $100 billion in 2025, primarily focused on AI. The North Carolina project is expected to create 500 jobs. Amazon’s AI push includes developing its own language models, Trainium chips, a shopping chatbot, and the Bedrock marketplace for third-party models. The company has also invested $8 billion in AI startup Anthropic.

Key Insights:

AI Arms Race: Amazon is competing with Microsoft, Google, and OpenAI to dominate the AI infrastructure space, signaling the strategic importance of AI to its future.

Economic Impact: The $10 billion investment and job creation highlight how AI infrastructure projects are becoming major economic drivers for local communities.

Diversified AI Strategy: With tools like Bedrock and proprietary chips, Amazon is not only building infrastructure but also establishing an ecosystem around generative AI.

Read more at https://www.cnbc.com/2025/06/04/amazon-data-centers-ai.html

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Sustainability isn’t just a corporate goal anymore—it’s a supply chain requirement. Schneider Electric’s new Environmental Data Program gives logistics professionals unprecedented access to carbon and sustainability metrics, covering over 70% of its product turnover. This move empowers companies to make more informed sourcing decisions, comply with ESG standards, and build greener operations.

As Craig Resnik writes,

Schneider Electric launched its Environmental Data Program to increase transparency around product-level environmental impact. The initiative builds on the legacy Green Premium label and supports regulatory compliance and sustainability planning.

Key details include:

• 14 environmental data attributes are now disclosed, which is up from five and covers additional aspects, such as carbon footprint, energy efficiency, packaging, and recycled content.

• 110,000 commercial references are currently included, with a target of expanding coverage to 155,000 references by the end of 2025.

• This expansion increases coverage from 70 percent to 80 percent of Schneider Electric’s product turnover.

• The program helps customers to better track, understand, and reduce their own environmental impact through more data-informed decisions.

• It responds to evolving regulations, such as the draft EU Green Claims Directive, which raises standards for transparency and accountability.

• The timing aligns with broader global challenges, including 2024 being the hottest year on record and the circularity rate of the global economy remaining at an estimated 7.2 percent.

Environmental data transparency is becoming more central to both decarbonization and competitiveness, providing the foundation for more responsible and resilient operations.

See how better data is driving better environmental choices across the supply chain. Read the full article on ARC Advisory Group. https://www.arcweb.com/blog/schneider-electric-launches-environmental-data-program-advance-product-transparency

The post Schneider Electric Drives Supply Chain Transparency Through Environmental Data appeared first on Logistics Viewpoints.

The “Industrial Sustainability Playbook” by ARC Advisory Group provides strategic guidance on integrating sustainability into core logistics and supply chain functions. By aligning people, processes, and platforms, the playbook supports leaders in embedding environmental priorities into product design, supply operations, and technology deployment. Logistics teams are encouraged to rethink asset utilization, energy use, and stakeholder collaboration, aligning sustainability metrics with operational efficiency for long-term resilience.

Watch the video here: https://vimeo.com/1010300075/086b31e318

To understand how this playbook can reshape your logistics strategies, read the full article:
ARC’s Industrial Sustainability Playbook: Integrating People, Process, and Technology

The post ARC’s Sustainability Playbook: Aligning Supply Chain Strategy with Environmental Goals appeared first on Logistics Viewpoints.

As supply chains adopt more automation and AI, they also become prime targets for cyber threats. Cisco is tackling this head-on with AI-enhanced cybersecurity solutions tailored for industrial and logistics networks. These new tools don’t just react—they predict, adapt, and protect vital systems across the supply chain. For logistics operators balancing operational uptime and cyber risk, Cisco’s strategy offers both reassurance and resilience.

As ARC’s Chantal Polsinetti wrotes, “Amid an increasingly sophisticated threat landscape and a widening cybersecurity talent gap, the demand for machine-scale security and response capabilities has never been greater. In response, Cisco has introduced new initiatives to help organizations address these evolving challenges”

Additionally Polsimetti nsattes, “Security teams are inundated with thousands of threat alerts daily. Cisco XDR addresses this challenge by correlating telemetry across network, endpoint, cloud, email, and more, using agentic AI to surface what matters most to organizations. Integrating several new features, Cisco XDR will deliver decisive AI-powered responses to stop attacks faster than ever. The new Instant Attack Verification integrates data from the Splunk platform, endpoints, networks, threat intelligence, and more—and uses agentic AI to automatically create and execute tailored investigation plans. This feature swiftly investigates, confirms threats, and enables security teams to automate responses with confidence to stop attacks. New automated XDR Forensics capabilities provide deeper visibility into endpoint activity, increasing the accuracy of investigations. Additionally, a new XDR Storyboard visualizes complex attacks, empowering security teams to understand threats in seconds and decisively respond faster.”

Curious how AI is transforming supply chain cybersecurity? Read the full article on ARC Advisory Group. https://www.arcweb.com/blog/cisco-addresses-security-complexities-ai-era-enhances-industrial-threat-defense

The post AI-Powered Cybersecurity: Cisco’s Answer to Supply Chain Threats appeared first on Logistics Viewpoints.

Schneider Electric’s latest initiative emphasizes how AI-native software can streamline sustainability efforts across complex supply chain and logistics networks. By embedding agentic AI into enterprise workflows, the company aims to create responsive systems that manage emissions tracking, decarbonization strategies, and climate risk assessments in real time. This evolution transforms sustainability into an operational layer rather than a reporting exercise, enabling logistics planners to engage more dynamically with energy and resource efficiency across the value chain.

In the article ARC’s Craig Resnick states, “Schneider Electric announced a multi-year initiative to build an AI-native software ecosystem for sustainability and energy management. Centered on agentic AI, intelligent software agents capable of acting autonomously or alongside human experts, this new platform is designed to help simplify workflows, adapt in real time, and drive strategic outcomes.

This new platform will function as both a command center and coordination layer for enterprise sustainability. By embedding AI agents into adaptive workflows that further integrate with human expertise and enterprise systems, the platform will help to transform fragmented efforts into a more intelligent, responsive system that can continuously optimize performance.

Unlike traditional tools that assist with tasks, agentic AI is built to execute them. These digital tools will analyze data, anticipate needs, and respond dynamically,marking a shift toward embedded intelligence across sustainability operations.”‘

To explore how Schneider’s AI-driven ecosystem supports logistics adaptation and supply resilience, read Craig Resnik’s full article at :
Schneider Electric Launches Multi-Year Initiative to Build AI-Native Ecosystem for Sustainability

The post Building an AI-Native Ecosystem for Supply Chain Sustainability appeared first on Logistics Viewpoints.

As global supply chains grow more complex and customer expectations skyrocket, Transportation Management Systems (TMS) have become a strategic linchpin for companies aiming to stay competitive. ARC Advisory Group’s latest market research reveals not only the continued surge in TMS demand but also the transformative trends driving this growth — particularly the shift to Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) and data-driven decision-making.

Download the Executive Summary

Get a head start on your strategic planning.

Click here to download the free Executive Summary and see what’s shaping the future of transportation management today.

What’s Inside ARC’s Transportation Management Systems Market Research

ARC’s TMS research is split into two key modules, providing the insight you need to make informed decisions:

1. Market Growth Outlook

Includes a comprehensive five-year forecast with:

• Global and regional market breakdowns
• Vertical-specific trends
• Historical data for benchmarking
• Executive dashboards and TAM modeling

2. Competitive Analysis

Breaks down competitive positioning by:

• Region, revenue category, and industry
• Customer tiers
• SaaS vs. traditional licensing models
• Leading suppliers by sector and region

Who Should Use This Research?

This in-depth market analysis is ideal for:

• Executives seeking strategic dashboards and positioning views
• Product Managers planning TMS features or portfolio expansions
• Sales & Marketing Leaders exploring new regions and verticals
• Investors analyzing sector performance and growth potential

Transportation Management Systems are no longer a “nice to have” — they’re the digital foundation of a responsive, efficient, and competitive supply chain. ARC’s research empowers technology suppliers, logistics providers, and business leaders with the insights needed to navigate this rapidly evolving market.

Download the Executive Summary

Your roadmap to smarter logistics starts here.

Click here to download the free Executive Summary and get an expert view into where the TMS market is heading.

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