🌪💬🤖 Stormy Supply Chains, SpaceText Triumph, & Walmart's Air Move
Good morning! ☀️
It's a frosty Friday morning in January, and we're gearing up for another edition of the 'Workday Dash.' Grab your coffee, settle into your virtual or physical office, and let's dive headfirst into the latest supply chain insights to kickstart your day. Let's get this Friday rolling!
“Well done is better than well said.”
Weather | Supply Chain | Risk
Extreme Weather Tops List of Supply Chain Risks in 2024
Extreme weather events are emerging as the foremost concern for supply chains in 2024, according to a report by Everstream Analytics. The report assigns a 100% risk score to the potential disruption caused by extreme weather, given the significant disruptions experienced in the previous year. Notable incidents include heavy rains and flooding affecting shipments in the Western U.S. and smoky conditions from Canadian wildfires delaying deliveries in Chicago and New York.
To mitigate weather-related risks, Everstream suggests monitoring routes for potential disruptions and utilizing predictive weather forecasts and alerts. Extreme weather also contributes to the fifth supply chain risk for 2024, which is the potential shortage of food commodities, particularly sugar, rubber, and fuel crops.
WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT FOR MY INDUSTRY?
Knowing this risk of nasty weather upfront lets us plan and prep, so we don't sweat the unexpected. We thrive on efficient routes, right? Being aware of potential weather curveballs means we can tweak our routes in advance, saving time and cash.
Bottom line, staying in the know about the top risks, especially extreme weather, is our bread and butter.
🔥 OUR HOT TAKE?
While extreme weather is a big worry for supply chains, calling it the top risk might be too simple. In a world full of tension, ups and downs in the economy, and tech hiccups, we've got to ask if the weather should be the boss of every move we make - literally.
Some say that issues on a global scale - such as trade spats and international drama - are really what can mess up supply chains real fast. Think sudden rule changes, taxes, or bans that hit our goods right away.
So, in the big picture, even though extreme weather matters, it might not always be the main troublemaker. We need to think about all kinds of problems and pick the ones that could hurt us the most, and then make a plan to deal with them. That's how we keep our supply chains strong.
SpaceX | T-Mobile | Text
SpaceX Successfully Tests Starlink's Direct-to-Device Text Service via T-Mobile Network
SpaceX achieved a significant milestone by successfully transmitting text messages via its Starlink satellites using T-Mobile's network. This accomplishment represents a step forward in SpaceX's goal of offering direct-to-device cell service soon. The recent test involved the launch of six Starlink satellites equipped with direct-to-device (D2D) capabilities, following approval from the Federal Communications Commission. During the test, SpaceX demonstrated the ability to send and receive text messages from unmodified cell phones on the ground to satellites in space, validating the system's functionality.
SpaceX has received substantial interest in adding D2D capabilities to its Starlink network and has partnered with mobile operators like T-Mobile, Rogers, Optus, and KDDI. The company plans to introduce a D2D text service this year, with further expansion into voice, data, and Internet of things services by 2025. SpaceX has rapidly expanded its Starlink internet service, with over 5,000 satellites in orbit and more than 2.3 million customers worldwide.
WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT FOR MY INDUSTRY?
Imagine being able to text directly from anywhere, even in remote areas with poor network coverage. For businesses like logistics and transportation, this could be a game-changer! In emergencies, direct-to-device satellite communication can be a lifeline for truck drivers and logistics professionals alike, ensuring they stay connected during breakdowns, accidents, or disasters. It's a tech that keeps critical communication intact on the road.
🔥 OUR HOT TAKE?
This is undeniably a big step in satellite tech. But it's also stirring up some important questions. With satellite networks growing fast, we're worried about space clutter and forgetting about good ol' Earth-based infrastructure. Plus, global satellite coverage has us wondering about privacy and surveillance. Who's in charge of all that data flying around up there, and how do we keep it safe?
While SpaceX's win is amazing, it's a reminder to take a look at the bigger picture – the impacts, responsibilities, and possible hiccups of going all-in on satellite tech.
Walmart | Drones | Expansion
Walmart's Major Drone Delivery Expansion
Walmart has unveiled its largest drone delivery expansion plan, covering 1.8 million households in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. This initiative is set to reach three-quarters of the population in that region, a move that no other U.S. company has achieved in drone delivery. Walmart's partnership with drone operators like Zipline and Wing, recently approved for beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) drone flights by the FAA, will power this expansion.
The company anticipates that drone deliveries can take as little as 10 minutes, making it a game-changer for the transportation and logistics industry, especially for delivering essential goods promptly and efficiently. Moreover, this step reflects a growing trend in the drone delivery industry, with multiple players gearing up for an eventual nationwide rollout, once regulations are finalized.
WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT FOR MY INDUSTRY?
Speedy deliveries via drone are game-changers for supply chains, cutting down on the need for regular ground delivery for short trips.
Plus, drones can reach anywhere - from city blocks to the middle of nowhere. That means logistics companies can find new customers in tricky spots and open up fresh business possibilities. As folks want things quicker and easier, the delivery world's changing, and Walmart's into it – showing they're keeping up with what we all want.
🔥 OUR HOT TAKE?
This may seem like a purely cool move for deliveries, but it's got the trucking world talking. Drones might be fast, but they bring some headaches.
Some worry that if drones take over last-mile deliveries, it could mean fewer jobs for truck drivers. And our roads and skies aren't totally ready for a drone takeover – it'll need some major upgrades.
While Walmart's drone project has its perks, it's also sparking debates about jobs, infrastructure, safety, rules, and what these flying machines can actually carry.
Daily Riddle:
I'm a swirling force of nature, wild and untamed, With fierce winds and rain, I'm never named the same. I form over warm oceans, a powerful dance, Leaving destruction in my wake, with no second chance. What am I, in the heart of the storm's might, A natural disaster, a fearsome sight?
Jan 11 Answer: Central America
The Workday Dash is an aggregation of articles regarding the transportation logistics, trucking, and supply chain industries for November 22, 2024, from iLevel Logistics Inc.