🤖🤷🚢 Wendy's AI-mazing, Ship Happens, & Ship Shape Shift
Good morning! ☀️
Welcome to The Workday Dash, where we speed through the latest supply chain and logistics news to keep you in the fast lane.
👉 Serving over 6,400 Wendy’s restaurants in the US and Canada, Wendy’s Quality Supply Chain Co-op is partnering with Palantir Technologies to supercharge their digital transformation with AI. Think of it as upgrading from a bicycle to a rocket ship!
👉 In June 2024, ocean container shipping demand from China to North America and North Europe hit record highs. Importers were scrambling to secure their supply chains amid Red Sea disruptions, according to Oslo-based Xeneta. It’s like a mad dash for the last slice of pizza at a party!
👉 The world’s top container lines are gearing up for different futures. MSC now boasts a fleet of over 6 million TEU and a 20% global market share, while Maersk, once the largest liner, has seen its share drop to 14.4% due to its fleet size cap policy. It’s the ultimate break-up saga in the shipping world.
Stay tuned for more updates, insights, and a dash of humor to keep your logistics day rolling smoothly. Buckle up and enjoy the ride.
“Efficiency is doing things right; effectiveness is doing the right things.”
Wendy's Teams Up with Palantir for AI-Powered Supply Chain Makeover
Wendy’s Quality Supply Chain Co-op (QSCC), serving over 6,400 Wendy’s restaurants in the US and Canada, is partnering with Palantir Technologies to supercharge their digital transformation with AI.
Palantir will help QSCC build a connected supply chain network, automate workflows, and link suppliers, distributors, and restaurants. QSCC President Pete Suerken says this will drive new efficiencies and give Wendy’s a competitive edge.
Phase one: QSCC adopts Palantir’s AI Platform (AIP) to improve decision-making by integrating various data sources. Phase two: Focus on supply chain management and waste prevention, leveraging AI to cut costs and boost efficiency.
This partnership will benefit Wendy’s operators, suppliers, and distributors. Palantir’s Ted Mabrey is pumped about growing in the quick-service restaurant sector with Wendy’s.
Wendy’s is already AI-savvy, with an AI-based loyalty program launched in March 2023 and automated drive-thrus with Google in May 2023.
WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?
In the transportation and logistics industry, innovations like Wendy's AI-driven supply chain are a big deal. They show how AI can streamline operations, enhance decision-making, and reduce waste. This is crucial for logistics, where efficient supply chain management is key. Embracing AI technologies could give your logistics operations a competitive edge, leading to cost savings and improved service.
🔥 OUR HOT TAKE?
Wendy's dive into AI for their supply chain is a game-changer. Imagine using similar tech in logistics – smarter routes, fewer delays, and lower costs. The future is AI-driven, and the sooner we jump on this train, the better!
Record-High Ocean Shipping Demand Amid Red Sea Disruptions
In June 2024, ocean container shipping demand from China to North America and North Europe hit record highs. Importers were scrambling to secure their supply chains amid the Red Sea disruptions, according to Oslo-based Xeneta.
The latest data shows 800,000 TEU shipped from China to North Europe and 1.36 million TEU to North America in June, making it the eighth-highest month on record. Peter Sand, Xeneta’s Chief Analyst, pointed out that the Red Sea conflict has changed traditional shipping patterns, with shippers importing goods early to avoid pandemic-like chaos.
This surge led to a big jump in spot rates: rates to the US West and East Coasts soared by 144% and 139%, and rates to North Europe increased by 166%. Despite the high costs, many shippers imported Christmas goods early to mitigate risks. However, Sand thinks demand may have peaked as spot rates softened in August, suggesting a potential decline in volumes for July and August.
WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?
For us in transportation and logistics, tracking the recent surge in ocean shipping from China is crucial. Disruptions like the Red Sea conflict can shake up traditional shipping patterns. By understanding these shifts, we can anticipate market changes and adjust our strategies to keep supply chains running smoothly.
🔥 OUR HOT TAKE?
Seeing record shipping volumes and skyrocketing rates from China is a wake-up call. Staying agile and proactive in our logistics strategies is more important than ever. By prepping for potential disruptions and thinking ahead, we can avoid chaos and keep things moving efficiently. The future of logistics? It’s all about adaptability!
MSC and Maersk Part Ways
The world’s top container lines, MSC and Maersk, are gearing up for different futures as they part ways next year.
MSC now boasts a fleet of over 6 million TEU and a 20% global market share. Meanwhile, Maersk, once the largest liner, has seen its share drop to 14.4% due to its fleet size cap policy. But Maersk isn’t changing course—they’re focusing on logistics investments and sticking to their cap through the decade.
Maersk’s EBIT dropped by $2.8 billion to $1.1 billion, with a margin down to 4.5%. They’re maintaining a fleet size of 4.3 million TEU and investing in dual-fuel ships using methanol and bio-LNG, planning for a multi-fuel future.
MSC is expanding aggressively and might surpass 7 million TEU by April 2026, with Maersk projected to become the third-largest carrier. Maersk has also teamed up with Hapag-Lloyd to form the Gemini Cooperation, launching in February 2025.
WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?
For us in transportation and logistics, understanding MSC and Maersk's strategies is key. MSC’s growth could increase market pressure, while Maersk’s focus on sustainability and logistics integration is a shift towards eco-friendly solutions. Staying informed on these trends helps us stay competitive and adapt our strategies.
🔥 OUR HOT TAKE?
MSC is betting big on growth, while Maersk is smartly integrating sustainability and logistics. The real winners? Those who can blend both approaches. Balancing expansion with green tech and seamless logistics might be the golden ticket in shipping’s future!
Daily Riddle:
I move goods across the seas,
A giant in the shipping breeze.
With Danish roots and fleets so grand,
My name is known throughout the land.
Who am I with a cap so strict,
Investing in logistics, my goals are picked?
____________
Previous Riddle Answer: Cybersecurity
The Workday Dash is an aggregation of articles regarding the transportation logistics, trucking, and supply chain industries for December 23, 2024, from iLevel Logistics Inc.