by Elizabeth Hines | Jul 7, 2016 | Blog, Strategy, Supply Chain
Locally sourced foods are popular with consumers. But for restaurants, the shorter supply chain is plagued by food safety concerns.
Shorter does not mean simpler when it comes the food supply chain. In fact, working with small local producers often introduces a whole new set of challenges, particularly in regards to food safety and preparation.
Take, for example, the chain restaurant Chipotle, which boasted a menu supported by locally sourced foods. Last year, the chain was linked to outbreaks of E. coli, norovirus, and salmonella. Today, shorter food supply chains are under new scrutiny because of safety concerns.
Professor John Quelch of Harvard Business School and T.H. Chan School of Public Health recently authored a case study on food supply chain challenges. He summarizes his findings in an interview with the Harvard Business Review, discussing the major obstacles to local sourcing, how to manage them, and the changing appearance of food supply chains as we move forward.
Here are some highlights:
When there are fewer intermediaries between supplier and restaurant, the supply chain is actually more complex and fragmented, and safety is harder to control.
Essentially restaurants must trust numerous individual suppliers rather than having a standard quality control procedure for a manageable number of specific food sources. McDonald’s, for instance, gets chicken for all its locations from a handful of controlled sources. A nationwide chain that is sourcing locally, on the other hand, will have as many suppliers as there are locations, in theory. This means they may not be able to monitor every one on site.
Sources that mass produce have sophistication and experience in food testing that small local growers lack.
When you source food locally, inspections are on an honor system with that producer. But, the producers may lack the knowledge to assure the highest level of safety. They may not have experience with USDA inspection procedures, and their internal inspection systems may not be as well developed as a company with global operations.
Establishments that want to source locally need to factor in costs of their own safety protocols.
Yes, they may need to charge more from the consumer to balance this, but the safety checks are a must. It does not need to be done in-house either. According to Quelch, a number of very competent, existing independent food testing companies can assure safety and quality. Remember also that consumers are often willing, and expect, to pay more for locally sourced foods, particularly if they are organic and fresh.
Supply chain transparency is a must.
Many larger supply chain companies already have tracking systems in place, but such transparency is lacking at the local level. If an incident of illness occurs from a food supply, the establishment needs to be able to determine what caused it and where it was sourced from. They should be able to hone in on the source as fast as possible, so the rest of their supply chain is left out of the equation and operations are not shut down.
The future will blend global and local suppliers.
A minority of consumers will still have a passion and demand for locally produced, farm-to-table food. But, many consumers will remain price-sensitive, looking for safe food at a reasonable price. So, consolidation will probably occur through partnerships and mergers of global and local suppliers. Large food processing companies may start using local sources to make branded products, which are sourced closer to the target consumer.
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by Elizabeth Hines | Jul 6, 2016 | Blog, Logistics, Strategy, Supply Chain, Talent
The talent gap represents a professional opportunity for motivated individuals looking to advance their supply chain career.
The global supply chain is continuously evolving, offering new opportunities as demands shift and new technologies are born. But how do you evolve with it?
The key is knowing where to look and how to leverage your talent and skills to fit demand. Opportunities are abundant now, but they are also growing, according to the U.S. Roadmap for Material Handling & Logistics. It predicts there will be 1.4 million new jobs in the logistics and supply chain field by 2018.
In fact, the number of supply chain employees is expected to double by 2017, with a high demand for managerial talent. That equates double the opportunity for you to move your career forward!
Here are 5 key actions to advance your logistics or supply chain career:
1) Consider all the skills in your wheelhouse.
Evaluate and take stock of your skills and experience. Know how to articulate exactly what you bring to the table when you consider a new position. Your skills may also be highly transferable, so it is wise to be open to new opportunities. Finally, expand those skills with certifications that will give you a competitive advantage. Look for certifications that enhance your operations and supply chain management skills, like those through the American Production and Inventory Control Society (APICS).
2) Network within the industry.
Employers seeking supply chain talent have to be able to find you. Join associations like APICS, the Institute for Supply Management (ISM), and the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSMCP). You will gain access to career advice and be a part of a network of supply chain professionals. Join online interest groups and professional networking platforms such as LinkedIn. Follow industry blogs and make connections that relate to, and promote, your career aspirations.
3) Expand your software and technology skills.
This is a constantly evolving area in the supply chain, with new software emerging and a growing demand for talent that knows how to use it. Educate yourself within the software and technology space, and you will open many new doors of opportunity.
4) Know how to promote your soft skills.
Do you have problem-solving experience? A background in communication? Leverage those skills on your resume. Recruiters typically have a list of about 30 job skills that they look at when reviewing job candidates. But soft skills take priority because they produce the most successful new hires. These include: knowledge of basic business ethics, problem-solving acumen, and solid communication skills.
5) Let your differences shine.
You may not see much young or female talent in today’s supply chain industry, but don’t let that discourage you. In fact, this signals opportunity. Many companies are ramping up efforts to recruit (and keep) young talent. And women tend to be strong in many of the soft skills needed for the future of SCM. According to Shanton J. Wilcox, vice president, North America, and lead for logistics and fulfillment at Capgemini, “Many so-called tactical jobs will be replaced by positions requiring more interpersonal and relationship management skills.”
With the present challenges in securing supply chain talent, recruiters are actively searching for specific skills and new employees. You can answer to this demand if you know how to leverage, expand, and promote your skill set to the right people.
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by Elizabeth Hines | Jul 5, 2016 | Blog, Data/Analytics, Marketing, Social Media, Strategy
Gauge the effectiveness of your social media strategy using these four data points in Google Analytics.
Measuring the impact social media has on business is important to those in the logistics and supply chain industries. In fact, a recent Fronetics survey found that 81% of respondents reported that information on proving social media ROI would be helpful to their companies.
You can waste a lot of time trying to track down information on your various social accounts, or you can find all the most pertinent information with one tool. The best part is that your company is probably already using it. (And it’s free!)
Google Analytics is an incredible tool for businesses large and small looking to gain insight into the who, when, and where of their web traffic. And while it may seem intimidating to the novice, it’s very easy to use once you know where to find what you’re looking for.
Step 1: Look at where your traffic is coming from.
Is it social media? Google Analytics will provide an overview of the overall traffic sources that deliver visitors to your website. Included in this report will be traffic from social media. This high-level view of your traffic that includes:
- Search (people clicking through from Google or Bing)
- Social (Twitter, Facebook, etc.)
- Direct (people typing your site in their browser or bookmarks)
- Referral (people clicking links from other sites to get to you)
- Email
- Paid search
- Other
To access this report in Google Analytics, go to Acquisition > All Traffic > Channels.
Go a step further and review the volume of traffic that comes from specific social media networks, by clicking on Acquisition > Social > Network Referrals.
It’s important to have a diverse mix of traffic sources, which should be reflected in the traffic sources report. If you find that a large portion of your traffic comes exclusively from one source, especially if that source is not social media, it is time to reconsider your social media strategy. Similarly, if you are finding that one network is driving most of your traffic, you should look into when and what you are posting in the non-performing channels.
Step 2: Determine revenue derived from posts.
Make sure to include links back to your site when you post on social media so that Google Analytics can track and analyze them. You’ll want to add a UTM code (aka UTM parameter), which is text added to the end of a URL (after the ?) to identify the success of a campaign. As an example, the UTM code is boldface below:
“https://fronetics.com/microsoft-linkedin-product-synergies-floor-b2b-marketers/?utm_content=36244275&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook”
You can set unique UTMs for all of your social media, per channel, or even per update. By analyzing your different UTM parameters, you can determine which URLs are most effective in driving users to your content.
Set UTM parameters through Google’s URL Builder. once your parameters are set, you can go to Acquisition > Campaigns > All Campaigns to see the revenue from any individual UTM tag, like a post or tweet.
Step 3: Look at how your content is being digested.
Analytics allows you to see how long a visitor stayed on your site, (use the Duration goal to find out). Examine how content resonates with the social media audience by using Set up the Pages/Screens per Session goal, or learn how many times visitors from social media play website video with Create an Event goal for specific tracking.
Step 4: What is social media bringing you in conversions?
Google Analytics has conversion funnel reports that show how much social media is contributing to conversions. To set up conversion funnels in Google Analytics:
- Use the Goals section and connect any type of conversion event.
- Access your funnel report through Conversions > Multi-Channel Funnels > Top Conversion Paths.
These four insights from Google Analytics can help you determine how effective your social media strategy is in terms of traffic, direct revenue, visitor behavior, and conversions. Use this information to continually refine your strategy and get the most out of your social media presence/
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by Elizabeth Hines | Jun 30, 2016 | Blog, Current Events, Logistics, Strategy, Supply Chain
As uncertainty pervades following Brexit, experts speculate about the impact a divorced U.K. and E.U. will have on the global supply chain.
As the Brexit vote roils markets across the globe, uncertainty looms in the air for many businesses. Even U.S.-based organizations without operations or suppliers in Europe are feeling the “significant economic repercussions” of the U.K.’s decision to leave the E.U.
Economists have been scrambling to determine the full impact of the referendum. It seems clear that all aspects of the supply chain will be affected in some way. But we won’t have a clear picture of precisely how prior to the conclusion of the two-year period of negotiation on Britain’s exit terms. Some experts speculate that it could take up to 10 years for new trading relationships with various countries to play out.
For now,“the overriding message for the European logistics and supply chain industry is one of ‘business as usual,’” says Transport Intelligence’s CEO, Prof. John Manners-Bell. “It will be in everyone’s interest to ensure that there is as little disruption to the movement of goods throughout the region as possible.”
In the meantime, here are 8 of the top analyses of Brexit’s impact on the logistics and supply chain industries.
Life after BREXIT: What are the UK’s options outside the European Union? Centre for Economic Performance, London School of Economics and Political Science
Logistics Executives Say Brexit Will Rattle European Supply Chains Wall Street Journal
What Is the Impact of Brexit on My Business? Uncertainty Ripples Through the Supply Chain Forbes
Brexit, the Next Big Disruption for the Supply Chain? Supply Chain 247
Five Models for Post-Brexit UK Trade BBC News
Brexit Wins – What’s Next for the Procurement Industry? Digital Supply Chain
Procurement, Supply Chain and Brexit: Obvious and Less Obvious Considerations Spend Matters
Brexit to Boost U.S. Exports to Asia, Depress Activity to Britain and Europe, Economist Says DC Velocity
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by Elizabeth Hines | Jun 29, 2016 | Blog, Content Marketing, Marketing, Social Media
Participating in social media is not about earning followers; it’s about building relationships.
Posting content to social media is a great way to earn followers. But a follower doesn’t necessarily equal a customer. That’s why it’s important to keep in mind that participating in social media is not only about earning a large following; it’s about building relationships with those people.
An article published in Entrepreneur says it best, “Content equals marketing; conversation equals a relationship.” Using social media to converse with people and form relationships is what will ultimately drive sales.
Research from Social Sprout shows that social media messages to brands from customers rose 110% between 2014 and 2015. And that number keeps going up.
So, don’t just hand out your content like a business card and walk away. Customers increasingly expect businesses to converse with them through social networking, so it is critical that your business is online and ready to respond.
Here are five tips to build relationships on social media:
1) Be the person representing a brand.
Represent your company, but be a real person to whom your customers can relate. Do not appear as a brand who is a person; show up as a person who has a brand.
2) Be a real person.
Be personable and real. Open yourself up to conversations that show a bit of the real you. Nothing builds a relationship better than making a genuine connection. In other words, be a real person, not a personality.
3) Show who you are.
In addition to sharing information and knowledge related to your business, don’t be afraid to sprinkle in a bit of what matters to you in your posts. Photos of bring-your-child-to-work day, pets who regularly visit the office, or even your extra-large coffee during a particularly busy week tell a story that your followers can relate to. These kinds of things are excellent starting points for conversation!
4) Show that you care.
To build a relationship of trust, people need to feel that you care about what is important to them. Go beyond just liking, retweeting, or leaving an encouraging message on your followers’ posts. Actually put yourself out there and respond, invite dialog, and demonstrate that they are someone you value.
5) Be a regular.
Show up on a regular basis to interact with your audience and answer questions. And make sure to respond quickly when someone reaches out to you. Don’t underestimate the power of being there when a customer needs you. Remember 7 in 8 messages go unanswered for 72 hours, so if you can be the brand that is always there, you’re head-and-shoulders above the crowd.
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by Elizabeth Hines | Jun 28, 2016 | Blog, Content Marketing, Marketing, Social Media
Reddit is a gold mine for relevant, engaging content to share with your social media followers.
You probably have heard that Reddit is useful in content marketing. But what, exactly, is it, and how do you use it?
Reddit is a news website/social network in which registered users submit content, such as posts and links, which the community of users (called redditors) curates by voting up or down. The more positive votes, the higher the content will appear on the page. Users also can comment on the content, and their comments are organized by the same up-down voting system. The discussion by redditors is often the most important part of any post.
Content is organized into categories, called subreddits. Subreddits can be as broad as News and Music and as specific as Supply Chain Risk Management and 3-D Printing News. Users can subscribe to a subreddit to have popular posts from that category published on their homepages.
Reddit, which ranks as the 9th most popular website in the U.S. and 31st globally, refers to itself as “the front page of the internet” for a good reason. Whatever the industry, topic, or perspective, there is content about it, ready for you to share.
That’s what makes Reddit great for content marketers, who are always looking for content to distribute to followers to keep them engaged. It is also intuitive to find and share exactly what you need.
5 easy steps to get started on Reddit
1) Sign up
First, you must register. Go to Reddit.com and click the “Sign Up” link in the upper-right-hand corner. Mobile users can download the Reddit app.
2) Get to know the community
After setting up a user account, you begin following a default set of subreddits, including topics like Art, Jokes, and Sports. Access them by clicking the “My Subreddits” dropdown menu on the upper-left corner of the homepage. These default subreddits are great for learning about the community.
3) Customize your subreddits
Find subreddits in your niche. It can take time to browse individual subreddits, but you can slash your search time by creating a multireddit, which is a custom dashboard of content around your particular topic of interest. First, find subreddits you want to include with the subreddit search box . This lets you search for all subreddits related to a keyword (for example, supply chain technology). Narrow down further with advanced search options.
4) Create a multireddit
Next, compile a master list of subreddit names, organized by topic, and save them in a multireddit. So, sign into your account, then go to the Reddit front page, and click on the dotted line on the left side. Click the “Create” button, and type in a name for your multireddit. (You can’t use spaces or symbols in the multireddit name.) When you’re finished, click “Create.” You can then filter the posts you see by those that are:
- Hot: Posts that receive the highest engagement (upvotes/comments)
- New: The most recent posts
- Rising: Posts that are gaining popularity
- Controversial: Posts that receive an equal mix of upvotes and downvotes
- Top: The most popular posts of all time
- Gilded: Posts that received reddit gold
- Promoted: Sponsored content
5) Share
Once you find a link you would like to share on social media, you can queue up content directly from Reddit using Buffer and/or IFTTT. If you have the Buffer extension installed in your browser, you’ll see its link for each Reddit post. Click the link and schedule the Reddit post in your Buffer queue. You can also set up IFTTT recipes, which connect your Reddit activity to Buffer.
Can you post content on Reddit? Yes, but directly marketing your business and self-promotion is not allowed. Instead, create a presence by being relevant within a specific community. Check out reddiquette and FAQs to learn what posts are acceptable. Essentially, 10% or less of your posts and dialogue should link to your own content.
Posting your content can benefit your business. If your post rises to the front page of Reddit, it can drive more than 200K visitors to your content, get picked up by other websites, and garner a ton of social shares.
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