The Week of December 5th:10 things eft’s been reading
This week continues to predict the future under the next president and explores Zara’s fast-fashion leadership and incredible supply chain.
1) Frequent eft collaborator Steve Banker crunches some data on what it would mean for the supply chain if Made in America comes back in full force. Donald Trump And The "Made In America" Supply Chain. (Forbes)
2) If Made in America does come back in full force, is it actually going to bring the jobs back? The LA Times explores how robotics are taking some of the returning jobs. Warehouses promised lots of jobs, but robot workforce slows hiring. (LA Times)
3) As we continue to learn more about the next President’s plans, Recode ways into how drone delivery might be effect – to use the click-bait phrase of choice ‘Not as you might have expected’. What a Trump presidency means for the future of drone delivery in the U.S. (Recode)
4) Speaking of drones, Apple is apparently using them to help them improve their mapping application. The impact of this on supply chain is that despite all of the modern technology available today, there are clearly still a huge number of gaps that can be filled including in routing. Apple is reportedly using drones to improve Maps (engadget)
5) Last week we reported on how Gap has a boss who’s willing to forgo design in favour of data. Looking closer at the industry benchmark (Inditex/Zara) that might not be the best course of action. Zara’s Recipe for Success: More Data, Fewer Bosses (Bloomberg)
6) The WSJ also did a fascinating exploration of how Zara runs a supply chain that can get a product from design to store shelf in only 25 days. Fast Fashion: How a Zara Coat Went From Design to Fifth Avenue in 25 Days (WSJ)
7) Just as autonomous cars are looking to get their footing, one of the US’s biggest cities says ‘no thanks’. Chicago City Council might ban autonomous cars . (Roadshow)
8) Capacity isn’t just an issue for warehousing as eCommerce booms. Those lockers are also suffering. Here’s the problem with those Amazon lockers. (The Sacramento Bee)
9) This story was everywhere – even my non-work social media was all over it. Amazon is looking to launch workerless stores. Two things about this are interesting: 1) that’s a vending machine 2) it does speak to how retailers can leverage their brick and mortar footprints for competitive advantage (if the concept is proven of course) Amazon Working on Several Grocery-Store Formats, Could Open More Than 2,000 Locations. (WSJ)
10) Innovation is everywhere at the moment. Many businesses look envious at the success of many of the tech-driven disruptors. It turns out that these silicon-valley innovators aren’t as good with the physical world as they are with the digital. Silicon Valley Stumbles in World Beyond Software. (WSJ)