📦 Warehouse Wisdom. Weekly.
Logistics news for SMBs. Picked, packed, and delivered without the bias.
INTRODUCTION / JULY 31 2026
Happy Friday!
China unveiled a five-year blueprint to accelerate artificial intelligence across manufacturing, signaling that AI is no longer just a productivity tool. It's becoming industrial policy. While much of the conversation around AI has centered on chatbots and content creation, the real transformation is happening inside factories, warehouses, and supply chains.
This week, we're covering how AI is reshaping supply chains, why major players are rethinking their logistics strategies, and what geopolitical events could mean for global shipping. We'll also look at the latest developments in warehouse technology, ecommerce fulfillment, and the trends that matter most to warehouse operators and supply chain professionals.
Let's dive in!
WAREHOUSE INNOVATION
AI is no longer coming, it’s running the supply chain
Walmart is using AI to anticipate weather disruptions before they ripple through its supply chain, giving teams more time to adjust inventory and transportation plans. At the same time, brands are embracing AI to create more personalized shopping experiences, using multilingual tools to reach customers wherever they are and however they prefer to shop. It's a reminder that AI isn't just improving operations behind the scenes. It's also reshaping how businesses engage with consumers.
The gap between early adopters and everyone else is becoming more apparent. Research shows warehouse operators are increasingly interested in AI, yet many are still in the early stages of implementation. Smaller retailers face an even steeper challenge, with experts warning that businesses lacking structured product data and a clear digital presence risk becoming invisible as AI-powered shopping tools continue to evolve.
A MESSAGE FROM THE PUBLISHER
A quick note
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Just reply to this email if you’d like to talk.
GLOBAL SUPPLY CHAIN
Supply chains are finding their new normal
UPS continues to reshape its network following its reduced reliance on Amazon, reporting improved profitability while also reaching a milestone where more than two-thirds of U.S. package volume now moves through automated facilities. Meanwhile, DHL announced changes to how it calculates import and export fuel surcharges, reflecting continued efforts by carriers to balance costs in an unpredictable transportation market.
At the same time, companies are continuing to rethink how products reach customers. DoorDash is expanding its drone delivery capabilities as it explores new options for faster last-mile fulfillment, while SHEIN's long-promised localization strategy has yet to materialize, highlighting the challenges of adapting global supply chains to local markets.
WAREHOUSE QUICK DELIVERIES
Quick hits from around the warehouse
DoorDash & Shopify Team Up: Same-day delivery just got easier for Shopify merchants.
Ocean Rates Spike: Asia-U.S. shipping costs continue climbing amid global tensions.
Truck Capacity Tightens: Fewer available trucks could mean higher freight rates ahead.
Hormuz Traffic Rebounds: Vessel traffic is recovering, but uncertainty remains.
Hormuz Tensions Persist: The U.S.-Iran standoff continues to keep shippers on edge.
Container Rates Cool Off: Spot rates fall for a third straight week as demand eases.
Egyptian Port Attacked: A drone strike highlights ongoing risks to global trade routes.
THE FULFILLMENT ADVISOR NEWS
WarehousingAndFulfillment.com is now TheFulfillmentAdvisor.com
For more than 20 years, WarehousingAndFulfillment.com has helped brands find their ideal third-party logistics (3PL) partners through unbiased, data-driven matchmaking.
Today, we’re proud to introduce our next chapter: TheFulfillmentAdvisor
After two decades in the industry. we felt it was time for a creative refresh that better reflects our expanded capabilities. In addition to continuing our unbiased 3PL matchmaking services, we are now licensed to provide:
Commercial real estate services
Full-scale business brokerage services
LOGISTICS VITALS
Retail sales inch higher in June
UPS continues to invest heavily in automation as it modernizes its network. Here are a few numbers that illustrate the scale of that transformation.
67%: More than two-thirds of UPS's U.S. package volume now moves through automated facilities.
400+: UPS has deployed automation across hundreds of facilities throughout its network.
Millions: Automated sorting technology processes millions of packages each day while reducing manual handling.
Ongoing Investment: UPS continues expanding automation as part of its long-term network optimization strategy.
A QUICK WORD FROM US
Stop Playing Warehouse Matchmaker Roulette
We match businesses with thoroughly vetted 3PL warehouse and fulfillment companies - with try no fee for the outsourcer (unlike others that promise but charge under the table commissions). We are truly unbiased.
"Companies that don't have structured product data and a strong digital presence risk becoming invisible as AI-powered shopping continues to evolve."
