To meet the demand of domestic trading and import-export activities, the logistics sector is working towards professional and competitive services meeting international standards, in which smart logistics development is considered the key solution.

To meet the demand of domestic trading and import-export activities, the logistics sector is working towards professional and competitive services meeting international standards, in which smart logistics development is considered the key solution.

According to Director of the Import-Export Department under the Ministry of Industry and Trade Phan Văn Chinh, local logistics firms have been increasingly aware of the need to speed up digital transformation and apply technology to their business operations, aiming to cut cost and increase competitiveness.

Supply chain director at Nestle Vietnam Nguyễn Trần Hoàng Yến said that digitalisation has helped the firm better connect with the global market and optimise goods transport and distribution activities in the domestic market.

Nestle has launched its Cargoo app to connect manufacturers, importers and shipping lines, enabling them to follow the transportation process of each order and track the goods information, book ships and manage all related documents, she said.

Meanwhile, Marketing Director of the Saigon Newport Corporation Trương Tấn Lộc said that the firm has launched a system of e-port and e-warehouse, while applying artificial intelligence (AI) in customer services, thus improving its service quality.

However, as 90 per cent of the logistic firms are small- and medium-sized enterprises, the application of smart logistics has remained limited.

Pointing to major barriers hindering smart logistics development in Việt Nam, Vice Chairman of the Việt Nam Logistics Business Association Lê Quang Trung mentioned limitations in mindset and confusion in selecting suitable technologies as well as a shortage in financial and human resources and a lack of harmonious policies for digital transformation.

Mississippi Welcomes Warehouse, Transport Hub

Gov. Tate Reeves has welcomed a $64 million venture between a Mississippi-based trucking company and a cold-storage logistics firm to build a warehouse and transportation hub taking food from local producers faster to markets.

Miami-based Cold-Link Logistics has partnered with Whitestone Transportation of Moselle to provide integrated warehousing and transportation services from a 200,000-square-foot cold warehouse and transportation hub on a 65-acre site near Ellisville, in the southeastern corner of Mississippi.

“Cold-Link Logistics’ new facility in Jones County will bring good-paying jobs and new opportunities for Mississippians. Their partnership with the Mississippi company Whitestone Transportation will strengthen our state’s supply chain and provide enhanced speed to market for food processors and distributors,” Reeves announced recently.

He called the deal, which will add 84 jobs, “another sterling example of the fact that Mississippi is open for business and committed to providing an economic environment focused on long-term success.”

Whitestone Transportation via Facebook

The project is receiving assistance from the city of Ellisville and Jones County, while the Mississippi Development Authority (MDA) is helping with infrastructure needs.

Laura Hipp, MDA executive director, said, “Projects like this are vital to the economic well-being of our local communities and the state as a whole. We thank everyone who had a role in bringing Cold-Link Logistics and its partnership with Whitestone Transportation to our state.”

Having Whitestone Transportation as a partner will benefit the operations of local producers with cost savings and greater efficiency since the facility is meant to form a bridge between local producers and consumers.

“Partnering with Whitestone Transportation is such a blessing, and we envision this further supporting the area’s producers. This facility will provide a link for our customers to save money and reach their customers in a more efficient manner,” said Michael Mandich, Cold-Link founder and president.

Whitestone specializes in hauling dry and frozen goods as well as live poultry. It has three divisions (dry van, reefer and live haul) at the Mississippi facility and a live-haul division in Georgia.

“We recognized a great opportunity to support several current and new customers throughout the state and Southeast. We consistently heard from the area’s producers that they needed a facility to help support their growth, and we were thrilled with the opportunity to serve the community,” Mandich said.

A full-service, third-party logistics company serving the cold storage industry, Cold-Link has locations in Auburndale and Orlando, Fla., Holland, Mich., Providence, R.I., and Sioux City, Iowa.

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Ross Tucker, president of the Economic Development Authority of Jones County, remarked, “Our office has focused on aggressive site development in the last few years. Having a shovel-ready site was our biggest advantage in closing this deal with Cold-Link Logistics and Whitestone Transportation. These companies practice efficiency and excellence in all areas. I am excited to continue to work with them and follow the success of this project.”

The new facility will be located in the Interstate 59 South Industrial Site, which spans over 446 acres, next to U.S. Highway 11 and two miles from I-59. The Port of Gulfport is 90 miles away.

A groundbreaking ceremony is slated for mid-June. Construction is expected to start later this year.

An unassuming gray building in Seattle’s Industrial District is home to a logistics hub that helps connect shippers and customers around the world in one to three days.

DHL, which specializes in international and cross-border shipments, has a 60-truck fleet and a team of nearly 80 workers at the Express Service Center dedicated to the safety, speed and accuracy of last-mile deliveries.

Supply Chain Dive toured the Seattle facility last month for a firsthand view of how fashion merchandise, electronics and more move through the warehouse and DHL’s broader network. Here’s what we learned.

Ten miles by truck from the airport

Many shipments arrive at the DHL facility from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, where the company’s freighters fly to and from Los Angeles International Airport throughout the week, according to flight tracking software FlightRadar24. The integrator also operates flights from Seattle to Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport.

Unit Load Devices, which serve as small shipping containers for planes, are unloaded from the freighters and then trucked about 10 miles north to the Seattle service center.

Into the warehouse and onto the conveyer belts

Once the trucks arrive at the facility, the ULDs are moved into the warehouse where employees unload and place the packages on a moving conveyor belt.

All packages are scanned and tagged on the moving belt for tracking purposes, ensuring efficiency and accuracy. On average, the facility handles about 4,000 shipments per day, with certain days, like Mondays, being heavier.

Seventy-eight people work at the facility, including couriers, supervisors and managers, operations agents and IT staff. This area is also where bags of mail are stored.

DHL’s fleet is ready for loading and delivery

DHL’s Seattle Express Service Center, which was recently expanded, has parking on-site in the warehouse for its dozens of local delivery vehicles.

After being scanned and tagged, the packages continue to move down the conveyor belt, and couriers place them into delivery vehicles. The facility employs 65 couriers, who are also cross-trained for other tasks, like sorting.

All packages are packed and placed into the vehicles for delivery to their final destinations.

Visuals Editor Shaun Lucas contributed to this story.