Is this you? As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.
Claim your profile
Articles by Tom Bartman
Code and cargo: How AI could change freight logistics
AI-fueled software platforms are transforming how freight brokers and forwarders operate. Incumbents have strong, built-in advantages—but will need to rewire their organizations. For decades, freight brokers and forwarders have relied on (often proprietary) software platforms to connect shippers with carriers and manage the flow of cargo. That model is now being tested. AI could make it easier for start-ups to mimic enterprise software-as-a-service offerings—or maybe even sidestep the need for them.
Travel industry trends and the opportunity for private equity
The travel industry is experiencing dynamic growth. For private equity firms, understanding travel industry trends can help guide investments. In the past five years, global investments have shifted dramatically in response to supply chain disruptions, new technologies such as gen AI and cryptocurrency, and more.
The promise and challenge of multi-client fulfillment for e-commerce
A multi-client fulfillment model could help third-party logistics providers gain competitive advantage, but it also poses challenges—here’s how they can be overcome. Online shopping has seen consistent growth over the last few decades, and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have amplified this trend, with consumers around the world taking more and more of their shopping online.
Overcoming global supply chain challenges
Global supply chains have been buckling under the strain of unprecedented demand and constricted effective logistics capacity. On average, global container shipping rates have more than quadrupled since 2019, and schedule delays have risen. In some key trading routes, such as Asia–Europe and Asia–North America, the rate spikes are even higher and the delays more frequent. What’s causing this (it’s not just the pandemic) and what can be done to improve the situation?
Overcoming global supply chain challenges
McKinsey’s Tom Bartman discusses what’s causing disruptions in global supply chains and how key stakeholders are responding. Global supply chains have been buckling under the strain of unprecedented demand and constricted effective logistics capacity. On average, global container shipping rates have more than quadrupled since 2019, and schedule delays have risen. In some key trading routes, such as Asia–Europe and Asia–North America, the rate spikes are even higher and the delays more frequent.
Unlocking the omnichannel opportunity in contract logistics
As e-commerce volumes surge, contract-logistics companies face increasing complexity. How can they capture more value in a $600 billion opportunity? More of us are shopping by clicking. E-commerce sales have soared by 160 percent between 2014 and 2019, six to eight times the rate of growth in traditional retail. This global trend has only been accelerated by the pandemic—e-commerce rose from 13 to 17 percent of total retail within a year. And the shift is likely permanent.
A fresh approach to logistics forecasting in 2021
Ninety-one percent of surveyed executives acknowledge that forecasting in 2021 needs to look different. We outline one potential approach. The pandemic has disrupted the global economy and supply chains. Global GDP is expected to shrink 5.2 percent in 2020. Different logistics subsectors have recovered from previous crises within 12 months (Exhibit 1), but the shape and timing of this recovery, and which freight type and lane will recover and when, remain uncertain.
How logistics companies can unlock value from omnichannel distribution
More of us are shopping by clicking. E-commerce sales have soared by 160 percent between 2014 and 2019, six to eight times the rate of growth in traditional retail. This global trend has only been accelerated by the pandemic—e-commerce rose from 13 to 17 percent of total retail within a year. 1 And the shift is likely permanent. Our COVID-19 retail-recovery survey finds that online penetration is expected to stay six to 13 percentage points above pre-COVID-19 levels.
A fresh approach to logistics forecasting in 2021
The pandemic has disrupted the global economy and supply chains. Global GDP is expected to shrink 5.2 percent in 2020. 1 Different logistics subsectors have recovered from previous crises within 12 months (Exhibit 1), but the shape and timing of this recovery, and which freight type and lane will recover and when, remain uncertain. In our Global Manufacturing & Supply Chain Pulse Survey this year, 2 a third of companies reported facing material and other supply-chain shortages.
Show More
loading
Actions
Is this you?
As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.Get in touch with Tom
Contact Tom, search articles and posts on X, monitor coverage, and track replies from one place.
Learn more about Muck Rack