Airfreight rates for East-West routes reached their highest level so far for the year in October, reaching $2.89 per kilo, as the impact of peak season demand began to be reflected in rising rates, according to Drewry’s latest East-West Airfreight Price Index report.

As the holiday season quickly approaches, it’s a good time to prepare. Unfortunately, with an ever-increasing amount of data, an increasingly complex and varied competitive landscape and demanding customers, the question is often: Where to begin?

UPS is testing a depot-to-door delivery system in central London. The Low Impact City Logistics project will reduce traffic congestion and emissions associated with urban package delivery by using a power-assisted delivery trailer. If successful, it could change the way packages are delivered in cities in the U.K.

At the COP23 climate conference in Bonn last month, Oslo-based environmental NGO Bellona held a forum on electrification of shipping. While most discussions at the summit centered on zero-emissions land transportation, Bellona held a discussion on what it would take to bring the shoreside electric revolution to the seas.

Dubai-based ground handler dnata, and a consortium of supply chain firms, has successfully completed a proof-of-concept test for a logistics platform that tracks supply chain transactions using hyper-secure blockchain technology. According to stakeholders in the project, the new system can eliminate redundant data and improve visibility and transparency.

Mercedes-Benz, conducting the biggest test using drones to ship everyday items like ground coffee and cellphones, said the mini aircraft completed 100 drop-offs to strategically placed vans in Zurich with a perfect safety record and more deliveries are planned for next year.