Leading universities and other researchers reveal trends that show how 3PLs and their customers need a better understanding of each other's needs to build more successful relationships.

An elite group of just 25 3PLs increasingly dominate logistics outsourcing around the world, and that is just how their customers like it. This closed club promises to become even more exclusive in the years ahead as acquisitions concentrate the power among fewer but larger 3PLs.

In a perfect world, the tight coordination of systems and processes would allow goods to flow continuously from manufacturer to customer. With total understanding of consumer demand, who needs a lot of excess product taking up valuable real estate? • Second in the Best Practices series.

With economic activity heating up, businesses are again eager to compete in the global arena. To do so, they need to raise the performance of their supply chains to world-class levels.

While logistics outsourcing may seem like a mature business concept, five smaller 3PLs show how new concepts, better technology and outstanding performance can bring new benefits to companies open to fresh ideas.

A real-time view into inbound shipments helps retailers avoid stock-outs and other nightmares at a critical juncture - the point of sale.