Logistics 2010 Conference Update 

Day 3 at Logistics 2010 - Record breaking conference wraps up!

The 2010 RILA Logistics Conference kicked off Sunday, February 21, with record breaking attendance and an expanded program. For those of you who were unable to attend, a few conference highlights are captured here. Also, check out Twitter @RILAtweets and the #LOG10 hash tag (or just search RILA or logistics) for tweets from us and our attendees.

Congratulations to the roughly 100 winners in this year's Match-A-Badge Exhibit Hall Giveaway. We gave away many great prizes including the grand prize, a 32" Flat Screen HDTV.

We would like to thank all of this year's conference attendees, sponsors and exhibitors for making it such a great event. We hope to see everyone back in Orlando next year, February 20-23, , for Logistics Conference 2011!

Day 3 Highlights

Logistics 2010 in Orlando wrapped up today. The conference ended with three great general sessions.

Matt Waller, professor from the University of Arkansas, discussed the always evolving global retail supply chain and reviewed results from his various studies on international economy and supply chains. Waller also shared some stories from his experiences in China. When asked about how companies can succeed in foreign markets, he spoke of the importance of placing executives with a passion and a willingness to learn the culture of that country/market.

Next, Ambassador Ron Kirk gave dynamic presentation on how trade policy can help to create and increase export opportunities for American companies in the global marketplace and grow well-paid jobs for American workers. Kirk told the attendees that he is working hard to ensure that Americans continue to reap all the benefits of trade – more and better opportunities in the international marketplaces, more and better jobs here at home, and more choices at lower prices in their local shopping centers. He also invited attendees to go to www.ustr.gov to get updates and voice their concerns on the administration's trade policies. At the conclusion of this presentation, Kirk took several questions from the audience on a variety of topics including how the Obama administration's trade policies will affect small business and the administration's goals for trade relations between the US and Columbia, Panama, and Korea.

To close out the conference, Fareed Zakaria, editor of Newsweek International, columnist & CNN host, offered a comprehensive look at foreign affairs and the policies shaping the United State's position in the global economy, with an emphasis on new ideas and innovative approaches to solving some of our toughest problems.

Day 2 Highlights

Morning General Session 1:
Scott Davis, chairman and CEO of UPS, kicked off Day 2 of Logistics 2010. In his presentation “Retail & Resilience: Why Companies Fail. How Companies Win.,” Davis gave his thoughts on what the past two years have taught us about why some companies fail and how some have not only survived but thrived. Davis began the discussion by asking the audience questions about the GDP and retail industry growth outlook for 2010. Their responses are below.

 Davis then analyzed why companies fail and how companies win.

Davis concluded his presentation by taking several questions from the audience about barriers to global commerce, expansion into developing nations, and an increase of B2C business for retailers and UPS.

Morning General Session 2:
RILA’s John Emling updated the audience on RILA’s efforts in Washington, DC to educate our nation’s policy makers.  In the face of November elections, Emling focused on four issues that have wide ranging effects on the retail industry and are anticipated this year, the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA), interchange ‘swipe’ fees, health care and transportation. Retail industry executives can make their voices heard on these and other issues by going to RILAction, our grassroots communication tool.
 

Featured Morning Breakout Sessions:
During the Maximizing the Success of Your Online Retailing Operation: Customer Experience, Innovation & KPIs, Bill Pryor, founder and COO of Shoebuy.com, reviewed the history of the company and discussed Shoebuy.com’s customer-centric business plan. Its customer service philosophy is based on ensuring the customer is at the center, keeping it simple, staying focused and being the best you can be, and maximizing your success. By listening to their customers via traditional (direct feedback) and non-traditional (blogs, web analytics, etc.) channels, Shoebuy.com has been able to understand the ways its customers shop and customize the shopping experience accordingly.

When looking towards the future of logistics, specifically Emerging and Alternative Ports, one thing is evident – alternative gateways are required.  This session examined what will be necessary in developing these ports in the next ten years and what will be needed to serve the market, including channel depth, capacity, flexible workforce and green initiatives. The port of the future is here, the APM Terminal; this automated terminal is the most technically advanced and green in North America.  The three person panel representing Virginia International Terminals, South Carolina State Ports Authority and NYK brought depth and years of experience to the audience. The future is clear: a secure, sustainable supply chain.  

Afternoon General Session 1:
Dr. Fariborz Ghadar from the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) gave participants a glimpse into the future in areas such as energy trends, technological innovation, population growth and the economy and how these issues will affect the Class of 2025 and beyond. Attendees learned about the “seven revolutions” of change that affect companies globally and were encouraged to promote forward thinking by considering what these changes will mean for future leadership around the world. The presentation concluded with Ghadar's thoughts on e-learning vs on-campus learning, K-12 education in the US, and level of optimism for the future from young people in the United States compared to the rest of the world.

Afternoon General Session 2:
The day closed out with an inspiring talk from Christopher Gardner who rose from homelessness to become owner and CEO of Gardner Rich LLC and author of the autobiography, The Pursuit of Happyness, a New York Times and Washington Post #1 bestseller. Gardner offered direction to attendees on the best way to meet challenges head on, break cycles and create a brighter future.

Day 1 Highlights

Morning General Session 1:
Perspectives from the C-Suite - Rick Dreiling, chairman and CEO, Dollar General, kicked off the Logistics Conference 2010 in Orlando in a fireside chat with RILA’s Casey Chroust, EVP of Retail Operations. Dreiling talked about his 40+ year journey in the retail industry, which began in 1969 working in a Safeway bakery department and has taken him to the head of several leading retail companies. Mr. Dreiling discussed his keys to leadership, his thoughts on the current retail climate and his goals for Dollar General.  The interactive session concluded with Dreiling fielding questions from the audience where he discussed what it was like to lead Dollar General to the largest IPO in the retail industry in the past 14 years.

Morning General Session 2:
In the State of Retail Industry session, Al Meyers of Retail Forward discussed the realities of the recent global recession and the profound and long-term effect it has had on international economy. He talked specifically about how the different channels of retail have been affected by the on-going economic difficulties and reviewed how some retailers are combating the situation by coming up with innovative ideas to encourage consumers to shop at both their brick & mortar and online stores. Meyers believes that recovery will take time and consumers will be focused on value and the return on their time and money going forward. He feels the greatest potential for growth for retailers is in underdeveloped international markets.

Featured Morning Breakout Sessions:
The SmartWay 2.0: Driving Supply Chain Sustainability session highlighted how freight shippers (retailers) can save fuel and money by bench marking their transportation supply chain carbon efficiency and optimizing both modal and provider choices. Companies that participate in SmartWay have not only demonstrated to customers, clients and investors that they are taking responsibility for their freight emissions, but they have also increased their companies supply chain efficiency and helped the bottom line. The short- and long-term goals for SmartWay are to continue to develop new technologies and management practices to help shippers and carriers improve efficiency and to become a leader in carbon science, measurement and tracking in the international community.

The focus was on the future in the Freight Shuttle Concept - a concept that is becoming a reality. This new approach to regional and corridor specific intermodal freight transportation is described by some as a “silver bullet.”  The concept evolved and patented over the last ten years at the Texas Transportation Industry (TTI) is expected to ease congestion, improve air quality, lower transportation costs and increase supply chain predictability.  Moreover, heads turned at the expected motor carrier marginal expenses predicted at $.30 per CPM.  Stay tuned for news on a prototype is expected in the near future!

Afternoon General Session 1:
The first general session of the afternoon, Ships, Trucks, Rail: The View from the Top, featured the CEOs from Schneider, Norfolk Southern, and Neptune Orient Lines in a panel discussion. The trio candidly discussed the current economic situation and how their mode of transportation has been affected. Several relevant questions about transportation issues were posed to the audience.

 Afternoon General Session 2:
For the final general session of Day 1, Matt Kistler of Walmart presented Sustainability 360: How Walmart is Integrating Sustainability Globally. Kistler believes that in order for sustainability efforts to work, planning and decisions must involve all the company’s stakeholders including employees, suppliers, and customers. One part of Kistler's presentation that resonated with the audience was Walmart's efforts to create a more transparent supply chain and continue to test new energy technologies to power their trucking fleet. A video titled “The Secret Life of Sour Cream” allowed attendees to see the full circle of sustainability for one of Walmart products. The session concluded with Kistler taking questions from the audience. When asked to compare United States sustainability efforts to the rest of the world, he responded that there are some countries slightly ahead but he has seen a lot of innovation in this area coming from the U.S.

Featured Afternoon Breakout Sessions:
In one of the afternoon breakout sessions, executives from Toy “R” Us, Mattel, Nestle Purina and the FDA participated in a Product Safety & Inspection panel discussion. The panel discussed how retailers and product manufacturers are working together to comply with state and federal product safety standards and ensure the products they make and sell to the consumer meet or beat today’s safety standards. The panel agreed that training and education in this area is a key focus for companies to safeguard their consumers, prevent fines and penalties, and to protect their brand equity.

Since its inception in 2007, the Coalition for Responsible Transportation (CRT) has grown to include leading importers, exporters, trucking companies and ocean carriers who represent the largest and most progressive customers and service providers at our nation’s ports.  Who better to discuss Meeting Clean Air Challenges at Our Ports: The Future of National Goods Movement Policy? The coalition found a perfect partner in the Port of Long Beach, who sought ways to distinguish themselves as an environmental leader. The prescription was to engage and educate the local community and create support amongst importers and shippers alike. The results were simple – success.  Port truck pollution has been cut nearly 80%, nearly two years ahead of schedule. Since launching their clean truck program, 6,650 clean trucks have been deployed, zero from a government mandate and 4,000 privately financed. The proactive approach from all stakeholders has proven to be a template of effective solutions to environmental challenges. In the coming weeks an announcement is expected regarding collaboration with ports on the east coast.