The use of geospatial data provides deep insight into the logistical, legal, and commercial relationships between corporations and facilities of different companies all over the world.
Location intelligence and foot traffic analytics have revolutionized the way in which businesses generate competitive advantages within the various business sectors, being able to infer the behavior and relationships of companies has become a reality thanks to this type of technological technique.
Location intelligence and footfall analytics can be valuable tools for wholesale distributors to maximize their revenue, optimize their processes and choose the best distribution routes for their pickup and last-mile delivery processes.
The correlation between foot traffic patterns, visitation, sales, and the success of wholesale food distribution companies has been studied and proven, so the development of this type of analysis has become a priority in the process of site selection, supply chain process optimization, and expansion modeling.
Location intelligence through techniques based on Big Data collects spatial data in order to improve the decisions made in logistics centers, allowing the use of location and its related data points, creating solutions and optimizing distribution routes.
This new technological tool finds its immediate application in space-dependent businesses, such as delivery and logistics companies. The data collected through infrastructure sensors, cameras and traffic mapping not only allows them to determine the best locations for their businesses, warehouses and centers, but also allows them to know why certain locations have a direct impact on the success or failure of a business.
Through geospatial data analysis techniques, CentralAmericaData carried out an analysis of five Walmart distribution centers in Florida, United States, with the aim of identifying patterns in the supply chains of these five centers and their relationships with commercial establishments and other logistics complexes in the State.
Through this analysis, whose objective is to show how geospatial data science techniques can be applied to solve problems in the logistics sector, the existing relationships between Walmart distribution centers and their supply sites were identified and characterized, so that different large commercial chains can evaluate and at the same time improve processes in their respective supply chains.
By analyzing the large volumes of anonymous data generated by mobile devices, it is possible to establish whether a distribution center has a commercial relationship with other logistics complexes, and even with establishments that serve the end consumer.
Using the most advanced Big Data tools, it is possible to understand the behavior of the supply chains of companies in the retail sector, since by monitoring delivery parts and counting mutual visits between suppliers and vendors, it is possible to identify and establish which are the most important relationships between distribution centers and points of sale to the end consumer, such as stores.
Keeping online inventories as close as possible to their customers through the strategic location of emerging distribution centers, micro-distribution centers and dark stores is currently one of the most important challenges for companies.
Due to the change in consumer habits, the restrictions imposed by the pandemic and the popularization of online commerce, companies are busy optimizing their distribution channels for Internet sales.
The change in consumer habits resulting from the boom in e-commerce and the preference for avoiding visits to physical stores, has forced some large commercial surfaces to be transformed into storage and logistics areas.
The covid-19 outbreak caused the emergence of a new commercial reality, in which consumers are less willing to go to physical stores to make certain purchases and prefer to store online.
Colon LNG Marketing (a subsidiary of AES Colón) and Tropigas Natural, S.A. (part of the Tropigas group) signed the first contract to supply Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) through the modality of loading by tanker truck for the markets of Panama and Costa Rica.
Elcapitalfinanciero.com reports that "... The agreement allows the use of a clean fossil fuel to provide energy solutions to all types of industry such as food, beverage, manufacturing in general, as well as energy producers, shops, land and sea transport, and the hotel industry."
Locating customers and estimating their potential consumption, choosing strategic locations for distribution points and calculating product delivery times are some of the tasks that occupy companies in this context of changing consumption patterns.
Many of the changes in purchasing patterns resulting from the crisis generated by the Covid-19 virus in the region will not be temporary; several of them are here to stay.
Allowing import, export and transit processes to be carried out efficiently is the recommendation of the region's businessmen to avoid product shortages in the regional market.
For the Federation of Chambers and Industrial Associations of Central America and the Dominican Republic (Fecaica), governments should continue to take the measures considered necessary so that the cases detected so far do not continue to multiply, or at least, the contagion curve can be minimized, taking actions such as activating and expanding emergency response mechanisms and informing the population about the risks and ways to protect themselves.
The spanish company that manufactures textiles for hotels and hospitals, Resuinsa, has announced the opening in Costa Rica of a distribution center for the region.
Resuinsa announced that from its logistics center in Costa Rica it will distribute its products to Nicaragua, Honduras and El Salvador, as well as supplying the local market.The company manufactures and supplies textiles to hotel chains, hospitals and nursing homes.
The report "Social Panorama of Latin America" makes clear that declines in poverty rates are directly related to the rate of growth in revenue and are not the result of distribution policies.
The recent report published by Cepal, called "Social Panorama of Latin America" highlights countries which reduced poverty levels through improved income, not redistribution of that income, as is the case of Panama, Colombia and even Uruguay, which was the country that best fought poverty between 2010 and 2014. The report explains that the general improvement in that period was mainly due to changes in average incomes.
This year multinational plans to invest that amount in remodeling, maintenance, new units, electronic commerce, and logistics and distribution.
From a statement issued by Walmart of Mexico and Central America:
Mexico City, 10 March 2016.- In 2016 Walmart de Mexico and Central America will invest an estimated $14.700 million pesos ($866 million), 17% higher than the total amount invested last year.
PPG Industries has completed the acquisition of Comex Central America, adding 57 stores to its sales network in Central America in the paint and refurbishment line.
From a press release issued by PPG Industries:
PITTSBURGH, June 2, 2015 – PPG Industries (NYSE:PPG) today announced that it has acquired Consorcio Latinoamericano, which operates a network of 57 paint stores in Central America. Financial terms were not disclosed.
The ESKE Group has announced te opening of a distribution hub in Panama City to redistribute its generic lines imported from India and Europe and those manufactured in Peru.
Group ESKE, an importer of generic drugs from India and Europe and others that it manufactures at its plant in Peru, intends to establish in Panama a distribution hub for the entire region.