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When it comes to warehousing and fulfillment, traditional supply chains have typically been built on a long-term commitment model.

It works like this: A business either buys or leases a building to meet its warehousing and fulfillment needs directly or partners with a 3PL that leases a building to perform those functions. Getting the facility up and running might take over a year, and then that business will likely be tied down in the same building for five years or more.

This long-term commitment model assumes supply chains are stable and predictable. In today’s market conditions, however, this hasn’t held true. It’s not easy for shippers to determine what will happen in the next five, 10 or 15 years — and getting stuck with a fixed-size facility in a specific location can stifle growth and hinder the ability to adapt to market changes.

“On-demand” logistics isn’t a new concept. The freight brokerage model is a familiar example of it; when the need arises to quickly move freight from A to B, shippers can go to freight brokers who work on their behalf to source available truckload capacity that can get the job done.

Applying the on-demand concept to warehousing and fulfillment is changing the game for shippers. It makes it possible for a business to quickly establish a warehouse and fulfillment presence without a long-term commitment.

Here are five ways on-demand warehousing and fulfillment is helping shippers adapt:

1. Overcome supply chain disruptions.

Over the past few years, everything that could have gone wrong in the supply chain has. Pandemic-driven disruptions, port congestion, labor disputes, severe weather events and high inflation are just some examples. Rigid, fixed logistics networks, multiyear 3PL contracts and long decision cycles have made it tougher to respond to these unexpected challenges.

To overcome supply chain unpredictability, shippers can supplement and diversify their supply chain strategies with on-demand warehousing and fulfillment solutions. This can encompass adding additional locations, capabilities and labor to respond to issues and maintain service levels.

2. Expand into new markets. 

Customer demand is continuously changing, and the need for faster and cheaper services and products isn’t slowing down. As a business grows to reach customers in new markets, it’s important that its logistics function expand and adapt to support this evolving customer demand.

On-demand warehousing and fulfillment allows an organization to explore and test without the long-term commitment and risk of the traditional model. At the same time, it doesn’t require capital expenses, so a large financial investment isn’t needed to establish those workloads and presence.

An agile 3PL partner can help organizations set up a distribution point in an area where they don’t have any footprint, sometimes in just 30 to 60 days, as is the case for Iron Mountain. This is because it has the resources and staff in place to allow organizations to quickly inbound their material, collaborate on workflows and put the solution into action.

3. Strengthen your e-commerce abilities.

E-commerce continues to grow exponentially. Merchants of all types and sizes are under pressure to address customers’ continuous demand for e-commerce fulfillment and shortened delivery timelines. With many options out there, customers aren’t likely to shop with a brand again after a poor delivery experience.

As small e-commerce brands scale, they’re faced with the challenge of providing professionalism while creating a solid experience for customers who have increasingly high standards for delivery time and service quality.

On-demand logistics gives businesses the ability to establish an e-commerce function and enter new markets quickly, and having the right partner in the space brings expertise and quality to the short-term warehousing and fulfillment capabilities.

4. Be prepared for demand fluctuations.

Demand fluctuations, especially caused by seasonality, can make it difficult to satisfy consumer demand. With a fixed logistics network, companies may not have the space to store excess inventory without having to buy or lease a building that will sit empty for the rest of the year. On-demand warehousing lets these companies leverage short-term warehouse solutions to stock up on inventory when necessary without long-term space acquisition.

“Everyone operating these facilities loves to see a lot of volume moving through their networks and warehouses operating at 100%. On-demand logistics can provide a shipper with an extension of their facility to work in lockstep with their workflows and proximity,” said John Pelczar, supply chain solutions sales executive at Iron Mountain.

5. Rapidly scale your business.

Many businesses are growing at a rapid pace, one that their traditional 3PL or in-house logistics network can’t keep up with. Companies can continue to scale up their distribution and fulfillment network short term with on-demand solutions while the company works to determine a long-term strategy.

“On-demand logistics allows companies to set up a couple locations in new markets across the country, see how that fulfillment model works inside their network and make an educated decision about what’s best for the future facility footprint they may have,” Pelczar said.

Other businesses want to shrink and consolidate, but they still need access to certain markets rapidly. As the organization shifts, an on-demand warehousing and fulfillment solution can be the “stop-off point” to allow them to assess, evaluate and then make the best decision possible for the business.

An on-demand logistics provider you can trust

Many people don’t think about Iron Mountain as a traditional 3PL. But as a trusted provider of information management solutions, the company has been providing storage and delivery services to businesses for the past 70 years.

As Iron Mountain has expanded to warehousing, fulfillment, e-commerce, logistics and the 3PL supply chain space, it continues to leverage its international presence and infrastructure to build the best solutions for its customers. Iron Mountain’s on-demand warehousing and logistics services help businesses prepare for growth and navigate disruptions.

We all know that Oscar nominees get treated to incredible swag bags every year which are always filled with amazing things from luxurious trips to delectable snacks, to all kinds of must-have beauty and skincare. If you’ve ever wondered what’s actually included in these amazing gift bags, you’re in luck! We’ve got all the info on the over 50 gift items that Oscar nominees like Will Smith, Andrew Garfield, Denzel Washington, Jessica Chastain, Olivia Colman, Kristen Stewart, J.K. Simmons, Jesse Plemons, Ariana DeBose, Kirsten Dunst, Jane Campion and Steven Spielberg will be receiving this year.

Los Angeles-based entertainment marketing company, Distinctive Assets, created the “Everyone Wins” Nominee Gift Bags for 2022. This year, they put together a swag bag that’s sure to be a hit with recipients. After all, the gifts include plots of land in Scotland (and a title of Lord or Lady of Glencoe) from Highland Titles, the world’s first ever flavor wrapped popcorn kernels from Opopop which are sure to be delicious, and a deluxe skincare gift set from Byroe.

In addition to these stellar gifts, nominees will also receive vouchers for cosmetic procedures, personal training sessions, life coaching and so much more. Clearly, everyone’s going to go home a winner this Sunday night.

If you want to see what kind of gifts nominees will get this year, check out the 50-plus gift list below.

2022 Oscars Nominee Swag Bag

Highland Titles

Highland Titles was created to help conserve Scotland “one square foot at a time.” Nominees can become Lords and Ladies of Glencoe when they receive a gift sized plot of land that they can actually visit at any time.

Bahlsen Biscuits

An assortment of delicious Bahlsen Biscuits will also be included in this year’s swag bag. Their premium chocolate biscuits and wafers are sustainably sourced and crafted in Germany, and each pack comes with 10 biscuits for recipients to indulge in.

Byroe

Nominees will receive a carefully curated gift set from Byroe, which is a women-led skincare brand that uses their platform to give back and empower women. The nominee gift set includes best-sellers like the Bitter Green Essence Toner, the Tomato Serum, and the Salmon Cream.

Whipped Drinks

This kit contains everything you need to make the perfect whipped coffee at home in just 60 seconds.

Opopop

Opopop created the world’s first Flavor Wrapped Popcorn kernels where each kernel is individually “pre-wrapped” in flavor. Some of their most popular flavors include Fancy Butter, Cinnalicious, Maui Heat, and Lightly Salted, and nominees will get a chance to try these tasty treats.

The current freight recession — coupled with more widespread soft economic conditions — has led some shippers to reassess their transportation strategies. In a low-volume market characterized by volatility, it is not uncommon for companies that typically utilize intermodal transportation to start moving most of their freight over-the-road in order to take advantage of suppressed rates. 

This approach may offer short-term gains, but it can also undermine existing relationships between shippers and intermodal carriers. 

“If intermodal is your main mode of transportation, the long-term negative impact of switching to over-the-road could be felt for years to come as the market swings,” Matt Pavlicek, senior logistics manager for John Soules Foods, said. “Companies get too caught up in chasing the dollar and end up sacrificing the relationship.” 

Pavlicek encouraged companies to remember that the market will eventually tighten. When it does, shippers that walked away from their intermodal carriers during their difficult times may find themselves out of luck. 

While volatile markets are inherently difficult to navigate, they also provide an opportunity for enhanced relationship building between shippers and their transportation partners. 

“During the COVID pandemic and the aftereffects it brought, I never raised my prices with my clients,” Talon Logistics Inc. CEO Emmanuel Carrillo said. “I wanted to demonstrate what a true partnership entails, as we were riding this pandemic together, as your logistics partner and not just a vendor.”

Like most relationships, successful business partnerships are powered by two things: communication and honesty. If both parties are committed to upholding those tenants, they will be able to tackle most challenges — regardless of market conditions.

“I expect an open line of communication from my logistics partners,” Pavlicek said. “I want to be able to build a relationship when everything is operating smoothly and poorly. It makes everyone comfortable enough to have uncomfortable conversations.”

Honesty and integrity are the cornerstones of creating that open line of communication, but choosing the right partners from the beginning is also important.

“Talon was and continues to be built on relationships. What many people fail to realize is that good relationships are based on the human level and not on a transactional basis,” Isaac Castaneda, Talon Logistics’ director of business strategy, said. “When choosing the right logistics partner, it’s crucial to understand the level of transparency in which they operate.”