View our Industry Articles & Journals
See below a sample of our Industry Articles and Journal library. More are available exclusively via the ASCLA member portal.
After AI surges through the logistics workforce, what human roles will be left standing?
While automation has long changed the way freight moves, the next wave of AI will significantly redefine the human contribution behind global trade. For freight forwarders and logistics businesses beginning to incorporate AI into their workflow, the near future is exciting. There is major potential for AI to cut costs and time with a wide…
How Automation Is Reshaping Australian Supply Chains in 2025: A Comprehensive Industry Analysis
Australia’s supply chain landscape is undergoing a fundamental transformation in 2025. Automation technologies have moved decisively from experimental implementations to essential operational infrastructure, creating a competitive divide between early adopters and those still approaching automation as a future consideration. The data reveals a stark reality: while some organisations are capturing measurable efficiency gains and cost…
Is the Returns Model Breaking?
Australian retailers are managing an unprecedented volume of product returns, and unlike other cost pressures that fluctuate with economic cycles, the returns challenge appears structural, accelerating, and eating through margins faster than many operators can adapt. The numbers tell a complex story. Online shopping now accounts for over 20% of total retail sales, according to…
Stormy Seas Ahead for Maritime Shipping
US–China trade crossfire set to push up Australian freight costs Global shipping is entering choppy waters again. Two major moves, China’s new fees on US vessels and America’s threat of sanctions tied to climate policy, are colliding in a way that will raise costs across global trade lanes. For Australia, an island nation with a…
Is Port Congestion Back? What’s Different This Time?
Australian ports are once again showing signs of pressure, but unlike 2021, the causes may not be temporary. The queues aren’t stretching out to sea as they did during the pandemic, but early indicators suggest capacity is tightening. Vessel arrival patterns, berth utilisation, and labour availability are all trending in ways that make the system…
Last-Mile is Eating First-Mile Margins
The cost of fast, convenient delivery is chewing through profits across Australia’s supply chains. The promise of free shipping has become a competitive necessity. Same-day delivery is no longer a premium service – it’s an expectation. And while customers celebrate the convenience, someone along the chain is footing the bill. That someone is rarely the…
The Supply Chain Skills Cliff: Today’s Gaps Are Tomorrow’s Crisis
Australia’s supply chain is already short of people. Warehouse labour, truck drivers, and planners are in constant demand. But the next wave of shortages is already building – in data analytics, robotics maintenance, and systems engineering. It’s not just about filling today’s vacancies. As automation, AI, and digital systems reshape supply chains, the industry faces…
Green Pressure vs. Red Ink: Who Pays for Sustainability?
Sustainability is no longer a side issue in supply chain and logistics; it’s front and centre. Reducing emissions, electrifying fleets, and improving warehouse efficiency aren’t just good for the planet; they promise long-term operational resilience and access to new markets. Customers are increasingly conscious of the environmental footprint of the products they buy, and investors…
Why the global rush to make things locally matters for Australia
The world is quietly changing the way it makes and moves things, and Australians are about to feel the consequences. Across the world, governments are looking inward, trying to reduce their reliance on imported goods and bring manufacturing back within their own borders. The most recent and dramatic example comes from the US, with Trump’s…
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