LUXER ONE BLOG

Navigating Supply Chain Resilience: Luxer One President’s Insights in USA Today’s Article

In a recent USA Today article, “Bridging Disruptions: The Resilient Arc of Supply Chains,” Luxer One’s President, Josh Middlebrooks, provides invaluable insights into the transformative journey of supply chains post-pandemic.

The global upheaval caused by the pandemic tested the pathways delivering consumer products to doorsteps, exposing vulnerabilities in the supply chain. Legislators and businesses, driven by disruptions and consumer dissatisfaction, are now reconsidering and innovating sourcing and delivery methods.

As we approach 2024, the narrative has shifted from merely keeping shelves stocked to proactive innovation and strategic planning, a response to the stark realities faced by the supply chain industry. Bill Catania, Founder & CEO of OneRail, reflects on companies’ immediate crisis response during the pandemic, emphasizing the need for a more deliberate, strategic approach. This shift includes a focus on inventory visibility, multi-carrier transportation, and enhancing the overall customer experience.

A notable transformation highlighted by Catania is the shift towards multi-carrier sourcing and “mode shift,” redirecting both Parcel and Less-than-Truckload volume to alternate networks. This strategic move aims to enhance the final leg of a product’s journey, ensuring timely delivery and creating a safety net against unexpected issues.

Josh Middlebrooks, President of Luxer One, introduces the concept of asynchronous handoffs, describing it as a mechanism where “one party drops something off, safely and securely, for someone else, and they can pick it up at their convenience.” This innovative approach aligns with the industry’s move towards contactless transactions, minimizing risks while ensuring a seamless customer experience. Luxer One leverages smart lockers as handoff points, enhancing safety and convenience in picking up online orders and preventing porch piracy.

Middlebrooks also emphasizes the demise of single-source supply chains, stating unequivocally, “Single source supply chains are dead – full stop.” This sentiment, echoed by industry leaders, signifies a shift towards a diversified supply chain geography, with companies exploring sources beyond China, including countries like Vietnam, Mexico, and Central America.

As we reflect on the journey from the disruptions of 2020 to the strategic adaptations as 2024 looms, the narrative is filled with lessons and forward-looking strategies. Catania and Middlebrooks’ perspectives provide a microcosm of the broader industry evolution, emphasizing the indomitable spirit of innovation propelling the sector towards a resilient future.

Looking ahead, the journey outlined by these experts presents opportunities for new ideas and collaborative efforts to thrive. It necessitates a commitment not only to tackle challenges but also to build a robust, flexible system capable of bouncing back from disruptions.

In Middlebrooks’ words, “one party drops something off, safely and securely, for someone else, and they can pick it up at their convenience,” symbolizes a tale of smart changes gearing up to handle any global hiccups, ensuring we don’t face empty shelves like during COVID again.

Continue watching Luxer One’s blog posts or Linkedin page to get the most up to date information on supply chain and all things package related.

For more information contact us today!

How to Prepare Your Community for Incoming Holiday Package Piles

Holiday cheer is coming, but so are the holiday package piles. Every year, November and December bring a spike in online shopping that puts pressure on even the most organized communities.
Without the right systems in place, this seasonal surge can lead to overwhelmed package rooms, rising operational costs, and frustrated residents. If you’re not planning ahead now, the holidays will plan themselves right into your budget and staff bandwidth.

Luxer Liaison: A New Era of Parcel Room Management in Canada Begins

Luxer One is proud to announce the official launch of Luxer Liaison in Canada, a premium parcel room management service designed to meet the rising demands of multifamily communities. Our first deployment in Toronto, at a Hines-managed property, marks the beginning of a smarter, more secure future for parcel delivery across the country.

How to Solve Carrier Compliance Issues for Multifamily Deliveries

It’s no secret that multifamily communities are seeing more package deliveries than ever before. With that surge comes an equally pressing challenge with carrier compliance. Ensuring that delivery drivers properly use the property’s package management system can feel like an uphill battle. When deliveries bypass the process, whether due to skipped scans, incorrect locker use, or packages left outside secure areas, property teams are left to pick up the slack. If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone.

Beyond the Package Room: The Versatility of Smart Lockers

When people think of smart lockers, they often imagine them in residential buildings, outside retail stores, or in other convenient places to pick up packages or online orders. But smart locker technology has grown far beyond those original use cases. Today, organizations in public-facing industries are discovering that lockers are a flexible, secure, and efficient way to streamline service delivery across a wide range of environments.

How to Choose a Package Management Vendor That Won’t Disappear on You

Choosing the right package management vendor isn’t just a purchasing decision, it’s a long-term investment in resident experience, staff efficiency, and operational success. Unfortunately, too many properties have learned the hard way that not every vendor is built to last.
From non-existent support to unexpected fees and system failures, unreliable partners don’t just cost you time but resident trust. As package delivery volume continues to grow and residents expect faster, smarter service, the risk of choosing the wrong vendor gets even more expensive.
So how do you identify the partners who will still be showing up for your team years after install?

TOPICS