Amazon is on the verge of having as many robots as human workers in its warehouses, with over one million robots deployed, and its integration of AI aims to further improve efficiency in inventory management and robot operations. This milestone highlights Amazon's significant investment in automation to enhance productivity and address high staff turnover. While automation has created new skilled roles, such as robot technicians, it also raises concerns about workforce reductions.

Graybar-subsidiary Valin has finalized the acquisition of Burns Controls, a Dallas-based supplier of pneumatic, electrical and hydraulic products, to strengthen its motion control and automation solutions portfolio. "With Valin's enhanced resources and support, we can boost our ability to provide innovative solutions to our customers and enhance our legacy of providing unmatched service," says Burns Controls President Pat Burns Jr.

Consumer goods companies including PepsiCo, The Campbell's Company and Mondelez International are expanding their offerings of smaller product sizes to attract budget-conscious consumers amid persistent high food prices and adapt to changing consumer behaviors. The smaller packages help companies compete for shelf space and maintain sales volumes and loyalty, while offering consumers more choices with tiered pricing -- from single-serve options under $1 to family-size packs around $6.

Chief procurement officers and supply chain executives are facing unprecedented challenges amid volatility and uncertainty, prompting a reevaluation of traditional sourcing strategies, write Jonathan Hughes, Ashley Hetrick and Phil Liu with BDO Management Consulting. Strategic sourcing often falls short of its potential, with 45% of expected value unrealized due to adversarial negotiations and implementation issues, according to a study by BDO USA. The study highlights the importance of collaborative negotiation, structured processes and internal alignment to enhance value realization and supply chain resilience.

The trucking sector continues to grapple with sluggish freight demand, reflecting broader economic turbulence. Freight demand in the US trucking industry remains subdued, with the Cass Freight Index showing a 4% year-over-year decline in May. Analysts predict demand will stay relatively flat even during the peak shipping season.

Chief marketing officers are increasingly turning to generative AI to boost revenue and cut costs amid economic uncertainty. Some of the strategies that CMOs are using include tracking competitors, building virtual focus groups, ramping up thought leadership, using a variety of large language models and collaborating with chief information officers. "Right now, growth is top of mind, and AI can be an enabler of it," Black Glass CEO Katie Klumper says.

Your teams spend a lot of time "doing," accomplishing their daily tasks, but business professor Megan Reitz and researcher John Higgins recommend creating a "spacious mode" that gives them time to think, learn, collaborate and innovate. They recommend talking with your team about their ideas instead of their tasks, making conversation the focus of some meetings instead of goals and rewarding team members who spend more time in a spacious mode.

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