Ideas & Insights

Article

Greening the Supply Chain: The Route Towards Net Zero Logistics

Article

AMRs vs. ASRS: which are best for warehouse automation?

Article

Benefits of sustainable logistics for eCommerce businesses

Article

How to stop internet returns causing a Christmas nightmare for retailers

Article

5 ways to improve your logistics processes and reduce transportation costs

Article

How to identify peak trading issues early!

Article

Do you know what your warehouse capacity is?

Article

Has our healthcare and life science supply chain returned to pre-pandemic business as usual?

Article

Five common pitfalls when adding technology to transport operations

Article

Why is my sales forecasting not being run by Artificial Intelligence?

Article

The Do’s and Don’ts of Designing and Building a New Warehouse

Article

Is automation the right move for your operation?

Article

Master data: The key to successful business change implementation

Master data is an often overlooked but key component to organisational efficiency and change. The term covers all core information essential to business operations, such as products, customers, suppliers and […]

Article

Warehouse automation start-ups – how to avoid the common pitfalls

Article

Teal organisations – what are they and how do they affect employees?

Article

Navigating the risks of changing warehouse service providers

Article

“The Click” – the moment your employees start embracing new warehouse processes

Article

A graduate’s guide to thriving at Hatmill

Article

Key performance indicators (KPIs): Do they drive companies in the right direction?

Article

Revamping outdated warehouse automation systems: the challenges and solutions

Article

Winning over the impatient: How to sell the benefits of process improvement

Article

S&OP in retail: Strategic superpower or operational overload?

Article

10 tips to ensure your supply chain programme is implemented successfully

Article

Unlock the full potential of your supply chain with effective planning parameters

Article

The Herculean challenge of decarbonising long haul road freight

Article

Outsourcing: You get the 3PL arrangement you deserve

Article

Top 10 tips for a successful WMS implementation

Amol Deshmukh and Alex Hirst, Consultants at Hatmill, share their top ten tips for a successful WMS implementation. Updating your Warehouse Management System (WMS) can provide significant operational benefits, including […]

Article

International Women’s Day 2024: Why we’re really passionate about inclusion at Hatmill

The theme for this year’s International Women’s Day is Inclusion, something we’re really passionate about at Hatmill. But don’t just take our word for it. We’ve been voted #1 Best […]

Article

A supply chain perspective: the dilemma with customer choice

Hatmill’s Toby Farrance and Liam Lindley discuss the impact of increasing customer choice and the perhaps surprising consequences it has on the supply chain. The Museum of Crisps states there […]

Article

Hatmill sponsors Generation Logistics

In early February, as part of National Apprentice Week, Hatmill’s Simon Dixon and Terry Murphy attended a Parliamentary Reception at the House of Commons to celebrate Generation Logistics.

Article

The critical imports and supply chains strategy: Brexit 2.0

Terry Murphy, a consultant at Hatmill, shares his views on the introduction of The Critical Imports and Supply Chains Strategy together with the impact of Brexit 2.0 and what it […]

Article

Transport planning: ensuring stock is delivered on time

In many ways, logistics is like a theatre show, particularly when we think about operational and transport planning. Paddy MacBrant explains why.

Article

Fantastic soft skills and where to find them

The magical origins of my title might have evaded some readers, but I stand by the mythical analogy.

Article

Leading change: how low morale impacts performance amongst teams

Effective leadership in sports teams makes them function well and develops confidence to compete as a single unit, united in their goal to do what it takes to beat the […]

Article

Working in silos: Why businesses need to burst their bubbles

In busy operational environments, one of the challenges we see that hinders the speed and size of payback from new initiatives is teams working with their heads down. They are […]

Article

Flat organisational structure: our ethos is based on self-management and mutual trust

Hatmill is ranked the No. 1 Best Workplace™ in the Small size category. Founder Simon Dixon explains why.

Article

The journey to net zero is a marathon, not a race

Aaron Thomas, Consultant at Logistics and Supply Chain Consultancy, discusses the urgency of Net Zero, and how to achieve it.

Article

Focusing on capacity & capability to improve your supply chain project results

A vital, yet often forgotten, element of delivering benefits from a project is making sure the organisation as a whole is ready for it.  Projects can be compared to a journey, […]

Article

Q&A with our founder Simon Dixon: Does an organisation without hierarchy really work?

Hatmill is at the forefront of automation in the supply chain and manages projects with a total CAPEX value of over £1.5bn. Clients include Asda, Greggs and Royal Mail. But […]

Article

Starting your career in a company with no hierarchy

Katie Nickmans, Consultant at Hatmill Logistics and Supply Chain, talks to some of the young professionals of Hatmill about their journey into the world of logistics, working at a consultancy […]

Article

8 steps to beat peak retail fatigue

Nik Pamplin suggests eight steps to navigate the difficult peak period, and ensure a successful next season.

Article

Peak trading: Nothing else can drive such terror into the hearts of logisticians

This month, it felt topical to share a couple of articles on the most dreaded of dark arts – planning for peak (and recovering afterwards!). Nothing else can drive such […]

Article

When business forecasts speak a different language

In the battle for top-down versus bottom-up forecasting, the victim is a pragmatic, planning forecast that helps to better plan labour, space and resource. The solution? Purpose-led forecasting.

Article

Why delivery is key in the logistics and supply chain industries

Logistics and supply chain has always been focussed on delivery. As practitioners we are tasked with delivering to our customers on time and in full, within (and preferably under!) budget.

Article

What is the smart way to manage increasing supply chain costs?

Covid, Brexit and the war in Ukraine have brought about a perfect storm for supply chains. Covid has led to seismic changes in shopping behaviour, accelerating online sales by the […]

Article

Supply chains: “For people who don’t know which direction to go, there is only one direction: to stay where they are”

Mehmet Murat ildan is not a supply chain professional, and I doubt he’s been quoted in this publication before, but the contemporary playwright’s commentary on the folly of undirected endeavour […]

Article

How to ensure valuable engagement with automation suppliers from the get-go

The white-hot warehouse automation market may have cooled slightly, but forecasters still expect significant growth – you will need to have a clear, well executed brief to get warehouse automation […]

Article

Change is a constant: speaking at the UKWA Conference

Linzi Parry, Hatmill’s change and transformation expert was asked to moderate the panel session ‘Change is a Constant’ at the recent UKWA Conference. Panellists included: Adam Jones, Carlton Forest Group […]

Article

5S and the warehouse: a practical 5S approach to deliver a best-in-class operating warehouse and workplace

The COVID-19 pandemic crisis has put significant pressure on supply chains – forcing organisations to reassess their warehouse and estate strategy to meet unprecedented demand. Ensuring a world class warehouse […]

Article

Warehouse automation – getting it right

Covid & Brexit are exacerbating labour shortages, companies are looking to automation as an answer

Article

Taking your people with you: Managing process change to accelerate ROI on supply chain and logistics automation

Adapting your supply chain to meet current challenges and be fit for the future is a significant investment; don’t let the change overwhelm your teams.  

Article

Flow rooms: getting more from warehouse automation

A high performing flow room brings rigour and confidence to all aspects of warehouse operations. 

Article

Ask the expert: building resilience in supply chains

Simon Dixon, CEO of Hatmill, looks at how to adapt supply chains and warehouse operations to build resilience in the wake of Covid and Brexit.

Article

Don’t plan warehouse automation in a silo – automation touches every part of your organisation

When you’re thinking about automating your warehouse or supply chain, you’re impacting every part of your organisation, says Terry Murphy, consultant at Hatmill.

Article

Greener transport logistics: 10 things to think about when making your transport logistics operation carbon neutral

Climate Change has been at the forefront of the conversation about transportation and logistics for some time. Change is coming and we all need to be ready for it. With […]

Article

Flexibility is the key to solving supply chain challenges

In conversation with procurement consultancy firm Proxima, Hatmill’s founder Simon Dixon discusses how supply chain challenges posed by COVID-19 and Brexit will continue into 2021. Embracing technology and automation, and […]

Article

How should businesses approach demand forecasting?

A few weeks ago, we published a series of LinkedIn polls to discover more about how organisations approached their demand forecasting.

Article

Pop-up warehousing – creating online shopping fulfilment capacity, and fast

Traditionally supply chains require large budgets and take time to build capacity, but online shopping demands are here with us now. Is this a short-term phenomenon or an emerging trend? […]

Article

Global M5 Competition: Are we forecasting for forecasting’s sake?

Can we apply outcomes from the M5 forecasting competition to real world supply chains?

Article

Building a supply chain network to deliver PPE to the NHS front line

I’ve just finished a 14-week spell working to build a network to deliver PPE to the NHS. I can honestly say it was the hardest yet most rewarding job I […]

Article

Preparing your supply chain for the logistics of Brexit

With many businesses still reeling from the impact of COVID 19 on their supply chains and their business, there’s another major wave coming on the horizon – Brexit.

Article

Demand forecasting after COVID lockdown

Supply chain forum, the Intent Group, held a Covid huddle on managing demand & supply as we move into the next phase of the pandemic and towards a “new normal”. […]

Article

Remobilise your supply chain after Covid lockdowns

There’s no doubt that businesses large and small have been reeling from the impact of COVID-19 and trying to manage the impact on their business. Many are now turning their […]

Article

Forecasting demand post Covid? 3 things management teams should do

Being prepared for life post lockdown is where forecasting becomes paramount. A few connections have been asking me “How can you forecast COVID19?”. And there’s one simple answer: “You can’t!” […]

Article

What is demand forecasting? Plus other common forecasting questions

Why forecast demand? How? And what’s the difference between forecasting and planning? Your questions answered…