China has used its low-cost advantage to become a world leader in manufacturing. What happens if it sets its sights on distribution, too?
Larry Ravinett, senior vice president of logistics and supply chain solutions for National Retail Systems, a third-party logistics provider, said, ¡®Among the things we do is freight consolidation, and 90% of the product we consolidate is coming from China. So we asked: What¡¯s the purpose of bringing all of this stuff to the U.S., touching it three or four times to send it to a distribution center and put tickets on it, only to ship it back to stores?¡¯
NRS has launched SinoNRS, a joint venture with China¡¯s Sinotrans Group, the country¡¯s largest integrated logistics provider with some 60 million square feet of warehousing space.
SinoNRS plans to offer retailers a solution to reduce distribution expense in the States.
Larry Ravinett says SinoNRS is working to develop Western-style DC¡¯s with a degree of information technology and materials handling automation that is not presently being used in China. He said, ¡®The new buildings we¡¯re building are based on U.S. designs. We will have information technology, automated cross-docking and conveyor-driven distribution centers that are comparable to what we have in the United States.¡¯
These distribution centers are not yet up and running but some retail clients have already committed to the program.
Larry Ravinett said, ¡®When we¡¯re done, we¡¯ll have the capability to bypass a DC and deliver price-ticketed items directly to stores. Or, I¡¯ll be able to take product that has 80% of the work done and send it to a regional DC where it can be stored for replenishment later.¡¯
Some experts believe there are still timing and communication hurdles to overcome before China is a serious threat to the U.S. distribution industry. Experts said the same about China when talking about manufacturing.