Logistics

More information about Amazon's drone delivery program has been released, the Huffington Post reported. The drones will be able to carry a limit of five pounds and can be at customers' doorsteps as fast as 30 minutes. [Huffington Post]

Walmart said it will close 269 stores worldwide this year, including many of its smallest-format stores, in a move that CEO Doug McMillon characterized as being more disciplined about growth. It is one of the largest number of stores closures that Walmart has ever announced at one time.

Amazon.com's China division has registered as an ocean freight forwarder, which will give the e-commerce giant more control over shipping products from Chinese factories to U.S. shoppers, according to Reuters.

Read more by clicking here.

Move over, Amazon, Target and Google – the fresh delivery space is getting a little more crowded.

FreshDirect, the New York-based online provider of custom and prepared grocery items and meals, is launching a mobile one-hour fresh item delivery service.

Amazon is on track to acquire the 75% of the French package-delivery company Colis Privé that it doesn’t already own during the first quartet, according to the Seattle Times. Some analysts believe it’s only the beginning of a move by the Internet giant to eventually launch a package-delivery service that will one day compete with UPS, FedEx and others. [Seattle Times]

Recent rate increases for shipping services by UPS and FedEx and the pending Jan. 17 rate increase for U.S. Postal Service (USPS) shipping services, are challenging businesses -- especially small retailers and e-retailers -- to look for new and innovative solutions to optimize their shipping operations, according to Pitney Bowes.

Here is an update from Pitney Bowes on the latest increase by each major carrier:

UPS
• On December 28, 2015, the rates for UPS Ground services increased an average net 4.9%.

JDA Software Group Inc. is releasing enhancements to its warehouse management solution designed to make it more accessible and responsive to real-time, omnichannel supply chain needs.

To maximize accessibility of warehouse management, JDA is embedding mobility into all aspects of the solution. Thus employees can use the application in any location without a workstation. This allows managers to track and observe employees executing their work on the floor, while allowing warehouse associates to accomplish tasks using touchscreens and visual guides on the floor.

Walmart’s U.K. subsidiary Asda is expanding what customers can do with in-store pickup and return through its new service called toyou.