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Organic growth and word of mouth can turn an idea into a small business, but paid advertising is often key for scaling up your business over time.

The good news is ecommerce companies have no shortage of online advertising platforms to choose from. That said, it’s likely your advertising platform decision will come down to choosing between the two industry leaders: Google Ads vs. Facebook Ads—which is the best for your business goals?

This article helps you answer that question by giving you a rundown of the pros and cons of both ad platforms.

Google Ads vs. Facebook Ads: similarities and differences

Which online advertising platform is better for your business’s needs? While they offer some similar benefits, you must consider the distinctions when deciding how to spend your ad budget. Here’s how Google Ads and Facebook Ads compare:

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Targeting options

• How they’re similar: Both Google Ads and Facebook Ads offer demographic targeting.
• How they’re different: While Google leans more on keywords to find an ads audience, Facebook taps into its user data to pinpoint a business’s ideal customer.

Ad formats

• How they’re similar: Both ad platforms offer multiple ad formats.
• How they’re different: Google Ads’ most popular ad, the Google search ad, is text-only. Google display ads include an image, but offer less options for creativity. Facebook Ads, however, offer greater flexibility. They are typically more visually driven and include images, videos, and carousels.

What are Google Ads?

Google Ads (formerly Google AdWords) are targeted pay-per-click (PPC) advertisements, so you only pay when someone clicks on your ad. These ads appear on Google searches, the Google Display Network—a group of more than two million websites—and Google properties such as Gmail and YouTube.

How do Google Ads work?

Google Ads offers a variety of ad types, most notably paid search ads, which run text-only on a search engine results page (SERP) based on both relevancy to search words and how much the advertiser paid for those keywords. Other popular ad formats include Google display ads, which are image-based banner ads that appear throughout the Google Display Network, and Google shopping ads, which display a particular product in Google Search results.

Google advertising is targeted, meaning advertisers can focus on their target audience based on search intent by using certain keywords and phrases, and demographic information such as age, gender, location, family status, and household income.

Advantages of using Google Ads

Google Ads offers a variety of targeting options and ad formats, each with their own unique benefits, but the following advantages are its two greatest strengths:

Extensive reach

No matter your target audience, you will likely reach them with Google Ads. Google processes more than 40,000 search queries every second, making up 92% of all search network activity and showing search ads at the top of results. And Google display ads run on the Google Display Network, which reaches more than 90% of the world’s internet users—increasing the chances of a casual browser becoming a potential customer.

Attracting a high purchase intent audience

Google Ads match advertisers to people who search for keywords that are relevant to your business. So, those who click on Google search ads often do so with the intention to learn more or even buy a product. (This is called having a high “purchase intent.”) For example, imagine winter is approaching, and you find your kid has outgrown last year’s puffer coat. You might Google “winter coats for kids,” click on a Google Ad, and make a purchase on the spot.

3 examples of successful Google Ads campaigns

Google Ads offer ecommerce companies a variety of ways to reach their target audience. Consider how these three advertisers use multiple ad types, various landing pages, and competitor keywords and search terms to create successful Google Ads campaigns.

Verve Coffee Roasters

Northern California-founded coffee chain Verve Coffee Roasters makes the most out of its Google search ad copy and landing pages by giving its target audience a variety of compelling options to click. The Verve ad, which appears at the top of its relevant SERP, has four different links, each directing the user to a different landing page: “Save 15% With 5 lbs Bags” highlights a sale, “Best Selling Subscription” promotes its signature offering, and an interactive quiz offers to help you “Find Your Coffee Match.” This multipronged approach encourages different types of potential customers to navigate to parts of the Verve site that most interests them.

Cocofloss

The flavored dental floss brand Cocofloss runs a Google Ads campaign that takes advantage of multiple ad types. Googling “Cocofloss” will result in the company’s Google search ad popping up near the top of the SERP. Type in relevant keywords such as “tasty floss” and “strawberry floss” and you’ll see the company’s Google Shopping ads prominently displayed.

Nectar Sleep

Nectar Sleep, a mattress company, ran an ad campaign where Google search results for competitor Tuft and Needle ranks the Nectar Sleep website and uses eye-catching copy: “Don’t Buy that Other Mattress.” By bidding on its competitor’s name as a search term, Nectar increases the chance for shoppers interested in mattress retailer Tuft & Needle considering its product instead.

What are Facebook Ads?

Facebook Ads are targeted social ads that appear across Meta properties including Facebook and Instagram. These Facebook Ads can include images, carousels (a series of swipeable images), and videos that appear in main feeds, Stories, or Reels on Facebook and Instagram.

How do Facebook Ads work?

Facebook ads show up in social media users’ feeds as they browse Meta apps, including Facebook and Instagram. The ads appear much like regular posts, but have the word “Sponsored” below the profile name when advertisers pay to appear in your feed. Facebook advertising offers advanced targeting options so advertisers can find their target audience based on both demographics—age, gender, location, family status, and household income—and user interests and behavior, including friends, pages they’re interacting with, and other clicked ads.

Facebook Ads offers both PPC campaigns and pay-per-impression (PPM) campaigns, where advertisers are charged per 1,000 impressions.

Advantages of using Facebook Ads

With nearly three billion monthly active users, Facebook is the most trafficked social media platform. This gives Facebook Ads a vast audience and competitive edge over Google Ads in two areas:

Advanced targeting options

Facebook allows advertisers to reach their target audience with a precision not available to other advertising platforms. Their advanced targeting options go beyond (but are inclusive of) standard demographic information like gender, age, location, family status, political leanings, and income. You can target potential customers based on life events like a new job or pet, as well as interests, who they follow, and buyer profiles.

Brand building with memorable ads

The ability to create unique and visually appealing ads is an area where Facebook Ads outperforms Google. As a platform geared toward sharing eye-catching multimedia posts and created with mobile optimization in mind, Facebook offers its users opportunity for vast creativity. Businesses can use a variety of images and videos to create memorable ads that build their brand and meet customers where they are: on social media.

3 examples of successfulFacebook Ads campaigns

Here’s how three ecommerce companies use the engaging visuals of Facebook Ads to successfully reach potential customers.

Rothy’s

Rothy’s is an eco-friendly footwear company with a substantial social media following (more than 300,000 followers on both Instagram and Facebook). In a video ad, it uses a blur filter to obscure a new product in the lead-up to its launch. This striking post builds anticipation and encourages potential customers to return to Rothy’s site for the product unveiling.

Kirrin Finch

Kirrin Finch, an apparel company that creates menswear-inspired pieces designed to fit female and non-binary bodies, often shares photos of happy customers wearing Kirrin Finch clothes at their weddings. This kind of customer feature creates a connection between the brand and audience by demonstrating how impactful Kirrin Finch can be on an important and personal day for their customers. It also offers a positive testimonial to prospective customers.

Cadette

Cadette is an artisanal jewelry brand that emphasizes the craftsmanship that goes into its handmade pieces. It ran an ad on Instagram showing the process of creating one of Cadette’s bestselling pieces. Seeing the care that goes into each necklace can give the product more value in the eyes of the brand’s audience.

When to use Google Ads vs. Facebook Ads

Choosing between Facebook Ads and Google Ads will come down to your company’s audience, industry, and business goals. Typically, Google Ads are better for making sales, while Facebook Ads are better for building brand awareness and connecting with customers.

For example, if your company sells a utilitarian product like space heaters, you might prioritize making sales to new customers who need your product, rather than work on building a loyal following. In that case, you’d probably choose Google Ads.

By comparison, if you run a trendy fashion company that values its cool factor, you might invest more into strengthening your brand and connecting with your audience to convince them your pieces are worth having. In this case, Facebook Ads might be the better choice. While these types of ads may not result in immediate conversions, you could cultivate a loyal customer base over time.

Not long ago, introverts who wanted to earn extra money might have to expend precious social energy on waiting tables or bartending. Today, while those face-to-face jobs can still be great options for extroverts, introverts now have more opportunities to work independently without so much in-person interaction.

With the increased popularity of remote work, there are many ways to leverage your skills from the comfort of home. And for introverts who do want to get out of the house, plenty of other opportunities require little human interaction.

From freelance writing to pet-sitting, a wide array of side hustles are suited to introverts seeking to make extra money and pursue their passions on their own terms.

Top side hustles for introverts

Whether you prefer to work from home or are looking for a side gig to get you out and about, you can earn extra cash with little human interaction. Here are side hustles for introverts to consider:

Grocery or food delivery

Delivering groceries can be an ideal side gig because it allows you to work independently with minimal interaction with others. Grocery delivery drivers enjoy the freedom of setting their own schedules and can balance their side hustle with other commitments. To get started, sign up with popular delivery platforms like Instacart, DoorDash, Uber Eats, or Postmates.

Pet-sitting

If you’re the kind of introvert who prefers the company of animals over people, dog walking or pet-sitting in your spare time could be a great way to earn extra money. It’s a side hustle that offers flexibility, autonomy, minimal human interaction, and the joy of spending time with furry companions.

Signing up with platforms like Rover or Wag can be a good starting point. You can also find potential clients by word of mouth; odds are you have friends and acquaintances with pets that need watching or walking.

House cleaning

Introverts who like working with their hands and seeing tangible results may enjoy house cleaning as a side hustle. This gig can offer flexible scheduling, letting introverts work independently and earn extra cash on their terms. To get into house cleaning, sign up for a platform like Taskrabbit or Thumbtack or offer your services on local social platforms like Nextdoor.

Refurbishing and reselling items

Do you enjoy scouring thrift stores, flea markets, and Facebook Marketplace in pursuit of a great deal? Do you have the woodworking, sewing, or other craft skills to give old furniture or clothing new life? Consider flipping items for resale. Upcycling is a creative and environmentally friendly practice that can be a lucrative side hustle. Spend a few dollars on pieces that inspire you, refurbish them at your own pace, and resell them online for more than you paid.

Selling handmade goods online

If you thrive in the solitude of creative activities such as painting, knitting, or making jewelry, turn your hobby into a side hustle. Whether you make candles or pottery, selling handmade goods online through a Shopify store or Etsy store is a great way to earn extra income on your terms.

Dropshipping

Dropshipping involves storing, packing, and shopping products for online businesses. As a dropshipping business owner, you operate your business from your home, managing sales and customer interactions. Popular product categories for dropshipping include clothing, kitchen goods, and personal-care products.

Photography

Making money from your photos doesn’t always require working with others. Rather than shoot weddings or portraits, sell your photographs to stock photo websites. Selling photos online is an ideal side hustle because it lets you choose your subject matter and capture images at your own pace. Additionally, once uploaded to a platform like Shutterstock or Adobe Stock, your photos can generate passive income over time.

Freelance writing

Introverts can harness their writing skills into a side hustle as a freelance writer. Freelance writing lets you choose projects that align with your preferences, work independently, and make your own schedule. To get started, use freelance websites like Upwork, Freelancer, or Fiverr that provide easy access to freelance opportunities.

Blogging

If you write regularly but don’t want to be beholden to clients’ demands and assignments, you may consider self-publishing your work on your own blog. It can take time to cultivate an audience, but once you do, you can monetize your own website through affiliate marketing and earn commissions by promoting products or services. You can also run ads on your website by signing up for a network such as Google Ads or run a subscription-based model through a platform like Patreon.

Proofreading and editing

All you need to earn money online as an editor is an internet connection and experience refining language and fixing grammar. To get started, offer services on freelance platforms like Upwork or join editing communities such as Editage for networking opportunities.

Graphic design

Freelance graphic design is an excellent side hustle for introverts because it allows creative expression without constant human interaction. Graphic designers can work independently, crafting visual solutions for clients’ needs. To get started, build a portfolio showcasing your designs and skills. Use online platforms like Fiverr, Upwork, or Behance to showcase your work and connect with potential clients.

Video editing

Just like writing, proofreading, and graphic design, you can do freelance video editing. A video editor manipulates and combines video footage, audio, and visual effects to create cohesive and engaging videos for various purposes. Offer your services on a networking platform like LinkedIn and build a website showcasing your skills.

Podcast production

Podcast hosts leverage their social skills to create compelling content, but supporting every charismatic host are editors and producers who maintain the quality and coherence of episodes. Podcast production is a more solitary role that includes planning, recording, and publishing audio content.

Web development

If you have web design, web development, or programming skills, you can leverage them into a lucrative side hustle. Web development services are in high demand, and businesses are often willing to pay good money for freelance work—which you can do remotely.

Social media management

If you’re the kind of introvert who prefers limited face-to-face interaction but doesn’t mind corresponding with others online, freelance social media management might be a good option. Introverts can showcase their digital marketing skills by managing clients’ social media accounts, scheduling posts, and engaging with followers.

Online courses

If you have any skills that others want to learn—such as cooking, gymnastics, or personal finance—you can earn extra income by creating online courses. Unlike live online tutoring, this type of teaching doesn’t require you to directly interact with your students. You can create video lectures, quizzes, and other online resources on platforms such as Udemy, Teachable, or Coursera. Set a price for your course or offer it on a subscription basis.

Virtual assistant

If you have strong organizational skills and are good at handling administrative tasks, you may be able to find a busy professional (on a platform such as Upwork) who will pay for your virtual assistance. As a virtual assistant, you’ll remotely manage your client’s schedule, set reminders, organize meetings, and field emails from your own home.

Virtual bookkeeping

If you have accounting experience, you can start your own bookkeeping business. Financial records of businesses or individuals can typically be managed online, so you can work remotely with little face-to-face interaction.Virtual bookkeepers record their clients’ expenses, income, and other financial data, ensuring accuracy and compliance with accounting standards and tax rules.

Data entry

Data entry jobs involve entering, updating, and managing various types of data in computer systems or databases. Tasks may include typing information from paper documents, entering numerical data, updating records, or transcribing audio files. Data entry jobs require accuracy, attention to detail, and proficient typing skills, and they typically can be managed online.

The average consumer may not need to know the details of consumer products, but the information is critical for business owners, entrepreneurs, and product managers—if they want to create and sell products, that is.

When you have a deep understanding of the ins and outs of consumer products, you’re better positioned to connect with your customers, differentiate your products from competitors, and navigate the consumer goods industry with confidence. Below, we explore the world of consumer products and the different categories they fall under.

What are consumer products?

Consumer products are finished goods individuals or households buy for personal consumption. These products satisfy a wide range of needs and include basic necessities like food and clothing and discretionary items like electronics and home décor.

Types of consumer products

Consumer products can be considered durable goods, nondurable goods, or services:

• Durable goods. Tangible items that can be used repeatedly over an extended period, like furniture, kitchen appliances, and electronics.

• Nondurable goods. Tangible items that are consumed quickly and have a short lifespan, like fresh produce and toilet paper.

• Service goods. Intangible offerings performed by other people—like tutoring or house cleaning—that provide benefits to customers without taking a physical form.

Categories of consumer products

1. Convenience products
2. Shopping products
3. Specialty products
4. Unsought products

Consumer products can be further classified based on certain factors like consumer behavior, tangibility, and purchase frequency. Here are the four different categories of consumer products:

1. Convenience products

Convenience products are everyday items that make up a large percentage of retail sales. Consumers frequently purchase these retail items with minimal effort or comparison shopping. These products are typically inexpensive, widely available, and have short lifespans.

People often buy convenience products on impulse or out of habit. This category of consumer spending includes packaged goods like laundry detergent, snack foods, toiletries, and other household essentials from local retailers, direct-to-consumer packaged goods companies, and online stores.

2. Shopping products

Consumers invest more time and effort when purchasing shopping products compared to convenience products. They buy these durable goods less frequently, so they often do more research before making a decision. Examples of these types of goods include clothing, electronics, furniture, and appliances.

Buyers consider factors such as quality, style, price, reputation, and brand values when evaluating shopping products. For instance, when purchasing a new tablet, a customer might consider the quality of its digital capabilities like display resolution, processor speed, battery life, and storage capacity. Similarly, a shopper might look up online reviews to ensure a furniture company has no ongoing supply chain challenges that could delay the delivery of their new couch.

3. Specialty products

Specialty products are unique items that appeal to a niche market. Consumers are willing to spend significant time and effort researching these products before making a purchase. Examples of specialty products include luxury goods, collectibles, and sports cars—although specialty products aren’t always exorbitant in price.

Take the toothpaste tablet produced by Bite, an eco-friendly personal hygiene brand. Founder Lindsay McCormick started Bite in an effort to eliminate plastic toothpaste tubes and appeal to a niche audience interested in sustainability. “I saw something that didn’t make sense to me when I started looking into toothpaste: It comes in a plastic tube, and there’s a bunch of harsh chemicals, artificial flavors, and ingredients that come in it,” McCormick says on the Shopify Masters podcast. “I could make something that’s better for the planet and better for our bodies.”

Specialty products often have higher pricing and are distributed through exclusive channels, such as high-end boutiques. For instance, Bite is sold in Erewhon Market, an upscale supermarket chain in Los Angeles. To maintain customer loyalty, the manufacturers and retailers of these products focus on creating a strong brand identity and delivering exceptional quality to drive profitable growth and compete with less expensive competitors.

4. Unsought products

Unsought products are items or services consumers do not actively seek out or are unaware of until they need them. Consumers often purchase these goods in anticipation of emergencies—like life insurance policies or hurricane survival kits. In some cases, unsought products may be items that consumers actively avoid, like a root canal or funeral arrangements.

Most of us who watch YouTube videos have a vague idea of how money flows through the platform. We see YouTube ads at the beginning of videos, in the sidebars, and in sponsored slots on the homepage. But how much do YouTube creators make when these ads appear in videos? It’s more complicated than you might think.

Learn about how YouTube pays creators and how YouTubers can earn money without having to get it directly from the platform.

Does YouTube pay per view?

No, YouTube doesn’t directly pay per video view. The primary way for creators to earn money is through ad views displayed before, during, or after their videos.

A video view, a key metric for YouTubers, is whenever someone watches a YouTube video, regardless of how long they watch it. A high view count can indicate the popularity of a video and potentially attract viewers, advertisers, and sponsors.

However, it’s up to the creator to join the YouTube Partner Program (YPP) to earn ad revenue from their YouTube videos. The amount a YouTuber earns per ad view can vary depending on several factors, such as the type of ad, the audience location, and the advertiser’s budget.

How much money does YouTube pay per ad view?

YouTube doesn’t have a fixed rate for ad views. How much a YouTuber makes per ad view can vary significantly depending on audience demographics, audience locations, ad blocker usage, channel size, and engagement metrics. Most estimates put the average earnings per ad view at 1¢ to 3¢. Videos with higher engagement, such as likes, comments, and longer watch times, are more attractive to advertisers, potentially leading to higher payouts per ad view.

How to get paid for ad revenue on YouTube

Joining the YPP is the key to earning ad revenue on YouTube. The eligibility requirements include:

• Having at least 1,000 subscribers to your channel

• Accumulating 4,000 valid public watch hours within the past year

• Linking an AdSense account to receive payments for ad revenue generated on your videos

Once you meet the requirements, you can apply for YPP within YouTube Studio. YouTube will review your channel to ensure it complies with its policies, but be aware that this process can take some time. If your application is approved, you’ll receive a notification from YouTube and gain access to monetization features.

Other ways YouTubers can make money

While YouTube ad revenue can be a steady way to make money, it can take time to build the requisite audience. Explore these alternatives to diversify your income streams and build a sustainable career on the platform:

Affiliate marketing

With affiliate marketing, you promote products relevant to your content and create passive income streams via affiliate links posted on your profile or in the descriptions of your videos. You earn a commission whenever someone purchases something through your links. Finding high-quality products and building trust with your audience are the keys to successful affiliate marketing.

Brand partnerships and sponsorships

Sponsorships can provide a fixed fee or revenue sharing based on performance metrics. Partner with brands relevant to your niche to promote their products or services within your videos. Do this through product placements, sponsored segments, or dedicated review videos. Brands typically look for YouTubers with an engaged audience that aligns with their target demographic.

Livestreams

Livestreaming allows for real-time interaction with your audience and the potential to generate income through paid features. It can be a fun and engaging way to connect with viewers and create a sense of community. Use YouTube Live or other livestreaming platforms that offer paid features like Super Chat (which lets viewers pay to highlight their messages in a livestream chat) and Super Stickers (which let viewers send animated stickers in the chat).

Merchandise

If you sell merch, you can build a steady income stream and strengthen your connection with your audience. Unique merch also lets you monetize your creativity and brand beyond just video content. Consider dropshipping branded products such as t-shirts, mugs, or phone cases. And, of course, you can leverage your YouTube channel to promote your merchandise.

Channel memberships

Youtube channel memberships can generate a recurring income stream directly from your most loyal viewers. You can offer exclusive content, early access to videos, or other perks. For each membership you sell, YouTube takes a percentage of the revenue. Creators can manage their memberships through YouTube Studio.

YouTube Shorts

YouTube Shorts is the short-form section of YouTube, showcasing videos less than 60 seconds long with various features for user interaction. Similar to regular YouTube videos, there are a few ways YouTubers can make money on YouTube Shorts, and once again, none involve direct payment for watch views. The best way YouTube stars can monetize YouTube Shorts is through brand partnerships and promoted product reviews.

Consider the journey of a couch from its raw materials to the customer’s living room. Leather, wood, and foam are sourced, manufactured into a couch, which is stored in a warehouse. The product is then shipped to distribution centers and finally delivered to the customer.

This process requires precise coordination among suppliers, manufacturers, logistics providers, and retailers. With so many steps and parties involved, inefficiencies arise, like data entry errors, lack of real-time visibility into inventory levels, and unoptimized transportation routes. Thankfully, supply chain automation can help reduce these faults.

Here are the benefits of supply chain automation and strategies you can apply across your various supply chain functions to improve operations and efficiency.

What is supply chain automation?

Supply chain automation refers to the technology used to execute repetitive tasks in the supply chain without human intervention. This can include software, robotics, and artificial intelligence to manage and coordinate the flow of goods from suppliers to customers. The goal is to boost speed, reduce errors, and lower operational costs while improving overall productivity.

A supply chain is the network of all the individuals, organizations, resources, activities, and technology involved in the creation and sale of a product, from raw materials procurement to customer delivery. While supply chains improve efficiency, they’re not without their problems.

Supply chain challenges

A supply chain disruption is any event interrupting the normal flow of goods and materials within the chain. These can occur at any stage, from production to delivery. Here are some key challenges:

Workforce shortages

Workforce shortages can disrupt supply chain operations, leading to delays in production and distribution. Insufficient staffing can directly impact your business’s capacity to meet delivery timelines.

Companies see an increase in workforce shortages when there are more jobs and fewer people willing to take those jobs. This leads to increased competition for workers, wage inflation, and creating supply chain bottlenecks.

Global epidemics

Epidemics can significantly disrupt global supply chains, impacting everything from raw material procurement to consumer delivery. Widespread lockdowns and sick workers can lead to abrupt halts and inefficiencies across the entire supply chain. In the case of the COVID-19 pandemic, the enduring effects included semiconductor chip shortages that rippled through industries from automotive to electronics.

Geopolitical tensions

Geopolitical tensions can significantly disrupt global supply chains, leading to market volatility and increased transportation costs.

For instance, the ongoing trade tensions between the US and China, exacerbated by tariffs and restrictions, complicate supply chain management for companies relying on cross-Pacific trade. The war in Ukraine has also disrupted global energy and grain markets, forcing businesses to navigate shortages and seek alternative suppliers and routes. Finding alternatives requires significant time and resources, further taxing companies and potentially delaying their operations.

Rising operational costs

Elevated raw material prices, higher wages, and increased freight rates are inflating operational costs, complicating supply chain management processes. As a result, companies face pressure to adapt their logistics strategies and sourcing decisions to offset rising expenses.

This trend affects industries reliant on international shipping and labor-intensive manufacturing processes. These businesses are more susceptible to cost fluctuations in transportation and labor, which directly impact their production and distribution expenses.

Regulation changes

Regulation changes, like environmental laws and trade policies, continually reshape supply chain management processes. For example, when the EU enforced stricter emissions standards, companies were required to revise their logistics to meet the regulations. These shifts often increase compliance costs and require significant adjustments across global supply chains to uphold legal requirements and market presence.

Benefits of supply chain automation

Automating supply chain processes offers numerous benefits:

Automate manual tasks

Supply chain automation tools use automation technology to streamline manual tasks like data entry, inventory tracking, and order fulfillment. This can help minimize human errors and speed up these processes, allowing your workforce to focus on higher-level activities, boosting overall productivity.

Enhance supply chain transparency

Supply chain automation enables real-time tracking and visibility into every aspect of the supply chain. For instance, by integrating Internet of Things (IoT) sensors and RFID tags, you can monitor the location and condition of goods in transit.

This additional visibility lets you monitor order status, shipment tracking, and supplier performance, providing insights into where delays or inefficiencies occur and why. This detailed insight leads to better decision-making, as it helps ensure resources are allocated efficiently and customer demands are met quickly.

Increase operational flexibility

Supply chain automation allows for quick changes in production and distribution to respond to varying market conditions.

For example, if demand unexpectedly rises, automated systems can instantly adjust order volumes and update distribution strategies to meet the new demand. This quick response helps prevent both stockouts and excess, ensuring the supply chain operates smoothly despite fluctuations.

Reduce operational expenses

Supply chain automation can help minimize human errors, thereby preventing costly corrections and delays. For instance, automation technologies ensure accurate stock records through automated order entry, preventing excess inventory purchases, and reducing waste by identifying items nearing expiration through automated tracking.

Additionally, automation strategies like optimized route planning and load scheduling cut fuel costs and improve vehicle use. For example, automated route planning selects the most efficient paths for deliveries, reducing travel time and fuel consumption. Automated load scheduling ensures trucks are fully used, maximizing cargo space and minimizing the number of trips.

Improve customer satisfaction

Supply chain automation improves order accuracy, speeds up fulfillment, and improves inventory management, all of which elevate customer satisfaction. By tracking what customers buy, you can anticipate demand and make sure products are ready to ship as soon as they’re ordered. This speeds up delivery and makes the shopping experience better.

These improvements ensure customers receive their orders promptly and accurately, making customers happy and reducing complaints and returns.

Supply chain processes to automate

There are plenty of benefits to automating supply chain operations. If you’re not sure where to start, here are some critical areas to consider:

Warehouse automation

Warehouse automation transforms your operations through a warehouse management system (WMS) that can optimize inventory tracking, order fulfillment, and labor management. By integrating this system with an automated storage and retrieval system (AS/RS), your warehouse can streamline material handling, reduce manual labor, and better use vertical space.

You can also deploy autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) to automate goods-to-person picking, improving efficiency, accuracy, and worker productivity in your warehouse operations.

Back-office automation 

To streamline your back-office and administrative supply chain tasks, implement robotic process automation (RPA) solutions. Implementing RPA involves setting up software-based robots to handle tasks within digital systems, streamlining operations without the need for physical machinery. These tools can automate repetitive and rule-based processes, like data entry, invoice processing, and order management, freeing up your staff to focus on more strategic initiatives.

You might consider integrating your RPA with artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) technologies to automate complex supply chain tasks, like demand forecasting, inventory optimization, and supplier risk assessment. Adopt cloud-based collaboration and workflow management tools to improve communication and coordination among your supply chain teams, which can speed up administrative tasks across your organization.

Transportation automation 

To improve supply chain agility and optimize your transportation business processes, leverage transportation management systems (TMS) that offer real-time visibility, route optimization, and automated carrier selection. These systems can reduce transportation costs, make data-based decisions, and quickly adapt to changing market conditions.

Integrate your TMS with real-time tracking solutions to monitor shipment progress, automate alerts for delays or disruptions, and proactively communicate with carriers and customers, ensuring a responsive and efficient transportation network.

Inventory automation

To automate inventory management and efficiently handle supply chain tasks, start by implementing inventory management software that integrates with your enterprise resource planning (ERP) tool and WMS. This integration offers real-time visibility into stock levels, tracks inventory movement, and optimizes reorder points based on demand forecasting and supplier lead times.

Additionally, incorporate IoT sensors and RFID technology to further automate inventory tracking. These technologies monitor storage conditions and enable real-time asset tracking, reducing manual work and improving inventory accuracy.

Consider adopting advanced analytics solutions to analyze inventory data. These tools can predict potential stockouts or overstock incidents by automatically adjusting inventory levels based on market trends and customer demand patterns.

Customer service automation

To streamline customer service processes and reduce time-consuming tasks, implement an AI chatbot solution. This handles routine inquiries, freeing up your customer service team to focus on more personalized support.

Integrate your chatbot with your customer relationship management (CRM) tool and order management systems to provide real-time order status updates, shipment tracking information, and proactive notifications to customers. This improves transparency and reduces the volume of inbound customer queries.

These advanced tools can analyze customer interactions to identify common pain points or frequently asked questions.

Imagine three friends, all avid cyclists, who decide to start a business making bicycles. They have conducted market research and expect the US bicycle market to increase in size during the next several years. They’re considering setting up a manufacturing business, not just a makeshift workshop in the back of a bike store. To do this, they need to start production planning—an essential component of the manufacturing process.

What is production planning?

Production planning is part of a manufacturing strategy that details how much capital, labor, raw materials, and manufacturing space a company needs to make enough goods to meet customer demand. The production planning process also helps a business see where problems might occur, determine how to solve them, and keep producing on schedule for delivery to buyers.

Production planning organizes all aspects of manufacturing while improving communication and cooperation among employees, suppliers, and contractors. It also helps with the efficient allocation of resources, reducing costs, and managing the supply chain.

Production planning vs. production scheduling

Production planning and production scheduling are both steps in the production process, but they are different. Production planning determines what and how much a company produces, while scheduling, a part of the planning process, determines when and by whom various production tasks are completed.

Production planning methods

The various types of production processes depend on product type and scale. Some are intermittent processes, with periods when a company produces nothing, while others are continuous, where production is rarely or never interrupted. Some of the most common production planning methods include:

Job method

The job method, also known as the project method or shop method, is usually for making a single product with unique features. Smaller examples of job-method production are made-to-order furniture, custom-tailored clothing, and one-of-a-kind jewelry pieces. On the larger side, this could be a custom home or yacht.

Job production is typically a labor-intensiveproduction process, and each unit is different. It’s the opposite of mass production, where companies make large quantities of uniform products through automated processes at lower cost. Also unlike mass production, there are commonly no economies of scale, because each job and each product is different rather than the same.

Batch method

Batch production is the manufacturing of identical goods in groups. Examples of batch production include baked goods, basic clothing such as t-shirts and socks, and print publications such as newspapers and books.

The batch production planning process focuses on determining the right amount of output, avoiding overproduction or underproduction. A sock manufacturer, for instance, doesn’t want to produce 1,000 pairs when there’s demand for only 500.

For some businesses, batch production can increase efficiency. The sock maker might set the machinery to produce 500 pairs of black socks, then quickly switch to a batch of 500 gray pairs, and switch again to 500 dark blue pairs, knowing those are the three most popular sock colors. A batch manufacturer wants to minimize changeover time between batches because delays and bottlenecks between product runs can become costly.

Flow or mass-production method

Flow production, also called mass production, is a manufacturing process for standardized goods defined by the continuous movement, or flow, along a factory assembly line. This is generally an automated process with minimal human intervention, which makes it quick and cost-effective compared with job or batch production. An automotive plant is a good example; car or truck assembly flows through various steps on the production line toward completion. Processed foods, such as canned soup or even bread, are another example.

Setting up this type of production process requires a significant capital investment, generally limiting its use to larger companies.

The two main principles of flow production are extensive automation and division of labor—each employee has a specific task in the production process. This differs from batch or job production, where employees may handle multiple tasks.

Process method

The process method is similar to the flow method—both use continuous production. A key difference is that process production typically uses raw materials to turn out bulk goods or commodity goods, such as liquids and gasses, rather than discrete products such as individual cars or cans of food. Refined oil products and chemicals are examples of process products.

Careful planning for process manufacturing is essential because of the potential for overproduction or underproduction.

How to make a production plan

1. Forecast demand
2. Make a budget
3. Create a production sequence
4. Set a production schedule
5. Control and evaluation

The production planning process involves developing a comprehensive overview of your business. Here are the key steps in putting together a production plan:

1. Forecast demand

Start by estimating production requirements based on predicted customer demand. Historical sales data can help with demand forecasting, but you’ll also need to consider other factors that can affect demand, such as recent market trends and how economic conditions affect your customer base. Market research can help you predict whether demand for your product is changing, and this can influence your production plans.

Production planning software for demand forecasting can help guide your decisions about matching production and demand. The software also typically tracks inventory, which can influence your planning for producing new goods.

2. Make a budget

Budgeting helps to identify the cost of resources needed to produce your desired output. This includes materials, facilities, and workers. Your current production capacity—the maximum you could reasonably produce with available staff, materials, and facilities—will inform your production plan.

3. Create a production sequence

Mapping out the production process and the steps required to produce your goods includes buying any necessary equipment and tools—or outside services. Depending on the type of production, some steps in the process may be done simultaneously, some must be done one at a time, and others may be outsourced.

Production planners can also use the production sequencing phase to prepare for contingencies such as equipment breakdowns, staff shortages, or supply interruptions.

4. Set a production schedule

Production scheduling is where you assign tasks to your various employees or teams, communicate the production plan to everyone involved, and set timelines for each stage of production.

Create a detailed production schedule that spells out how the company will execute the plan, including the resources and timing for each step. Production schedules keep manufacturing on pace and help a company avoid common production planning mistakes, such as overproducing or underproducing.

5. Control and evaluation

Once production starts, you’ll need to track performance and continually compare it to targets described in the production plan. Key performance indicators (KPIs) are the most relevant measures to track. In the case of a manufacturer, they can include the rate of production, such as the number of cars assembled per day and downtime, or the amount of time when nothing is being produced.

Carefully monitoring the production process can help you detect any issues and correct them quickly. It may also help you see ways to improve the manufacturing process after production starts, letting you build in some wiggle room for equipment breakdowns, supply-chain disruptions, or product defects.

Companies find success when their products’ features solve their customers’ problems. To develop and define product features, you must first understand the problem that needs solving. Once you’ve identified the problem, you can then explore ways to provide a useful solution. Finally, you’ll work to find the best way to communicate that feature’s functionality to your customer.

Product features belong at the forefront of your business strategy. Developing features that solve customer needs will help you achieve your company’s business goals and strategic objectives.

What is a product feature?

A product feature refers to a characteristic of a product that offers value to customers. There are multiple features that give a product value, including design and functionality—all of which help a product stand out and satisfy potential customers.

Product feature vs. product benefit

While product features and product benefits are related—and both ladder up to customer satisfaction—they’re not the same thing. The former are specific, tangible attributes that add value or utility to the product. Product benefits, on the other hand, are what your customer gains from using the product. Understanding this key difference can help you communicate your product’s value to potential customers.

For example, let’s say you’re selling a portable audio recorder. In response to customer feedback, one of the new key features of the product is long battery life. If the battery life is the specific feature, the benefits describe the customer’s ability to use the product for a longer period of time without charging. Another benefit could be the end user’s ability to record longer audio clips. Again, the benefit reflects the customer experience of using the product, while the feature reflects something in the product itself.

Types of product features

Product features often fall into these categories:

Quality

A product’s quality can refer to both its durability and reputation. High-quality products function as intended. They may also be crafted with enduring materials. Earning a reputation as a high quality product is good for business, as it can build customer loyalty. Quality can also refer to the perceived value of a specific product; when something is known as high quality, many customers are willing to pay a higher price tag.

Aesthetics

The aesthetics of the product primarily include tactile and visual characteristics—aspects of the product designed to enhance a user’s interaction with the product, whether that is how it looks or how it feels during use. For example, a kitchen appliance that has an appealing minimalist design, or a pen that has a comfortable weight and shape.

Functionality

Functional features add utility and address a customer’s pain points. A product’s core functionalities allow it tomeet customer needs. A dress with pockets has functionality, for example, as does a blender with an assortment of interchangeable blades.

Example of a product feature

In 2015 Vicky Pasche founded the company Dapper Boi, a body inclusive and gender-neutral fashion brand. Vicky built the company around prioritizing product features meant to fulfill a customer need that not many companies addressed at the time.

Vicky says her product vision centered on functional pockets—a tangible feature—in her product offering because many customers were unhappy with clothing that had decorative pockets instead of deep, useful ones. In a clear way, she ensured her products’ features aligned with her customers’ needs.

“It shouldn’t be revolutionary to have functional pockets,” she says in an interview on Shopify Masters. With a simple feature add, the founder uncovered a way to offer a product that fixed that problem. Dapper Boi identified a customer need and decided to prioritize product features that would benefit the customers.

Next, the brand focused on other elements to ensure their customer needs were represented in their product features. Vicky saw that other companies were not offering sizes that fit a variety of body types, so she set out to develop a body-inclusive fashion company to meet a need for a wider selection of sizing.

A third product feature Dapper Boi offered was gender-neutral clothing. In more traditional fashion brands, items often are starkly gendered. Dapper Boi identified a potential market of customers who wanted access to non-gendered clothing. Prioritizing features that solved a customer need allowed the brand to fill a market gap.

How to develop product features

1. Research the market
2. Understand customer needs
3. Design your product
4. Market your product

While there are several ways to develop product features, all of them require some basic product planning, including understanding your target audience, your current customer, your competitors, and the market you intend to enter. There are four broad steps you can take to create valuable product attributes:

1. Research the market

Market research involves identifying market trends and gleaning information on what your company can provide that no other company is offering. Conduct competitor analysis to identify market gaps. Once you’ve studied your competitors, compare product features and figure out how to differentiate your product offerings. What customer pain points are not currently being addressed? How can you align features with customer needs?

For example, if you sell sunhats and find that customers are unsatisfied with the quality of materials your competitor is using, a product feature you could develop is the use of sturdier, more durable materials. It’s especially important to identify your customers’ needs. Once you do that, you’ll develop these features into your product.

2. Understand customer needs

To develop product features, you need to understand what your customer wants. This can start with a single customer’s actions, like observing how they struggle with a specific part of an existing product. Next, perform user research, listen to user feedback, and conduct empathy interviews, which are in-depth, one-on-one interviews with a potential customer. From there, you can develop a user story. User stories help you understand what the user wants and needs to achieve with your product.

3. Design your product

Now that you’ve collected user data and studied the market, you can incorporate features into your product design that were previously absent. During the product design process, you’ll create and test prototypes and perform user testing before settling on a final version of the product. From there, you’ll work with your manufacturer to produce your product at scale.

4. Market your product

Once you’ve developed your product’s unique features, you’ll refine your marketing strategies to communicate how your product uniquely meets customer needs. Even if your product is very similar to another product, developing features that solve customer problems in new ways can help differentiate your product from others.

When you’re running an ecommerce business, it’s natural to want to spend all your time and energy making sales—but your work doesn’t end when a site visitor buys something. You still have to assemble the order, pack it, ship it, and ensure it lands at your customer’s door.

If you offer subscription options, the process is ongoing. Every new subscriber represents a theoretically infinite number of deliveries you need to assemble and deliver on time.

Here’s what you need to know about getting subscription boxes to customers—including insider tips from Britt Martin, head of partnerships at the custom sustainable packaging provider Arka and cofounder of subscription business Food Period.

What is subscription box fulfillment?

Subscription box fulfillment is the process of delivering orders to customers who have signed up for recurring shipments. It includes inventory management, return management, packing and shipping orders, and handling customer service issues.

Types of subscription box fulfillment

Whether you handle orders in-house or partner with a subscription fulfillment services provider, the subscription fulfillment process follows the same basic pattern. The key difference is who executes the necessary steps. Here’s a breakdown:

In-house fulfillment

If you do your own fulfillment, you’ll need to store inventory, receive orders in your online system, pack boxes, make and apply shipping labels, and ship packages through your carrier of choice. You’ll also be responsible for receiving returned merchandise, restocking or recycling products, and processing refunds.

Shopify customers can streamline these processes by purchasing and printing discounted shipping labels from Shopify Shipping and enabling self-serve returns from the Shopify admin dashboard.

Outsourced fulfillment

Should you opt for outsourcing, your fulfillment provider will hold inventory at one of their subscription fulfillment centers and receive orders from your online store—typically by using an ecommerce platform integration. They will then pack, label, and ship your boxes, process returns, and handle customer service.

You can use the Shopify Fulfillment Network app to sign up with Shopify’s fulfillment partner, Flexport, and monitor stock levels, transfer inventory, track orders and returns, and review fulfillment metrics.

Challenges of subscription box fulfillment

Fulfilling any type of ecommerce order can be challenging, but subscription box fulfillment is particularly complex. “With subscriptions, there’s often a specific customer journey,” says Britt. “Fulfilling à la carte orders is much easier.”

Britt cites changing product assortments, variable package styles, and the need to onboard new subscribers mid-cycle as three unique challenges subscription ecommerce business owners face. Here’s an overview of each:

Complex product assortments

Subscription box assortments allow companies to deliver unique, branded experiences. “What I love about a subscription box is that you’re able to actually take your customer on a journey through each box,” Britt says. This can be challenging for retailers.

Boxes often contain multiple products, and many companies vary package contents month to month or personalize assortments based on factors like customer preference, season, subscription type, or number of previous deliveries.

While this is great for your customers, it can complicate quality control. Providing curated subscription boxes based on multiple overlapping criteria requires care in determining what each package should contain. Sending a large volume and variety of products increases the time needed to ensure each shipment is correct.

Custom packaging requirements

Using branded boxes can provide a unique customer experience and boost customer loyalty. “Packaging is your first physical touchpoint with a new customer and your continued touchpoint with a subscriber,” Britt says. “When you think about marketing from a retention perspective or a referral or upsell perspective—the box and the packaging is really an opportunity.”

But it can also raise costs and limit your outsourcing to companies willing to work with your packaging provider. A business that sends a subscription customer’s first shipment in a box labeled “Welcome” and a second shipment in a box labeled “Get to know us,” for example, will need to identify the correct items for each order and monitor inventory levels across multiple packaging assets.

Delivery timing

Unlike à la carte items—which ship soon after an order is placed—subscription services involve recurring deliverieson a set schedule.

Your specific challenges will depend on the model you choose. If you ship all of your orders at the same time each month, for example, you may run into bottlenecks. If you stagger shipments—e.g., to correspond with a customer’s sign-up date—you’ll have a more consistent fulfillment workflow, but you’ll also need to manage different deadlines for each customer. Some businesses also let subscription customers pick specific delivery dates, which also leaves you juggling many different deadlines.

Should you outsource subscription box fulfillment?

1. Order volume
2. Customization requirements
3. Business resources

Britt recommends that all subscription box businesses initially handle fulfillment in-house. “If you haven’t kind of gone through all the pain points and made the mistakes yourself,” she says, “you’re never going to be able to teach someone else how your orders need to be fulfilled.”

Once you’re experienced enough to manage a third-party fulfillment provider, you can evaluate your options. Here are three factors to keep in mind:

1. Order volume

Outsourcing generally becomes more cost-effective as order volumes grow. Most fulfillment companies offer reduced shipping costs and pallet storage rates to customers with higher order volumes, and some require businesses to meet monthly minimums.

2. Customization requirements

The right provider for your business can handle the intricacies of your subscription model—and the more complex your shipments, the more you’ll need to pay for quality service. If your customers expect a handwritten note and a varied selection of products, you may struggle to find an affordable provider that meets your needs. If all of your customers get the same four bottles of wine at the same time each month, you’ll have an easier time finding a fit.

3. Business resources

Outsourcing fulfillment costs money, and fulfilling orders internally takes time, so consider your available resources. If you’re overstaffed, you might ask employees to help with fulfillment to make better use of your internal resources. If you’re flush with cash but short on time, you might outsource fulfillment and focus more on growing your business.

What to look for in subscription box fulfillment services

A good subscription box fulfillment company helps you save money, delivers quality customer experiences, and frees you up to focus on business growth. Consider these criteria as you research options:

Subscription box experience

Britt recommends finding a service provider with extensive subscription box order experience. “The key is finding a fulfillment partner that’s well-versed in subscription,” she says. “It’s not the same as fulfillment for à la carte purchases, so you need a provider that can understand and customize the fulfillment process to your unique product.”

Ecommerce platform integrations

Confirm that a fulfillment provider can integrate its data management systems with your online store. Many providers use software systems that are compatible with leading ecommerce platforms, which eliminates the need to transfer order information and reduces the risk of error. Integrations also let you sync customer data and inventory information.

Custom packaging options

Britt suggests inquiring about packaging, adding that many fulfillment companies prefer to use unbranded packaging. “The best fulfillment partners are the ones that can see that, for subscription companies in particular, retention and the customer experience are way more important than making a couple cents on unbranded boxes,” she says. Britt also recommends choosing a provider with a strong existing relationship with a custom packaging company.

Customer service

You’re trusting your fulfillment service provider with a critical part of your business, so look for a company that will respond to you and your customers quickly. Pay attention to how the company communicates during the sales process and ask who will manage your account, how to contact them, and what to do if you have a problem. You can also read reviews from business clients and end consumers to get a sense of the provider’s customer service performance.

Sustainability

Britt also recommends choosing a company that offers sustainable packaging and shipping options. “There’s an increasing focus—especially with Gen Z consumers—on sustainability,” she says, adding that wasteful practices such as shipping small items in oversized packages erode consumer confidence. You can boost loyalty and reduce shipping costs by selecting a partner with a sustainability plan in place.

Warehouse locations

Warehousing products closer to end users can lower shipping costs and cut emissions, so look for a partner with a warehouse located near your largest customer groups. If you service a distributed customer base or plan to expand into a new market, consider a provider with multiple locations.

Retirement doesn’t mean you have to bid farewell to paid work. In fact, many retirees find fulfillment and financial security through side hustles. These ventures not only provide supplemental income but also offer opportunities for continued engagement, social interaction, and personal growth. From consulting and teaching to pet sitting and working retail, the options are as diverse as retirees themselves.

Best side hustles for retirees

Retirees looking to pursue their passions while earning a little extra money have various options. Here are some of the best side hustle ideas to consider:

Pet sitter

For animal-loving retirees,pet sitting can let you enjoy the companionship of furry friends while earning extra income. The flexible hours can also accommodate your schedule so you can balance leisure time with work.

Delivery driver

Being a delivery driver can offer social interaction, the chance to explore different neighborhoods, and a flexible schedule. The job has few requirements, mainly a valid driver’s license and the ability to lift packages.

Tour guide

Becoming a tour guide can be rewarding, especially if you’re passionate about your local community. While staying active, you can foster social connections as you share interesting facts about your city or town.

Freelance writer

Freelance writing is ideal for those who want to work from the comfort of their own homes. Retirees have plenty of options; they can work with newspapers, journals, content agencies, and more to take on varied assignments like features, reviews, and website copy. They can pitch editors or have clients assign them stories that cater to a target audience.

Teacher

If you have a teaching background, you can continue your life’s work at a more leisurely pace. Share your expertise remotely with students worldwide through online tutoring. Provide valuable classroom support as a substitute teacher. Or explore part-time roles at community colleges.

Consultant

If you loved your career, leverage your decades of experience to create a part-time consulting business. Lean on your professional network to build a client base of businesses seeking your expertise. Consulting lets you stay connected with the working world, contribute meaningfully, and earn money while setting your own pace and schedule.

Rent extra space

Renting extra space is a great way to earn passive income. Whether you have a spare room or an entire home you aren’t occupying, consider using online marketplaces, such as Airbnb or Vrbo (for short-term rentals), or Zillow or Craigslist (for long-term rentals), to connect with people who might want to rent your space.

Sell handmade goods

Retirees passionate about arts and crafts can sell their handmade goods to earn extra money. Artists who enjoy making in-person connections can sell their DIY pieces at craft fairs. Those who’d rather sell their goods without traveling can opt for online selling by starting an online store on Shopify or using a marketplace like Etsy.

Home or car repairs

Retirees with the right equipment and skills can offer their home or car repair services to those who may not have the time or knowledge to do it themselves.

Bookkeeper

As a bookkeeper, you can provide valuable financial services to small businesses or individuals who may not need help on a full-time basis. You can work from home, letting you maintain the work-life balance you want.

Photographer

Photography is a creative pursuit that lets you capture special moments for potential clients. There are many possibilities—you can photograph private events that you find through your network, portraits for a publication, or landscapes for a company’s brochure. This side gig offers avenues for exploration and social interaction, enabling you to stay engaged.

Gardener

Retirees with a green thumb can offer their gardening or landscaping services in their free time. This side hustle helps you spend time outdoors, contribute to the beauty of your community, and earn extra money doing something you love.

Housesitter

Housesitting presents retirees with a flexible and low-stress side hustle. By looking after people’s homes when they’re away, retirees can earn extra income while enjoying a change of scenery. Tasks may include watering plants, collecting mail, and ensuring security.

Virtual assistant

Retirees can provide remote support to businesses or individuals. This role involves tasks such as email management, scheduling, and customer service. Retirees can set their hours and workload.

Retail worker

Working in retail can be a flexible and fun side hustle. Retirees can work limited hours, make connections with customers, and enjoy camaraderie with colleagues. Plus, retail workers often receive discounts.

Tips for working a side hustle in retirement

If you’re a retiree looking for part-time work, here are a few things to keep in mind before choosing your side hustle:

Consider your goals and skill set

Before you jump into the first side hustle opportunity that comes your way, consider what you want out of your new part-time job. Whether you want to increase retirement income, stay active, or pursue a passion, knowing your goal will inform what side hustle you choose.

If your primary objective is to earn additional income to keep up with your living expenses, look for the most lucrative side hustle, leveraging any high-demand skills or assets you may have. On the other hand, if you want to stay active and fill your spare time, find jobs that interest you—the extra cash will be a bonus.

Don’t overcommit

When you find a side hustle that excites you, it’s easy to overcommit. But at retirement age, it’s important to also ration your time and energy to avoid burnout and stress. Roles that offer more flexibility and fewer demands than a full-time job can help you strike a balance, enabling you to enjoy your golden years.

Understand the impact on Social Security benefits

If your side hustle earnings are substantial, consider how it will affect your Social Security benefits. If you haven’t reached full retirement age (67 for those born in or after 1960), income that exceeds the annual limit ($22,320 in 2024) will reduce your monthly benefit payments. However, once you reach full retirement age, you can earn more money without a decrease in benefits. Learn more on the Social Security Administration’s website.

A good TikTok bio announces who you are and what you’re all about—in 80 characters or less. You can think of your TikTok bio as a snapshot of your brand. It should give potential followers an idea of what they’ll find on your TikTok account, whether it’s cooking tutorials, personal brand development tips, or dad jokes. It’s no small feat, but with a little effort, ingenuity, and a few tips, you can craft an engaging TikTok bio.

What is a TikTok bio?

A TikTok bio is the shortest possible biography of who you are, and it’s displayed at the top of your TikTok profile. At just 80 characters (around eight to 12 words) or less, your bio announces what followers can expect from you. It is not your elevator pitch, nor is it a comprehensive list of links to your website or other social media accounts. Instead, a good TikTok bio serves as a single-sentence description of what you’re all about. It’s an essential part of your TikTok marketing strategy.

Why do you need a TikTok bio?

TikTok is a social media platform known for viral videos. Users encounter and ingest content in seconds, often scrolling through their feeds and skipping over videos that don’t capture their attention. However, when a video does engage them, they may choose to click on the account and see if they’d like to follow the TikTok profile behind the video. When a user takes this step, you have a brief but powerful opportunity to persuade them that your account is worth following.

This is where a stellar TikTok bio comes in. In just a few words, a compelling bio can encourage somebody to watch more of your TikTok videos, land you more followers, or even convert TikTok users to customers of your business or followers across other social media platforms.

Tips for writing the best TikTok bio

Finding the right TikTok bio can be a daunting task, but there are a few guidelines to follow for formulating the perfect bio:

Keep it brief

With TikTok’s character limit, a good bio has to be snappy and sharp. A great way to condense a bio is to nix passive language and instead use the active tense. For example, instead of saying “inspirational videos will be posted on this account,” say “We post inspirational videos.” Or better yet, cut it down to “Get inspired.”

Showcase your personality

Whether humor, feistiness, or inspiration is at the core of your brand, let your personality shine. For example, if you’re brainstorming aesthetic TikTok bio ideas, play around with emojis and line breaks. To generate funny bio ideas, explore puns that relate to your brand.

Prioritize simplicity

Though it’s tempting to give new viewers a comprehensive understanding of your account, writing a bio for TikTok should be more like a handshake than a conversation. For a killer TikTok bio, keep it simple and distill it down to the most essential element of your brand.

Make it memorable

TikTok users ingest information at a rapid pace. The flip side is that it’s hard for anything to stand out from a firehose of content. Using attention-grabbing words, relevant keywords, emojis, and witty writing will ensure you make a strong first impression.

Write several drafts

What makes TikTok one of the most popular social media platforms is its ability to be short and to the point. Getting the perfect TikTok bio doesn’t happen on the first try, so experiment with many angles over the course of your drafts.

Have fun

Since 80 characters is such a small window, it can be tempting to write a short, dry explanation of your TikTok account. This may be the right choice for some brands, but don’t be afraid to play a little. It’s OK to reframe your tagline with a fun TikTok twist. Use emojis that capture your account’s personality, hashtags, or an aesthetically pleasing line break.

TikTok bio ideas and examples to inspire you

The best TikTok bio ideas are ones that capture your brand’s personality and purpose. Explore these bio ideas for TikTok, broken down by category:

Entrepreneurial TikTok bio ideas

• Don’t forget to dream big.
• Sharp ideas and tips to start your own business 👇
• Making money doesn’t have to be hard. 💰💰💰
• Amateur entrepreneur, professional dreamer | follow for big business ideas!
• Big ideas, no small thinking. 
• Starting businesses, taking names. || DM for commissions!
• Started at the bottom, now we’re here. | Follow my journey to the top. 📈
• No time for losers, we are the champions. | Big ideas always win. 🌎
• 💫Inspiring all my followers to shoot for the stars. 💫
• There’s no such thing as impossible.

Ecommerce business TikTok bio ideas

• Not your average business account. Follow for updates and hot takes!
• More essential than your morning coffee.
• Fast, easy, smart. ⏩
• Dropkicking bad dropshipping tips | Ecommerce myths busted
• Follow for new product drops. Stay for cute puppy videos.
• Is this thing on? 🎤Follow for shop announcements.
• Commerce, community, creativity.
• Building bridges, one TikTok at a time.
• A behind-the-scenes look at ecommerce supply chains
• Shopping local, thinking global. 🌎

Inspirational TikTok bio ideas

• Be a doer, not a worrier.
• Sometimes cool and collected. Sometimes a hot mess. Always fun.
• Helping channel your main character energy!
• The only limit is in your mind | Follow for inspiration.
• Just a gamer girl leveling up 🔼
• Become fluent in your love language.
• Believe in magic. Chase your goals.
• Live your best life, no one else can do it for you.
• It’s time to reach your max potential.
• You don’t need a map when you’re blazing your own trail. 🥾

Travel TikTok bio ideas

• More stamps in my passport than tattoos on Post Malone.
• Eat good food, see new things. The world is our oyster.
• Drink coffee in every country. Traversing the world one latte at a time!
• I ❤️travel ✈️
• Travel like no one’s watching.
• The world is calling, and I must go.
• Relationship status: married to the road. 🚐
• Bucket list? I’m gonna need a bigger bucket!
• If you’re wondering when to start your travels: Start today.
• Expanding minds, one passport stamp at a time.

Fitness TikTok bio ideas

• Don’t just up your TikTok game: up your fitness game.
• Not your average TikToker. Getting in shape one vid at a time. 🏋️‍♀️
• Entering my TikTok era, exiting my couch potato era.
• Those weights won’t lift themselves! Follow for fitness inspiration.
• You can always run harder. Follow for inspirational running videos.
• There’s nothing like a hard workout in the morning.
• I’m here to empower and inspire you to be your best self.
• Work smart AND hard. Ergonomic, science-motivated workout ideas.
• Workouts don’t have to be work! Don’t forget to have fun.
• Lifting ourselves to the next level.

There is no single way to write an effective TikTok bio. It will depend on your brand, your voice, and what you want to get across. But if you keep it short, simple, and fun, TikTok users will get a quick and accurate idea of what you’re all about.

📸 Note: Double check the licensing terms for the stock photo resources listed below. Licensing terms can change and may differ by photographer or stock library. Some photos may require approval for commercial use, while others may be totally free to download and use.

If you dream of writing a book, you might imagine sending your manuscript to one of the behemoth publishing houses, like Penguin Random House or Simon & Schuster. The problem is, these publishers only accept a tiny fraction of the manuscripts they receive.

You might still be in luck, though: Self-publishing has emerged as a viable option for getting stories to readers. Novels such as The Martian and Fifty Shades of Grey were both self-published books before becoming bestsellers and inspiring blockbuster movie adaptations. In fact, according to WordsRated, the number of self-published books increased 264% between 2018 and 2023, with $1.25 billion worth of self-published books sold annually.

Here’s how to skip the gatekeepers and print your own book on your own terms.

Can you print your own book?

Yes—you can print your book more easily than you might think. Many book printing companies are user-friendly and offer high-quality printing with custom design options. Some book printers can also help you distribute your work on sites such as Amazon. 

What are the costs of printing your own book?

The cost of printing your book depends on several factors, including the number of pages, trim size, binding style, cover type, paper weight, and ink color and quality.

For example, a black and white paperback book of fewer than 108 pages can cost as little as $2.30 per book, whereas a standard 300-page paperback novel runs closer to $5 or $6 per book. Larger trim sizes, hardcovers, and the colored ink can set you back further. For instance, an 8.5-by-11-inch 100-page photo book with a hardcover, premium color, and the highest quality paper costs $29.69 on Lulu, an online self-publishing and distribution platform.

Some book printing companies, such as IngramSpark, charge a fee to upload your manuscript to their site. Other printers, like Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing, let you upload your manuscript for free. Alternatively, you can cut down on costs and avoid stocking inventory by using print-on-demand services to sell your book.

9 steps to print your own book

1. Edit your text
2. Select a book trim size
3. Choose between hardcover or paperback
4. Pick your binding style
5. Consider paper types and ink options
6. Choose your typeset
7. Design your book cover
8. Prepare your files
9. Review your proof

You’ve finished writing your book—congratulations! The hardest part may be out of the way, but there are still a few steps left to bring your book to life. Most book printing companies offer numerous customizations that affect the quality and cost of the final product.

Here’s how to print your own book in nine steps.

1. Edit your text

While it can be daunting to open your work to criticism, it’s essential to get fresh eyes on your writing—as many as possible before locking down a final draft. Whether you need high-level feedback or a proofread for grammar, spelling, and clarity, other readers can pick up on elements you’ve overlooked, catch mistakes big and small, and help improve your manuscript overall. You can hire a professional editor, ask someone you know with experience or interest in your genre, or ask for review from a combination of readers from both your professional and personal networks.

2. Select a book trim size

Most custom book printing companies offer a variety of book sizes. The type of book you publish likely informs the dimensions you choose. For instance, novels, trade books, comic books, and children’s books tend to take on different shapes; novels are smaller and thicker, whereas children’s books are usually large and flat. For guidance, consider the sizes of similar books already in print.

3. Choose between hardcover or paperback

Paperback books are cheaper to produce but less durable than their hardcover counterparts. Hardcover books (also known in the industry as “trade cloth” or “hardback”) are considered the highest quality and can add a degree of professionalism to your work. You may also have to choose between glossy and matte cover finishes and decide whether to include a book jacket.

4. Pick your binding style

Your binding style affects your book’s look, durability, and cost. A saddle stitch binding can be a reasonable option for short books and pamphlets. Wire-O binding is another cost-effective style commonly seen on notebooks. However, most authors opt for a higher quality binding style, like perfect binding for paperback books or case wrap binding for hardcover books. Both of those binding styles form a flat spine where the title and author’s name can be printed.

5. Consider paper types and ink options

As you select your ink, keep in mind that most printers charge a premium for internal color printing. Also consider that your paper options will usually come in various weights and finishes. If you’re unsure about which types to choose, use industry standards as guidelines. For example, standard black-and-white pages are reader-friendly and cost-effective for novels and most other types of books. If you’re publishing a photo book or comic book, you may want to opt for heavier paper and color printing to do justice to your artwork.

6. Choose your typeset

If you can’t remember the font of the last book you read, it’s probably because the graphic designer made a good choice. Like grammar and punctuation, typesetting is usually only noticed if it’s poorly done because it becomes a distraction. Try a few options to ensure your fonts and margins are unobtrusive and match your book’s tone and style. For ideas, look to similar books or guides, like this font guide from IngramSpark. Once you’ve typeset your manuscript and decided on your book size, you’ll have your page count.

7. Design your book cover

The old saying might be wrong: you can, in fact, judge a book by its cover—and your potential readers will. Your cover says a lot about your publication’s content and quality. Make your design eye-catching and convey the book’s purpose and tone. If you have the budget, consider hiring a professional graphic designer to create a high-quality book cover.

8. Prepare your files

Before printing your book, make sure your files are high resolution and formatted correctly. Read and follow your chosen printing service’s upload guidelines carefully. You’ll typically submit two files: the book cover and the manuscript. Unless otherwise specified, upload your files in PDF format, with your images set for a minimum resolution of 300 dpi (dots per inch).

9. Review your proof

Before buying bulk copies of your book and distributing them, request proof copies—i.e., trial impressions to review and make corrections before final printing. When everything looks good, you can put your book on the market with the help of your book printing company.

3 websites that provide print-on-demand services

• Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing
• IngramSpark
• Lulu

Before settling on your book printer and marketplace, it’s best to explore all of your options. Here are three popular book-printing companies that can help you self-publish a high-quality book.

Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing

Launched with the Kindle in 2007, Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) is a well-known self-publishing platform geared toward ebooks. However, it also offers options for printing paperback and hardcover books. KDP is simple for beginners and provides a cover creator tool, which can be helpful if you don’t have the expertise or budget to hire a professional to design your book cover.

Self-publishing with KDP gives you instant access to Amazon and Kindle’s marketplace. KDP also offers print-on-demand services, so you don’t have to buy in bulk or worry about stocking inventory. Publishing is free, and printing fees are subtracted from your royalties when you make a sale.

There are a couple downsides to self-publishing with KDP. For one, Amazon requires that you abide by its exclusivity clauses. In other words, Amazon owns your ISBN (your book’s numeric commercial identifier), which means you’re limited to selling your book through Kindle and Amazon. The other downside to KDP is its relatively limited customization options compared to other book printing companies. 

IngramSpark

Offering custom book printing starting at $49 per title, IngramSpark is another popular book printer and distributor. IngramSpark promises its high-quality books are indistinguishable from traditionally published books. You can customize your binding style, colors, laminate type, trim sizes, and book cover style, giving you full control over the final product. 

Because IngramSpark uses a print-on-demand model, they only print the exact quantity you sell. Use its price calculator to estimate how much you might pay to print and ship orders directly to you and your customers. You can then distribute your professional quality books through IngramSpark. Unlike with KDP’s exclusivity clause, IngramSpark let you make your title available to libraries, schools, and stores, including Amazon and Barnes & Noble. 

Lulu

Another popular self-publishing company that offers a wide variety of printing options is Lulu. You can work off a template or build your book with custom sizes, binding options, interior cover options, paper type, and cover finishes. Lulu offers on-demand printing, or you can save money with bulk order discounts. Use their price calculator to figure out your cost per book.

Once you have a finished product, Lulu can also help you distribute it through a variety of channels, including: the Lulu Bookstore, your websites, or online retailers like Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

If you’ve heard it once, you’ve heard it a thousand times: Advertisers need to reach people where they spend the most time. In today’s digital age, that increasingly means social media platforms. Ads on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, and LinkedIn reach people of all ages, nationalities, and income brackets. What’s more, the platforms’ targeting tools help you reach the exact types of people whom you regard as prospective customers.

Strategic social media campaigns can build brand awareness and drive real results, from boosting sales to fostering customer loyalty. But the key word here is strategic. Cast too wide of a net and you may not end up with much of anything.

Here’s an overview of advertising on social media, including a step-by-step guide to launching an effective social media campaign of your own.

What is a social media campaign?

A social media campaign is a coordinated marketing effort to promote a specific message, product, or service across various social media platforms, using strategic content creation and engagement techniques. Social media marketing campaigns exist to achieve defined business goals, such as increasing brand awareness, driving website traffic, or generating sales leads.

Campaigns can include organic content (the free content you create and post on your social media accounts), paid content (ads you pay the social media platform to show your target audience), or both.

Social media campaigns exist in concert with other marketing efforts such as television commercials, pay-per-click (PPC) ads, radio and podcast ads, and word-of-mouth campaigns. Yet given the popularity of the world’s major social networks—more than five billion people use social media—social media marketing efforts often play an outsized role in a company’s outreach.

Social media marketing tactics

Successful social media campaigns include some or all of the following tactics:

• Text posts. Sharing a blog post on your social media channels can inform your target audience about industry trends, raise awareness of upcoming products, and entertain your social network with humor or personality.

• Graphics, images, and memes. Visual social posts communicate what plain text can’t. For example, a beauty brand is better off posting a photo of its eye shadow on a model than simply describing it.

• Video content. The platform will dictate the format of the video you post; for example, videos posted as Instagram Stories should be less than one minute long, with a vertical orientation.

• Influencer marketing. Influencers are people who’ve built up engaged followings on social media and charge money to promote products and services.

Benefits of a social media campaign

A social marketing strategy can benefit your business in the following ways:

Brand awareness

A successful social media campaign can reach a vast audience quickly and effectively, increasing your brand’s visibility and attracting more followers. Over time, this expanded reach helps you build a strong brand presence online.

Customer engagement

Social media platforms facilitate direct interaction with existing customers. Campaigns encouraging likes, comments, and shares help you build a community around your brand. 

Targeting

Social platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn offer sophisticated targeting options that deliver your ads to people with specific demographics, interests, and behaviors. Unlike traditional tactics, such as print ads or billboards, where it’s difficult to know how many people saw your ad, social media analytics tools allow you to measure your campaign’s success down to individual clicks.

Cost-effectiveness

Tracking and measuring real-time campaign performance allows for adjustments and optimizations. For example, suppose your ad on X isn’t generating as many clicks to your ecommerce store as your Instagram ad. In that case, you can quickly reallocate your spending to the Instagram ad, improving your campaign’s return on investment (ROI).

Brand authority

Consistently sharing high-quality social media content and engaging with followers helps establish your brand as an authority. By using social accounts to share valuable information, respond to queries, and showcase expertise, you can build trust and credibility with your audience—and ideally more sales.

How to implement a successful social media campaign

1. Define your goals
2. Identify your target audience
3. Choose the appropriate social platforms
4. Develop a campaign content strategy
5. Set up a content calendar
6. Engage with your audience
7. Try paid posts
8. Analyze campaign performance
9. Adjust and optimize

Implementing a successful social media campaign involves careful planning, execution, and analysis. Each campaign will vary depending on your goals, but here are nine essential steps to get you started:

1. Define your goals

Clearly outline your social media campaign goals, such as increasing brand awareness, driving website traffic, generating leads, or boosting sales. These objectives will guide your social media strategy and ensure alignment with your business objectives and brand’s mission.

2. Identify your target audience

Determine who you want to reach with your campaign. Use analytics tools like Google Analytics to understand the different demographics, interests, and behaviors of people most likely to engage with your brand. This information helps you create campaigns that resonate with the right people.

For example, you might want to target iPhone users with ads for a fitness app and people who live in Texas with ads for cowboy boots.

3. Choose the appropriate social platforms

Select the social media platform best aligned with your social media campaign goals and target audience.

Each platform has unique strengths. For example, Instagram is great for visual content and reaching a broader audience, while LinkedIn is ideal for business-to-business (B2B) marketing. Look at social media campaign examples from other brands to inform your choices or consider what each platform is best suited for:

• TikTok. Its advanced algorithm helps you connect with niche audiences through behind-the-scenes videos, educational tutorials, and short clips that showcase your brand personality.

• X. The text-based platform is ideal for polling prospective customers, fielding customer service inquiries, and engaging with trends.

• Facebook. The community-based platform is great for brick-and-mortar stores looking to broadcast positive reviews and engage with local communities.

• Instagram. The visual-centered platform can help brands with a polished aesthetic sell products directly through the app.

4. Develop a campaign content strategy

Plan the types of content you will create and share during the campaign. This includes videos, images, blog posts, and other media that will engage your audience. Ensure your campaign content is relevant, valuable, and aligned with your brand values.

National Geographic, for instance, often posts stunning photographs to encourage print and digital subscriptions. Meanwhile, Guitar Center posts videos of people playing a diverse range of instruments to entice them to stop by the store.

Learn more: 8 Steps To Create a Winning Content Strategy

5. Set up a content calendar

Organize your content into a calendar to ensure consistent posting and optimal timing. Social media scheduling helps maintain a steady flow of content and keeps your audience engaged throughout the campaign. Aim to post at least a few times a week so your campaign has a chance to gain traction.

Use a social media management tool like Sprout Social or Hootsuite to streamline the process and boost productivity.

6. Engage with your audience

Actively interact with your followers by responding to comments, messages, and mentions. Engaging with your audience fosters a sense of community and builds stronger relationships, ideally enhancing your brand’s credibility and authority.

Social listening tools like Brand24 and Meltwater offer valuable insights about how people perceive your brand online—whether or not they’re communicating with you directly. Use this information to better understand your customer base and plot future campaigns.

7. Try paid posts

Paid social media advertising can extend your reach beyond your following and target specific audience segments. Platforms like Facebook Ads and Instagram Ads offer advanced targeting options to ensure your campaign reaches the right people.

Start with a small portion of your overall advertising budget and expand your spending as you analyze the performance of your campaigns.

8. Analyze campaign performance

Regularly track performance metrics such as impressions (how many people saw your ad) and click-throughs (how many people clicked on your ad). Use tools like Google Analytics and other social media management tools to gain insights into what’s working and what isn’t. For a broader view, conduct a competitive analysis and compare your results with industry benchmarks.

9. Adjust and optimize

Based on your performance analysis, make necessary adjustments to your campaign. This might include tweaking your content strategy, narrowing your target audience, using more relevant hashtags, or reallocating your budget to the best-performing social platforms. Continuous optimization ensures your campaign remains effective and achieves maximum engagement.

Have you ever wondered if AI supply chain software could assist in your own logistics operations? Below, we’ll break down how AI adoption can enhance efficiency in your logistics networks and potentially bring down operational costs. We’ll also explore how AI can overlay atop traditional business models, improving operational efficiency without upending your business.

But first, a quick refresher: Supply chain management is a complex field that combines analyzing historical data, demand forecasting, risk management, and maintaining supplier relationships across global supply chains. Traditionally, managing supply chain operations has been the responsibility of human supply chain executives who spend years studying the business processes that keep supplies flowing.

Advances in artificial intelligence have been making a shift in this workflow. Today’s supply chain managers can benefit from implementing AI tools to assist them in their work. AI technologies can optimize processes up and down the entire supply chain, from inventory management to production scheduling to monitoring market trends.

What is artificial intelligence?

Artificial intelligence, or AI, is the simulation of human intelligence by machines. AI tools work by leveraging some combination of machine learning (ML), natural language processing (NLP), computer vision, and robotics. These tools cannot replace human cognition, but AI applications can mimic humans by analyzing large amounts of data and predicting the best way to respond to external stimuli.

Generative AI solutions like ChatGPT do not “think” when given a prompt. Rather, they analyze data supplied by their trainers or pulled from the internet and create human-like prose by predicting which word is supposed to appear in a phrase at a particular time. An AI application can do far more than generate text, however. Among other things, AI algorithms can analyze real time data, monitor inventory levels, and assist in demand planning. Such capabilities demonstrate the benefits of AI in supply chain organizations.

How AI benefits supply chains

Supply chain professionals have increasingly embraced artificial intelligence tools for operational efficiency. More and more, AI capabilities can match, or exceed, those of human workers. This promotes cost savings and optimized logistics operations. Here are seven uses for AI in supply chains.

Demand forecasting

AI technologies analyze vast amounts of data, including sales history, customer trends, and even social media sentiment, to predict future demand for products. This forecasting allows businesses to optimize inventory levels and avoid stockouts or overstocking.

Inventory management

AI helps maintain optimal inventory levels by analyzing historical sales data, seasonal trends, and other factors. It can recommend reorder points, identify slow-moving items, and even predict potential stockouts. Not only does AI improve inventory management, the data collected and analyzed by AI tools can also improve supply chain visibility throughout an organization.

Route optimization

AI can analyze traffic patterns, weather patterns, and other factors to determine the most efficient routes for deliveries. This helps reduce supply chain disruptions, transportation costs, fuel consumption, environmental impact, and delivery times.

Warehouse automation

In a warehouse, artificial intelligence can power collaborative robots that handle and store goods autonomously. This improves efficiency, reduces labor costs, and minimizes the risk of errors.

Predictive maintenance

AI can analyze sensor data from equipment to predict potential failures before they occur. This allows businesses to schedule preventive maintenance, minimizing the chance of supply chain disruptions.

Fraud detection

For many organizations, early detection of fraud is essential. Rooting out fraud improves relationships with global supply chain partners and keeps unplanned events like product theft from derailing operations. AI can analyze end-to-end transaction data to identify patterns that might indicate fraudulent activity. This helps protect businesses from theft and fraud in their supply chains. 

Quality control

AI-powered systems can visually inspect products for defects at a much faster rate than humans. This helps ensure product quality and prevent defective items from reaching customers. It also helps ensure that supplier performance,production schedules, and service levels meet an acceptable threshold at all times.

How to use AI in your supply chain

1. Define your optimization goals
2. Utilize high quality data
3. Integrate AI in phases
4. Partner with an AI supply chain expert
5. Embrace change management for a smooth transition

Implementing AI in supply chains can improve your supply chain resilience and promote efficiencies. To get the most out of AI-enabled supply chains, you’ll need to instill company policies that help your whole team embrace the technology’s potential. Here are some tips for using AI to generate maximum value creation.

1. Define your optimization goals

Before diving into AI, conduct a thorough analysis of your supply chain. Identify areas for supply chain optimization. Are you aiming to reduce logistics costs through better route planning? Perhaps you want to improve at predicting demand to optimize lead times. Setting goals and sticking to them will help you get the most out of your AI tools.

2. Use high quality data

Most AI supply chain tools rely on predictive analytics, and that requires relevant data. Ensure your data is accurate, clean, and well-organized. This might involve integrating disparate data sets, addressing inconsistencies, and isolating the external factors that can impact your supply chain. You can expect a direct link between the quality of your data and the usefulness of your AI technologies.

3. Integrate AI in phases

Rather than attempt a full-scale overhaul of your supply chain at once, implement AI in stages. Begin with a pilot project focused on a specific challenge, such as identifying customer demand signals or optimizing warehouse operations. This allows you to test the effectiveness of AI, gain experience, and gather key insights before a broader rollout.

4. Partner with an AI supply chain expert

The AI implementation landscape can be complex. Collaborate with an AI solutions provider that has experience in your industry and understands the specific needs of your business. Look for a partner that can demonstrate successful implementations, with an eye to efficient operations and risk mitigation strategies. Working with an expert can increase your expected ROI when compared with implementing AI supply chain software on your own.

5. Embrace change management for a smooth transition

Successful AI integration requires not just technological expertise but also a commitment to addressing the human element of the change. Smooth the transition by embracing an organization-wide adaptation, with guidance from top management, such as a senior vice president for logistics. Provide comprehensive training to employees who will be working with the new AI systems. Be transparent about role changes and other factors that might impact the implementation process. Getting your full team on board will help you avoid unexpected disruptions.