After a few packed days at Home Delivery World USA, one theme rang loud and clear: in logistics today, it’s not just about moving fast, it’s about adapting faster.

Whether we were sitting in sessions on last-mile carrier strategy or talking shop on the expo floor, the message was consistent. Logistics leaders are rethinking how they operate across delivery, fulfillment, and labor. At WorkWhile, these are the exact conversations we’re having with our partners every day, and it was energizing to hear them echoed so strongly throughout the conference.

From Crisis to Consistency: Workforce Strategy with WORLDPAC

One of our favorite moments was hearing from Tadd Baker, Sr. Director of Operations at WORLDPAC, during our session on workforce agility.

Tadd shared how his team went from 30-day launch timelines to just 14 days with WorkWhile, and how that speed opened the door to more growth.

We were able to open up another location with the time saved. That was huge.

When their vehicles were stolen in an overnight break-in, they filled 10 driver shifts by 8:00 AM the next morning. No service delays. No canceled orders.

None of the customers knew. We avoided canceling 85% of our orders.

Stories like this prove why workforce strategy deserves a seat at the table. The right partner doesn’t just fill shifts, they help you build resilience.

Cracking the Home Delivery Code: Density, Diversification, and Data

From Amazon Shipping to ShipBob, speakers unpacked how smarter parcel strategy can reduce costs and improve performance. One major takeaway? Giving a little volume to many carriers spreads you thin. Injecting full truckloads and building strategic partnerships gives you leverage and better rates.

But optimizing your carrier mix only works if the people running your warehouses and fulfillment centers can execute consistently. These operational gains require a workforce that can flex with demand, especially during peak. That’s where companies like WorkWhile come in, providing the reliable, high-performing flex labor needed to make fulfillment faster and smoother.

Reverse Logistics: From Cost Center to Circular Strategy

Returns aren’t just a headache, they’re an opportunity. Whether it was return-to-vendor, donations, or liquidation channels, reverse logistics is finally getting the strategic attention it deserves. Sustainability is no longer a side project. It’s a way to drive both margin and brand trust.

But implementing reverse logistics well takes more than a playbook, it requires a workforce that’s trained, responsive, and available when unexpected surges hit. Flexible labor isn’t just for outbound operations. It plays a key role in handling reverse flows efficiently, especially when accuracy and timing are critical to minimizing loss.

Reframing the Last Mile: From Chaos to Competitive Advantage

From GOAT’s focus on delivery fraud to HelloFresh’s emphasis on timing, the last mile came up again and again as a differentiator, not just a cost.

Many companies are rethinking how they staff this critical final touchpoint. Partnering with regional carriers may improve customer experience, but only if there’s enough staffing support to maintain consistency. Several attendees talked about the challenges of managing different partners, expectations, and geographies.

This complexity makes access to reliable, location-based labor even more important. Platforms like WorkWhile offer regional flexibility and the ability to scale quickly, two key ingredients in creating a consistent last-mile experience customers can trust.

Warehouse Strategy: Lean, Local, and Laser-Focused

We were inspired by the stories of companies like BK Beauty and Kiwi Biosciences, which have found creative ways to balance control, cost, and scale. Whether self-fulfilling or strategically using local 3PLs, they’re proving that lean doesn’t mean underpowered.

But a lean operation still needs reliable people, especially when volume spikes. WorkWhile supports brands like these with dependable, flexible labor pools they can tap into when order volume suddenly increases, new products launch, or social campaigns go viral. Being lean is only an advantage if you can also move fast when needed.

Kitchen Cabinet Distributors shared:

Loyalty in the hourly ranks is only 25 cents away, or less.

Culture, consistency, and the ability to scale locally matter, and WorkWhile helps businesses build that loyalty with high-quality, repeat talent that shows up ready.

WorkWhile’s Takeaway: Labor Is a Strategic Lever

Coming out of Home Delivery World, we’re more convinced than ever that workforce agility is a competitive advantage. Technology and carrier optimization are important, but if you don’t have the people in place to make it all run, none of it works.

At WorkWhile, we’re proud to help logistics and warehouse leaders:

• Launch locations faster
• Reduce staffing costs and downtime
• Build loyal, high-quality flex talent pools that perform under pressure

Our CEO, Jarah Euston, put it best:

Rising costs? Try labor as a strategic weapon.