How Digital Commerce Networks Help Deliver Online Orders On Time

By Greg Kefer, VP marketing, Infor

Delivering packages and products on time is more important than ever in our economy of instant gratification.

81% of consumers in the 2016 IBM Consumer Expectations Studysaid they would choose one retailer over another based on the ability to see whether an item is currently in stock and if it will arrive on time. Whether online or in store, 72% of shoppers would make a purchase from another retailer if an item is out of stock, an increase from 42% in 2011.

All the while, Amazon continues to disrupt the retail industry with supply chain innovation as it drives consumer expectations toward quicker delivery rates: 72% of consumers now consider the option of two-day delivery a key factor influencing their buying decisions.

This trend means companies can no longer compete based only on the quality of their products; they also must battle on the performance of their supply chains.

 The problem is that far too many companies are managing their supply chains using systems and processes designed decades ago, well before sourcing and distribution networks became global. Today, most companies are operating in the dark, isolated from the data that can illuminate their supply chain end to end.