In today’s world, traffic is faster, food delivery is held to incredibly quick standards and when we order something online – we expect it at our door within two days. Many retailers and manufacturers are struggling to keep up, and their customer service is lacking when they fall short. Indications are that accelerated demands will become normalized. In fact, a recent Logistics Viewpoints report shows that 50 percent of millennials still desire even quicker deliveries.
Today we hear a lot about the Amazon Effect and its popular two-day shipping policy, but what we don’t hear is how companies are keeping up with this instant-everything expectation and how warehouse automation affects shipping outcomes. Whether it’s shipping automation or packaging, every process plays its role in today’s top goals of decreasing costs, improving efficiencies and impressing customers.
Now more than ever, retailers are feeling the pressure to measure up to international competitors like Amazon. However, many still rely on central distribution centers, causing orders to oftentimes travel thousands of miles to reach their destination. This takes unnecessary time and money spent on shipping, and when customers are expecting their packages quickly and affordably, you need an array of distribution tactics to fulfill those orders. The million-dollar question is this: how do you fulfill customer needs while improving efficiencies and cutting costs? The answer is to think local – and that’s where in-store fulfillment comes into play.
Converting retail stores into mini-fulfillment centers is a more cost-effective way to expand the distribution network using existing facilities that are already close to where customers live.
For many European shoppers, waiting at checkout lines any longer than five minutes is too long, according to retail study by Adyen. Shoppers are looking for an experience that satisfies three fundamental demands: convenience, context and control.
Amazon signs up more Prime members on this year’s Prime Day than ever before.
Customer service has become a key component of the overall customer journey, and more critically, customer lifetime value. Therefore, retailers need to invest in service options to provide choice and convenience to customers.
The holiday rush will be here before you know it; take time now to ensure your DC — and workers — are properly equipped and trained.
In today’s technologically advanced world, a lack of data is not the problem. We are currently inundated with information from various sources. Rather, we need tools that consolidate this information, normalize it, and predictively notify users of potential risks. This enables companies to harness information to better control their supply chain. Digitization enables levels of sharing that could not be achieved in the past but it opens our customers up to greater issues around information overload and synchronization. We need tools that can holistically look at the problem and proactively advise customers on the best corrective action plan.
Digitizing the supply chain provides efficiency, reduces risk, and increases agility.
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