Retail Supply Chain Insights Guest Contributors

61. CPG Distribution Services: Lean On 3PLs To Compete And Win 11/2/2017

    When it comes to pricing, promotion, and consumer goods distribution services, the pinch that brands have felt from retailers in recent years is only getting tighter. As retailers themselves feel pressure to lower prices and offer service upgrades to remain competitive against eCommerce giants like Amazon, that pressure is passed down to their already-stretched suppliers.

62. Are You Macro-Optimizing Your Supply Chain? 11/1/2017

    Do you remember the Blockbuster video store chain? The company dominated the video rental market in the 90s, employing 60,000 people in 9,000 stores in the U.S. When consumer buying habits began to change, Blockbuster ignored the obvious warning signs. When new competitors, such as Netflix, began offering more attractive alternatives, Blockbuster scoffed at their business models and doubled down on the retail store strategy. By 2010, the franchise was facing bankruptcy.

63. Omnichannel Packaging - Time To Make The Change 11/1/2017

    You can’t throw a stone without hitting another article about how ecommerce is affecting retail.  But one topic that seems to be underserved is how products are actually being shipped once your customer selects it via your multi-modal omnichannel delivery drone.  The reality is, the experience of how a package is received matters for consumers, not to mention Dim Weight price increases, the speed of ecommerce growth, and generally tough competitive times.  You can hardly afford to overlook the opportunity to optimize the packaging your product ships in.

64. You've Never Heard Of The Internet Of Goods, But Chances Are You're Already Part Of It 11/1/2017

    Introducing the “Internet of Goods,” the rapid digitization of the production, sorting and movement of physical products.

65. Solving The Retail And Supply Chain Dilemma 11/1/2017

    As a retailer, you’re under tremendous pressure from all sides. The good old days of simply stacking the shelves and watching it sell are long gone and the competition is fiercer than ever. You put huge amounts of time, money and effort into getting shoppers to visit your store and, still, many of them only come in to compare your assortment and prices against those of the world’s biggest mall; the internet, which they carry around with them everywhere.

66. 8 Ways Supply Chain Audits Improve Supply Chain Management 10/31/2017

    A supply chain audit is the process of identifying the risks (or benefits) of using one supplier over another. It is also sometimes known as a “risk analysis,” and it’s one of the best ways to increase your business intelligence and supply chain visibility. However, many companies still aren’t utilizing audits to their fullest potential within a supply chain management strategy. Some even eschew the process entirely, for reasons ranging from cost/benefit concerns, to time constraints, to unfamiliarity of the way an audit should be conducted.

67. What You Need To Know About This Year's Holiday Sales Predictions 10/26/2017
    With the holidays right around the corner, it’s important to stay updated on latest trends to keep your shoppers happy, especially with the expected sales increases during the upcoming holidays. The National Retail Federation (NRF) expects that holiday retail sales through November and December will increase, going from $655.8 billion in 2016 to between $678 billion and $682 billion.
68. Retailer Myth: Drop Tests Mean No Transit Damage 10/19/2017

    As a retailer, if you’re thinking about preventing product damage given the rigorous demands of ocean and parcel shipping, you are probably thinking about test protocols that inform your design specifications.  But don’t be lured into thinking a positive test result is the silver bullet to ensure your product is fully protected from damage.

69. The Brave New World Of Autonomous Transportation 10/13/2017

    The mere mention of autonomous transportation still evokes images from sci-fi movies for some people. However, the reality is that this concept is not pie-in-the-sky talk — it’s really here. And it won’t be long before it’s mainstream. In fact, PwC’s 2017 Commercial Transportation Trends report revealed that 2016 was a breakout year for new technologies in the commercial transport industry, even while many companies still resisted them.

70. 4 Ways An Integrator Can Make Your Business Automation Experience Better 10/13/2017

    According to the 2015 Manufacturing Report by Illinois-based accounting firm Sikich LLP, 53% of those polled are still using manual processes to measure key performance indicators (KPIs). Eleven percent of survey respondents reported using custom built/legacy applications to monitor their KPIs, and only 26% are using an ERP (enterprise resource planning) solution. So, if you’re reading this and your company still isn’t too far down the automation spectrum, it may offer some consolation knowing you’re in good company.