Retail Supply Chain Featured Articles

How To Mitigate The Effects Of The Bullwhip Phenomenon

A common phenomenon in all supply chains is the amplification and distortion of demand fluctuations. These start off small at the retail level and amplify further up the chain. When cracking a bullwhip, the handle of the whip moves 60 degrees yet the tip of the whip moves at 360 degrees so the terms bullwhip effect is most befitting. The impact at the retail level is low and escalates further up the supply chain with the manufacturer suffering the most.

Insights From The Gartner Supply Chain Conference: Digitization And Intelligence Pave The Road To Customer-Centric Supply Chains

It’s time for supply chains to break out of the mindset of being led by the transaction. The message resonated when Gartner’s Tom Enright and Bart DeMuynck presented a look into what’s on the horizon as supply chains grow more intelligence-driven and begin to utilize those insights to serve customers in new and innovative ways.

Omnichannel Offers Retailers A Way To Compete

As retailers large and small contend with the disruptive force that is Amazon, they’re looking into various ways to deliver a unique omnichannel experience. The omnichannel combines physical stores with mobile apps, websites and social media to create a consistent experience for customers as they switch between channels to interact with a retailer.

Backlash Against Cashless Stores Grows

In this digital age, cash still represents 30% of all retail store transactions and 55% of transactions under $10. Cash also accounts for almost half (41%) of fast food purchases and a third of transactions (33%) at convenience stores. As mobile wallets and other cash alternatives are introduced, the trend raises the very real question of whether cash needs legislative protection. In a growing number of municipalities and States the answer is yes.

Visibility Fills The Gap

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.

5 Ways To Boost Holiday E-Commerce Sales

On Cyber Monday (Nov. 27, 2017), NRF estimates over 120 million people in the U.S. will go online to conduct some of their holiday shopping. While most consumers see this day as the beginning of the holiday shopping season, retailers know the season is really the culmination of months of hard work and preparation.

Why Retailers Should Equip Their Temporary Holiday Workforce With Mobile Devices

The holiday season is quickly approaching. This means retailers need to start preparing for the influx of seasonal temporary workers required to get through the holidays.

Traceability: The Solution To Product Recalls

It seems product recalls are now the norm on a wide range of products from cellphones to ATVs, high heels, children’s clothing, and more.  In one week, the CPSC reported several recalls on its website: incorrect venting Nutrilife® hydrogen peroxide bottles cause fires or burns; By Gary Barraco, Director, Global Product Marketing, Amber Road

4 Reasons You Need To Take Blockchain Seriously

Retailers are bombarded with so many new technologies it’s difficult to keep up. Each new tool or platform makes bold claims of transformative capabilities. By Sunny Lu, Co-founder & CEO, VeChain

5 Ways To Enhance Your e-Commerce Inventory Management Process

With the surge in the e-commerce, the need to employ appropriate inventory management practices for e-commerce warehousing has increased tremendously. By Kevin Hill, Quality Scales Unlimited