The goal of omnichannel retailing is to create a seamless and transparent experience for the customer that enhances the retailer's brand. To date, the omnichannel retailing focus has been largely on the selling experience and not how the retailer gets the goods into the customer's hands. However, customers measure the entire shopping experience, including delivery. Omnichannel selling is making retailers responsible for home delivery, whether they like it or not, and last-mile delivery performance is the last word about the retailer in the customer's mind.
Toys "R" Us Inc. has opened a distribution center in Saint-Fargeau-Ponthierry, France, to support the company's expanding e-commerce business throughout the country and in select sections of Europe.
Brad Van De Sompele, president at Frontier Electric Supply in Bensenville, Ill., is one long-time member of the National Association of electrical Distributors who's not afraid of Amazon's advances into the electrical industry.
Avid online shoppers have raised the bar on what it takes for a retailer to stay competitive. Consumers want advanced mobile features, flexible shipping options and hassle-free returns, according to the fourth annual UPS Pulse of the Online Shopper study.
Online retailers have raised the bar for convenience and fast delivery - and brick-and-mortar retailers are scrambling to keep up. To speed order fulfillment, they are shipping from stores that are closest to customers. To build on their strengths, they are focusing on the in-store customer experience. And to bring more online shoppers into stores, they are providing Buy Online, Pick Up In-Store (BOPUS) options. At the same time, they are rapidly investing in additional inventory and store labor to stay competitive.
European officials want to make it easier for companies to offer e-commerce across the continent, and are asking whether some firms are putting barriers in the way of that happening. Among the actions they announced is an antitrust inquiry to investigate "possible competition concerns" put in place by some Web companies.
Retailers and consumer goods manufacturers are spending an enormous amount of money, energy and time to improve their omnichannel sales capabilities, yet a JDA report reveals an unexpected and disturbing fact: despite these significant investments, only 16 percent of companies say they can fulfill omnichannel demand profitably today. Retailers and consumer goods manufacturers are spending an enormous amount of money, energy and time to improve their omnichannel sales capabilities, yet a JDA report reveals an unexpected and disturbing fact: despite these significant investments, only 16 percent of companies say they can fulfill omnichannel demand profitably today.
