"Predictive commerce" is a new concept that links customer demand data, planning and the execution of transportation. Pat Smith, general manager of ToolsGroup, tells how it was implemented at Costa Express, the U.K.'s fastest-growing coffee shop chain.
The popular online purveyor of skin care and beauty products undergoes a natural process of maturing. Rapid sales growth dictates that the Seattle-based merchandiser hire an outsourcing partner to handle order-fulfillment duties in the eastern U.S.
A hot topic among retailers, customers and logistics professionals alike for years, omnichannel fulfillment is finally here. Whether shopping in person, buying online and picking up in store, or having merchandise sent directly to them, customers expect access to the same inventory.
As a part of the strategy to expand its logistics business further in Asia, Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha Ltd., or "K" Line, has agreed to establish a joint venture with Cool Japan Fund Inc. and Japan Logistic Systems Corp. to build and operate a cold storage in the outskirts of Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam.
A neighbor down the street put in a new brick walk last summer. Each brick was identical, which made it easy to stack them alongside each other for a seamless path. If only palletizing were that simple. But as warehouse workers contend with boxes of all shapes and sizes, a one-size-fits-all pallet pattern just won’t cut it.
The trends favor a centralized inventory under one roof, but the question whether it is the most effective response to the challenges of multichannel distribution persists.
