Analyst Insight: The last two years have seen a rush to provide store fulfillment services - similar to the efforts to deploy e-commerce FCs back in 1998-2000. To date, store fulfillment initiatives have largely been tactical, technology-driven initiatives chartered to leverage existing applications-integration in order to support “save the sale" functionality as well as offload growing FC volumes to the retail store. The coming years will experience a "financial-efficiency" driven effort to maximize profit margin and optimize network inventory efficiency under the new age of constrained IT investment. – Kevin Hume, Principal, Tompkins International
Analyst Insight: Omnichannel commerce is the new "normal" for retail. And it's a tall order for most companies to achieve. You'll need an omnichannel road map that incorporates where you've come from and where you need to be based on your customers' expectations and your business strategy. – Joe Dunlap, Senior Director, Supply Chain Strategy, Fortna Inc.
Enrique Castillo, president and chief operating officer of Fast Logistics Group, relates how the lead logistics provider adopted a sales and operations planning (S&OP) process to improve the reliability of delivery for major consumer-goods brands. A finalist in the SupplyChainBrain/CSCMP Supply Chain Innovation Award for 2014.
Although the term "omnichannel" has become most associated with success in retail and consumer goods, few companies are confident in their omnichannel abilities, according to a new study by Ernst & Young and the Consumer Goods Forum. They blame the supply chain.
The TrueCommerce EDI (electronic data interchange) Solutions Group of HighJump Software has partnered with NumberCruncher.com, a vendor of inventory and order-management software for QuickBooks users.
Analyst Insight: The rise of omnichannel fulfillment and e-commerce is having a dramatic impact on distribution network design. As omnichannel fulfillment becomes the new normal for consumers, distribution and logistics professionals are increasingly reassessing their fulfillment networks, the attributes of their distribution facilities and the expectations placed on their partners. This reassessment is leading to more innovative fulfillment options, but uncertainty remains on the profitability of additional customer service solutions. – Barry Blake, Vice President, Research, SCM World
Retail demand planning is, to a great extent, a game of numbers. But the store that relies entirely on hard statistics is likely to be in for an unpleasant surprise.
The latest news, analysis, services and solutions regarding order fulfillment for warehousing and distribution. Today’s companies are moving goods across more suppliers, vendors and customers than ever before, and warehouses are critical points in the overall supply chain. New technologies in order fulfillment are transforming the way warehouses and distribution centers operate — allowing corporations to stay ahead of competition in their industries. As these solutions continue to evolve, businesses are discovering new ways to increase efficiency and cut costs. Learn how companies around the world are improving supply-chain operations through their strategic use of order fulfillment solutions in the warehouse.
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