E-Commerce/Omni-Channel

Retailers Welcome Online Sales Tax Push

May 4, 2017

The National Retail Federation recently welcomed renewed efforts in Congress to require online sellers to collect sales tax the same as local stores.

Warehouse Optimization Needed - and Not Just During Holiday Season

May 4, 2017

Adam Mussomeli and Brenna Sniderman of Deloitte

Online retail continues to grow at a rapid rate, with a 14.6-percent increase in the category in 2015, totaling $341.7bn. That has major implications for warehouse optimization.

Amazon Rival Boxed Sees Narrow Inventory as an Edge

May 2, 2017

Bloomberg

Chieh Huang has borrowed a lot from Amazon.com Inc. to expand his e-commerce startup Boxed Wholesale, which sells bulk packages of paper towels, granola bars and maxi pads, including free delivery within two days on most orders and an inexpensive house brand of products. And, like Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, Huang started the company in his garage in 2013.

Facing the Task of Facilitating WTO's Trade Facilitation Agreement

May 1, 2017

Robert J. Bowman, SupplyChainBrain

Free trade seems to have few friends in positions of power these days. But advocates of removing obstacles to the flow of international trade got at least one piece of good news earlier this year.

IoT Tech Is Gaining Ground in Retail Worldwide, Study Shows

April 28, 2017

RFID Journal

A study conducted worldwide by Zebra Technologies Brazil and released in São Paulo indicates that 70 percent of retailers plan to invest in Internet of Things (IoT) technologies to improve the customer experience. By 2021, the study indicates, smart technologies will provide consumers with new levels of customization, speed and convenience.

Drop Shipping Could Be Key to Generation Z

April 28, 2017

Apparel

Brands and retailers have been hyper focused on Millennials for years now. But while they've been busy trying to figure out what Millennials want, Generation Z, a maturing and ever more digitized and global generation, is emerging with its formidable buying power.

Why Are Traditional Retailers Failing?

April 27, 2017

Keith Phillips, President & CEO, Voxware

Instant Fulfillment: The New Meaning of Fast Fashion

April 27, 2017

The New York Times

How fast is fast enough when it comes to clothes and gratification? How much do you really need that dress or bag or platform sandal?

Darkstore Takes Airbnb Approach to E-Commerce Fulfillment

April 26, 2017

MultiChannel Merchant

App-driven startup Darkstore, which matches e-commerce shippers with urban fulfillment centers that have excess capacity to facilitate same-day delivery, will use a new cash infusion to expand beyond the three markets it currently serves.

Target Agrees to Phase Out Use of Polystyrene Packaging

April 25, 2017

Environmental Leader

Target has announced it will begin to phase out use of polystyrene foam packing in its e-commerce operations.

E-Commerce/Omni-Channel

The latest supply-chain news, analysis, trends and tools for executives in the e-commerce/omnichannel industry — which consists of companies engaged in internet retailing, including those with auxiliary brick-and-mortar stores. Learn how e-commerce/omnichannel companies and their suppliers around the world are managing the flow of products across all channels of the enterprise. Experts sound off on forecasting and demand planning, supply-chain visibility, logistics outsourcing, inventory optimization, transportation management, warehouse management, supply-chain security, corporate social responsibility and more.