Shekar Natarajan of American Eagle Outfitters, a finalist in the 2022 Supply Chain Innovator of the Year Award, describes building a successful fulfillment and transportation edge network.

The multinational fast fashion retailer has now succumbed to the online shopping revolution, but it is not planning delivery service.

In the darkest days of the COVID-19 pandemic, demand for many consumer products surged. But few industries experienced an explosion of activity like the furniture business.

Despite the pandemonium of COVID-19, there are ways to reduce risk to smaller retailers as peak season approaches. 

Capacity, reliability and cost containment are the most important factors in successful e-commerce delivery, says Rob Glover, vice president of sales at OSM Worldwide.

Retailers offering free returns have fallen by half this year, suggesting easy returns is another trend unlikely to outlast the pandemic.

Logistics has traditionally been viewed as a back-office function, but today it has a direct impact on the customer experience, says Michael Campese, senior vice president of sales and marketing with EFW.

To meet modern customer demands, including same-day delivery and real-time visibility, specialized companies within the last-mile space are needed.

In light of today’s era of inflation and a possible recession just on the horizon, now is the ideal time to seek out ways to optimize your business’s processes as a way to cut down on costs. 

As investor dollars that funded its creation and growth are now demanding profitability — just as they did for its predecessors — signals will emerge from the noise.