E-Commerce/Omni-Channel

Target's New Online Strategy: Less Is More

May 22, 2017

Target Corp., under pressure after issuing a dismal profit warning for the year, is narrowing its focus and rethinking its digital strategy, even as competitors like Wal-Mart Stores Inc. invest heavily to diversify their online offerings.

Sustainable Packaging No Longer Optional, Retailers Say

May 19, 2017

Environmental Leader

Retailers and manufacturers have dictated that sustainable packaging is no longer just "nice to have," but is something they expect from the packaging industry, according to a new study from Smithers Pira.

The New Retail: Lessons From China for the West

May 19, 2017

Boston Consulting Group

Imagine being in the middle of Times Square, surrounded by flashing lights, fast-talking vendors, street performers, live music, noisy traffic jams, and endless other distractions. Now imagine you're online and surrounded by the same energetic chaos. Welcome to China's digital marketplace, where shopping is an adventure - a fire hose of rapidly changing content, offers, products, colors, and choices. For Western shoppers accustomed to simple, transactional online buying, it's a culture shock.

Tesco Uses AI to Stock Shelves, Route Drivers With Google Assistant

May 18, 2017

CIO

Tesco is starting to incorporate machine learning algorithms across the business, from internal applications such as driver routing to customer-facing apps like integration, with Google's home assistant device. Tesco is starting to incorporate machine learning algorithms across the business, from internal applications such as driver routing to customer-facing apps like integration, with Google's home assistant device.

This Startup is the Airbnb of Warehouses

May 18, 2017

Bloomberg

A Seattle startup has come out of nowhere to offer online merchants something even Amazon doesn't: overnight ground delivery to nearly anyone in the country.

Amazon Makes Major Push Into Furniture

May 18, 2017

The Wall Street Journal

Amazon.com Inc. wants to furnish your home. The online retail giant is making a major push into furniture and appliances, including building at least four massive warehouses focused on handling bulky items, according to people familiar with Amazon's plans.

Opinion: Why the Last Mile Is a First Priority for Today's Retailers

May 16, 2017

Kees Jacobs and Sundip Naik, Capgemini

The "last mile" is a telecom term for delivering telephone, cable or internet services to the customer. With the most connections to make, it's the bottleneck of the system. It's also the most expensive and difficult to upgrade. These words also aptly describe retail's woes in delivering orders to the consumer.

April Jobs Report Hints at Growth in Logistics Industry

May 15, 2017

The Wall Street Journal

Businesses tied to e-commerce fulfillment resumed hiring at a rapid clip in April, bolstering payrolls to meet changes in the consumer economy.

Amazon Sellers Are Looking to Expand on Walmart.com, Study Says

May 12, 2017

MultiChannel Merchant

Nearly half of merchants selling goods on Amazon.com said in a recent survey that the marketplace makes up 80 percent or more of their sales, while home and kitchen goods was the most popular category, reported by 18 percent of respondents.

UPS, Sealed Air Unveil Packaging Innovation Center

May 10, 2017

MultiChannel Merchant

Meeting the increasingly high demands of e-commerce customers and helping shippers drive efficiency in their fulfillment operations were two of the main themes as UPS and Sealed Air jointly unveiled their packaging innovation center.

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.