Labor shortages coupled with an increasingly competitive landscape are driving the need for service innovation and enhanced shipper and 3PL provider relationships, according to the 20th Annual Third Party (3PL) Logistics Study from Capgemini Consulting, Penn State University, Penske Logistics and Korn/Ferry International.
Omnichannel retailing, which provides customers with a consistent research, shopping, purchasing and fulfillment experience regardless of channel, lies at the heart of many retailer transformation efforts. Additionally, mobile shopping, same-day delivery, and growing volumes of data from online channels are forcing retailers to a tipping point to remain competitive and better respond to evolving customer needs and preferences.
Wider adoption of standards is key to supply chain efficiency and meeting new consumer needs, according to a report entitled The Future of Standards in the Consumer Goods & Retail Industry: Cut Costs and Meet New Consumer Needs. The authors call on the industry to introduce simplified programs to help users embrace and deploy standards while enabling provision of standardized product data to consumers.