Order Fulfillment

DoorDash has entered the home improvement category with a new partnership with Lowe’s Companies. The delivery aggregator announced yesterday that it will offer on-demand delivery from more than 1,700 Lowes' stores nationwide. This partnership marks DoorDash’s first foray into the home improvement category and builds on the significant selection offerings on the platform, with more than 99…

Consumers want convenience, personalization and value — it’s what pushed the U.S. retail market to a record $5.13 trillion in 2023. As inflation subsides, what shoppers want and how they spend will keep playing a big role in how the market evolves. Retailers need to keep pace with a more connected, savvy and discerning customer…

Heralded as the latest phenomenon in e-commerce, "shoppertainment" — the convergence of shopping and entertainment — is making colossal waves within the retail industry. According to recent research from TikTok and the Boston Consulting Group (BCG), this growing trend is expected to present Asia-Pacific (APAC) brands alone with a trillion-dollar opportunity by 2025. While APAC…

With the leaves turning colors and the arrival of cooler temperatures, retailers are turning their attention to ensuring their e-commerce systems are ready for holiday 2023. The complex, fluctuating economic conditions this year mean they’re facing a distinct set of challenges: ever-present inventory planning and delivery logistics challenges alongside a prediction of flat or modest…

The ongoing tough economic climate is seeing retailers constantly seeking ways to control costs while protecting the experience their customers expect. One interesting trend is the emergence of "nearshoring" — i.e., locating key operations closer to the final point of sale. Rather than having large, centralized warehouses, paying duty and customs charges, dealing with lengthy and…

Walmart announced last week that it's teaming up with Wing, an on-demand drone delivery provider powered by Google’s parent company, Alphabet, to offer drone delivery from two stores in the Dallas metro area in the coming months. The move will enable the retail giant to deliver products to an additional 60,000 homes in under 30…

Each year customers are getting younger. Savvy brands are now focusing their efforts on appealing to the next generation of shoppers, including tweens, teens and young adults. As of 2022, Gen Z (currently aged between nine and 24 years old) made up 20.88 percent of the U.S. population, so it makes sense that brands are turning…

While holiday shopping sprees are still months away, it’s prime time for brands to evaluate their fulfillment needs. Whether a brand is in the market for a new third-party logistics (3PL) partner or plans to bring on additional fulfillment support to manage peak season, it’s critical they conduct their due diligence now. Before diving head…

How much does a fulfillment center's geographical positioning matter in the grand scheme of things? And what role does third-party logistics, or 3PL, play? To understand what is a 3PL, let’s go over their basic task: 3PL providers offer services that encompass the entire supply chain management process, which includes warehousing and fulfillment. As competition…

It’s no surprise that starting preparations for the upcoming peak season immediately after the last is the surest way for retailers to see peak season success. However, this is often easier said than done. Ongoing economic turmoil and supply chain pressures continue to force brands big and small to focus on the here and now, often leaving little room…