Supply Chain

Target to Spend $100M on Supply Chain Hubs to Speed Up Order Delivery
February 23, 2023 at 5:14 pm

Target announced this week that it will spend $100 million to build a larger network of supply chain hubs to speed up and lower the cost of delivering online orders. The retailer plans to have at least 15 of the facilities, dubbed sortation centers, by the end of January 2026. It already has opened nine…

How Your Business Can Implement Cost-Effective Logistics Operations
February 22, 2023 at 4:36 pm

E-commerce is fast becoming the lifeblood of the retail economy. In 2021, the e-commerce industry generated $5.2 trillion worldwide, with a 56 percent increase expected by 2026. With statistics like these, it's no surprise that e-commerce has become a driving force for businesses of all sizes. However, serious blind spots threaten that profitability. Entering the next…

Retail’s Headaches Can Be Alleviated With Automation
February 15, 2023 at 7:17 pm

In 2022, 69 percent of Americans shopped online, and 25 percent of Americans shop online at least once per month. It's estimated that digital spending grew by about 6.1 percent in 2022 compared to the year prior. The most recent data shows consumer spending rising this past holiday season as well, a positive sign for the…

From Supply Chain to POS: Lessons Learned at NRF 2023
February 14, 2023 at 10:30 am

Each year, NRF: Retail's Big Show acts as the curtain-raiser for some of the retail industry’s most advanced and innovative technology solutions. While 2022’s event saw NRF’s return to New York’s Javits Center, attendee turnout remained unusually low due to the world being in the early stages of the post-pandemic recovery. However, 2023 saw attendee…

Logistics Preparation and Response to Weather Emergencies for Shippers
February 9, 2023 at 12:13 pm

It seems like every week this winter there's an announcement about a closed freeway due to a blizzard and South Florida is still cleaning up the devastation caused by hurricane Ian, especially when it comes to the supply chain. With today’s climate changes and challenges, it’s very likely that other weather emergencies like hurricanes, tornadoes,…

Why Digital Identities Are the Key to Protecting Brand Authenticity and Integrity
February 6, 2023 at 11:34 am

For the 2021 holiday season, shoppers and retailers worried about inventory shortages and shipping delays, but for this most recent holiday season, many brands were dealing with an excess of product. At the same time, organized retail theft is on the rise, with 57 percent of retailers reporting an increase in 2022 year-over-year, according to…

Why the Customer Experience is Crucial to Social Commerce Success
February 6, 2023 at 10:59 am

Amidst skyrocketing digital advertising costs and uncertain macroeconomic conditions, direct-to-consumer (DTC) brands that once relied primarily on social advertising to drive customer acquisition are now seeking new ways to reach consumers. Companies like cosmetics maker Jones Road Beauty are shifting ad spend from early DTC mainstays Facebook and Instagram to platforms like TikTok that drive…

Supply Chain Compliance: Why Product Provenance Matters
February 1, 2023 at 2:10 pm

With a new year upon us, one of the first things on the horizon for the industry is the introduction of the Supply Chain Due Diligence Act, which went into effect on Jan. 1 in Germany. The legislation aims to improve the international human rights situation by making it legally binding to ensure certain standards…

Why Lack of Inventory Transparency May Be Hindering Your Business Growth
January 31, 2023 at 12:35 pm

Calculating how much inventory to keep on hand can sometimes feel like a Goldilocks story. Too much inventory and you’re left with wasted product. Not enough inventory and you’re left with unhappy shoppers and lost profit. Oftentimes, the amount of inventory on hand is a result of supply chain issues, of which there has been…

Turning a Return Into an Opportunity 
January 25, 2023 at 4:56 pm

Online shoppers have come to count on not only free shipping, but free returns as well. Experts say retailers can expect, on average, about $158 billion of merchandise sold during the recent holiday shopping season to be returned. While some brands are rethinking their return policies, shortening the return window, or even charging a return or restocking fee, there's a bigger picture to consider.  There’s…