Supply Chain

In a world where balance sheets and stakeholder returns reign supreme, the retail sector faces a challenge: balancing profitability with the preservation of branded experiences. It's often tempting for retail brands to believe they will save money by insourcing their fulfillment and logistics. Unfortunately, that decision often doesn't result in cost savings. Brands that view…

By this point, we've all seen the eye-watering growth projections for the e-commerce sector. But the truth is, those multitrillion dollar valuations are very hard-earned, and entrepreneurs often don’t get to experience those dividends until they're knee-deep in backorders, supplier delays, and frustrated customers. Today, even experienced SMB merchants are struggling to deliver on their…

Kohl's customers can now get same-day delivery thanks to a partnership between the department store chain and Instacart, the companies reported last week. Customers can now place scheduled or same-day delivery orders for 1,172 Kohl’s locations nationwide. Kohl's rewards can also be earned through Instacart purchases . “With Kohl’s as one of the first department…

Between the Baltimore bridge collapse, Red Sea conflict and Panama Canal drought, the supply chain has been in the spotlight because of the global pandemic and shutdown, international conflicts, major weather events and more. Addressing Challenges Customers need assurances from businesses that merchandise will arrive when promised. In an increasingly competitive landscape, businesses need to…

Supply chains are at the beating heart of businesses in delivering products to the end customer. In retail organizations, efficient supply chains can have a transformative impact on operations. To improve efficiency, retailers need to have full visibility of their inventory, and this is where RFID can play a leading role. A Lack of Automation…

Businesses are constantly having to navigate unexpected issues with their shipping processes and the real consequences that come to their bottom line. From upstream disruptions such as havoc in international waters that clog ports and upend access to goods, to downstream disruptions like inclement weather that mess with on-time-delivery (OTD) rates, the supply chain as…

Recent news coming out of the supply chain industry shows how major players are continuing to make moves when it comes to their fulfillment and distribution processes, particularly around implementing more automation. While these advancements are great for trimming store-to-home delivery costs, industry professionals are asking themselves what this means for the future of the…

Online retail and e-commerce providers are struggling to meet shopper expectations amidst ongoing inflation, higher costs and lingering supply chain woes. A new independent survey that queried nearly 2,000 global shoppers found that 88 percent of U.S. and 79 percent of U.K. shoppers said that online retailers delivered poor experiences at least once in the…

Every month brings new evidence of how dramatically consumers’ growing preferences for sustainability are reshaping their shopping habits. A new study by NIQ found that 69 percent of global consumers say that sustainability and ESG concerns have become increasingly important to them over the last two years. Another study of U.S. consumers found that 66…

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…