Supply Chain

The convenience of browsing products from anywhere, coupled with the ease of doorstep delivery, has caused a surge in online shopping. In fact, a recent report released by UPS Capital Insurance Agency, Inc. found that almost all surveyed small and midsized merchants (99 percent) claimed an increase in their shipping volume over the past two…

The stakes are high in today’s ever-changing economy, and companies must make the right supply chain decisions or risk being left behind. Navigating the complexity of today’s supply chain requires utilizing converging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), decision science, and operations research for more informed, data-driven decisions. However, leveraging these components…

It can feel, at times, like a game of dominos. When there’s a global supply chain disruption, like those we’ve been seeing in recent months on the Red Sea and the Panama Canal, e-commerce companies and, ultimately, consumers feel the downstream ripples. For those working on the inside, it’s nothing new. There have been plenty…

For some time now, many retailers have been exploring the use of artificial intelligence to enhance various aspects of their business, from inventory placement to merchandising assortments. However, the conversation gained renewed momentum in 2023 with the emergence of ChatGPT and generative AI. This increased interest in the potential of AI to transform retail operations…

The call for brands and retailers to fortify their supply chains with robust traceability solutions has never been more urgent. Countries across the globe have enacted tighter due diligence laws to prevent child labor, poor working conditions, and environmental abuses, ranging from the United States’ Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, to the German Supply Chain…

In episode 441 of Total Retail Talks, Editor-in-Chief Joe Keenan interviews Yikun Shao, head of supply chain, North America at Alibaba.com, a leading platform for global B2B e-commerce. Listen in as Shao discusses his professional background and current role at Alibaba.com (0:55), leveraging the organization's supply chain capabilities to empower small businesses (3:45), the adoption…

Demand planning uses available data and analytics into past market behavior in and around a business to predict the future. Without these insights, business owners could make inventory misreads, marketing mistakes, shipping blunders, and hiring miscues, all eating into profit margins. By assessing your current business performance and past order histories, you can anticipate the…

While inflation has been kept in check for much of the broader economy over the last few months and diesel prices have declined, the cost of diesel fuel may have negative ripple effects across the economy, particularly for retail fleets. Demand for domestic transportation of goods is expected to increase in the coming months as…

In an age where everyday goods cost more than ever, is our appetite for the finer things subsiding? According to Bank of America card data, credit card spending for luxury fashion is down 16 percent year-over-year, the product of a six-quarter-long decline. In October, one of the world’s top luxury retailers saw its stock drop…

A perfect storm is brewing in retail, sparking a critical reckoning for industry leaders. Social commerce has exploded, digital brands have resurrected brick-and-mortar, delivery demands have intensified, and artificial intelligence is promising operational overhaul. Legacy retailers and e-commerce disruptors face an imperative: either rapidly transform business models, supply chain strategies and technological capabilities OR risk…