Supply Chain

“What decisions can technology manage better than humans?” should be the question that drives your internal operational process. For example, is there a way to automate internally transferring inventory already in your supply chain to locations in need? What about building orders to supplier minimums or logistics constraints? Can allocation of insufficient quantities be taken…

The so-called “retail apocalypse” is completely overblown, but it does indicate that the retail industry is undergoing a transformation, driven by changes in the way consumers shop across all touchpoints. While it's true that e-commerce has certain advantages over traditional brick-and-mortar, physical stores have their own benefits, which aren't as easily replicated by the likes…

Driven by continuous changes in technology and consumer behavior, retail’s survival is dependent on the industry’s ability to adapt to the customer journey and accommodate the blurred lines of shopping. However, with Amazon.com disrupting the industry, store closures being announced regularly, and the phrase "retail apocalypse" continuing to permeate the headlines, it's unlikely consumers will…

J.C. Penney is closing its distribution center in Wauwatosa, Wis. and cutting 670 jobs. USA Today reports the retailer will begin shutting down the 2 million-square-foot warehouse and customer service operation this summer. The move comes as J.C. Penney looks to reduce its supply chain network, which "is oversized relative to its national store footprint," company…

Traditional retailers are under tremendous pressure from online and other forces. But how bad is it? And what can retailers do to remain competitive? Formerly successful retailers like Borders, Aeropostale, RadioShack and Payless Shoes have gone bankrupt under the online onslaught. Just recently, the “category killer” Toys"R"Us filed for bankruptcy. While other retailers are keeping…

Don’t miss this webinar to learn how to protect your business from costly overstocks, out-of-stocks and returns.

My girlfriend recently tried to return a dress to a New York City department store. What should have been an easy process turned into a hassle for one reason: she had purchased the dress through the store’s website. We bounced back and forth on a wild goose chase from the checkout counter to the customer…

Wal-Mart will require suppliers to deliver more goods to warehouses exactly on time or face fines, another step in the retailer’s efforts to keep inventory low and shelves stocked as it battles with Amazon.com. More specifically, Wal-Mart executives plan to announce at an annual conference this week that large suppliers fulfill orders within a specified one- or two-day…

With a unified view of its data, IWA has been able to segment and target customers with personalized marketing campaigns

Retail has become one of the most difficult industries in which to survive. Behemoths such as Amazon.com increasingly sweep weaker competitors off the map. So, how can retailers compete in the age of Amazon? Unfortunately, there's no “silver bullet” technology that can help here. The key is being able to adapt quickly and experiment with…