Supply Chain

Competition plays a huge factor in the retail industry. Operating in a highly saturated market, retailers must constantly work towards meeting their customers’ expectations quickly while providing a high-quality experience. With price and convenience being the two biggest factors affecting consumer purchase decisions, retailers must find ways to keep costs down while continuing to streamline…

Artificial intelligence allows retailers to gain a far deeper understanding of customer preferences and behaviors by analyzing information like browsing and purchase histories. Using sophisticated AI algorithms, retailers can build comprehensive profiles that reveal what individual shoppers like and need over time. This empowers retailers to provide hyperpersonalized product recommendations that closely match each customer's…

Customer expectations have gone through a number of changes in a short few years. Everyone was chasing the ability to offer two-day shipping, but the need for speed is trending down, with 85 percent of customers not opening their packages on the first day. We’ve seen a creative resurgence in retail offerings, blurring the barrier between…

Supply chains across the globe are becoming increasingly complex, competitive, and under the scrutiny of existing and developing regulation. To date, the guiding solution has been elementary: scan it. For years, scanning products have allowed supply chain professionals to keep track of every item in their supply chain, from warehouses to delivery trucks to store…

For sugar importers, this past summer was anything but sweet. The cost of sugar has surged by more than 40 percent globally since last year due largely to poor harvest conditions caused by dry conditions across India, China, and Thailand, as well as an unusually cold and wet spring in Europe, which are expected to…

A boom in online shopping or will there be a return to in-store shopping in the lead up to Christmas this year? We all know that more and more buying decisions start online. According to our latest research, that figure sits at a hefty 84 percent. With inflationary pressure continuing to overshadow the public purse,…

In spite of economic headwinds, a recent survey revealed that an overwhelming 73 percent of brands anticipate increased holiday sales in 2023. Similarly, 67 percent of consumers report that they plan to spend as much money or more on holiday gifts this year compared to last. However, years of supply chain disruptions and volatile consumer…

2023 was a challenging year for retail logistics. The industry was still recovering from a pandemic-fueled supply chain crisis, as well as a crippling labor shortage. Technology changed, HR strategies shifted, and retail logistics providers evolved to move past the challenges of 2023 and towards the opportunities of 2024. What could the new year bring?…

Do your company’s supply chain leaders have an influential role in shaping your brand’s decisions? If your organization’s supply chain leaders haven’t gained prominence in the wake of the myriad supply chain disruptions over the past few years, the proliferation of artificial intelligence technologies might be what boosts their visibility among the C-suite and board…

Shutterfly’s personalized products come to life through innovative technology and supply chain efficiencies. During the busy holiday season, the gifting retailer goes the extra mile to ensure products are crafted and delivered in record time. In this video interview, Sally Pofcher, CEO of Shutterfly, discusses what excited her about the opportunity to join the company…