Articles

Customer Service

GOOD QUESTION | When choosing a logistics provider, what’s more important: cost or customer service?

With a tumultuous global economy and trade uncertainties, the most important consideration is value. Can they provide global visibility to your supply chain? Can they help you effectively navigate the ever-changing regulatory landscape? Park Williams VP, North America Sales BDP International Customer service. Simply put—you can win and lose with cost, but you will always […]

Read More

Five Reasons Why the Delivery Economy Is Here… Now

Providing a great customer experience has long been a key factor in predicting any business’s success. Traditionally, this meant providing customers things like a comfortable place to shop, attentive and courteous sales associates, and a generous return policy. But, like everything else today, new digital technologies and services have dramatically changed what customers expect during […]

Read More
How Evolving Consumer Behavior impacts Global Supply Chains

How Evolving Consumer Behavior impacts Global Supply Chains

The impact of evolving consumer shopping behaviors on retailers and manufacturers is the focus of a new supply chain study by DiCentral, a B2B integration services provider, along with the Center for Supply Chain Research at Lehigh University. The study, Supply Chain Collaboration in Transformative Vertical Industries: Implications of Omnichannel and Dropshipping, examines the motivations, […]

Read More

Can Your Supply Chain Turn on a Dime?

Shifting and more demanding consumer expectations are changing the way organizations work. According to the EY Americas Supply Chain Reinvention Survey 2019, 53% of respondents say fast-changing customer preferences require supply chains that can turn on a dime. The survey covers topics including technology adoption, leadership and talent, investment prioritization, sustainability, and other factors in […]

Read More
Leading a Supply Chain With Dogged Determination

Leading a Supply Chain With Dogged Determination

Matt Cantatore is chief operating officer of Ollie, a national service that sells healthful, high-quality pet food direct to consumers. Responsibilities: Oversight of day-to-day operations, including sourcing, supply chain management, fulfillment, logistics, and customer service. Also an executive team member responsible for recruiting, goal-setting, and managing the P&L. Experience: Director of operations, Blue Apron; analyst, […]

Read More

Is Process Killing the Customer Experience?

When a company decides to do something new, employees usually try several different ways of carrying out the activity. But once they have found a way that works particularly well, they have strong incentives to lock into the chosen process and stop searching for alternatives. Fixating on a single process frees people’s time and energy […]

Read More
Sean Wilcox

Shipping and Delivery: How to Get it Right

Thanks to the rise of e-commerce and heightening customer expectations, shipping and delivery have become key drivers of overall customer satisfaction. An e-commerce company’s ability to meet customer expectations can be a source of competitive differentiation. Executing against the wrong strategy—or not having a strategy at all—is a recipe for higher costs and lower customer […]

Read More

15 Key Questions to Ask Before Choosing an Outsourced Fulfillment Partner

In a highly competitive market, outsourcing order fulfillment can provide most companies a competitive advantage. The right provider can cut costs, improve customer service, allow you to focus on core competencies, and help you stay ahead of the competition by managing your entire supply chain. Is outsourcing your fulfillment the best option for your business? […]

Read More

Supply Chain Commentary: Five Challenges to Embrace and Channel into Business Advantages

Disruption can be daunting, especially coupled with pressure from increasing competitive forces and shrinking margins. However, strategic navigation and preparation can lead to positive outcomes. In the supply chain, challenges can lead to improvements in key areas such as inventory management and order fulfilment. Technology innovation can help. A PwC study found that companies with […]

Read More