Articles
Fulfillment
Full-Service Fulfillment Solution Helps E-commerce Company Deliver – Saddle Creek
Saddle Creek helped allheart get orders out quickly, control costs, and keep up with demand spikes.
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Subscription Retailing and Order Fulfillment – Hollingsworth
Q: Why are major retailers going all-in on subscription services? A: Subscription boxes such as Birchbox, Stitch Fix, Blue Apron, and the Dollar Shave Club have become popular new avenues of retail in recent years, and now major retailers are jumping in on the trend. Apparel brands like Old Navy, Gap, and Nordstrom have launched […]
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Engaging the Informed Consumer
Retailers and branded manufacturers can differentiate themselves in a crowded marketplace by showcasing their most unique assets, according to Kibo’s annual 2018 Consumer Trends report. Based on responses from 3,000 U.S. consumers, the report suggests that while price is still the primary factor in purchasing decisions, consumers are increasingly seeking out a differentiated shopping experience—one […]
Read More15 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 MoreSupply Chain Commentary: Picking a Robot for Your Warehouse
Robots are here to stay. They are the next wave in automating operations in manufacturing and distribution centers. There are a range of robot-based solutions, and as new entrants come into the market, representing different technologies, workflow efficiencies, and ROI gains, it is crucial to pick a system that will remain lean and flexible over […]
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5 Ways to Improve Fulfillment Center Efficiency
To capitalize on the e-commerce boom, fulfillment centers—which are different from distribution centers in that they do not distribute inventory but fulfill customer demand in either B2B or B2C businesses—need to scale and react nimbly and agily. Fulfillment centers must also be as efficient as possible to maximize customer satisfaction. Fulfillment centers do not generate […]
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E-Commerce: The Great Retail Equalizer
From small, local businesses to national giants, merchants fashion e-commerce strategies to attract and delight consumers in an ever-more competitive market.
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Optimizing Inbound Freight Beyond the Shipment Level – Schneider Logistics
In this era of omni-channel fulfillment, supply chain visibility is more important than ever. Yet many shippers are still in the dark when it comes to visibility to a significant portion of their supply chain cost: their inbound freight spend. Many inbound shipments are supplier-controlled with prepaid terms in which suppliers are adding in the […]
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Distributors Step Up Their Game
Changing business models—especially the rise of e-commerce—are prompting many distributors to enhance their services. Game on.
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Specialized Packaging & Personalized Fulfillment – MD Logistics
MD Logistics’ customized supply chain solution helps a luxury brand manufacturer provide a personalized shopping experience while maintaining a high turnaround rate.
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Improving Food Distribution: Knife, Spoon, and Forklift
A fine foods supplier optimizes order picking and improves worker safety with systems that pass the taste test.
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Supply Chain Commentary: Get Ready for a Shortened Path to Purchase
Google quietly introduced the beta version of Purchases on Google in the middle of May 2017 to users in the United States. The feature allows users to click a ‘Buy on Google’ call-to-action on product ads within the search engine results page and directs them to a purchasing page created and hosted by Google. Right […]
Read MoreE-commerce Fulfillment Survey Finds Evidence of Retailer Growing Pains
Business is booming for e-commerce retailers according to a new global market study by Peoplevox, an e-commerce Warehouse Management System (WMS) provider. Peoplevox’s “The 2017 E-Commerce Fulfillment Report” found sales of 82% of the e-commerce and multichannel businesses taking part had increased in 2016, with only 6% reporting a decrease in orders. While many voiced […]
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Paul Nugent: Feed the Flow
Paul Nugent is director of logistics for Kitchen and Bath Americas with Kohler Co. While Kohler is best known for plumbing products, the company also manufactures furniture, cabinetry, tile, engines, and generators. Responsibilities: Create and execute distribution and fulfillment operational strategies for manufacturing plant warehouses, logistics centers, and customers. Also responsible for operations, network design, […]
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Walmart’s ShippingPass Has Ended. What Retailers Should Do Next.
The shipping wars between Walmart and Amazon are heating up. On Jan. 31, 2017, Walmart halted its ShippingPass delivery service in exchange for free two-day shipping—signaling their latest move against Amazon. As more retailers offer free shipping, today’s consumers now expect online purchases to be delivered “fast and free.” Evolving customer expectations for delivery are […]
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Using Network Optimization Technology To Enable Your Lean Supply Chain
From a lean and agile supply chain perspective, an optimally designed supply chain can significantly improve margins, support expansion into new markets, enhance the customer experience, and reduce operating costs. Optimizing your supply chain network helps achieve more value and less waste through keeping lower inventories, maintaining the right stock levels, and choosing the right […]
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How to Beat Amazon at the Retail and Supply Chain Game in 2017
In a recent omni-channel benchmark study, Retail Systems Research identified the top three omni-channel technology investments for retailers in 2017: Distributed Order Management – 46% planning a change, 14% with net-new budgeted projects Enterprise Content Management – 42% planning a change, 17% with net-new budgeted projects Enterprise Wide Inventory Visibility – 37% planning a change, […]
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Getting the Goods on Logistics this Holiday Season
E-commerce continues to be the growth engine in retail with a 15-percent increase in 2016, according to U.S. Department of Commerce (Q2 2016 versus Q2 2015). Online shopping drives logistics growth as almost every e-commerce purchase needs to be delivered to the consumer’s home. This has resulted in increased investment and jobs in the retail […]
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B2B Commerce Technology Improves Fulfillment Times and Supply Management
For manufacturers and distributors, order delivery speed and product availability have never been more important. As their B2B buyers face the pressures of today’s on-demand economy, fulfillment times and availability can mean the difference between keeping a customer or not. To ensure customer satisfaction, many companies look for workflow improvements in their warehouses and distribution […]
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Optimizing Inbound for Improved E-Commerce Fulfillment
E-commerce is changing warehousing. Consumers want to purchase merchandise at any time, from anywhere—whether it is online, mobile, or in a store. As a result, efficient and reliable omni-channel fulfillment has become an imperative for retailers. To better align business models with the new paradigm, retailers and logistics providers are augmenting their distribution networks to […]
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