E-Commerce/Omni-Channel

Opinion: Uber Your Supply Chain

May 26, 2017

The sharing economy, aka Uberization, may be the biggest disruptor to supply chain strategic thinking since lean. Surprisingly, it still ranks last among our Future of Supply Chain survey respondents as a "disruptive and important technology." I suspect this will change soon.

Online Retailer JD.com Is Developing Heavy-Duty Delivery Drones

May 26, 2017

The Wall Street Journal

China's Shaanxi province is famous for being the start of the Silk Road, an ancient trade network where silk and spices were transported by camel across the Asian continent.

Wal-Mart Sees Strong Growth in U.S. E-Commerce

May 25, 2017

MultiChannel Merchant

As its Jet.com acquisition continues to pay out, Wal-Mart is seeing hyper growth in e-commerce, with U.S. online sales up 63 percent in the first quarter. On the physical side of things, Wal-Mart's store traffic and same-store sales were both up in an extremely challenging retail environment, rising 1.5 and 1.4 percent respectively.

What Amazon Could Do to the Business of Selling Prescription Drugs

May 24, 2017

Chicago Tribune

Investors sold off shares of pharmacy giant CVS Health and Walgreens last week amid renewed speculation that Amazon would enter the business of selling prescription drugs.

Web-Retail Startups Turn for Growth to Bricks and Mortar

May 24, 2017

The Wall Street Journal

Casper Sleep Inc. rattled the mattress industry with a bed-in-a-box that is sold only online, shipped free and comes with a 100-night guarantee.

UPS to Charge for Peak Season Volume Shortfalls

May 23, 2017

MultiChannel Merchant

In a move designed to capture network costs associated with retailers who fail to meet peak volume commitments, UPS is looking to charge them for shortfalls this year, CEO David Abney told the Wall Street Journal.

Opinion: Supply Chain Transparency May Be the Next Disruptor

May 22, 2017

Murray Newlands, Forbes Contributor

The "Amazon-Prime Effect" - the notion that everything you order should arrive on your doorstep in two days - has left brands and retailers scrambling to keep up. As consumers' expectations grow and their patience around delivery time shrinks, one tactic businesses use to combat increasing time constraints is transparency.

Target's New Online Strategy: Less Is More

May 22, 2017

The Wall Street Journal

Target Corp., under pressure after issuing a dismal profit warning for the year, is narrowing its focus and rethinking its digital strategy, even as competitors like Wal-Mart Stores Inc. invest heavily to diversify their online offerings.

Sustainable Packaging No Longer Optional, Retailers Say

May 19, 2017

Environmental Leader

Retailers and manufacturers have dictated that sustainable packaging is no longer just "nice to have," but is something they expect from the packaging industry, according to a new study from Smithers Pira.

The New Retail: Lessons From China for the West

May 19, 2017

Boston Consulting Group

Imagine being in the middle of Times Square, surrounded by flashing lights, fast-talking vendors, street performers, live music, noisy traffic jams, and endless other distractions. Now imagine you're online and surrounded by the same energetic chaos. Welcome to China's digital marketplace, where shopping is an adventure - a fire hose of rapidly changing content, offers, products, colors, and choices. For Western shoppers accustomed to simple, transactional online buying, it's a culture shock.

E-Commerce/Omni-Channel

The latest supply-chain news, analysis, trends and tools for executives in the e-commerce/omnichannel industry — which consists of companies engaged in internet retailing, including those with auxiliary brick-and-mortar stores. Learn how e-commerce/omnichannel companies and their suppliers around the world are managing the flow of products across all channels of the enterprise. Experts sound off on forecasting and demand planning, supply-chain visibility, logistics outsourcing, inventory optimization, transportation management, warehouse management, supply-chain security, corporate social responsibility and more.