E-Commerce/Omni-Channel

How AI Could Be Transforming Retail For The Better

January 10, 2017

At this point, most of us interact with artificial intelligence on a daily basis. Sure, we might not realize it consciously, but every time we search Google or see what our friends are up to on Facebook, we're interfacing with AI. Better computing power, ballooning data stores, and research momentum point to the fact that AI isn't just having a moment; it's here to stay.

Top 3PLs Of 2017

January 9, 2017

MultiChannel Merchant

As e-commerce continues to grow, so does the number of fulfillment options available to merchants. In particular, an increasing number of third-party logistics providers (3PLs) have emerged, handling all or some fulfillment operations for merchants who don't see it as a core competency.

Deutsche Post DHL Group Completes UK Mail Acquisition

January 9, 2017

Air Cargo World

Deutsche Post DHL Group has completed the acquisition of UK Mail in a $315.5m bid to strengthen its presence in the U.K. e-commerce market.

Maersk, Alibaba Team Up to Offer Online Booking of Ship Places

January 9, 2017

The New York Times

Maersk, the world's largest container shipping line, has teamed up with Alibaba to allow customers to reserve space on its vessels through the Chinese company, illustrating growing cooperation between e-commerce and logistics firms.

Why Cheaper Food in 2016 Was Not Necessarily Good News

January 6, 2017

Los Angeles Times

For food shoppers, 2016 was a back-to-the-future experience, with retail prices deflating for the first time since Lyndon Johnson was president. The year is expected to end with an annual drop of between 0.5 and 1.5 percent in the retail price of food prepared at home, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Economic Research Service.

Retail CFO Turnover Could Be a Sign of Changing Times

January 6, 2017

Bloomberg

What did retailers want for Christmas? Apparently, new Chief Financial Officers. Neiman Marcus Group Inc. is on the hunt for a new CFO. So are Kohl's Corp., Coach Inc. and Nordstrom Inc. Whole Foods Market Inc.'s CFO of 29 years - and the longest-serving female CFO in the Fortune 500 - will be leaving in 2017.

Retailer Asos Boosts U.K. Sourcing After Pound's Brexit Fall

January 5, 2017

Bloomberg

Asos Plc, Britain's largest online-only fashion retailer, plans to double its U.K. manufacturing as the pound's post-Brexit plunge makes domestic production more affordable.

A Custom Shirt Is No Longer So Hard to Find

January 4, 2017

The New York Times

Seph Skerritt bought his first custom shirt in Shanghai, during an internship after college. It got him thinking why the same service wasn't available to a wider audience. "I told them exactly what I wanted, and that's what I got," he said.

Retail: Transportation, Tech & Other Trends

January 3, 2017

Russell Goodman, Editor-in-Chief, SupplyChainBrain

10 Signs It's Time to Automate Your Warehouse With WMS

December 29, 2016

ChainLink Research

Warehouses and distribution centers are dynamic environments where many different challenges arise. Sometimes those challenges go beyond the normal issues to become overwhelming, and start to impact the performance of the business. A Warehouse Management System (WMS) can help a business with many of these challenges, yet many smaller and medium-sized businesses hesitate to move from a manual paper-based approach to even a rudimentary WMS, based on fears about cost and disruption.

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.