Increased volatility — in demand, sales, and shipping requirements — is driving complexity for e-commerce fulfillment in 2025. As social media turns traditional shopping on its head, retailers are experiencing massive spikes in demand in the wake of viral trends and surprise brand drops across TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook. Merchants are also implementing more “sales…
Johannes Panzer
With many recent natural disasters — hurricanes, forest fires and flooding — serving as a constant reminder of the threat of climate change, the environment is playing an increasing role in decision-making for retailers and consumers alike. But how motivated are consumers to reduce their carbon footprint through sustainable products and eco-friendly home delivery options?…
As major e-commerce players continue to adjust their strategies to cater to diverse consumer needs — from Amazon.com expanding fast delivery into rural areas to Walmart unveiling on-demand 6 a.m. delivery — retailers of all sizes are scrambling to stay relevant and competitive. At the heart of this shift lies a critical challenge: the generational…
Not all consumers are the same — and retailers are realizing that it’s not just buying behavior that differs across customers. While most e-commerce merchants employ data-backed buyer personas that describe what drives each ideal customer to purchase, many vendors are recognizing the value of implementing delivery personas and tailoring their delivery options to meet…
As we begin the second quarter of 2023, global supply chain disruptions and geopolitical conflicts continue to foster uncertainty in the retail marketplace. Add inflation, nationwide labor shortages, and an increasingly competitive landscape to the mix and many e-commerce retailers are struggling to get the goods they need when they need them, and to deliver…
Despite inflation chatter dominating economic discussions, U.S. container imports in August 2022 (the most recent data) were 2,529,042 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), which is up 18 percent from pre-pandemic August 2019. This is the first month since August 2020 that there has not been record imports vs. the previous year. With the holiday shopping season fast…
While retailers have been grappling with reverse logistics challenges for years, the current global supply chain disruption and ensuing logistics chaos are shining a spotlight on the issue. The pandemic shifted consumer spending away from service-based expenditures (e.g., restaurants, travel) and towards the purchase of goods. As a result, the e-commerce market skyrocketed — and…
From makeup and toothbrushes to mattresses and luggage, the direct-to-consumer (D-to-C) market has grown exponentially in recent years and the shopper experience today is unlike anything we’ve seen before — with virtually no signs of slowing. In fact, according to a 2019 report from eMarketer, there are well over 400 D-to-C companies today, and while…
As e-commerce evolves, customer expectations to get what they want — when, where, and how they want it — will only continue to intensify and further challenge brands in 2020 and beyond. The times when search and price were the only criteria for purchasing decisions are gone, and retailers today need airtight e-commerce strategies that…
