Inventory Management

The spread of COVID-19 has quickly transformed how consumers shop, what they buy and what they want from retailers. And many say these new spending and shopping habits will last long after the crisis lifts. These are a few key findings from Capgemini Research Institute’s "The Consumer and COVID-19" survey of more than 11,000 consumers in the U.S.,…

At first glance, inventory management may appear far removed from the customer experience. However, it can be just as integral to shoppers as mobile apps, self-checkout, and in-store displays. In fact, companies that prioritize improving this process often see a rapid improvement in customer sales and loyalty. In January, Business Insider reported that Walmart was leading the…

The novel coronavirus and the precautions governments and individuals are taking to protect themselves from infection have already had a powerful impact on the global economy. Those impacts are likely to extend well into this year, possibly even into the fourth-quarter holiday shopping period. Between disruptions to manufacturing and supply chains and shifts in consumer…

The impact of COVID-19 has been felt throughout supply chains worldwide. With much production impacted, and facing an uncertain future, many retailers are wondering how to manage existing inventory in the short and long term. For retailers with longer seasonal lead times, spring and summer inventory is likely already in stock, or at least secured.…

The fashion industry is facing its biggest crisis yet — the COVID-19 pandemic. Spanish fashion group Inditex announced the closure of over 3,800 stores across 39 markets. The group, which owns brands like Zara and Massimo Dutti, saw its sales drop 24 percent in early March. For Neiman Marcus, bankruptcy may be a possible outcome.…

Retailers are most likely currently spending on technology that helps them track inventory and fulfill orders across multiple channels, especially as consumers engage with brands across a variety of touchpoints, and often in a single purchase journey. This was a key finding from Total Retail’s 2020 Retail Technology Report, which was produced in conjunction with Orckestra…

The novel coronavirus, COVID-19, is impacting businesses and communities across the world in ways that seemed unimaginable even a month ago. All industries are feeling its effects, but brands and retailers in the consumer packaged goods (CPG) industry are among those on the front lines of this fight. With consumer shopping habits fluctuating rapidly, there…

As the consumer mood in the U.S. around the COVID-19 outbreak has quickly shifted from curious to cautionary, retailers have a significant role to play in providing shoppers with a solution. U.S. exposure and response by federal and local governments continue to mount day-by-day, and therefore buying patterns are evolving rapidly as shoppers come to…

Global supply chains haven't had this much disruption since World War II, and the United States wasn’t as dependent on oversea goods and manufacturing then. On March 19, J.C. Penney announced that it was closing 850 stores, affecting 90,000 store associates. Sadly, J.C. Penney joins an illustrious group of retailers closing for several weeks to…

With current concerns about the impending severity of COVID-19, consumers are taking steps to prepare for personal impact — even to the point of major retailers selling out of supplies such as water and hand sanitizer. Another consideration for retailers, however, should be peripheral effects on the entirety of the supply chain, given China's heavy…