Order Fulfillment

Amazon.com is expanding a program that turns physical retail stores into package pickup centers, GeekWire reported. The pickup service program, Counter, will be added to thousands of store locations at GNC, Health Mart and Stage Stores. Amazon launched the Counter program through a partnership with Rite-Aid in June. "This new network of pickup points gives…

Retail is facing more stress and complexity than ever before. U.S. population growth is less than 1 percent annually, shopper journeys no longer follow predictable demographics, and customers are simultaneously demanding more human interaction and more self-service technology. Add to that the rising cost of shipping, the looming threat of tariffs, and the tight labor market. Retail…

Now more than ever, it’s important for retailers to deliver products to the hands of customers where and when they want them. Shoppers want choice and flexibility in how their orders are fulfilled, and they want to be able to complete their purchases or make returns quickly and efficiently. In an age when shoppers are…

Walmart has launched a new service that will deliver groceries and put them away in your fridge, CNBC reported. The service, called InHome grocery delivery, is a membership program that has an introductory price of $19.95 a month, but also requires customers to purchase a $49.95 smart door lock kit or smart garage door kit.…

The retail climate in the U.S. is analogous to the rise of social media: omni-present, fast-paced and powerful. Consumers’ shopping habits are migrating away from shopping exclusively in-store or online to a cross-pollination of the two worlds. A customer can now see a sponsored ad on their social feed, use the ad’s promo code in…

Walgreens and Wing Aviation LLC, a member of the Alphabet family of companies, announced last week that it's offering what it calls "store to door" delivery of "health and wellness, food and beverage and convenience items — via state-of-the-art drone technology — in minutes," according to a press release. Wing, the first drone operator certified…

Every retailer and shipper is constantly trying to keep up with Amazon.com. Some are even chasing the ultimate accomplishment of surpassing the online retail giant. Similarly, even Amazon pushes itself to be the best, as it knows that with each conquered goal there's higher expectations from customers waiting for it. As retailers imagine Amazon flipping…

Target's same-day curbside pickup service, Drive Up, has now reached all 50 U.S. states, the retailer announced last week. The service allows consumers to shop online then pull up to designated spaces at their local store to have their order delivered to their car by Target staff. Drive Up has rolled out to Target stores at…

Imagine having your coffee waiting on the store counter, just the way you like it, or your prescription arriving dutifully at your doorstep each month. What about unlimited access to all the content your heart desires for a flat monthly fee, or partnering with a designer across the globe to create a bespoke gift? While…

The cross-channel behavior of today’s consumers are causing retailers and brands to re-evaluate the technology they're investing in. The result has been increased investments in technology systems enabling omnichannel operations, such as order and inventory management systems. That’s just one of the key takeaways from Total Retail’s 2019 Retail Technology Report, which was produced in…