Supply Chain

4 Ways Retailers Can Embrace Sustainable Last-Mile Delivery
June 16, 2022 at 4:48 pm

There's an urgent need to increase sustainable shipping practices among e-commerce retailers. Research shows e-commerce has grown two to five times faster than before the pandemic. And while this surge in online shopping has been positive for retailers, fulfilling these orders has material consequences for the environment. In fact, the World Economic Forum predicts emissions…

The Role of Tech in Supply Chain Optimization
June 9, 2022 at 5:44 pm

In this episode of Retail Right Now, Total Retail's Marie Albiges and Devon Russell discuss a research report recently published by Total Retail and Radial titled, “The Retailer's Guide to Optimizing Supply Chain Operations.” The global supply chain continues to be disrupted, posing challenges for retailers and brands as they look to get products to…

3 Ways to Use Purchase Orders to Get Your Business Through Supply Chain Disruption
June 9, 2022 at 5:15 pm

Managing inventory well is one of the most important ways to ensure the success of your business. With supply chain disruptions happening across every industry due to the pandemic, effective inventory management is more important than ever. Purchase orders are among the most powerful tools for mastering inventory management, tracking inventory, and maintaining strong retailer-vendor relationships. A purchase order is a legally binding document that outlines…

Offsetting Cost Increases and Keeping Customers Happy — is it Possible?
June 9, 2022 at 3:43 pm

As the U.S. economy rebounds, inflation has become a significant concern for consumers as prices have soared across many sectors. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, inflation rose 8.5 percent over the last 12 months, with fuel, shelter and food driving most price increases. Energy costs alone rose 32 percent in the previous 12…

Poor Home Delivery Performance: A Wakeup Call for Retailers
June 8, 2022 at 11:03 am

While retailers and logistics organizations have been grappling with home delivery challenges for years, the ripple effect of the pandemic-driven global supply chain disruptions, coupled with the ever-widening appeal of e-commerce, has created a “make-or-break” situation for e-commerce retailers. Indeed, a new study by Descartes and SAPIO Research of 8,000 North American and European consumers…

How to Impact CX and Customer Loyalty Through Last-Mile Delivery
June 2, 2022 at 4:17 pm

In this episode of Retail Right Now, Total Retail's Joe Keenan and Devon Russell discuss an article recently published by Total Retail titled, “To Build Customer Loyalty, Focus on Getting Back to the Basics of Last Mile Delivery,” authored by Lukas Kinigadner, CEO and co-founder of Anyline. Getting the last-mile delivery process right is critical to…

Policies Aren't Solutions: The True Cost of Returns
June 2, 2022 at 3:31 pm

A global influx of e-commerce sales, mixed with the hyperfocus on getting orders faster to consumers spotlights a growing problem: returns. Online returns have always been a challenge, but with the expectation that they will exceed $1T by 2024, retailers need more than new policies, they need solutions. The rapid evolution of the online shopping…

How to Optimize Your Supply Chain for Shipping Lead Times
June 2, 2022 at 2:52 pm

Shipping speeds matter. As more and more people turn to online shopping instead of taking a trip to the store, consumer expectations are changing. With e-commerce marketplaces such as Amazon.com offering same-day and one-day shipping options, consumers are shifting their expectations to follow suit. According to a 2021 survey conducted by the Retail Industry Leaders…

Hyperlocal Delivery Solves Retail Challenges Related to Rising Fuel Prices, Speediness
May 31, 2022 at 5:48 pm

Supply chain challenges are nothing new for businesses of all kinds, especially retailers. Rising gas prices have added fuel to that fire, increasing the price of getting goods to their destination. One emerging solution is hyperlocal batching and fulfillment, which reduces the distance goods must travel and the total delivery miles driven. Ultimately, this strategy…