Supply Chain

The Retail Reckoning: Navigating 2024's Transformative Trends
January 23, 2024 at 10:22 am

A perfect storm is brewing in retail, sparking a critical reckoning for industry leaders. Social commerce has exploded, digital brands have resurrected brick-and-mortar, delivery demands have intensified, and artificial intelligence is promising operational overhaul. Legacy retailers and e-commerce disruptors face an imperative: either rapidly transform business models, supply chain strategies and technological capabilities OR risk…

The Evolution of Same-Day Delivery: How E-Commerce Brands Are Meeting Instant Gratification Needs
January 22, 2024 at 2:32 pm

Traditional delivery methods, once the norm in e-commerce, are rapidly being replaced by a standard that prioritizes immediacy. Retail giants and small businesses alike have recognized that today's consumers expect their online purchases to arrive not in days, but hours. This seismic shift is redefining logistics, compelling companies to innovate and adapt at breakneck speeds…

Time is Running Out for Fashion Retailers to Commit to Sustainable Sourcing
January 16, 2024 at 2:47 pm

The fashion industry is still struggling to meet the expectations of a consumer base that has become increasingly conscious of the environmental and social impact of their clothing choices. In the U.S., 80 percent of consumers indicate that sustainability is a crucial factor when selecting a fashion brand. Younger shoppers in particular have shown that…

How Streamlining Operations Can Generate a Competitive Edge
January 9, 2024 at 7:10 pm

Competition plays a huge factor in the retail industry. Operating in a highly saturated market, retailers must constantly work towards meeting their customers’ expectations quickly while providing a high-quality experience. With price and convenience being the two biggest factors affecting consumer purchase decisions, retailers must find ways to keep costs down while continuing to streamline…

Revolutionizing Retail: AI at the Helm of Mobile Commerce
January 8, 2024 at 1:55 pm

Artificial intelligence allows retailers to gain a far deeper understanding of customer preferences and behaviors by analyzing information like browsing and purchase histories. Using sophisticated AI algorithms, retailers can build comprehensive profiles that reveal what individual shoppers like and need over time. This empowers retailers to provide hyperpersonalized product recommendations that closely match each customer's…

5 Reasons Total Supply Chain Visibility Will Rule in 2024
January 1, 2024 at 11:10 am

Customer expectations have gone through a number of changes in a short few years. Everyone was chasing the ability to offer two-day shipping, but the need for speed is trending down, with 85 percent of customers not opening their packages on the first day. We’ve seen a creative resurgence in retail offerings, blurring the barrier between…

Supply Chains Are Ready for Change: Replacing ‘Scan it’ With ‘Sense it’
December 21, 2023 at 2:43 pm

Supply chains across the globe are becoming increasingly complex, competitive, and under the scrutiny of existing and developing regulation. To date, the guiding solution has been elementary: scan it. For years, scanning products have allowed supply chain professionals to keep track of every item in their supply chain, from warehouses to delivery trucks to store…

Digitalization Can Help Mitigate Climate-Related Supply Chain Disruptions
December 20, 2023 at 12:44 pm

For sugar importers, this past summer was anything but sweet. The cost of sugar has surged by more than 40 percent globally since last year due largely to poor harvest conditions caused by dry conditions across India, China, and Thailand, as well as an unusually cold and wet spring in Europe, which are expected to…

How is Christmas and Golden Quarter Shaping Up This Year?
December 12, 2023 at 6:14 pm

A boom in online shopping or will there be a return to in-store shopping in the lead up to Christmas this year? We all know that more and more buying decisions start online. According to our latest research, that figure sits at a hefty 84 percent. With inflationary pressure continuing to overshadow the public purse,…

Peak 2023: Optimism Meets Strategy
December 12, 2023 at 5:37 pm

In spite of economic headwinds, a recent survey revealed that an overwhelming 73 percent of brands anticipate increased holiday sales in 2023. Similarly, 67 percent of consumers report that they plan to spend as much money or more on holiday gifts this year compared to last. However, years of supply chain disruptions and volatile consumer…