Survey Says: Procurement Automation Can Boost Bottom-Line Results 

Nov 7, 2007

E-procurement has been slow to catch on for many marketers, but a new study published by Aberdeen, a Harte-Hanks company finds that it can improve cost savings, streamline internal processes, and enhance supplier relationships....

IWLA Starts C-TPAT Compliance Program 

Oct 31, 2007

The International Warehouse Logistics Association (IWLA) recently announced a C-TPAT compliance program for third-party warehouses. The IWLA says its program is based on security best practices guidelines it has developed; the guidelines have earned endorsement of the Customs and Border Protection (CBP). ...

DC Locations: Why Midwest is Best 

Oct 31, 2007, By Tod Yazdi

For most merchants, it geographically makes sense to distribute goods from a Midwest-based distribution center. The central states are quickly becoming distribution hubs for companies all across the country. ...

Talking Operations With A Touch of Class 

Oct 31, 2007

Rick MacDonald is facility manager for Huntingburg, IN-based home decor and cataloger Touch of Class, responsible for warehouse operations and maintenance, among other duties. MacDonald--also the son-in-law of Touch of Class president/CEO Fred Bell—took a few minutes out of his busy day to chat with O+F Advisor’s former editor Mark Del Franco....

The Fulfillment Doctor on… The Price of Free Holiday Shipping  

Oct 31, 2007, By Curt Barry

What are the underlying reasons behind offering free shipping and processing to customers? Is this common practice in other companies in the multichannel industry? Can anything positive come from giving free shipping to our customers? ...

The Case for Global Sourcing, Part II 

Oct 24, 2007, By John Brockwell

Last week we asked, "Is global sourcing really worth it?" given that many executives are reconsidering whether or not they should be buying products from international sources. ...

Port Tracker: Container Traffic Drops Below Last Year 

Oct 24, 2007

Traffic at the major retail container ports dropped below last year’s levels late this summer, and the peak monthly volume for 2007 is expected to fall slightly below last ...

Report: U.K. Drops Ball on Returns 

Oct 24, 2007

Customer Intimacy: Getting Past the First 15 Seconds  

Oct 17, 2007, By Kathryn Jackson

Most call centers these days are tailoring their opening by balancing the requirements of their strategy and what their customers prefer. The best-in-class standard is not so much "agent first and last name" or "first name only" but rather what fits into the company strategy and customer segment. ...

Ebay had the right idea but the wrong execution 

Oct 17, 2007, By John Federman

Ebay recently announced that it would be taking a $1.43 billion loss this year because they overvalued Skype in its 2005 acquisition of the company – to the shock of few in the financial world. When announced two years ago, the move initially left many people scratching their heads because there were few obvious synergies between the two businesses. Not me, though. ...

The Case for Global Sourcing 

Oct 17, 2007, By John Brockwell

"Is global sourcing really worth it?" For a variety of reasons, executives at many companies are reconsidering whether or not they should be buying products from international sources. ...

Developing an Effective Fulfillment Labor Budget 

Oct 17, 2007, By Gary Conrad

The conversion from sales forecast to operations budget is not difficult, but it does require a strong understanding of your operations. You also need to know and measured performance standards or reasonable expectancies for each labor activity performed within your warehouse. ...

Dark Days for Offshore Service? 

Oct 10, 2007, By Kathryn Jackson

Have you off-shored any of your customer contact operation? If so, how do you ensure there are no “dark and stormy” nights in your agents’ or customers’ experience?...

Solving Defective Items, Poor Packaging, and Inventory Discrepancies 

Oct 10, 2007, By Wayne Teres

A look at the three categories usually omitted from a fulfillment accuracy measuring system—defective item sent, damaged goods due to poor packaging and unpicked items due to inventory discrepancy. ...

10 Steps for Better Returns 

Oct 10, 2007

Whether a returned item was the wrong size or was defective, you need a set of procedures for handling the product once it arrives in your warehouse. Fulfillment pro Curt Barry has a simple 10-step reverse logistics strategy. These tips can help you refurbish returns and get them back on the shelf for sale....