Mike O'Brien
Mike O’Brien has worked in journalism, marketing and public relations for … well, quite a while. At Multichannel Merchant he focuses on the world of direct-to-customer operations and fulfillment, editing MCM’s weekly O+F Advisor newsletter, and programs the annual Ecommerce Operations Summit conference. Previously Mike was a senior account executive for Marx Communications, a boutique public relations firm working with marketing and advertising technology companies. Other past work includes stints as a media relations consultant for a concert promoter, a marketing communications specialist for a pharma software firm, a research analyst covering corporate e-learning and a daily newspaper reporter on every beat imaginable – except sports.
As Amazon continues to encroach on the office supply market and offers speedy service in a growing number of urban markets, Office Depot is launching same-day delivery on Aug. 28 in Atlanta and Los Angeles, followed by Miami/Fort Lauderdale on Sept. 6. It has some catching up to do with rival and would-be merger partner Staples.
Joining an ever-more-crowded group of robotics providers for ecommerce fulfillment, two former executives of Kiva Systems have built what they believe is a better mousetrap, via 6 River Systems and its Chuck autonomous robot. See what its capabilities are, and how a 6 River co-founder views the future of robotic fulfillment.
Boxed.com, an ecommerce seller of bulk items at discount – think an online Costco – has created one AI-based tool that alerts customers when items are running low so they can reorder, and another that automatically sends them when it senses they’re nearly depleted.
This fall, sellers on eBay will be able to let shoppers know that items will be delivered within a guaranteed timeframe, much like Amazon Prime guarantees two-day delivery.
Amazon has been busy with distribution center and fulfillment center development in Michigan and California. See what other development is taking place as companies like Home Depot, Dollar Tree, Walmart and Dick’s Sporting Goods expand their fulfillment networks.
Although Google Glass never took off as a cool augmented reality gadget for consumers, it’s having a second life as an enterprise tool in manufacturing and distribution, and DHL Supply Chain is testing it at its operations in Columbus, OH for two customers.
Depending on your business, peak season can make up a third or more of your yearly sales. So how well you execute in that brief period is crucial to your success. But never fear: Multichannel Merchant’s Peak Season Summit 2017, a virtual event to be held this Thursday, Aug. 3 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. EST., will be loaded with insights and best practices from merchant practitioners.
While Alibaba has its huge 11.11 shopping festival – aka Singles Day – which dwarfs Black Friday and Cyber Monday, rival JD.com and partner Walmart are weighing in with 8.8 on Aug. 8, hoping its associated luck rubs off.
Looking to clear the hurdle of access to secured city apartment buildings for ecommerce deliveries, Walmart unit Jet.com is testing a pilot program in 1,000 New York buildings that uses keyless entry technology to facilitate delivery when the recipient is out.