BOPA store illustration feature

BOPA a Growing Option for Consumers

| Mike O'Brien

Nearly one in five American consumers prefer the more convenient option of buy online, pickup anywhere or BOPA vs. showing up at a retailer’s stores in an area, if it’s offered at checkout, according to a new study from Via.Delivery. The study was based on thousands of ecommerce transactions in Q4 2021.

ecommerce returns

Ecommerce Returns: Cost Center or Competitive Advantage?

| Rafael Lourenco

However unsatisfactory the returns process is now it gives businesses an incredible opportunity to build loyalty and delight customers. By optimizing it for convenience, and by taking steps to reduce the risk of returns fraud, you can create a better experience for customers to win and keep their loyalty.

Ecommerce Operations Technology Summit 2022 lake skyline feature

Ecommerce Operations Technology Summit 2022: It’s All Here

| Mike O'Brien

It may be cold outside this Valentine’s Day, but things are starting to heat up for Ecommerce Operations Technology Summit 2022, to be held April 12-13 at the Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista, Disney Springs Area as we celebrate our 10th anniversary. Photo credit: Mick Haupt on Unsplash

e-grocery fruit order

Walmart, Amazon Most Popular for E-Grocery

| Mike O'Brien

Walmart is the most popular destination for e-grocery ordering, according to a new survey by Chicory, cited by 36% of respondents, followed by Amazon at 23%, and Instacart a distant third at 10%. Target was cited by just under 10% of respondents, followed by Kroger at 7%, Albertson’s/Safeway (3%), Stop & Shop (2%) and Shipt (1%).

MCM CommerceChat podcast

Supply Chain Crisis: Applying Long-Term Thinking

| Mike O'Brien

Abe Eshkenazi, CEO of the Association for Supply Chain Management (ASCM), said organizations need to take more of a long-term, systemic view vs. short-term fixes in response to a crisis. In this MCM podcast, Eshkenazi stresses the need for better visibility to read demand signals, and consideration of upstream/downstream effects. of efforts in any one node.

UPS Sees Record Profit, Peak Volume Inches Up

| Mike O'Brien

UPS saw package volume increase by a below-projection 0.2% in Q4, higher in the beginning and lighter at the end, as the Omicron surge, the pull-forward of shopper activity and retail inventory challenges weighed on the key metric, the company said in its fourth quarter call. Amazon represented 11.7% of its business in 2021.

LTL truck feature

Legends of LTL: Debunking Four Common Myths

| Andrew Welling

Due to the complexity of freight shipping operations, many businesses that move large quantities of goods may have preconceived notions about LTL or believe common myths about why LTL isn’t right for them. By and large, these myths may be exactly the opposite of the how a well-organized and prepared 3PL handles LTL shipments.

Ecommerce Returns: Reducing the Profit Hit

| Brian Barry

For decades, studies show a high percent of customers feel ease of returning products impact their purchasing decisions. “Free” returns shipping makes shopping even more attractive. Who wants to buy a product that can’t be returned or carries onerous conditions? Here are 7 ways to lessen the profit impact of ecommerce returns.

CX or CSAT illustration

In An Era of Shortages, CX Matters More Than Ever

| David Fletcher

How can retailers keep problems outside their control from damaging customer relationships? Competing on customer experience (CX) is always smart, but right now it’s critical. Of course, the best CX is getting the products they want when they want them. But you can deliver excellent CX in other ways to maintain trust and goodwill.

Home Depot interior feature

Home Depot Names Decker New CEO

| Mike O'Brien

Home Depot has named president and COO Ted Decker, a 22-year veteran of the company, as its new CEO, replacing the retiring Craig Menear, who has guided the company through a phenomenal growth period, especially during the pandemic, while making over its supply chain operations.