Like UPS before it, FedEx reported a blowout first quarter fueled by pandemic-era ecommerce demand, with revenue and profits exceeding estimates and average daily volume in its ground parcel network increasing by 31%. Executives said they are ready for a massive peak holiday season with personnel, facilities and technology.
Now keenly aware of their vulnerabilities, retail and ecommerce companies are much more likely to build events like pandemics and other crises into their business planning. They are reevaluating sourcing, warehousing, fulfillment and transportation practices to future proof their business. Here are 6 ways a 3PL can help.
FedEx announced its 2021 rate schedule, once again with a 4.9% increase for its ground, express and home delivery services, lower than some observers had expected, and the addition of a late fee for unpaid invoices, which UPS has had in place for years. FedEx is also adding surcharges for high cost and out-of-the-way areas.
While total e-grocery sales in the U.S. declined 20% in August vs. June to $5.2 billion, other factors indicate strength in the sector, such as growth in average order value and repeat usage intent, according to a survey by Mercatus and Brick Meets Click. AOV reached a high of $95, the survey found, 32% higher than a year ago.
Walmart on Sept. 9 launched a second pilot drone delivery program, this time in Fayetteville, NC, using a control system from Israeli firm Flytrex, zipping grocery and household items to nearby customers. This is in addition to a program drone program Walmart launched in April in Grand Forks, ND, again with Flytrex.
LIVE WEBINAR – Join Multichannel Merchant for this live webinar and hear firsthand how Taylored Services worked with Locus Robotic to implement its robotic fulfillment solution and how the technology is being utilized to deliver the highest level of customer service.
The monumental shift to ecommerce is causing businesses to re-evaluate their fulfillment experience to make sure they get it right. At the heart of that process is understanding how to improve the status quo by putting the customer relationship front and center. The stakes are high, but those who get it right will see substantial growth.
The one thing brands can control is their online sales channel. From checkout to last mile delivery, DTC brands can ensure a seamless ecommerce experience. With the majority of Q4 and holiday shopping expected to shift online, brands must have their entire ecommerce channel prepared for an optimal customer experience.
Amazon has received approval from the Federal Aviation Administration to operate its delivery drones beyond visual line of sight of the pilot, removing a key roadblock to its eventual goal of deploying aerial fulfillment for Prime customers in less than a half hour.
It began in 2009 as two cousins selling winter outwear from their uncle’s company at mall kiosks and fairs in the Philadelphia area. Today, JustBrand Ltd is a successful stable of innovative, interrelated seasonal apparel products.
Learn how the founders launched the company, added brands, grew and expanded into new channels.