Target has now expanded its Drive Up curbside pickup service to about 1,750 stores in all 50 states, a first in retail, two years after its launch as an insourced offering when a pilot failed with an outside provider. Just weeks ago,Target announced an expansion of the service to 1,500 stores in time for the busy back-to-school season.
As consumer behavior shifts and omnichannel retailing grows, retailers are getting closer to customers to improve service and help ensure profitability. Increasingly, they look to four key areas where shifts can make fulfillment more efficient: Retail footprint; manufacturer direct shipping; 3D print & ship; and pickup sites.
The returns process shouldn’t be complicated. However, with return rates growing rapidly alongside ecommerce itself, it’s becoming harder for retailers to provide a great experience while also minding the ballooning cost.
As a direct-to-consumer brand you’re facing mounting margin pressure, loss of brand integrity and changing consumer expectations. And it feels like every month there’s a new channel you need to be in. Even so, selling through FBA and SFP can prove lucrative. To help you succeed, here are some order management best practices.
Residents of a North Carolina town will be able to get meals delivered by drone as part of a limited test program sanctioned by the Federal Aviation Administration, as it takes baby steps toward broader approval of drone operations. Israeli drone service firm Flytrex is hoping the test program will expand to all kinds of deliveries, even to backyards.
If we’re looking to turn deliveries into a catalyst for environmental change, drones and autonomous vehicles will help, but we’re not quite there yet. In the meantime enterprises should focus on improving delivery efficiency, which means providing drivers with the most efficient routes and the maximum number of packages per run.
Target reported strong Q2 performance, with 34% growth in ecommerce sales, nearly 75% of which was attributable to its same-day order fulfillment strategy including buy online pickup in store, curbside pickup and local delivery. The retailer beat expectations on earnings, comp growth and revenue, and raised 2019 guidance.
UPS will not add a residential delivery surcharge this holiday peak season, unlike the past two years, but will add surcharges for larger packages and those requiring additional handling. The company expects to exceed record volume of 800 million packages set last year, with 75% of it handled by automated sortation systems.
To outsource or not to outsource customer care, that is the question. And unfortunately, the answer is a resounding, “it depends.” Colin Taylor, CEO at Taylor Research Group, and William Pocock, senior operations manager for Dick’s Sporting Goods, suggested 8 steps to help merchants frame up the decision.
With ecommerce expanding and consumers expecting greater speed and convenience, retailers need cost-effective ways to meet these demands. Here is a look at how automated lockers are key to the overall buy online pickup in-store experience.