Optimizing Ecommerce Fulfillment for Social Commerce

| Perry Belcastro

About 70% of U.S. adults use one or more social media sites, according to Pew research, with many making direct purchases there, and savvy merchants are tapping into this trend. But they must be at the top of their order fulfillment game to succeed. Here are some best practices top brands are using in social commerce fulfillment.

Sustainable Ecommerce Packaging: Boost Loyalty and the Bottom Line

| MCM staff

At Ecommerce Operations Summit 2019, Hanko Kiessner, CEO of Packsize, Jamie Markland, associate director of operations at Boll & Branch and Rob Bass, chief supply chain officer at Best Buy, discussed their ecommerce packaging sustainability journey and the benefits realized. Here are some of the insights they shared.

Getting the Culture Right Unlocks a Great Customer Experience

| Antonia Hock

Putting the customer first is what you typically hear from retailers. That isn’t wrong, but it’s also not the full picture. A customer-centric culture will not be sustainable without the commitment and conviction of those who design, build, implement and serve every day. Here’s how you can make it happen.

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FedEx Reportedly Slashing Prices on Express Service

| Mike O'Brien

Close on the heels of its decision earlier this month to cut ties between Amazon and its Express air delivery unit, FedEx is reportedly offering big discounts on the service to draw in more ecommerce business and take it away from rival UPS, according to the Wall Street Journal.

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Delivery Flexibility, Options Win Customers in the Age of Amazon

| Guy Bloch

Amidst shifting consumer demand and a move toward true omnichannel, retailers’ ability to leverage their physical presence is vitally important. Options such as deliver from store, buy online pickup in store (BOPIS), buy online return in store (BORIS) and delivery drop-offs in lockers are a major advantage over online retailers.

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Kroger Pilots 30-Minute Grocery Deliveries in Cincinnati Area

| Mike O'Brien

In the never-ending quest for delivery immediacy, grocer Kroger is testing out 30-minute deliveries in its home market of Cincinnati, cutting the promised time from Amazon’s Prime Now in half. Called Kroger Rush, the service costs $5.95 per order, with the first order free, and requires an app download.

Cross-Border Shipping: Overcoming Global Headwinds, Trade Issues

| MCM staff

The global shipping landscape may go through one and possibly two seismic shifts this fall: either a Brexit in the UK, a U.S. pullout from the Universal Postal Union, or both. So how should you prepare? How quickly can you adjust your shipping plans? This latest special report from MCM taps experts and explores these issues in detail.

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Shopify Launches Fulfillment Network for SMB Merchants

| Mike O'Brien

Shooting across Amazon’s bow with its FBA program, Shopify is going all-in on ecommerce fulfillment, tapping 3PL partners to provide two-day delivery across the U.S. for merchants on its ecommerce platform, many with physical stores, while letting them keep customer data and a branded packaging experience.

The True Cost of Ecommerce Backorders

| Brian Barry

Studies have shown that ecommerce backorders can cost you $15 to $20 each, eroding profits. This includes customer service calls, fulfillment labor, shipping and packing material costs. Also, backordered items often have a higher return rate. Here are 8 practical solutions to help you reduce ecommerce backorders and stockouts.