Automation

USPS, U.S. Postal Service, ecommerce, ecommerce returns, returns, shipping strategy, omnichannel, omnichannel best practices, free shipping, Amazon, Amazon Prime, Priority Mail, free two-day shipping, return labels, return shipping labels

4 Ways to Take Advantage of the Booming Ecommerce Market

| Nathan Jones

Online retail is expected to grow 8-12% this year (3x higher than the wider industry growth) with sales predicted to be between $427 and $443 billion, according to the National Retail Federation. This means that online retailers need to be on their A game now more than ever, especially focusing on seamless branding, efficient automation and stellar customer service. Here are four strategies to keep in mind when examining the marketing and shipping aspects of your business.

Operations Summit 2017 Once Again a Jam-Packed Affair

| Mike O'Brien

Next week the team at Multichannel Merchant is eager to join 800+ professionals from across the spectrum of direct-to-customer and ecommerce operations and fulfillment at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh, PA for our fifth annual event. Looking forward to seeing you all there!

Tompkins Launches Ecommerce Fulfillment Alliance

| Mike O'Brien

After years in the supply chain consulting business, Tompkins International is launching the MonarchFx Alliance, a consortium of technology and service providers it says will eventually provide more efficient, faster ecommerce fulfillment across sectors including apparel, furniture and appliances, cross-border, cold storage and stores. See what else the alliance has in store, and who has partnered with it.

InVia Takes Service-Based Approach to Warehouse Robotics

| Mike O'Brien

inVia Robotics claims to be the first to market with a “goods-to-box” system that uses a pay-as-you-pick service model to make it scalable and affordable. See how this approach has benefited ink and toner cartridge maker LD Products, one of the first users of the system.

UPS Continues Efficiency Push as Revenue, Profit Grow in Q2

| Mike O'Brien

UPS is continuing to push for increased efficiency through hub automation projects and its ORION route optimization system. The company reported Q2 revenue growth of 3.8% to $14.63 billion, with profit up 3.2% to $1.27 billion. Its ecommerce business is on pace to grow faster than expected through the end of the year, officials said, based on strength in U.S. consumer spending.

Operations Summit 2017 Call for Speakers Open

| Mike O'Brien

Are you an industry professional with a great merchant story to tell that will educate and inform your peers? Come share your insights at Operations Summit 2017, March 27-29 in in Pittsburgh – the only conference exclusively about direct-to-customer and omnichannel operations. Send us your proposed session topic and speakers by Sept. 30 for consideration.

UPS, UPS ground, UPS air

Drones, Robotics, 3D Printing Part of Major Technology Focus at UPS

| Mike O'Brien

UPS executives said they will continue to place a $1 billion bet on new technology each year, including major investments in facility automation, robotics and even drones to conduct tasks such as aircraft inspections and inventory counts. See what else the company disclosed about its strategy and operations during media day at its Atlanta headquarters.

Operations Summit, Growing Global Deliver Relevant, Actionable Content

| Mike O'Brien

Everything you could possibly want to know about operations fundamentals, global ecommerce, shipping and distribution strategies, omnichannel and contact center/customer care – and then some – is being covered at 50+ information-packed workshops, keynotes and breakout sessions during Operations Summit and Growing Global 2016, April 12-14 in Cincinnati.

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