3 Ways to Innovate in Operations and Fulfillment and Deliver ROI

| Curt Barry

As fast as ecommerce and omnichannel is changing, is your company using its resources – time, money and talent – to continue to move ahead? Ecommerce, marketing and merchandising have research projects. Are you innovating in operations and fulfillment fast enough to lower costs and improve customer service? Here are three examples of innovation projects you can implement in your organization.

Walmart, Wal-Mart Stores Inc., Wal-Mart Stores, ecommerce, retail, retail supply chain, supply chain costs

Walmart Testing Drones for DC Inventory Management

| Mike O'Brien

Walmart has begun testing drones in its distribution centers for scanning inventory, completing in an hour what it would take two associates a month to do. This seems a more practical and easier to achieve use of the technology than home delivery, and will aid the company in its ecommerce fulfillment battle with Amazon.

warehouse, distribution center, fulfillment center, ecommerce, ecommerce fulfillment

13 Questions to Consider When Weighing a New Distribution Center

| Curt Barry

To do battle with Amazon, many DTC companies are looking to expand their distribution center network. But how do you weight the variables in terms of location, facility costs, inventory, transportation and shipping time, local labor and more? Here are 13 key points to consider in your decision process.

Omnichannel Sales Growing, But Profitability Still Uncertain

| Mike O'Brien

While retailers say they’re growing their omnichannel sales, it’s unclear how profitable they are, according to a new report from Retail Systems Research. Greater inventory visibility, including use of RFID, as well as better syncing of demand origination with inventory allocation, will help drag omnichannel into the black, the report’s author states.

Get Operations, Drop Ship Vendors Ready Now for Holiday Peak Prep

| Peter Zaballos

With the spring season underway, you are likely already executing on your 2016 ecommerce initiatives. For most retailers, the goal is to be ready by back-to-school season so you can test your advancements prior to the holiday season. So spring is perfect timing to assess holiday peak prep and readiness.

DSTLD Sees Benefits of Outsourcing Its Fulfillment Operations

| Mike O'Brien

Ecommerce-only luxury denim seller DSTLD has seen the benefits of outsourcing its operations, including returns, allowing it to focus on growing its brand. See how the company transitioned from operating its own facility, saving on shipping and giving its customers hassle-free returns.

ecommerce fulfillment center

Is Your ERP-Ecommerce Technology Disconnect Stunting Growth?

| Curt Barry

Many companies find their IT and ecommerce technology strategies are out of sync, which can stunt growth and cause operational roadblocks. It’s time to stop and assess your strategies, looking at current state and where you need to get to. Here are 6 major factors to consider as you evaluate your overall system and ecommerce technology strategy.

What to Look For in Selecting the Right 3PL Partner

| Jake Rheude

Hiring a third-party logistics provider (3PL) has become a popular option for ecommerce companies in recent years. But because finding the right one is so vital to the success of your ecommerce business, how should you go about evaluating the right options? Here are a few do’s and don’ts of the 3PL selection process.