Last-mile delivery management: challenges and strategies
The retail industry is changing at a fast pace. The new omnichannel reality epitomises consumers’ need for instant gratification. Fast delivery isn’t a differentiator anymore; it’s an expectation. So how can retailers expedite delivery whilst maintaining accuracy and profitability? The answer lies in good last-mile delivery management.
Can a brick-and-mortar store function as a DC to meet omnichannel demands?
3 Reasons you should invest in in-store fulfillment software
Today’s customers are more demanding than ever before. They want to order your merchandise online or in-store, and they want it delivered in lightening quick time… or the flexibility to pick it up themselves. As a result of these changing demands, retailers are being forced to change their approach to warehouse operations.
One such approach is in-store fulfillment: the process of fulfilling and shipping orders from a brick-and-mortar retail environment.
3 challenges of in-store fulfilment (and how to workaround it)
In-store order fulfillment presents a great opportunity for retailers. Implemented successfully, in-store fulfillment enables retailers to decrease shipping costs, boost gross margins, increase supply chain efficiencies and more.
However, retailers are not optimised for ‘warehouse-like’ efficiency. They are designed to provide an excellent customer experience for walk-in shoppers.
What is In-Store Fulfillment?
Today’s customers demand flexibility and excellent customer service across every channel, whether you are purely brick-and-mortar or e-commerce. But increasing customer demand means increased complexity. Complexity for retailers with unique omnichannel operational challenges.
However, many retailers still haven’t implemented the basics such as store pickup, cross channel inventory visibility, and store fulfillment. There is a disconnect between what consumers want and the omni-channel capabilities that retailers are willing to offer.