By: Curtis D. Spencer, President, IMS Worldwide and Steve Schellenberg, Vice President, IMS Worldwide
As e-commerce sales continue their robust growth, manufacturers, transportation providers, distribution and fulfillment center operators and retailers all are being pressured to modify the retail logistics chain. To meet customer expectations, retailers must have merchandise on shelves for instant purchases as well as in distribution centers for delivery directly to customers. Additionally, retailers need to ensure that their deliveries—both to stores and directly to customers—are predictable and remain cost effective.
This white paper examines the many ways that retailers are attempting to meet evolving customer expectations. Some are directly developing and operating their own technology platforms, logistics and distribution facilities. Others are outsourcing all of these functions. Still others are taking a hybrid approach, keeping some tasks in house and outsourcing others.