Retailers are trying to keep up with customer demand...but at what cost

Shopping for me has always been therapeutic. Let’s be honest, going shopping today is not a very pleasant experience. Long lines, long wait times, mandatory masks, single direction aisles, capacity constraints in change rooms and other restrictions make you think twice before walking into your favourite store.

As more retail stores and malls continue to close across North America due to Covid restrictions, more people than ever are turning to online shopping instead of brick and mortar. Although I love shopping, I am finding that Retailers are forcing me to shop online. 

 While shoppers are rapidly adjusting to the new digital world, many retailers are slow to catch up.

Last week, I received my online orders from 2 separate retailers, both of which I love shopping with.  What I found was both companies sent me my order in multiple packages that arrived one day apart.

I could not help to think how costly, inefficient, and unsustainable this order fulfillment approach was.

 Here are a few issues that came to mind:

• Retailers are spending much more on shipping cost for multiple packages.
• Picking packages in warehouses, additional room to store extra packages, and materials cost more money.
• Customers expect to receive their order together, instead it arrives dispersed across several days.
• This is environmentally unfriendly, not only packing but transportation involved in additional deliveries.

Just seems like a lose-lose situation. Clearly retailers have not adjusted the shift in demand to digital commerce. This is where advanced analytics and forecasting demand across your omni-channel business can really make a difference in order fulfillment. Its time retailers forecast demand more accurately and efficiently.

It’s time to work smarter, not harder!