Manhattan Associates, Inc. predicts etailers establishing a high street presence, dynamic fulfilment innovations, wider adoption of artificial intelligence and AR/VR technologies, and a shift to "omni-channel customer service" will be key themes for the retail industry in 2017.
Internet Retailing, Omnichannel Retailing
Internet retailing, also known as e-tailing, is the sale of goods and services through the internet. It can include business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-consumer (B2C) sales of products and services. Online shopping or e-shopping is a form of electronic commerce which allows consumers to directly buy goods or services from a seller over the Internet using a web browser. Internet retailers can be purely digital, meaning there is no physical store for a customer to enter. However, an e-retail business can also be a brick-and-mortar shop with an online presence. Omnichannel retailing is a retail strategy that integrates multiple channels, such as brick-and-mortar stores, online stores, and mobile apps, to create a seamless shopping experience for customers.
E-commerce driving seismic shift in logistics solutions
Feb 14, 2017
The rapid rise of e-commerce has driven the most disruptive movement to the industrial & logistics industry, transforming the way we think about industrial real estate and restructuring the supply landscape forever, according to the Last Mile/ City Logistics, the latest industrial & logistics report from CBRE.
Tesco-Booker merger could 'create a UK Amazon and save our High Street'
Feb 08, 2017
The High Street as we know it is dying, says e-commerce delivery expert ParcelHero; but the Tesco-Booker merger would boost local stores, pubs and restaurants; and give Tesco a key logistics role outside the fiercely competitive supermarket industry.
How to know when it's time to 'let go of the baby'
Feb 07, 2017
For many online retailers the decision to outsource the order fulfilment function to a supply chain professional is often delayed because of the company owner's entirely understandable reluctance to 'let go of their baby,' says William Walker, sales director of leading online fulfilment specialist, Walker Logistics.
Omnichannel demands shifting in-store expectations
Feb 07, 2017
Bricks-and-mortar stores remain a key link in the omnichannel chain for UK shoppers, a new report from ShopperTrak, a global retail insight provider, suggests.
Doddle releases click & collect technology solution to enable retailers to increase footfall and revenue
Feb 07, 2017
Doddle has announced the launch of 'Powered by Doddle', a comprehensive click & collect solution that includes all the software, training, communications and analytics modules retailers need to enhance their click & collect experience and deliver incremental revenue.
The changing face of the shopper
Jan 31, 2017
By Matthew Robertson, co-CEO, NetDespatch
Last year we saw 24-hour supermarket shopping slump, with many supermarkets stopping around-the-clock opening hours in stores.
Christmas 2016: How cloud is critical in 2017
Jan 31, 2017
Christmas retail figures can cast a spell of hope or despair for the year ahead when they are finally made public in January.
Digital drivers: bringing curated commerce into the store
Jan 31, 2017
By Raj Parmar, Marketing Director at Box Technologies.
When it comes to choice in retail sometimes less is more. The online retailers that kicked-started the trend for curated shopping back in 2012 understood this, and they continue to reap the benefits today.
Snapfulfil provides simplehuman with 'tools for efficient warehousing'
Jan 25, 2017
simplehuman – the multi-award winning designer and manufacturer of 'tools for efficient living' – has gone live with the Snapfulfil Cloud WMS.
Internet Retailing
Internet retailing, also known as e-tailing or online retailing, is the sale of goods and services over the internet. It is a type of electronic commerce (e-commerce) that allows consumers to purchase products and services directly from retailers without having to visit a physical store.
Internet retailers can sell a wide variety of products, including clothing, electronics, books, home goods, and more. They can also offer a variety of services, such as online payments, shipping, and returns.
There are many different types of internet retailers, including:
- Pure-play retailers: These retailers only sell products online. They do not have any physical stores.
- Multichannel retailers: These retailers sell products both online and in physical stores.
- Marketplaces: These retailers provide a platform for other retailers to sell their products.
Internet retailing has become increasingly popular in recent years. In 2022, global e-commerce sales were estimated to be $4.9 trillion. This number is expected to continue to grow in the coming years.
There are many reasons for the growth of internet retailing. Some of the reasons include:
- The convenience of shopping online.
- The wider selection of products available online.
- The lower prices that can often be found online.
- The ability to shop from anywhere in the world.
Internet retailing has a number of advantages for both consumers and retailers. For consumers, it offers the convenience of shopping from home, the ability to compare prices from different retailers, and the opportunity to find products that are not available in physical stores. For retailers, it offers the opportunity to reach a wider audience, reduce costs, and improve customer service.
However, there are also some challenges associated with internet retailing. Some of the challenges include:
- The need to protect customer data.
- The need to ensure that products are delivered on time and in good condition.
- The need to provide effective customer service.
Omnichannel retailing
Omni-Channel Retailing is the evolution of Multi-Channel Retailing, but is concentrated more on a seamless approach to the consumer experience through all available shopping channels, i.e. mobile internet devices, computers, brick-and-mortar, television, radio, direct mail, catalog and so on. Retailers are meeting the new customer demands by deploying specialized supply chain strategy software. To use all channels simultaneously, retailers using an omni- channel approach will track customers across all channels, not just one or two.
Omnichannel retailing is a retail strategy that integrates multiple channels, such as brick-and-mortar stores, online stores, and mobile apps, to create a seamless shopping experience for customers. This means that customers can start their shopping journey on one channel and seamlessly transition to another channel without having to start over.
For example, a customer might start by browsing for products on a retailer's website, then use the retailer's mobile app to compare prices, and finally visit a brick-and-mortar store to make a purchase. The retailer would track the customer's journey across all channels and make sure that the customer's information is consistent across all channels.
Omnichannel retailing is becoming increasingly important as more and more customers are using multiple channels to shop. A study by Salesforce found that 73% of customers use multiple channels during their shopping journey.
There are many benefits to omnichannel retailing, including:
- Increased customer satisfaction: Customers appreciate being able to shop however they want, and they are more likely to be satisfied with their shopping experience if they can seamlessly transition between channels.
- Increased sales: Omnichannel retailers are able to reach more customers and sell more products by offering their products and services across multiple channels.
- Improved customer loyalty: Omnichannel retailers are able to build stronger relationships with their customers by providing them with a more personalized and convenient shopping experience.
