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. 

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Manhattan Associates and IHL Group survey reveals the key to maximising omnichannel profits

1 Manhattan Associates and IHL Group survey reveals the key to maximising omnichannel profits

A recent survey byManhattan Associates Inc. and IHL Group has uncovered a strong correlation between omnichannel fulfilment maturity and margins.

Contextual commerce, loyalty, sustainability and payment preference will dominate eCommerce agendas in 2020, says Tryzens

2 Contextual commerce, loyalty, sustainability and payment preference will dominate eCommerce agendas in 2020, says Tryzens

2019 saw the retail sector continue to battle to keep ahead in an environment of rapid market, technological and consumer behaviour changes. Couple that with disrupted spending habits, both in terms of level of spend and the channels consumers prefer to buy through, as well as rising costs, the UK uncertainty surrounding Brexit, and increased international competition, it all added up to another challenging year for retailers.

From Brexit to omni-channel fulfilment – a year-in-review for online retail

3 From Brexit to omni-channel fulfilment – a year-in-review for online retail

By Joe Farrell, VP of international operations at PFS. 

Amidst ongoing political turbulence and the continued transformation of the modern high street, 2019 was a challenging year for retail to say the least. Brexit uncertainty, combined with the growing customer demand for sustainability and superior levels of customer service, has put substantial pressure on embattled retailers.

Elastic Path acquires Moltin

4 Elastic Path acquires Moltin

Elastic Path, the provider of headless commerce solutions, acquired commerce technology company Moltin to create what is claimed to be the industry’s only commerce platform that enables every business leader to quickly and easily leverage microservices to gain a competitive advantage in the market.

Online spending partly rescues dismal December

5 Online spending partly rescues dismal December

ONS retail sales figures for December saw overall sales fall 0.6% against November. But a strong showing from department store web sales saved Christmas for many retailers says ParcelHero.

What’s in store for 2020 and beyond? 6 trends shaping warehouses of the future

6 What’s in store for 2020 and beyond? 6 trends shaping warehouses of the future

In 2010, many warehouses would still have been regarded as a neglected cost centre. Now, moving into 2020, the warehouse is a carefully managed control centre and very often the strategic hub of e-commerce within an ever-extending supply chain.

Red Box Vape continues expansion with acquisition of Vapour Lounge

7 Red Box Vape continues expansion with acquisition of Vapour Lounge

Red Box Vape Ltd has finalised a deal to acquire Vapour Lounge with 5 retail store outlets across Scotland as part of its continuing acquisition programme. This transaction will add a further £0.75m to turnover. The company is one of the fastest-growing UK brands in the sector.

The secret to engaging young adults (18-24s) online? Personalisation

8 The secret to engaging young adults (18-24s) online? Personalisation

18-24-year-olds (44%) are more likely to be influenced to buy a product or service online if they’re given a personalised offer, compared to those aged over 55 (24%), research has revealed. However, while it’s been established that the younger generation is influenced by a more bespoke approach, a shocking 57% of all those surveyed agree that the offers they receive online are ‘mostly irrelevant’.

Discover remains the most widely accepted card scheme worldwide

9 Discover remains the most widely accepted card scheme worldwide

The influence of China on global card acceptance is shown by the fact that Discover is accepted at more outlets than Visa and Mastercard as a result of agreements with UnionPay and other schemes

International digital growth executive joins Panintelligence as chair.

10 International digital growth executive joins Panintelligence as chair.

Data visualisation, reporting and analytics software developer Panintelligence has appointed Howard Bell, a seasoned commercial and technology growth specialist, as chair.

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.

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