By BEUMER Group
What are the changes in the omnichannel world that logistics providers ought to be aware of and take into account when planning their business operations?
The changing landscape of omnichannel retail
The biggest shift in the landscape that all fulfilment centres are well aware of, is of course the soaring growth of e-commerce which was further accelerated by the global pandemic. This growth propelled many traditional retailers into establishing online stores to complement their physical stores in order to compete in the online world and reach more customers.
But there have been other major shifts also.
Online retailers get physical
One of the trends in omnichannel is the move of some pure online players to establish a physical presence also. Amazon, for example, announced in September 2021 that it was planning to roll out around 80 physical stores.
There are a number of reasons why online players are moving into physical spaces.
The first is obvious: they want to reach new customers. Secondly, they wish to create a physical space from which they can fulfil online orders. Thirdly, by moving into physical stores, these retailers can test technology. Amazon has been testing its Scan and Go, a cashier-free experience. Others, such as Nordstrom and Target, are testing virtual dressing through their showrooms or guideshops.