Retail – Veridian https://veridian.info Fri, 27 Feb 2026 23:28:06 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.7 https://veridian.info/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/cropped-Favicon-1-32x32.png Retail – Veridian https://veridian.info 32 32 256198509 Walmart’s Micro-Fulfillment Bet: What It Means for Retail Supply Chains https://veridian.info/walmarts-micro-fulfillment-bet-what-it-means-for-retail-supply-chains/ Fri, 27 Feb 2026 23:28:05 +0000 https://veridian.info/?p=13135 Walmart is turning 4,700 stores into micro-fulfillment hubs with automation at peak spending. Here's what other retailers should learn from their playbook.

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Walmart just told investors something that should make every retailer pay attention: their supply chain automation spending will “peak this year and next year.” That’s not a warning. It’s a declaration.

The numbers tell the story. Twenty-three of Walmart’s 42 regional distribution centers are being retrofitted with automation. Sixty percent of U.S. stores now receive freight from automated facilities. Half of their e-commerce fulfillment volume runs through automated systems. And “a couple thousand facilities” are slated for some form of automation in 2026 alone.

But the real shift isn’t happening in massive fulfillment centers. It’s happening in store backrooms.

Stores Are the New Warehouses

Walmart operates roughly 4,700 U.S. stores. That’s 4,700 potential micro-fulfillment nodes sitting within 10 miles of 90% of the American population. Amazon, for all its logistics muscle, can’t match that footprint.

The company is leaning into this advantage. In Q4, Walmart delivered 35% of store-fulfilled orders in under three hours. Not three days. Three hours. That’s same-day delivery without the same-day infrastructure costs that sink so many retailers.

CFO John David Rainey put it plainly: “Inventory and labor are our two largest costs. Technology-enabled productivity benefits are critical to our ability to grow our core omni-business at lower marginal cost.”

Translation: stores that once existed to sell products now exist to ship them too. And the software running those operations needs to handle both.

The WMS Problem Nobody Talks About

Here’s what most coverage of Walmart’s automation push misses: the warehouse management system underneath it all.

Traditional WMS platforms were built for distribution centers. They optimize pick paths, manage inventory slots, and coordinate outbound shipments to stores. They weren’t designed to handle a store associate grabbing items for a delivery order while customers browse the same aisles.

Micro-fulfillment changes the rules. You need systems that can:

  • Prioritize online orders against in-store replenishment in real time
  • Route pickers efficiently through a retail floor layout (not warehouse racking)
  • Manage inventory accuracy when the same SKU serves walk-in customers and delivery orders
  • Handle returns that might arrive via mail, store drop-off, or curbside

Most legacy WMS platforms buckle under this complexity. They were never designed for it.

What Walmart’s $330 Million Tells Us

In Opelousas, Louisiana, Walmart spent over $330 million modernizing a regional distribution center. The old conveyor systems, some running for 20-30 years, got replaced with robotics and automation.

The interesting part: they retained the existing workforce and shifted them into higher-skilled positions focused on robotics maintenance and oversight.

This is the pattern we’re seeing across retail. Automation doesn’t eliminate jobs as much as it changes them. But it also raises the stakes for the technology stack. When you’ve invested nine figures in a facility, the software orchestrating those robots better work flawlessly.

The Omnichannel Pressure Cooker

Amazon recently revealed plans to automate 75% of its operations and potentially replace over half a million jobs. That’s the competitive pressure Walmart is responding to.

But Walmart has something Amazon doesn’t: stores everywhere. The question is whether they can run those stores as fulfillment centers without destroying the in-store shopping experience.

Early signs say yes. Over one million Walmart associates now carry handheld devices with computer vision capabilities, mapping inventory in real time. They know what’s in stock, where it sits, and whether it’s available for fulfillment or reserved for the sales floor.

That level of visibility requires systems that talk to each other. Inventory management. Order management. Workforce management. Transportation management. And at the center of it all, a WMS flexible enough to treat a store like a warehouse when needed.

What Other Retailers Should Take Away

Walmart’s micro-fulfillment push isn’t just a Walmart story. It’s a preview of where retail is heading.

If you’re a retailer watching from the sidelines, consider these questions:

  • Can your current WMS handle store-based fulfillment alongside traditional DC operations?
  • Do you have real-time inventory visibility across all locations, not just warehouses?
  • Can your systems prioritize between channels when the same inventory serves multiple purposes?
  • Are you treating stores as fixed-cost real estate, or as flexible fulfillment assets?

The retailers who answer these questions now will be positioned when customer expectations shift. The ones who wait will find themselves playing catch-up against competitors who already turned their stores into fulfillment engines.

Walmart is betting billions that proximity beats speed. That having inventory 10 miles away matters more than having a faster robot 100 miles away. For more great information you can find a link to their automation strategy in the warehouse as well. For retailers with physical footprints, that’s a bet worth understanding.


Veridian helps retailers and distributors modernize their supply chain operations with technology that actually fits how they do business. If your current systems can’t keep up with omnichannel demands, let’s talk.

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[WHITE PAPER] How Warehouse Robotics Can Help Your Business Operate in a Socially Distant World https://veridian.info/warehouse-robotics/ Thu, 10 Nov 2022 15:52:00 +0000 https://veridian.info/?p=12440 In this white paper, we discuss how Warehouse Robotics has emerged as a tool to improve automation, increase overall efficiency, and reduce risks.  Robotics, combined with a modern Warehouse Management System or WMS, is a key method for changing warehouse operations to accommodate the current constraints and will remain useful long after the COVID-19 pandemic…

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In this white paper, we discuss how Warehouse Robotics has emerged as a tool to improve automation, increase overall efficiency, and reduce risks.  Robotics, combined with a modern Warehouse Management System or WMS, is a key method for changing warehouse operations to accommodate the current constraints and will remain useful long after the COVID-19 pandemic is behind us. 

Learn more by filling out the form below to download your copy today.

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[WHITE PAPER] Order Management Systems to Drive Retail Solutions in the Era of COVID-19 and Beyond https://veridian.info/oms-retail-covid19/ Wed, 08 Jul 2020 12:44:46 +0000 https://veridian.info/?p=12418 While there are many challenges for retailers at the present time, technology solutions are available to overcome these challenges. In this white paper, we discuss how a modern Order Management System (OMS) with the right functionality will allow your business to enable versatile Omnichannel capabilities. An OMS is one key method for changing retail operations…

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While there are many challenges for retailers at the present time, technology solutions are available to overcome these challenges. In this white paper, we discuss how a modern Order Management System (OMS) with the right functionality will allow your business to enable versatile Omnichannel capabilities.

An OMS is one key method for changing retail operations to accommodate the current constraints and will be useful long after the COVID-19 pandemic is behind us. A modern OMS can enable curbside pickup and buy-online, pick up in-store (BOPIS) functionality that can enable customers to shop in the way they feel most comfortable while being safe and effective.

Learn more by filling out the form below to download your copy today.

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Order Management Improvement: Best Practices for Retailers & E-Commerce Companies https://veridian.info/order-management-improvement/ Thu, 06 Feb 2020 14:12:01 +0000 https://veridian.info/?p=12271 An order management system (OMS) is the system of record for maintaining orders and handling inventory. In the omnichannel supply chain, order management improvement leads to confident inventory management across all channels. Additionally, the use of data to understand what is happening, what will happen, what should happen, and how to make the best outcome happen through analytics will…

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An order management system (OMS) is the system of record for maintaining orders and handling inventory. In the omnichannel supply chain, order management improvement leads to confident inventory management across all channels. Additionally, the use of data to understand what is happening, what will happen, what should happen, and how to make the best outcome happen through analytics will result in order management improvement. Order management begins with visibility, and visibility promotes improvement within inventory management. Such improvements naturally lend themselves to higher customer service levels and benefits throughout the supply chain. Unfortunately, the value of those benefits for inventory management through better order management is often lost amid the chaos and drive to continuously improve something. To provide some clarity,  follow these five best practices when looking to improve order management.  

1. Integration Is a Necessity for Order Management Improvement 

Channel integration offers benefits that go well beyond just easier management of inventory and systems. As reported by Software Advice“96 percent [of retailers] say online store integrations reduce processing time.” Additional benefits of integration between your online and physical stores are shown in this graphic.  

2. Pay Attention to Insights Driven from Analytics 

Analytics applies to much more in the supply chain beyond inventory management. Analytics help you understand fulfillment rates, supplier delays and opportunities, compliance with inbound freight management, carrier management, and many other processes. Analytics unlock the secrets to near 100% accuracy on demand forecasting and spell out what steps to take to achieve your desired goals. Deploy analytics that stretch throughout the supply chain to understand how what happened becomes what should happen with time. 

3. Know the Role of Each Channel Within Omnichannel & Their Relation to Order Management 

The creation of an online store is not a small task, and it should be thoroughly considered for its impact on your order management system. Your online store should provide a seamless trail of data from the POS through your dock schedule, and it should also enable effortless navigation for users, fast checkout, rapid shipping, and superior customer service. These mentioned capabilities are not functions associated with order management improvement, per se, but the capabilities of your online store must keep in mind the role it plays in offering a strong, omnichannel presence and shopping experience. However, when supply chains are strong in their omnichannel approach, including an online store that works in harmony with all other ordering channels, naturally, your order management processes are improved. A strong omnichannel supply chain, driven by analytics and integrated systems, provides more information about your order management activity, yielding the ability to see the entire order lifecycle.  

4. Leverage Supply Chain System Consultants to Get Exactly What You Want & Need 

It is also critical to understand potential resource limitations within your company to establish various channels in the quest to omnichannel prowess. Many supply chain professionals think they can create an in-house program or implement modern-day supply chain systems, like WMS, on their own as a way to reduce initial investment costs. But, without the right talent to tailor the system and solution to meet every tiny detail and want, you could end up spending more man-hours and hard dollars that are over and above the use of an outside consultant to make the system work as you intended. That’s not feasible, and executives will see that approach only leads to the increased total cost of ownership. Instead of trying to do it all alone, turn to supply chain systems consultants, like Veridian, who can not only help you choose the right systems but also implement the system according to your needs. This is critical to reducing delays and keeping your costs under control to offer fast, free shipping for customers, says Big Commerce. Free shipping might not seem like a necessity, but it is essential in today’s “Amazon” expectations world. 

5. Leverage Automation to Collaborate and Avoid Miscommunications 

A final step in order management improvement lies in automation and improved collaboration throughout the supply chain. Automation is a broad capability that can apply to any repetitive task, making it an ideal solution for the supply chain. Automation can recommend new products to customers, eliminate labor costs from the packing, labeling, and shipping side of the operation, and transform inventory management into a turnkey process. Imagine the labor hours saved simply by allowing the connected systems to automatically reorder products based on the POS systems, online cart checkout, and shipping data. It carries additional implications for better collaboration and communication too, says TradeGecko: 

“With multiple salespeople working a range of different sales channels, it’s important that internal information is shared in real-time. The last thing you want is for one batch of stock to be promised to two different customers! Because dealing with wholesale customers involves much larger volumes, having real-time access to current stock levels is essential, particularly if the client makes his or her ordering decision days or even weeks after their last conversation with a salesperson. Using a B2B eCommerce platform to automate internal communications improves the speed and accuracy of doing business.” 

Automation may go further, leveraging analytics to recommend changes to the warehouse layout or slotting design to reduce picking time and speed fulfillment. It creates a self-replenishing, self-optimizing supply chain. That same capability will lead to improved order management, reducing the risk of inaccurate orders, damage to products, and upset customers.  

Apply These Practices to Boost Your E-Commerce and Retail Success 

The best practices for order management improvement might not be as voluminous as the steps to boost the implementation timeline and select a new warehouse management system. However, order management is essential to inventory management and vice versa. Ensure your supply chain has the resources to succeed and continuously works to improve order management and achieve all its associated benefits by choosing an objective partner in improvement—Veridian. Also, remember that order management begins and ends with visibility, so always stay focused on how each change will add to your level of visibility. Connect with Veridian by requesting a consultation and receive the expert guidance you need to improve your order management today. 

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Retail Fulfillment Tips to Boost Your Omnichannel Strategy https://veridian.info/retail-fulfillment-tips/ Mon, 03 Feb 2020 15:14:30 +0000 https://veridian.info/?p=12265 Today’s consumers are more connected than ever before. Customers have several channels to make a purchase, such as online or mobile, bought in a store, a combination of the two, known as buy-online, pick-up in-store (BOPIS), or any other channel to purchase offered by the retailer. To stay competitive, today’s retailers need responsive, integrated technology…

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Today’s consumers are more connected than ever before. Customers have several channels to make a purchase, such as online or mobile, bought in a store, a combination of the two, known as buy-online, pick-up in-store (BOPIS), or any other channel to purchase offered by the retailer. To stay competitive, today’s retailers need responsive, integrated technology that creates more engaging, seamless shopping experiences. Unfortunately, that capability requires a strong foundational approach to retail fulfillment and the ability to look beyond channel specifics and understand how the whole supply chain contributes to positive experiences. In fact, consider these key tips to boost your omnichannel fulfillment strategy.

Use Automation to Understand and Forecast Demand for Each Channel

Supply chain leaders widely recognize automation as the easiest and most efficient way to manage omnichannel retail fulfillment. But, easier to manage does not always amount to easiest to implement. Each channel carries unique considerations; automating processes in one part of the supply chain may not work in others. Despite the challenges, retail fulfillment does benefit from automation.

For example, consider Walmart’s buy online, pick up in-store vending machines. The machines require the physical placement of inventory in the appropriate slots, and customers use their phones to retrieve their merchandise. This all runs automatically, but still, a physical process exists to store the merchandise within the machine. 

Similar processes exist within the warehouse. If automated retrieval systems pull items for order fulfillment, then consequently, the corresponding packing, labeling, shipment scheduling, and loading processes all must take place as quickly and efficiently as possible. The idea of automation sounds great, but again, it depends on what processes within each channel can be automated to achieve the goal. 

Take Advantage of Storefronts in Omnichannel Retail Fulfillment 

Retail omnichannel fulfillment also benefits from the tactical use of storefronts-as-a-distribution center. Individual stores can handle the same processes of the warehouse in fulfilling online orders for shipping or pickup within the store. However, it depends on the available inventory. Without proper inventory management, the use of storefronts to augment your distribution network will stumble. There was a time when everyone was clamoring over the use of omnichannel and its potential, but as the movement turned into reality, supply chains realized a new issue—a lacking mobile capability. 

Implement Mobile Ordering Systems

Mobile ordering does fall under the umbrella of omnichannel, but it ranks higher in importance and focus by supply chain leaders than general omnichannel efforts. In fact, only 22% of North American retailers cite omnichannel as critical to retail fulfillment, declining more than 23% since 2015, reports Supply Chain 24/7. However, the same drive remains—give customers what they want faster and at a lower cost. Mobile ordering and retail omnichannel fulfillment achieve this goal and turn the traditional supply chain into a mobile-centric process.

Supply chain leaders must still emphasize a seamless shopping experience across all channels, including e-commerce, the brick-and-mortar establishments, third-party marketplaces, word-of-mouth campaigns, and social networks. It is a complex process, and it must include mobile capabilities to stay successful. 

Keep a Strong Eye on Building and Retaining Talent

Successful omnichannel retail fulfillment depends on the ability of your team to understand needs and respond accordingly. As robotics and automation continue to change the standards of the supply chain, your team must evolve. Supply chain leaders should always keep an eye on talent availability and needs regardless of the time of the year. Talent often makes it into the most important supply chain conversations as well. As reported by Paul F. Magel of Total Retail:

“Having the right talent is essential for a successful omnichannel fulfillment strategy. Identifying needed skill sets and jobs are important for apparel manufacturers and retailers. The influx of next-gen technology in the supply chain requires new skills to operate these solutions successfully. Consider what new jobs are crucial to the organization’s long-term success and train your current employees. In manufacturing, data scientists are in high demand as more brands recognize the need to operationalize big data.”

When your talent is happy, order accuracy rates increase, and problems decline.

Review the Value of Your Existing WMS and TMS Platforms

A final tip in boosting retail fulfillment is simple. Supply chain leaders should re-evaluate their existing WMS and TMS platforms for weaknesses and opportunities to improve. Improvement within the WMS will naturally lead to better order fill rates, more accurate orders, and higher profitability. 

Increase Your Omnichannel Strategy and Prestige

The world is changing, and the supply chain must evolve. Instead of relying on outdated, channelized management styles, supply chain leaders need to think outside the box and bring omnichannel into every interaction. Connect with an omnichannel supply chain expert in Veridian by requesting a consultation today. 

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How Order Management System (OMS) Software Aids Retailers https://veridian.info/order-management-system-software/ Wed, 08 Jan 2020 15:26:32 +0000 https://veridian.info/?p=12221 The use of an order management system can dramatically improve product cycle times, reduce errors in order fulfillment, and lend itself to better inventory management strategies. Supply chain leaders that wish to survive and stay competitive need to understand the limits of legacy systems and how evolving supply chain execution systems through the implementation of…

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The use of an order management system can dramatically improve product cycle times, reduce errors in order fulfillment, and lend itself to better inventory management strategies. Supply chain leaders that wish to survive and stay competitive need to understand the limits of legacy systems and how evolving supply chain execution systems through the implementation of an order management system will enable success.

What’s Keeping Retailers in the Dark Ages and Away From Advanced Systems?

While an order management system is not necessarily a new type of software, it still goes much further than the capabilities within legacy systems. Unfortunately, legacy systems also have a direct correlation with an inability to embrace omnichannel supply chains and reap its rewards, such as using brick-and-mortar stores as fulfillment centers and tapping all inventory to move product faster and with less cost. For example, as explained by Shopify:

The Retail Systems Research survey of more than 500 logistics firms, suppliers and retailers worldwide [found] legacy systems are one of the top factors obstructing omnichannel execution, with 29% of firms naming legacy systems as their top challenge in 2017.”

Ways an Order Management System Helps Retailers Succeed

An order management system is essential to success in retail. Implementation of such a system offers additional benefits, and as explained by Lightwell, an effective order management system should empower retailers with more information and better order fulfillment. Additional benefits include improved inventory management, better order accuracy, and real-time order status reports to improve customer service. Furthermore, a robust system enables returns management, accepts orders regardless of source, routes products based on inventory and destination, and generates actionable data.

Additional benefits, reports Technology Record, of implementation, include:

  • More insights through connected, advanced analytics.
  • Better picking and packaging between stores.
  • Shipping rate brokerage.
  • Reduced risk of fraud.
  • Less segmentation and isolation of inventory.
  • Real-time inventory visibility.
  • Real-time inventory stimulations and demand planning integrations.
  • Payment processing.
  • Advanced ordering capabilities.
  • Global trade enablement.
  • Scalability.
  • Returns management.
  • Procurement efficiency.

Tips to Select the Right OMS

Any plan for investing in a new system within your supply chain will naturally seem overwhelming. Supply chain leaders have a mountain of responsibilities, and finding the right system is not an easy task. However, those that follow these tips can work to ensure they have chosen the correct system:

  • Benchmark your current operation.
  • Create a change management team.
  • Shortlist your vendors.
  • Send out a request for proposal to chosen vendors.
  • Research system options.
  • Evaluate all responses for uniqueness, affordability, and functionality.
  • Avoid systems that promote wide modifications.
  • Work with a supply chain systems consultant, such as Veridian.

Augment Your Supply Chain With an Order Management System Now

Deciding to implement an order management system will improve operational efficiency and further goals for better inventory management. Instead of relying on outdated, legacy systems, supply chain leaders need to start thinking about how using an OMS can work in tandem with other supply chain software and provide value. Implementing any new supply chain execution system is not always cut and dry. It can come with serious complications, and without a careful eye for detail, your time to ROI will succumb to scope creep and grow further out of reach. Instead of risking a delayed ROI and higher total cost of ownership, choose Veridian to help you manage the entire selection and implementation process. Schedule your consultation with Veridian online today.

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The Last Mile Really Does Begin with the First Pick From Your Warehouse https://veridian.info/last-mile/ Mon, 11 Nov 2019 16:55:34 +0000 https://veridian.info/?p=12164 The last mile is a well-known and integral step in supply chain operations.  Failures within the last mile often usurp all previous steps in the supply chain That said, the same value placed on the last mile should equal the first mile, and as a result, the first touchpoint. Supply chain leaders that wish to…

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The last mile is a well-known and integral step in supply chain operations.  Failures within the last mile often usurp all previous steps in the supply chain That said, the same value placed on the last mile should equal the first mile, and as a result, the first touchpoint. Supply chain leaders that wish to excel in last mile need to understand why the real value begins with this very first point and how effective first mile management enhances the entire process.

Why Supply Chain Leaders Overlook the Value of the First Foot of the Last Mile

As explained by Supply Chain 24/7, digitalization of the logistics industry, including warehousing, continues to drive the market. Faster processing amounts to speedier delivery and happier customers. With so much emphasis on getting orders delivered on time, it’s easy for supply chain leaders to focus on the last mile, and rightfully so. The last mile involves direct customer interactions—a facet missing in earlier stages for e-commerce consumers. Although most orders come to fruition in the last mile, it does little good if the previous steps fell short. This is where supply chain leaders misconstrue the nature and value of the last mile. It’s valuable, but it’s only as useful as the weakest link in the supply chain.

The Importance of the First Touch Point Should Equal That of the Last Mile

The first touchpoint of a product is typically associated with picking processes. When an order is placed, the order details are sent to pickers. Pickers choose from bins and add the product to a tote. Totes are organized and picked items are packaged. The process continues until the order ships. Even with the aid of robotics, the risk remains. Any problem in the supply chain could lead to delays. So, warehouse leaders must consider two sides of the first touchpoint—the stage of picking the item and the actual inbound logistics of how it arrived in the warehouse or distribution center.

How Procurement Contributes to Improved, End-to-End Supply Chain Efficiency

Enhancing logistics begins with better management of inbound logistics. According to Supply Chain Digital, the first mile contains the highest level of risk. Short orders and a movement to just-in-time fulfillment increase the risk of an item going out-of-stock. More importantly, failure to account for changes in demand will amount to both overordering and underordering. In a sense, it’s all linked to effective inventory management. While advanced supply chain management platforms, including a warehouse management system (WMS), optimize inventory and warehouse operations, supply chain leaders must also focus on the actual inbound logistics processes.

Warehouse managers need to approach replenishment and inbound logistics from the standpoint of control. Suppliers and vendors routinely enjoy reduced accountability and low visibility. How can a warehouse know what a supplier/vendor does and does not do? That’s where a WMS can make all the difference. Advanced WMS functions integrate with supplier and vendor systems. Even those with limited technologies and resources can take advantage of APIs and back-office supportive services, accessible via the internet, to increase visibility within their operations. As a result, warehouses gain visibility into inbound logistics, including the full scope of metrics and KPIs to track and manage supplier performance.

Gain Full Transparency and Control with an Effective, Integrated WMS

More touchpoints amount to higher risk, but even the best-laid plans for fewer touches will fail if the first pick does not go as planned. Problems and errors happen, but by building a better warehouse management strategy, including the use of an integrated WMS and full transparency, supply chains can achieve end-to-end success in fulfillment and delivery. Kickstart efficiency in your supply chain by focusing on better picking through first-mile processing. Learn more by visiting Veridian online today.

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Lessons Learned From 2018 Peak Warehousing Season https://veridian.info/peak-warehousing-season/ Mon, 07 Oct 2019 13:32:30 +0000 https://veridian.info/?p=12092 The 2018 peak warehousing season flourished on the optimism in the market. We saw significant gains for businesses, and customers reaped the rewards. Unfortunately, experts do not necessarily believe the 2019 peak season will see the same results. Cautious optimism remains, and with even more considerable uncertainty in the market for 2019, supply chain leaders…

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The 2018 peak warehousing season flourished on the optimism in the market. We saw significant gains for businesses, and customers reaped the rewards. Unfortunately, experts do not necessarily believe the 2019 peak season will see the same results. Cautious optimism remains, and with even more considerable uncertainty in the market for 2019, supply chain leaders need to take stock of lessons learned.

What Went Wrong During the 2018 Peak Season?

The biggest problem in the 2018 peak warehousing season surfaced before the season even started. Tight capacity led to delays in order processing and shipping, and carriers launched multiple general rate increases (GRIs) to recoup costs and speed fulfillment and delivery, says Jeff Berman of Logistics Management. The uncertainty surrounding the U.S.-China tariff trade war created an opportunity for customers to make a final push for a strong season. Yet, in the weeks leading up to the 2019 trade war, the markets seemed even more uncertain with the suspicion of how they would be impacted by the election. Thankfully, retailers were able to push through the fears and obtain big wins from the market.

How Supply Chain Leaders Overcame the Obstacles

The lessons learned from 2018 teach us the basic principles of how companies can achieve success in the modern age. Supply chain leaders overcame the obstacles by focusing on the positive sentiment that resulted from more sales and how those benefits translated into improvements for the company. More loyalty among customers contributes to higher profitability, which in turn contributes to lower prices for customers. Of course, data and the application of information are at the root of it all.

What Shippers Need to Do to Avoid Problems This Year

The biggest lessons learned hinge on a critical component of supply chain management. Supply chain leaders need to maintain optimism in the face of uncertainty, and ensure optimum inventory management. They must prepare for growth, even when such growth appears to be less than expected. The latest fad may not even have risen yet, so it is a wise assumption to err on the side of continued growth and demand throughout the coming peak season.

A second step for avoiding problems this year focuses on the need to connect with customers. Companies need to think beyond the limits of both the virtual and physical worlds. They must apply data and offer it to customers, well before customers even realize what they want. The goal must be to successfully connect the dots for customers. Supply chain leaders must work together to give customers a truly immersive, seamless, omnichannel experience that continues regardless of peak season demands and constraints.

Plan for a Successful 2019 Peak Warehousing Season with the Right Partner

Supply chain leaders have an opportunity to excel in the 2019 peak season. They must consider the lessons of the past and plan for the best. Times remain uncertain, but if anything is consistent in the world of supply chain management, changing demand is at the forefront. Ensure your organization is ready for the upcoming season by reviewing your systems and requesting a consultation with Veridian now.

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Retail Peak Season Preparation: Why Labor Day Kicks Off the Real Peak Season https://veridian.info/retail-peak-season-preparation/ Wed, 02 Oct 2019 12:10:12 +0000 https://veridian.info/?p=12088 When do you start retail peak season preparation in your warehouse? November, October, or earlier? If you haven’t already started planning, you are late to the game. Products are going to be out of stock, available carriers from China are going to cease for Golden Week, and your entire hope for the season will begin…

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When do you start retail peak season preparation in your warehouse? November, October, or earlier? If you haven’t already started planning, you are late to the game. Products are going to be out of stock, available carriers from China are going to cease for Golden Week, and your entire hope for the season will begin to falter. Instead of risking your success, supply chain leaders need to seriously think about how earlier planning equals faster and more effective management of the retail peak season.

Why Waiting Until Fall Is Too Late

Retail peak seasons begins as soon as customers start looking to make purchases for Chinese Golden Week. While this holiday remains relatively unheard of among the American public, it is a vital part of Trans-Pacific trade. Paired with the unrest regarding the U.S.-China tariff battle, retail peak season preparation takes on an even more significant role. Chinese Golden Week begins on October 1, and all shipments in and out of China cease for seven days. For retailers, failure to consider the impact of Golden Week results in an inability to maintain inventory through Halloween. In addition, setbacks at this point contribute to a higher risk of putting out proverbial fires throughout the season.

Material Handling & Logistics advises retailers to start planning for the following peak season much sooner than most. In fact, the publication suggests that retailers start working to improve distribution center practices in February. Ultimately, it is not enough to start planning now—retailers and supply chain leaders need to begin their real plans for growth and higher demand throughout the entire year. This is genuine continuous improvement in the supply chain. 

Tips for Preparing and Executing a Successful 2019 Peak Season Strategy

Preparation and execution of a successful peak season plan must include these steps:

  1. Benchmark your systems to determine volume flexibility, says Manhattan Associates. Benchmarking allows supply chain leaders to isolate problems in the warehouse and determine maximum order fill rates.
  2. Review in-warehouse logistics processes. This step applies data to consider how the layout and activities affect the fill rate.
  3. Reconsider the slots. If your slots have not been optimized within the last quarter, problems may arise. Reslot the warehouse as soon as possible.
  4. Examine outsourcing strategies and partnerships. According to Supply Chain Dive, customer data can help businesses respond to changes in demand faster—a critical concern during retail peak season preparation.
  5. Use data to improve demand forecasting. This is especially important for managing your replenishment strategy throughout peak season.
  6. Plan on staff augmentation. Staff augmentation during the season takes advantage of temporary workers and handles labor-management concerns.
  7. Move all deadlines earlier than needed. Advanced deadlines provide wiggle-room to handle changes in activity.

Ensure Your Systems Are Ready for the Coming Wave of Demand

Peak season 2019 may indeed fall short of the strong growth seen in 2018. However, the instability and uncertainty of the economy only strengthen the argument for better retail peak season preparation, starting at Labor Day and continuing well into the season. Find out how your systems stack up against the warehousing competition by visiting Veridian online today.

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What Retailers Forget in Omnichannel https://veridian.info/omnichannel-what-retailers-forget/ Thu, 25 Jul 2019 10:58:28 +0000 https://veridian.info/?p=11946 Omnichannel is a hard-sell. According to Applause.com, the biggest challenges in omnichannel supply chains derived from a simple problem. Companies overlook how customers perceive improvements and actions within blended supply chains. More importantly, as few as 33% of retailers have accurate visibility into customer experiences, which might result from an inability to track customer purchases…

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Omnichannel is a hard-sell. According to Applause.com, the biggest challenges in omnichannel supply chains derived from a simple problem. Companies overlook how customers perceive improvements and actions within blended supply chains. More importantly, as few as 33% of retailers have accurate visibility into customer experiences, which might result from an inability to track customer purchases at brick-and-mortar stores, and more. To achieve success, supply chain leaders need to know what they are overlooking as they strive towards a customer-driven future.

Brick-and-Mortar Experiences Deliver Just as Much as Online Experiences in Omnichannel

What makes a brick-and-mortar experience? Is it the amenities that are offered, or is it something else? Two customers really want to take the time to pull out their smartphones and make a shopping decision on the spot. The chances are good that customers, while they will like the capability, have likely already decided by the time they visit your store. As a result, it is essential not to push online capabilities to customers in brick-and-mortar locations. Focus on the customer when they are in your store. Be present with them. However, remember to offer online capabilities where possible. For example, Sam’s Club and Walmart got this right with allowing customers the option to pay by phone, but this option is quite subtle. It was not rolled out with pompous announcements and an endless barrage of greeters to push it in your face. Instead, the retailers made a subtle announcement, and now it is always on the pay screen in every register.

App-Based Interactions Generate Data That is Not Exploited

Another opportunity in this innovative method of blended supply chain management involves the use of app-based data. Omnichannel capabilities offer much more than just purchase history and targeted advertising. More in-depth analytics in the omnichannel process allows for supply chain leaders to understand what customers think at the moment. In a recent report by Diane Sawyer on the use of screen time in America, the simplest of actions, including whether the finger moves slightly to the top right or top left, provide immense insight into what a customer is thinking. Every action and movement within apps and e-commerce portals generate data, and not all this data is exploited to its full potential.

Accurate Visibility Into Combined Operations Is Still Out-of-Reach

Even the best-laid plans for omnichannel management are still susceptible to shortfalls with precise visibility. Supply chain leaders may have the technologies in place to track internal movements within their supply chain, but what happens when those movements go through a third-party? For example, a third-party logistics provider may ship the product for a customer, or the product may be ordered from the manufacturer and shipped directly through drop shipping, and the customer portal may not update in the most real-time window. This is another opportunity for retailers to improve.

Offering More Than What’s Seen Remains a Big Problem

One of the critical problems in omnichannel supply chains also involves the ongoing push to beat Amazon. The Amazon Effect is everywhere, and everyone wants to offer everything. That is both impractical and costly. Instead of offering the world, deliver what your customers know and want. Of course, this requires the use of analytics to understand customers in their contexts. Furthermore, this emphasizes another problem, how the value of service over function gets lost in omnichannel supply chains. Everyone is so focused on offering everything that they overlook customers as the most critical asset in their supply chains.

Supply chain leaders should also not forget that most purchases are still made in brick-and-mortar stores. While statistics vary on the exact number of e-commerce orders compared to brick-and-mortar purchases, the trend is clear. E-commerce is increasing, but retailers must not overlook the value of their brick-and-mortar stores. In addition, they should work to ensure customers understand how to use seamless services, such as via online and picked up in-store. At the same time, customers may feel guilty about skipping the proverbial line to pick up an online order. This is part of what triggered Walmart’s plan to implement in-store kiosks allowing customers to pick up orders from either a vending machine or triggering an automated notification to workers in the back.

Focus on the Right Thing—Your Customers, Not Your Ability to Offer Everything, Everywhere

Your customers are your most valuable asset. As noted by Steve Dennis of Forbes, customers are the only channel that matters. Instead of trying to focus on delivering any product, at any time, at the best price possible, and regardless of where customers want products, make the customer your top focus. In other words, use the right systems and resources to learn more about your customers and connect on a personal and professional level. Doing so will enable better supply chain management and boost profitability. Tap into the real value of omnichannel, your customers. Find out how to get started with your new software and services by visiting Veridian online now.

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