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•Guest Series Article 1: Cross-Channel Gaps In Inventory Visibility Reduce Customer Service

By Jim Bengier, Sterling Commerce

At the Retail Cross-Channel Consortium held on September 20, 2009, retailers discussed inventory management and the supply chain. One participant stated, "If you can't share inventory across channels — even visibility, forget about actual inventory — then you can't do most cross-channel activities." This first in a series of four articles will highlight the gaps in inventory visibility identified by the consortium, as well as inventory management best practices to overcome those challenges.

The discussion focused on how retailers can maximize customer demand while controlling costs. Carrying inventory is expensive. The retailers all had initiatives to increase inventory turnover, reducing inventory while increasing revenue. But those initiatives were becoming more complex with the rapid growth of other demand channels, most notably the Internet. Those channels are creating new gaps in inventory visibility that affect the fulfillment execution process. What product is located where? Do channels share inventory? The answers depend on the retailer's business model and the customer's expectations, but in the end the retailers have to have the ability to satisfy their customers... efficiently and cost-effectively.

Click Here To Download:
•Guest Series Article 1: Cross-Channel Gaps In Inventory Visibility Reduce Customer Service