Seamless Integration Closes The Fulfillment Gap

By Michele Salerno, Celerant Technology Corporation

Read Part 1 of this series

We live in an era where the consumer demands immediate gratification.  While today’s tech-empowered shopper expects the breadth in product selection and competitive pricing offered by E-Commerce, they increasingly seek to combine the speed and convenience of brick-and-mortar fulfillment.  This fusion, known as omni-channel or in-store fulfillment, has been adopted by major retailers such as Walmart, Sears and Macy’s over the past few years.

When deployed correctly, in-store fulfillment mechanisms can convert consumer impatience into a competitive advantage.  A recent survey conducted by Forrester Consulting found that when in-store fulfillment is available, 41% of shoppers want to pick up an item within an hour, but only 55% of retailers are capable of fulfilling that expectation.  Many retailers still lack the real-time inventory visibility necessary to guarantee the location and availability of an item for in-store pick-up.

Please log in or register below to read the full article.