target audience: TECH BUYER  Publication date: Mar 2023 - Document type: IDC Perspective - Doc  Document number: # US50500723

NRF 2023 Big Show: Top 5 Retail Supply Chain Takeaways

By:  Jordan K. Speer Loading

Content



Get More

When you purchase this document, the purchase price can be applied to the cost of an annual subscription, giving you access to more research for your investment.



Related Links

Abstract


This IDC Perspective highlights the top 5 supply chain takeaways of the 2023 NRF Big Show that address the role of the broader supply chain in supporting an engaging customer experience that is beneficial for both consumers and retailers. Pleasing the consumer in today's omni-channel environment while maintaining profitability on the part of the retailer is complex. It's important to take a holistic view of your end-to-end supply chain, from browsing to buying to unboxing and beyond while focusing on the specific nodes of the supply chain and how each can be improved.

Omni-channel commerce was a major focus at NRF, with the integral role of the supply chain increasingly apparent as a crucial support to omni-channel operations. Consumers are more demanding than ever before and want more information earlier in the browsing process, such as what exactly is available, where and when they can get it, and how.

"To be able to make a 'promise,' satisfying that expectation, and a growing panoply of others, retailers must know where their inventory is, at all times, in real time, and also be able to expose that inventory, along with information that consumers want, but that also, if fulfilled in the manner suggested, would be profitable for the retailer," said Jordan K. Speer, research director, IDC Retail Insights. "That requires the ability to manage and orchestrate inventory and orders at scale while taking into account a wide array of factors that support the fulfillment of orders. These include shipping costs, labor availability, shipping capacity, picking and packing capacity, store foot traffic, markdown risk, and service-level agreements. A modern system that can handle that complexity, in turn, requires an enterprise that is resilient, automated, and sustainable. The order life cycle, after all, extends in all directions, from planning through post-purchase activities such as returns. As such, this document takes a look at five main themes that all support a swift and satisfying order life-cycle experience that is delightful for the consumer but also sane, sustainable, and profitable for the retailer."



Coverage


Do you have questions about this document
or available subscriptions?