Omni-Channel Retail and the Supply Chain The days of going to the local department store to buy a television, view the options available, and make a purchase now seem "quaint." The emergence of the internet, smartphones, social media, and other technologies has opened a world of new options for consumers (and businesses) to review, research, and buy online with an ever-increasing array of delivery options. The emergence of e-commerce has resulted in what is commonly known today as "omni-channel" marketing, in which customers engage with companies in a variety of ways, including in a physical store or online via websites and mobile apps. This process puts the supply chain "front and center," as consumers are increasingly demanding and browsing, buying, and returning goods through various channels, not just the traditional "brick and mortar" way. To accomplish this with high levels of service while remaining profitable requires real-time visibility of inventory across the supply chain and a single view of consumers as they continuously move from one channel to another. While this is a boon to consumers, it has made the already complex global supply chain even more challenging to manage. On top of that, the 2020 Covid19 pandemic has accelerated this omni-channel retail trend, as consumers need even more ways to order and additional options for last-mile delivery, such as curbside pickup. Covid19 has exposed a lack of flexibility and readiness, resulting in shortages of everything from toilet paper and meats to personal protective equipment (PPE) and ventilators. It has been a real-life example of the "bullwhip effect," where variability at the consumer end of the supply chain results in increased variability as one goes upstream towards distributors, manufacturers, and suppliers. This results in shortages, misallocations, and increased costs. No longer can a manufacturer, distributor, or retailer of consumer products just "fill the pipeline" and wait for orders to come in. Now, they must anticipate various purchases and delivery items, while at the same time minimizing costs. To do this is no easy task, requiring a Lean, agile, and responsive supply chain. Until now, there was no existing "playbook" for organizations to navigate their way through this new world. This book describes the impact of omni-channel marketing on the supply chain and logistics functions, and is intended to help management meet the needs of not only today’s ever-changing world but to anticipate what may be required in the future to achieve superior customer service, profitability, and a competitive advantage.

This book compiles the current state of knowledge on omnichannel retailing, a new concept in which all sales and interaction channels are considered together, and which aims to deliver a seamless customer experience regardless of the channel. It highlights case studies and examples related to each of the many barriers to an omnichannel approach, demonstrating not just success stories, but also failures. While omnichannel has already been recognized as an emerging retail trend, the articles in this book fill an important gap in research on the topic. Providing readers with essential insights on the omnichannel strategy and its implementation, the book will also stimulate academic discussion on this emerging trend.

“In Omni-Channel Retailing, Ken Wong has captured the essential technologies and tools that we use everyday to provide our customers with the products they want, through the channel that best serves their needs.” -David Markwell, Chief Technology and Analytics Officer, Loblaw Companies Ltd. “Ken Wong has crafted a formidable yet highly approachable guide that every retail business, large, medium and small, should devour. Retailers who want to do more than survive will find Omni-Channel Retailing an indispensable roadmap to winning and keeping customers.” -David Agnew, President, Seneca College “Dr. Ken Wong provides an outlook that is current to today’s Retail industry. His contemporary insights provide relevance to all those interested in learning more about Omni-Channel Retailing.” -Dr. Seung Hwan (Mark) Lee, Director, Professor, Retail Management, TRSM, Ryerson University “There is no space for ‘silos’ or functional borders within the organization. All have to be integrated to deliver the best and consistent customer experience. Omni-Channel Retailing explores this strategy, provides proven examples of success, and delivers practical advice to help today’s retailers.” -Perry Oosting, Former CEO, Clergerie Paris The COVID-19 pandemic is rewriting the rules of retail. A growing number of shoppers now rely on same-day delivery, curbside pickup, in-home/in-car delivery, and AI-powered drive-thru to get their goods. To accommodate such a paradigm shift, retailers must undertake significant changes in their business models to become digitally enabled and data-driven. Omni-Channel Retailing is written to help retailers and retail students understand the importance of delivering a seamless, cohesive, and contextual customer experience throughout the shopping journey. This book addresses today’s retailers’ challenges and gives new ideas for implementation. Relevant activities and discussion topics are included to help readers master the concepts.

The world of retailing has changed dramatically in the past decade. Sales originating at online channels have been steadily increasing, and even for sales transacted at brick-and-mortar channels, a much larger fraction of sales is affected by online channels in different touch points during the customer journey. Shopper behavior and expectations have been evolving along with the growth of digital channels, challenging retailers to redesign their fulfillment and execution processes, to better serve their customers. This edited book examines the challenges and opportunities arising from the shift towards omni- channel retail. We examine these issues through the lenses of operations management, emphasizing the supply chain transformations associated with fulfilling an omni-channel demand. The book is divided into three parts. In the first part, “Omni-channel business models”, we present four studies that explore how retailers are adjusting their fundamental business models to the new omni-channel landscape. The second part, “Data-driven decisions in an omni-channel world”, includes five chapters that study the evolving data opportunities enabled by omni-channel retail and present specific examples of data-driven analyses. Finally, in the third part, “Case studies in Omni-channel retailing”, we include four studies that provide a deep dive into how specific industries, companies and markets are navigating the omni-channel world. Ultimately, this book introduces the reader to the fundamentals of operations in an omni-channel context and highlights the different innovative research ideas on the topic using a variety of methodologies.

Marketing Channel Strategy: An Omni-Channel Approach is the first book on the market to offer a completely unique, updated approach to channel marketing. Palmatier and Sivadas have adapted this classic text for the modern marketing reality by building a model that shows students how to engage customers across multiple marketing channels simultaneously and seamlessly. The omni-channel is different from the multi-channel. It recognizes not only that customers access goods and services in multiple ways, but also that they are likely doing this at the same time; comparing prices on multiple websites, and seamlessly switching between mobile and desktop devices. With the strong theoretical foundation that users have come to expect, the book also offers lots of practical exercises and applications to help students understand how to design and implement omni-channel strategies in reality. Advanced undergraduate and graduate students in marketing channels, distribution channels, B2B marketing, and retailing classes will enjoy acquiring the most cutting-edge marketing skills from this book. A full set of PowerPoint slides accompany this new edition, to support instructors.

The proper understanding and managing of project risks and uncertainties is crucial to any organization. It is paramount that all phases of project development and execution are monitored to avoid poor project results from meager economics, overspending, and reputation. Supply Chain Management Strategies and Risk Assessment in Retail Environments is a comprehensive reference source for the latest scholarly material on effectively managing risk factors and implementing the latest supply management strategies in retail environments. Featuring coverage on relevant topics such as omni-channel retail, green supply chain, and customer loyalty, this book is geared toward academicians, researchers, and students seeking current research on the challenges and opportunities available in the realm of retail and the flow of materials, information, and finances between companies and consumers.

YOU CAN COMPETE WITH THE BIG-BOX STORES! Whether you're a seasoned merchant or retail newbie, Retail 101 is the guide you need to successfully manage, market, and grow your retail business, brick and mortar or online. From two of today's top retail thought leaders, Retail 101 serves both as a strategic planning guide and as a hands-on practical reference that answers your critical questions along the way. "The ultimate how-to guide for independent retailers. Each chapter addresses a vital ingredient for retail success, including helpful ideas, useful lists, and action guides." -- Ted Teele, Chief Executive Officer, SnapRetail "While small retailers may feel like an endangered species, those who read this practical guidebook to retail survival will come away confident that they have unique assets they can turn into sustainable profits." -- Molly Love Rogers, President and CEO of Internet Retailer "If you've ever felt alone or frustrated building your business, read this book today!" -- Joe Abraham, founder of BOSI Global, author of Entrepreneurial DNA