Putting the infrastructure in place to implement this concept has become a major challenge for retailers and manufacturers. Facilities are plagued with inefficiencies including a lack of inventory visibility and a pressure to turn inventory and to fulfill margins. Without some type of change to their operation, it will be difficult to meet this goal.
The concept behind Omni-channel Fulfillment is exciting and the answer to meeting this challenge. It is the fulfillment of a sale using multiple channels to provide the customer with a seamless shopping experience whether the customer is shopping online from a desktop or mobile device, by telephone, or in a store.
And while we embrace the Omni-channel consumer, change is inevitable in how the day-to-day logistics and operations produce and accommodate these orders. As inventory needs advance due to this prominent visibility in Omni-channel fulfillment, the implementation of WMS (warehouse management systems) or WCS (warehouse control systems) solutions are becoming a necessary expense in all warehouses, distribution centers, and now in the store itself. These solutions can run the gamut to include anything from picking & packing to software & controls to scanning and vision systems. They improve inventory accuracy, both in the warehouse and distribution center and at store-level. Expanding support for some of the new changes to retail ordering—buy online, pickup in store and buy online, ship from store. In our busy-driven state of retail, Omni-channel fulfillment will be the driving force behind your business.
Author: Heather Connors, Conveyor Handling Company
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