The words Black and Friday are enough to send a logistics manager into a tailspin, and it’s easy to see why, says Julian Adams at Apex Supply Chain Technologies.
In 2015, Black Friday set a new internet retail record in the UK, with some of the major retailers claiming it was their “biggest day of sales ever”. Over the course of the weekend and into ‘Cyber Monday’, sales continued to rocket, with a total estimated spend of £3.3bn. As the momentum for online shopping continues to grow, the pressure point for retailers lies in profitability and of course logistics – namely the ability to respond to the increased demand and expectations.
Black Friday in an Omnichannel World
The industry is, for the most part, already well prepared for the Christmas rush. But with increasing omnichannel activity, it can be difficult to accurately forecast demand and therefore respond to it in a timely manner. The ‘always-open’ mentality of online shopping gives a new meaning to 24-hour logistics. Many businesses are dealing with the triple whammy of order requests, picking and distribution as well as the issue of returns. The latter opens up a whole new can of worms.
While consumers increasingly turn to online outlets for their shopping, so too is the logistics sector relying more heavily on technology for the management of stock and orders. Greater transparency of stock, and where any shortfalls lie, is key for business success – which is why a missing scanner or broken radio communication system can pose such a risk to overall operations.
Automated Scanner Management Eliminates Inventory Issues
Options are available that enable businesses to manage and monitor critical assets, like scanners, ensuring they have transparency over operations 24/7. The ability to see who is using devices, where and for how long, can make a big difference to productivity; as can signalling any faults or charging issues related to the devices and even monitoring when a service is due. For on-demand operations, knowing that critical assets are ready for use, as and when they are needed, is key.
In reality, consumers are demanding a seamless shopping experience whether online or in-store, and the retail sector will be judged on how well it responds. What remains clear, however, is the continuing role of electronic devices as both a purchasing channel and an order fulfilment tool – not only highlighting the importance of having the right assets for the tasks, but also the need for the right tools to keep them operational.
For more information on Apex Supply Chain Technologies, please visit:
www.ApexSupplyChain.com/gb/asset-management
Worcester-based Apex Supply Chain Technologies Ltd is the European headquarters and subsidiary of Apex Industrial Technologies LLC, the world’s leading provider of automated dispensing systems for the retail, industrial and service sectors. Apex installed solutions have executed billions of transactions for thousands of customers around the world. Apex has offices in Australia, Germany and the United Kingdom and is headquartered in the United States.
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