Order Fulfillment

Peak season is the time of year when retailers see their revenues surge, making it the focal point of their annual operations. While efforts to spread out consumer demand have reduced the focus on Black Friday and Cyber Monday, the holiday shopping rush remains a pivotal make-or-break event for fulfillment operations and the brands they…

Type “unboxing” into YouTube and you’ll find thousands of videos, many with millions of views, revealing the contents of a package. What started as a quirky internet trend has evolved into a powerful retail experience, where the packaging itself is as much a part of the appeal as the products inside. Whether it’s a collection…

Paths to purchase have changed significantly over the past decades, with customer journeys nearly unrecognizable compared to those of the early 2000s. With the internet at their fingertips, shoppers are more informed, connected to brands, and able to discover new products without leaving their browser. Still, the majority (70 percent) of shoppers choose to head…

Remember when “let me check in the back” was the best shot at finding what you came for? That version of retail, where stores were showrooms and the backroom was just overflow, doesn’t cut it anymore. Today, every store is being asked to do more: fulfill online orders, manage tight delivery windows, and create a…

Amid persistent supply chain disruptions, tariff uncertainty, and evolving customer expectations, omnichannel fulfillment has evolved from a competitive advantage to a necessity for modern brands. Yet scaling fulfillment operations to meet the demands of a multichannel world remains a complex challenge for many modern brands. According to recent data from Radial, 47 percent of retail decision-makers…

Escalating trade conflicts, labor shortages, bad weather events, and shifting regulations are putting increased pressure on retail supply chains, especially logistics operations. Uncertainty is inevitable in this industry. For brands that aren’t prepared, it can mean missed deliveries, lost revenue, and frustrated customers. However, for brands that rethink their logistics strategy, these challenges become opportunities…

In retail, confidence is a double-edged sword. Our recent industry analysis revealed a startling disconnect: while 93 percent of supply chain leaders entered the 2024 peak season confident they would meet customer expectations, post-season data showed that 58 percent struggled with delivery timing and order accuracy. This 35-point gap between expectation and reality cost retailers…

Increased volatility — in demand, sales, and shipping requirements — is driving complexity for e-commerce fulfillment in 2025. As social media turns traditional shopping on its head, retailers are experiencing massive spikes in demand in the wake of viral trends and surprise brand drops across TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook. Merchants are also implementing more “sales…

Artificial intelligence (AI) isn’t just another trend; it’s a transformative technology with near-universal appeal due to its extensive impact. In fact, 92 percent of businesses planned to invest in AI-powered software last year. Additionally, the number of AI products released in 2023 doubled that of prior years, according to Gartner. Retailers are no different in…

In a move meant to create an integrated, automated supply chain, Walmart has struck a deal with artificial intelligence-enabled robotics technology company Symbotic. Walmart said in a press release it would invest $520 million in Symbotic's AI-powered robotics platform, which will accelerate online pickup and delivery options and develop new pickup and delivery fulfillment systems.…