As the shift in the global retail world continues to be a race between online shopping and retail stores, logistic service providers are constantly needing to find new ways to satisfy their customers’ demands.
With online sales now consisting of nearly 14% of retail sales worldwide, the need for a shared inventory to fulfill all modes of shipping, has become vital. A logistic supply chain service provider capable of handling such a task must be one that is not only flexible, but also innovative and constantly thinking beyond the curve. The omni-channel experience is becoming the new norm. But, there are several road blocks stopping service providers from achieving maximum shipping efficiency and cost effectiveness. Operating costs and inventory management are crucial to maintaining customer satisfaction and competitive pricing when servicing those in demand for omni-channel fulfillment. The Dynamic Omni-Channel experience is one of constant visibility, tracking and seamless fulfillment from a single inventory. The investments into IT and Automation have given Dynamic the ability to stay ahead of the game by fulfilling a customers’ order effortlessly from their standing inventory.
Service providers once had multiple inventories. For simplistic purposes, we will list two: retail fulfillment and e-commerce. Fearful of losing count of the standing inventory, marrying e-commerce and retail garments were not common practices and space was left unutilized – both of which are serious problems service providers face today. Dynamic’s warehouse management software (WMS) infused with the experience and knowledge of the operations team, creates a winning recipe that solves both of these major problems. Due to the constant visibility and tracking made available to the operations team, the health of our customers’ inventory is never in question. No order will be placed where it cannot be fulfilled. Instead of two separate inventories or needlessly merging two inventories, we can have one where we are able to supply brick-and-mortar stores and online platforms.
Being a major service provider for product manufacturers and retail stores, Dynamic understands the requirements that both ends of the supply chain need in order to have continued growth. The continuity this team is able to achieve because of our understanding and relationship with both, sets them apart from the rest. This understanding allows an experienced team to anticipate the needs of different customers at certain times of the year and an advanced WMS to see it carried out. Through the constantly tracked health of the standing inventory, orders can be placed and monitored from the start, through the picking process and to completion as it enters the outbound truck.
While all of this may seem like a no brainer, now that it has been laid out, it takes knowledge, experience and systems to ensure it all runs according to plan. Far from a tool that allows us to “set and forget,” but rather a tool that allows us to be more vigilant in the fight against misplaced inventory. As a service provider for the apparel retail community, Dynamic has continuously made strides to comply with the changing world in which we exist. The investments into IT and Automation have paid off in more ways than one. It provides us with the flexibility of maneuvering inventory as required as well as maximizing the space we occupy, giving us the room we need to meet the demands of our customers.
As the percentage of online shopping continues to rise, so will the need for knowledgeable supply chain service providers to be well versed in giving customers a prosperous, omni-channel experience. As “omni-channel logistics” become the new norm, it is quite possible that those who are not willing to take the chances now to fight through the growing pains, might find it hard to catch up later on. Working with customers in an open dialogue to find out what they need, what Dynamic could do better and consistent collaboration with all parties, is a great jumping off point in improving the omni-channel ecosystem.
The omni-channel approach to the growing online shopping market continues to have a great deal of success. As retailers prepare to up their Direct-to-Consumer (D2C)/Drop Ship inventory each year, it is important that supply chain service providers do not need to reorganize to accommodate the new demands of the e-commerce shopping platform, as it will disrupt the flow and take time away from fulfilling orders. This is Dynamic’s plan; so that no matter what the next fiscal year brings, we can hold all inventory together in the same place year after year.
No one knows exactly where things will end up. Will online shopping completely take over? Will retail brick-and-mortar stores become showrooms where the customer is only able to window shop? The success and growth that can be contributed to a single inventory/omni-channel fulfillment seems to be the future for supply chain service providers no matter what shoppers do because of the flexibility it offers—as long as one has the proper tools to manage the inventory. Dynamic will continue to collaborate with its partners and customers to fit their needs in this tumultuous landscape.
Dynamic is a full-service logistics organization committed to serving the needs of the Retail and Wholesale Industry’s Distribution Network. Dynamic has over sixty years of experience in the consolidation, container trans-loading, third party distribution and transportation of retail merchandise including Garment-on-Hanger, flat-pack apparel and accessories.
