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International Furniture and Transportation Logistics Council (IFTLC) announces its 60th annual International Conference of Furniture Transportation and Logistics Managers

International Furniture and Transportation Logistics Council (IFTLC) announces its 60th annual International Conference of Furniture Transportation and Logistics Managers

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International Furniture and Transportation Logistics Council
Feb 13, 2020, 08:00 ET

MONROE, MI, Feb. 13, 2020 /CNW Telbec/ – The International Furniture and Transportation Logistics Council, Inc. (IFTLC) announced today its 60th annual conference, which will take place May 13  and 14, at Lago Mar Resort in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. 

The event will bring together furniture transportation and logistics managers from around the world for several days of key learnings and identifying strategies for success in the ever-changing world of furniture logistics. Registration is now open, and discounts are available to those who register prior to April 8, 2020.

Mr. Gene Lunger, EVP of North American Retail Operations for Ashley Furniture, will be our keynote speaker opening our conference on May 13, 2020The conference will feature interactive round tables and speakers on relevant industry discussions covering topics that include:

  • Home delivery
  • Route optimization
  • Reverse logistics
  • Logistics technology
  • Import/Export
  • E-commerce
  • Operational research
  • Artificial intelligence
  • Machine learning
  • Dispatch automation
  • Advanced algorithms
  • Location-based technologies

The annual IFTLC event provides attendees with insight on innovative technologies and new trends as well as the latest legislation that may impact their businesses. This year’s conference will focus on Direct to Home Shipping Strategies.

“Our goal with this conference is to continue to equip our members with the latest information affecting our entire industry and to help them stay competitive in a market that’s constantly evolving.” says Russ Matthews, Managing Director, of IFTLC.

In addition to our keynote speakers, slated to present at the conference are;

  • Dr. Michel Gendreau is Department Chair and Professor of Operations Research in the Department of Mathematics and Industrial Engineering of Polytechnique Montréal (Canada)
  • Dr. Terry Esper, Associate Professor of Logistics at the Fisher College of Business of The Ohio State University
  • George Pezold, Executive Director, Transportation & Logistics Council
  • Tony Nuzio, Founder/CEO, ICC Logistics Services Inc.
  • Pete Mento, Managing Director, Global Customs and Duties, Crowe LLP
  • Steve Raetz, Director Research and Market Intelligence, C.H. Robinson
  • Erich Price, Director of Logistics, Cornerstone Brands, Qurate Retail Group
  • Jeff Sears, Director of International Logistics, Art Van Furniture

Attendees can register for the conference by visiting www.iftlc.org or emailing Russ Matthews at Russ@iftlc.org. Special rates and discounts are available if attendees sign up before March 8.

About IFTLC

IFTLC’s mission is to act as a resource to those in transportation and logistics functions in order to help them become more engaged, knowledgeable and effective at their jobs.  The organization also publishes a monthly newsletter, entitled “The Furniture Transporter,” to help members stay abreast of industry trends, latest legislation, events, and much more.  The organization holds a much-anticipated annual conference where all the segments of the logistics industry (retail stores, manufacturers, e-tailers and transportation companies) meet together to share ideas and gain important knowledge on industry topics.

IFTLC board members

 

SOURCE International Furniture and Transportation Logistics Council

Related Links

http://www.iftlc.org/

Nous sommes clairement votre destination pour lancer votre carrière. We are clearly your destination to jumpstart your career.

Nous sommes clairement votre destination pour lancer votre carrière. We are clearly your destination to jumpstart your career.

Nous sommes clairement votre destination pour lancer votre carrière (English below).

QUI NOUS SOMMES

ClearDestination a pour mission de révolutionner la manière dont les produits sont expédiés aux clients en transformant complètement la façon dont les fabricants, les détaillants et les transporteurs conçoivent la logistique de livraison. Quel est notre objectif ? Éliminer l’utilisation d’anciennes technologies inefficaces et désuètes et remodeler les réseaux logistiques avec les dernières innovations en matière de recherche opérationnelle, d’apprentissage machine et d’intelligence artificielle.

Nous sommes considérés comme la nouvelle génération « non-conformiste » de visionnaire intelligents sur le terrain dans un domaine que nous avons concrètement créé. Nous sommes en pleine croissance et nous nous employons à relever certains des plus grands défis et complexités de l’industrie. Nous avons une culture axée sur l’intelligence, l’esprit d’équipe, le dynamisme et la bonne humeur et notre personnel y adhère avec plaisir. Nos employés recommandent d’ailleurs vivement #TeamClearD à leurs amis.

Venez découvrir pourquoi.

QUI RECHERCHONS-NOUS ACTUELLEMENT?

Vous êtes partant ?

Cette description de poste ne s’autodétruira pas dans cinq secondes, mais nous désirons compléter la procédure d’embauche rapidement. Si vous aimez prendre des risques, êtes intrapreneur et visionnaire, nous aimerions vous connaître.

Vous trouverez ici le lieu idéal pour laisser votre marque. Et cela commence avec ClearD.

We are clearly your destination to jumpstart your career.

WHO WE ARE

ClearDestination is on a mission to change the way goods are shipped to customers by completely transforming the way manufacturers, retailers and carriers approach delivery logistics. Our rallying cry? Banishing legacy, inefficient, old school technology and reshaping logistics networks with the latest innovations in the operational research, machine learning and AI.

We’re considered the new generation of intelligent, field-driven renegades in a space we’ve actually created. We’re growing like crazy and tackling some of the industry’s biggest challenges and complexities head on. We’ve got a culture focused on smarts, teamwork, high-octane personalities and bucking the same ol’ grind—and our people love it. Our employees highly recommend #TeamClearD to their friends.

Come and find out why.

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR

Are you in?


This job description will not self-destruct in 5 seconds, but we want to hire fast. If you are a risk taker, intrapreneur and out-of-box thinker, we want to hear from you.

There’s a place here to leave your legacy. And it starts with ClearD.

 

Operations Research Developer

Operations Research Developer

Looking to disrupt the delivery industry? You’ve come to the right place. We are looking for : Operations Research Developer

Operations Research Developer

ClearDestination is a game changer in the logistics and delivery industry and we’re looking for a high-octane candidate to take our mission and vision to a whole new level. Are you a operations research developer that is fed up of the same ol’ grind? Are you a ninja when it comes to programming skills? We want to hear from you! 

 

Main role and responsibilities

  • Analyze, design and develop new features
  • Modify, optimize or review existing code
  • Understand the needs of our clients in order to identify key requirements

Required technology skills

  • Metaheuristics
  • Vehicle routing problems (VRPs)
  • C#

Other requirements 

  • Background in IT and operations research  
  • Good understanding of French (spoken and written)  

 

ClearDestination offers an open-space work environment with lots of lighting as well as multiple advantages and benefits. Our offices are located in Château St-Ambroise, near Atwater Market.

 

Think you’ve got what it takes?

Vous cherchez un environnement de travail stimulant dans une équipe jeune et dynamique ? Nous recherchons un Developpeur spécialisé en Recherche Opérationnelle

 

Developpeur spécialisé en Recherche Opérationnelle

Clear Destination fabrique une suite logicielle de planification et de suivi des opérations dans le domaine du transport de biens. Depuis plus de 13 ans, notre équipe assure la création de solutions innovantes, performantes et à la fine pointe de la technologie

Nous sommes à la recherche de développeurs spécialisé en recherche opérationnelle pour enrichir notre équipe.

Être membre de l’équipe Clear Destination c’est :

  • Un cadre de travail stimulant où chacun est amené à gérer plusieurs projets en parallèle
  • Des projets avancés en terme algorithmique, recherche opérationnelle et intelligence artificielle
  • Une ambiance de travail basée sur l’entraide et l’apprentissage constant
  • Pratiquer les dernières technologies du développement 
  • Disposer d’un horaire de travail flexible qui concilie vie personnelle et professionnelle

Tâches/responsabilités (résumé):

  • Analyser, designer et développer de nouvelles fonctionnalités,
  • Modifier, optimiser ou revoir des portions de code existant,
  • Comprendre les besoins des clients pour en extraire les requis.

Compétences technologiques requises :

  • Méta-heuristiques,
  • VRP,
  • C#.

Exigences :

  • Formation en informatique et en recherche opérationnelle,
  • Comprendre et parler le français.

 

Vous vous reconnaissez?

Senior SQL Developer

Senior SQL Developer

Looking to disrupt the delivery industry? You’ve come to the right place. We are looking for : Senior SQL Developer

 

ClearDestination is a game changer in the logistics and delivery industry and we’re looking for a high-octane candidate to take our mission and vision to a whole new level. Are you a senior SQL developer that is fed up of the same ol’ grind? Are you a ninja when it comes to programming skills? We want to hear from you! 

Main role and responsibilities

  • Analyze, design and develop new features for our logistics platform
  • Understand the needs of our clients in order to identify key requirements
  • Create and configure new workflows and programming environments for clients, as needed
  • Carry out database changes prepared by the development team
  • Ensure the SQL management and support of development and pre-production environments
  • Support and manage data in client environments 
  • Act as a reference and contribute in developing the SQL know-how of other team members 

Required technology skills

  • SQL
  • Visual Studio, Microsoft (2012, 2016) Server, Microsoft SQL Server
  • C#

Other requirements

  • Bachelor’s degree in computer engineering or computer programming 
  • Good understanding of French (spoken and written)  

ClearDestination offers an open-space work environment with lots of lighting as well as multiple advantages and benefits. Our offices are located in Château St-Ambroise, near Atwater Market.

Think you’ve got what it takes?

Vous cherchez un environnement de travail stimulant dans une équipe jeune et dynamique ? Nous recherchons un developpeur SQL Sénior

Developpeur SQL Sénior

Vous avez le sens de l’initiative et vous êtes avide de connaissances dans les dernières technologies ?

Clear Destination fabrique une suite logicielle de planification et de suivi des opérations dans le domaine du transport de biens. Depuis plus de 13 ans, notre équipe assure la création de solutions innovantes, performantes et à la fine pointe de la technologie

Nous sommes à la recherche de développeurs SQL Sénior pour enrichir notre équipe.

Être membre de l’équipe Clear Destination c’est :

  • Un cadre de travail stimulant où chacun est amené à gérer plusieurs projets en parallèle
  • Des projets avancés en terme algorithmique, recherche opérationnelle et intelligence artificielle
  • Une ambiance de travail basée sur l’entraide et l’apprentissage constant
  • Pratiquer les dernières technologies du développement SQL
  • Disposer d’un horaire de travail flexible qui concilie vie personnelle et professionnelle

 

Tâches/responsabilités (résumé):

  • Analyser, designer et développer de nouvelles fonctionnalités,
  • Comprendre les besoins des clients pour en extraire les requis,
  • Créer et configurer de nouveaux environnements client au besoin,
  • Effectuer les mises-en production des changements aux BDs préparés par l’équipe de développement,
  • Assurer le support et gestions des environnement de DEV et PRE-PROD au niveau SQL,
  • Supporter et assurer la gestion des données dans les divers environnements clients,
  • Agir à titre de référence et contribuer au développement des compétences des membres de l’équipe au niveau SQL.

Compétences technologiques requises :

  • SQL,
  • Visual Studio, Serveurs Microsoft (2012, 2016), Microsoft SQL Serveur,
  • C#

Exigences :

  • Bac en génie logiciel ou en informatique,
  • Comprendre et parler le français.

 

 

 

Vous vous reconnaissez?

How to build a sustainable e-commerce delivery strategy | Ebook

How to build a sustainable e-commerce delivery strategy | Ebook

 

How to build a sustainable e-commerce delivery strategy?

Start by mapping out your current e-commerce delivery experience and delivery options. Pinpoint the pain points your customers are enduring as well as problems in your logistics operations that are causing an uptake in errors, costs, workload and inefficiency.

Next, look at what your competitors are doing and gain inspiration from leaders in other e-commerce sectors. While you may not be able to deploy a full-scale delivery experience that competes with Amazon, for example, on Day 1, this research will help you map out your short-, mid- and long-term vision and milestones.

Determine what type of stellar delivery experience you want to create. Think of the different ways you can delight customers and eliminate delivery headaches, such as:

● Offer a tool that can easily be integrated into your e-commerce website and points of sale for customers to access a calendar with delivery options, dates and windows

● Set up automated and dynamic scheduling: as customers add items to the shopping carts, they can view changes to delivery options, dates and windows

● Offer loyal customers or orders with high-ticket items premium delivery time slots

● Think green: provide delivery options for customers who are environmentally conscious (delivery by electric vehicle, last-mile providers that pick up packaging for recycling or old appliances to be disposed of appropriately based on functioning, etc.)

● Give customers delivery dates that take into account transit specifics and based on where goods are located (at a manufacturer, in a foreign distribution warehouse, etc.

● Provide delivery flexible options for customers. Offer them home deliveries or deliveries to a retail store, warehouse or third-party pick-up point. Let them select the delivery speed (same day, next day, 2-3 days, 5 days, 10 days, etc.)

● Speed is important in e-commerce deliveries, but above all, you need to develop the capacity to consolidate shipments and collaborate between first to mid to last mile partners in order to optimize delivery workflows and reduce costs

● Give customers real-time visibility into their deliveries via easy-to-use web, desktop, table and smartphone applications

● Provide communications with customers via text messaging, emails or automated calls

● Embed reverse logistics within your delivery workflow and operations.

● Think about leveraging the power of commercially available solutions that feature algorithms that can better manage inventory based on selected delivery options, inventory location and distribution points

Once you’ve gotten a clear picture of your delivery experience and needs, start exploring new technologies. Many readily available e-commerce solutions on the market today can enable you to do much more than just build an e-commerce story. ClearDestination, for example, an innovative, cloud-based end-to-end delivery management solution, offers highly sophisticated features to help manufacturers and retailers improve their delivery experience and operate more efficiently—with minimal resources or technology savviness.

This ebook, The delivery experience: The next frontier in e-commerce success and profitability, provides great insight into the ever-changing e-commerce landscape. Download this ebook to uncover what the delivery experience actually entails and best practices into delivering this experience to your unique clientele.

Java Software Developer – 6 positions available

Java Software Developer – 6 positions available

Looking to disrupt the delivery industry? You’ve come to the right place. We are looking for SIX Java Software Developer

Looking for a stimulating work environment in a young and dynamic team?
You have the sense of initiative and want to build software using the latest technologies?

Clear Destination manufactures Transportation Software for planning and monitoring operations. For more than 13 years, our team has been creating innovative, high-performance, state-of-the-art solutions

We are looking for developers to complement our team.

Being a member of the Clear Destination team means:

  • A stimulating work environment where everyone participates in different projects
  • Advanced algorithmic, operational research and artificial intelligence projects
  • A working environment based on mutual support and constant learning
  • Practice the latest Java development technologies
  • Have a flexible work schedule that reconciles personal and professional life

As a member of the team, you will be responsible for creating end-to-end innovative solutions. You will be required to work on all stages of a project from design to customer support whether front-end or back-end

Our benefits are very competitive and flexible.

Requirements:

  • Computer Studies,
  • 2 years of experience,
  • Understand and speak French.

Technological requirements:

  • Java 8+
  • Hibernate
  • SQL92: Ex: MySQL, Postgres, etc.
  • HTML5 / Javascript / CSS
  • Git

Technological advantages:

  • JSF 2.2+
  • JavaEE 6+
  • Jboss 4+ / Wildfly 10+
  • JQuery / Bootstrap
  • UML
  • Jenkins

Think you’ve got what it takes?

Vous cherchez un environnement de travail stimulant dans une équipe jeune et dynamique ?

Vous avez le sens de l’initiative et vous êtes avide de connaissances dans les dernières technologies ?

Clear Destination fabrique une suite logicielle de planification et de suivi des opérations dans le domaine du transport de biens. Depuis plus de 13 ans, notre équipe assure la création de solutions innovantes, performantes et à la fine pointe de la technologie

Nous sommes à la recherche de développeurs pour enrichir notre équipe.

Être membre de l’équipe Clear Destination c’est :

  • Un cadre de travail stimulant où chacun est amené à gérer plusieurs projets en parallèle
  • Des projets avancés en terme algorithmique, recherche opérationnelle et intelligence artificielle
  • Une ambiance de travail basée sur l’entraide et l’apprentissage constant
  • Pratiquer les dernières technologies du développement Java
  • Disposer d’un horaire de travail flexible qui concilie vie personnelle et professionnelle

En temps que membre de l’équipe, vous serez responsable de la création de bout en bout de solutions innovantes. Vous serez appelé à travailler sur toutes les étapes d’un projet de la conception au support client que cela soit en front-end ou en back-end.

Nos avantages sociaux sont très compétitifs et flexibles.

Exigences :

  • Études en informatique,
  • 2 ans d’expérience,
  • Comprendre et parler le français.

Requis technologiques:

  • Java 8+
  • Hibernate
  • SQL92: Ex: MySQL, Postgres, etc.
  • HTML5 / Javascript / CSS
  • Git

Atouts technologiques:

  • JSF 2.2+
  • JavaEE 6+
  • Jboss 4+ / Wildfly 10+
  • JQuery / Bootstrap
  • UML
  • Jenkins

 

Vous vous reconnaissez?

What do customers really want out of their e-commerce delivery experience?

What do customers really want out of their e-commerce delivery experience?

 

What do customers really want out of their e-commerce delivery experience?

Next-generation e-commerce consumers have varying e-commerce delivery needs.

Next-generation e-commerce consumers have varying e-commerce delivery needs depending upon their age, socio-demographics, culture, income, lifestyles, e-commerce purchasing history and experience, the type of product they are buying, and the perceived level of immediacy (“I need it now!”).

Let’s take a look at some of the most prevalent consumer needs with respect to e-commerce deliveries, apart from the aforementioned free deliveries. 

Speed of delivery: Not surprisingly, consumers want their e-commerce purchases—and they want them STAT. According to a 2018 UPS report, entitled UPS Pulse of the Online Shopper Study, 45% of US and 39% of Canadian consumers expect that orders placed between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. are eligible for express or next-day delivery.

 

RetailWire even found that, during a comprehensive consumer poll, the maximum number of days customers are willing to wait for an item to be delivered in exchange for free shipping decreased from 5.5 days in 2012 to 4.1 in 2018. This finding has most likely been exacerbated by the unmatched performance of Amazon Prime, which has raised the bar significantly on fast delivery. Flexibility and convenience: While free shipping may seem to be the holy grail of an e-commerce delivery experience strategy, it is important to remember that many consumers nevertheless want flexible shipping options. RetailTouchpoints indicates that 88% of customers are willing to pay for same-day delivery.

Still others are not looking for free delivery per se; rather, they want a variety of options to choose from, regardless of their location or type of product. In UPS’ study, 2 out of 3 consumers have used “buy online, pick-up in store” programs to avoid shipping fees and maximize speed. In a nutshell, tailor deliveries to customers’ preferences and lifestyle— not the other way around.

Another important factor? Letting customers choose their delivery date and time windows.

End-to-end visibility: Nothing frustrates consumers more than a lack of information—and real-time visibility—into where their order is actually landed in the logistics chain. If expectations haven’t been set clearly from the start as to timelines or if delivery dates are not respected, customer dissatisfaction is likely to occur. This can cause a snowball effect in terms of repeated customer service calls, cancelled orders, and competitors waiting for these jaded consumers with open arms. With today’s technologies, there is simply no excuse for e-commerce businesses not to offer customers end-to-end visibility into their shipments. However, due to the complexities of logistics networks, which are often comprised of multiple first-, mid- and last-mile partners with discrepant backend solutions and siloed workflows, achieving seamless logistics collaboration can be difficult at best.

Transparency: Visibility also means not just talking the talk—but walking the walk. In a RetailerTouchpoints poll, transparency is a major sell point for hard-earned consumers. Did you know that 63% of online shoppers indicate that knowing the estimated or guaranteed delivery date is important? On top of end-to-end visibility, customers also prefer that manufacturers and retailers remain upfront with any delivery issues; in other words, if a delivery is set to be late, let customers know as soon as possible. In an era of e-commerce, the element of negative surprise and a lack of proactivity is far from ideal.

Accuracy: First-time-right deliveries may appear to be no-brainers for impatient online shoppers, but that does not mean that manufacturers, retailers or their carrier partners are immune to errors in terms of inaccurate orders, which may mean missing items, surpluses or altogether unwanted products that somehow found their way into a customer’s shipment. Inaccurate deliveries are a hassle for customers, particularly in the case of product returns, and a profit-gouging problem for manufacturers and retailers, which have to manage the reverse logistics.

 

This ebook, The delivery experience: The next frontier in e-commerce success and profitability, provides great insight into the ever-changing e-commerce landscape. Download this ebook to uncover what the delivery experience actually entails and best practices into delivering this experience to your unique clientele.

Effects of e-commerce on the delivery operations

Effects of e-commerce on the delivery operations

 

What are the ripple effects of e-commerce on the delivery operations of manufacturers and retailers?

It is becoming increasingly difficult for manufacturers and retailers to stand out from the foray with good products at the perfect price points. Today’s discerning customers have more choice than ever before. That is a given. Apart from brand recognition, product and price, the real battle is currently being waged on the customer experience front. Nowadays, it seems like everyone in retail and marketing are talking about the customer experience—how to attract and delight consumers through each stage of the buyers’ journey, whether offline or online.

Yet, while experts say that a 360-degree customer experience strategy is the key to increasing sales and remaining viable, many companies do not actually come full circle. The reason?

The delivery experience.

The delivery experience is the missing link to achieving a truly complete and successful e-commerce strategy. And unfortunately, delivery seems to be the last bastion of outdated tactics and lackluster performance. In a recent report by BigCommerce: “there is very little merchant recognition on delivery’s impacts on sales.”

The numbers don’t lie. BigCommerce’s study show that 77% of respondents have abandoned a purchase due to unsatisfactory shipping options, high costs or unacceptable lead times. Another compelling statistic? The National Retail Federation found that more 75% of online shoppers expect delivery to be free.

Many consumers now consider shipping costs even before getting to the checkout page, with 65 percent saying they look up free-shipping thresholds before adding items to their online shopping carts. Consumers also want their products fast, with 39 percent expecting two-day shipping to be free, and 29 percent have backed out of a purchase because two-day shipping wasn’t free. – National Retail Federation

The aforementioned statistics do not even include returns—a major headache for manufacturers and retailers. While consumers expect free returns as well, the sheer logistical nightmare and costs associated with reverse logistics are a major pain point with manufacturers and retailers. BigCommerce points to another 58% of consumers who have actually stopped shopping with specific manufacturers and retailers as a result of a negative delivery experience, with incorrect addresses, damaged/shorted/lost orders, wrong products, delays and perceived unprofessional behaviour on the part of carriers being the usual suspects. These bad delivery experiences can wreak havoc on a retailer’s customer loyalty, top and bottom lines, and long-term reputation.

This ebook, The delivery experience: The next frontier in e-commerce success and profitability, provides great insight into the ever-changing e-commerce landscape. Download this ebook to uncover what the delivery experience actually entails and best practices into delivering this experience to your unique clientele.

Top 10 e-commerce delivery best practices | Ebook

Top 10 e-commerce delivery best practices | Ebook

 

Top 10 e-commerce delivery best practices

 

In order to elevate the e-commerce delivery experience, forward-thinking manufacturers must keep in mind these top 10 e-commerce delivery best practices:

● Provide clear information about shipping rates, delivery estimates by region, your shipping and returns policy.

● Shipping rates should be upfront and accessible to all website visitors. In other words, don’t make website visitors log into a specific section or purchase an item to get shipping rates.

● Feature shipping information on every specific product page.

● Provide a quick link to your shipping page via customers’ shopping carts.

● Make money off of your products—not shipping.

● Offer free shipping to an easily attainable level above your average order value.

● Speed is crucial in the e-commerce game: make next-business-day shipments the norm. Ship express orders the same day as they are received.

● Provide tracking numbers to customers to offload support staff and minimize emails and calls.

● Address inaccurate, delayed and lost shipments promptly. Show customers you have a handle on the situation and make remedying the problem seamless for them.

● Remain innovative and constantly look for new ways to improve the e-commerce delivery experience.

This ebook, The delivery experience: The next frontier in e-commerce success and profitability, provides great insight into the ever-changing e-commerce landscape. Download this ebook to uncover what the delivery experience actually entails and best practices into delivering this experience to your unique clientele.

E-commerce’s ever-tightening grip on retail | Statistics

E-commerce’s ever-tightening grip on retail | Statistics

 

E-commerce’s ever-tightening grip on retail

Today’s retail landscape is undergoing a massive transformation, with businesses being forced to respond to ever-changing consumer preferences and behaviour, technological innovation, aggressive moves from online competitors, and disruptive upstarts. e-commerce, in particular, mirrors the changes and challenges the retail industry is experiencing. According to Internet Retailer’s estimates, in 2018, e-commerce’s total share of retail sales was over 15%, representing nearly $3 trillion. eMarketer predicts that global e-commerce sales worldwide will jump to nearly $4.9 trillion by 2021 and account for 17.5% of total global retail sales.

Now while online sales still only make up a fraction of all retail sales, the industry, as a whole, needs nevertheless to adapt to this undeniable new reality. But what does the meteoric rise of e-commerce mean for the retail industry?

For one, brick-and-mortar shops can no longer afford not to have a rock-solid e-commerce strategy, or they may face extinction. Today’s tech-savvy, mobile-first consumers live in an omni-channel world in which they demand to be able to shop when, where and through what means they prefer. Frighteningly, many companies have not been agile enough on the e-commerce front; online competition and the subsequent decline of shopping malls has caused thousands of store closings over the past few years.

As the lines blur between physical and digital shopping, an increasing number of consumers now use multiple channels during their shopping journey. From social and marketplace shopping to voice searches and purchases, to sales-driven chatbots to product subscription services, there are a myriad of new channels that are generating not only new touch points but also expanding e-commerce’s sales reach.

Offline and online brands are also confronted with the Amazonification of shopping, which have left brands faced with the difficult decision of partnering with the behemoth to sell their products and leveraging its incredible logistics operations—or remain independent to keep control over their very brands and customers. But it doesn’t stop there. Many retail industry pundits see a global war brewing between Amazon, Walmart and Alibaba for the global e-commerce market; product selection, pricing, customer experience and service, and delivery will all be the weapons these juggernauts will use to secure dominance, whether in specific regions or around the world.

Finally, thanks to the democratization of the Internet and an upsweep in Internet users from around the world, e-commerce is becoming even more globalized than ever before. First, developing countries are becoming gateways for Western manufacturers and retailers to access huge markets that were previously untapped.

Secondly, more and more online shoppers are transcending borders to get the products they crave; according to Nielsen, 57% of online shoppers made an online purchase from an overseas retailer in the past six months alone.

Overseas online purchasing rates vary greatly around the world Percentage of online shoppers who said they have purchased overseas retailer in the past six months.

This ebook, The delivery experience: The next frontier in e-commerce success and profitability, provides great insight into the ever-changing e-commerce landscape. Download this ebook to uncover what the delivery experience actually entails and best practices into delivering this experience to your unique clientele.