We use cookies to provide you with a better experience. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies in accordance with our Cookie Policy.
  • ::COVID-19 COVERAGE::
  • INDUSTRY PRESS ROOM
  • ABOUT
  • CONTACT
  • MEDIA FILE
  • Create Account
  • Sign In
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Free Newsletters
  • MAGAZINE
    • Current Issue
    • Archives
    • Digital Edition
    • Subscribe
    • Newsletters
    • Mobile Apps
  • TRANSPORTATION
  • MATERIAL HANDLING
  • TECHNOLOGY
  • LIFT TRUCKS
  • PODCAST ETC
    • Podcast
    • Webcasts
    • Blogs
      • Analytics & Big Data
      • Best Practices
      • Change Me
      • Empowering Your Performance Edge
      • Logistics Problem Solving
      • One-Off Sound Off
      • Public Sector Logistics
      • Two Sides of the Logistics Coin
      • Submit your blog post
    • Events
    • White Papers
    • Industry Press Room
      • Upload Your News
    • New Products
      • Upload Your Product News
    • Conference Guides
    • Conference Reports
    • Newsletters
    • Mobile Apps
  • DCV-TV
    • DCV-TV 1: News
    • DCV-TV 2: Case Studies
    • DCV-TV 3: Webcasts
    • DCV-TV 4: Viewer Contributed
    • DCV-TV 5: Solution Profiles
    • MODEX 2020
    • Upload Your Video
  • MAGAZINE
    • Current Issue
    • Archives
    • Digital Edition
    • Subscribe
    • Newsletters
    • Mobile Apps
  • TRANSPORTATION
  • MATERIAL HANDLING
  • TECHNOLOGY
  • LIFT TRUCKS
  • PODCAST ETC
    • Podcast
    • Webcasts
    • Blogs
      • Analytics & Big Data
      • Best Practices
      • Change Me
      • Empowering Your Performance Edge
      • Logistics Problem Solving
      • One-Off Sound Off
      • Public Sector Logistics
      • Two Sides of the Logistics Coin
      • Submit your blog post
    • Events
    • White Papers
    • Industry Press Room
      • Upload Your News
    • New Products
      • Upload Your Product News
    • Conference Guides
    • Conference Reports
    • Newsletters
    • Mobile Apps
  • DCV-TV
    • DCV-TV 1: News
    • DCV-TV 2: Case Studies
    • DCV-TV 3: Webcasts
    • DCV-TV 4: Viewer Contributed
    • DCV-TV 5: Solution Profiles
    • MODEX 2020
    • Upload Your Video
Home » Retailers prioritize alternative fulfillment methods

Retailers prioritize alternative fulfillment methods

Alternative pickup locations, BOPIS top list of ways organizations expect to meet customers’ fulfillment demands over the next six to 12 months, tech vendor survey shows.

Retailers seek alternative fulfillment channels, survey shows
February 1, 2021
DC Velocity Staff
No Comments

Following a year of accelerated e-commerce activity, retailers continue to prioritize alternative fulfillment channels, including curbside and in-store pickup, as they deal with shifting consumer demands driven by the coronavirus pandemic, according to a recent technology vendor survey.

Cloud-based fulfillment and delivery platform Bringg released its 2021 Bringg Barometer: State of Retail Delivery & Fulfillment report in late January, highlighting strengths and weaknesses in retailers’ online fulfillment capacity and variety of fulfillment services, along with their top fulfillment priorities for 2021. Bringg surveyed 1,000 U.S. retailers and brands for the report.

“COVID-19 put an enormous amount of pressure on e-commerce, leaving retailers in a rush to implement fulfillment capabilities that met changing consumer behaviors and demands,” according to a statement from Guy Bloch, CEO of Bringg. “As we look at 2021 and beyond, especially as e-commerce is expected to account for 19.2% of all retail sales by 2024, retailers that prioritize delivery and fulfillment operations will see greater operational efficiencies and provide premium customer experiences.”

Bringg found that since the beginning of the pandemic retailers have invested in new fulfillment channels, including curbside pickup (51%), buy online pick-up in store (BOPIS) (33%), alternative pick-up locations (28%), and same-day delivery (27%). And although such channels proved effective throughout the pandemic and through the holiday season, they said retailers report that they need to continually adjust their strategies and invest in new capabilities. The survey revealed that retailers are prioritizing adding alternative pickup locations (30%) and BOPIS (24%) in the next six to 12 months, for example. 

Other survey findings drilled down to specific delivery problems:

  • The biggest pain points when it comes to scaling delivery are working with multiple fleets (36%), scheduling delivery times with customers (30%), and a lack of real-time visibility once the order is out for delivery (20%). 

  • Lack of visibility (39%) and lack of brand control (31%) are the biggest pain points when it comes to working with external fleets for delivery, followed by cost (29%). 

  • When it comes to pain points associated with delivering on time, retailers reported the number of drivers available (29%), dispatch and routing issues (20%), and travel distance between warehouse, retail location, and delivery point (19%).

The survey results also showed that less than half of retailers work with a technology vendor to streamline operations, Bringg said.

“In order to be successful at scale, it is important for retailers to understand that the complexities of creating efficient operations are always much larger than anticipated,” Bloch also said. “There are many lessons coming out of 2020 for the retail industry, including the critical advantages that external support provides when it comes to optimizing fulfillment operations. If these channels are to remain in place as a long-term answer to e-commerce fulfillment, retailers must consider a partner that specializes in digitizing, connecting, and orchestrating between systems and stakeholders.”

Omnichannel
KEYWORDS Bringg
  • Related Articles

    How are retailers meeting omnichannel demands in a Covid world?

    Survey reveals there’s plenty of room for improvement in e-commerce fulfillment

    Thriving in the long haul: interview with Colin Yankee

  • Related Events

    Project:Future / Retail & Fashion - Right-sizing Fulfillment

Recent Articles by DC Velocity Staff

Report: Supply chains prepared to meet demand growth

Private equity firm combines Peak-Ryzex and Optical Phusion in double acquisition

Nuvocargo raises $12 million in funding round

You must login or register in order to post a comment.

Report Abusive Comment

Most Popular Articles

  • A look into the future of robotics

  • Exotec Skypod System Adopted by Gap Inc. to Optimize Returns Process

  • Roadrunner Freight bolsters LTL capabilities with $50 million in new backing

  • A primer on warehouse robots

  • Truck driver availability tightens to three-year low, ACT says

Now Playing on DCV-TV

B56eecf1 4687 42a4 865e c3f3223925f7

How serious are you about controlling your freight costs?

DCV-TV 4: Viewer Contributed
If you’ve been feeling like your freight budget is under attack, you’re in good company! Whether you’re looking at the ocean, parcel, LTL, truckload, or air markets, capacity is tight and prices are soaring. RELATED RESOURCES: Rapid Assessment: https://info.tranzact.com/rapid-assessment-process Visit our website...

FEATURED WHITE PAPERS

  • Special Report: Supply Chain Trends in Retail & Consumer Goods

  • Fortify Your Operational Resilience

  • Cold Storage Automation: Leveraging Advanced Technologies to Meet Increasing Demand

  • The modern warehouse: Maximizing productivity and capacity

View More

Subscribe to DC Velocity Magazine

GET YOUR FREE SUBSCRIPTION
  • SUBSCRIBE
  • NEWSLETTERS
  • ADVERTISING
  • CUSTOMER CARE
  • CONTACT
  • ABOUT
  • STAFF
  • PRIVACY POLICY

Copyright ©2021. All Rights ReservedDesign, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing