Retailers with IT and Omni-channel Handling are Winning
By Alex Batty, MHI Marketing Communications Coordinator |@mhi_alex
As places where busy shoppers could get it all at once, Sears and Kmart used to be major players in the retail industry. However, recent announcements for waves of store closings have made it clear that they are struggling in the face of an Amazon-driven world.
Even with memorable marketing bits like Kmart’s ‘Ship My Pants’ commercial, Sears (who owns Kmart) can’t compete with companies like Amazon and Walmart who are moving toward or creating omni-channel processes and IT solutions.
Walmart continues to survive by being a low cost leader and shifting to delivering omni-channel services. With store pickup for online orders, Walmart straddles the line of old and new to bring customers exactly what they want in a demand driven shopping experience.
It’s not just physically moving a product anymore. Before that even happens, there are two or three information exchanges that need to be managed well in order for companies to become industry leaders. In this day and age, that’s done in the cloud. However, Dr. Randy Bradley, Assistant Professor of Information Systems and Supply Chain Management at The University of Tennessee, says that
“The cloud isn’t something you just shift everything over the wall and say now we’re in the cloud. Your infrastructure has to be designed and orchestrated, or architected if you will, to take advantage of the cloud.”
Companies have to determine which process to run in the cloud – and how to do so with the most value. Repeatable tasks that rarely need user intervention are a good place to start. The process needs no longer be kept in house and can be run ‘off-site’ by an algorithm in the cloud, freeing human capitol to focus on other processes and problems.
To find IT solutions for your company, visit the Center for Information Technology (IT) Solutions at ProMat 2017, held April 3-6 at Chicago’s McCormick Place. ProMat 2017 will include over 850 exhibits from leading solution providers covering 350,000 square feet and two show floors. ProMat exhibits will represent all segments of the material handling and logistics industry, from traditional, manual equipment to computerized, automated systems and software. Visit ProMatShow.com today to learn more and register.
