Even before the pandemic abruptly upended shopping behaviors, consumers were increasingly expecting their e-commerce orders to be delivered fast. Back in 2014, a McKinsey report identified same-day delivery as the next logical step in the evolution of shipping. And in 2016, a Dotcom Distribution survey put shipping speed as a key factor in repeat Read More
If you own or manage a small or medium-sized business, you know that e-commerce has taken on powerful new dimensions in the last year. Already rapidly growing before the arrival of COVID-19, digital sales, especially when coupled with express delivery to meet immediate demands, have become an essential lifeline for retailers across the country, Read More
Call it the perfect storm of opportunity for retailers around the world. Continuing globalization, a host of new digital shopping apps, and an enduring period of e-commerce growth all point to a record holiday season for online sales, including cross-border transactions. Add to the equation the fact that uncertainties surrounding the pandemic have moved more Read More
Business-to-consumer (B2C) and business-to-business (B2B) e-commerce companies face unique challenges based on their differing tactics for reaching customers and fulfilling orders. Historically, the standard operating procedures for B2B companies entailed complex procurement systems, layers of decision-making, and person-to-person interactions that slowed progress. Whereas, in the B2C digital marketplace, progress evolved more rapidly. But today, Read More
As online sales skyrocket, there is no better time than now to reevaluate your company’s commitment to providing excellent service for your e-commerce customers. This year’s National Customer Service Week (October 5-9, 2020) is the ideal opportunity to reassess your e-commerce strategies, measure your results, and shift your plans into high gear. Why is customer Read More
While the pandemic has created a challenging business environment for small companies -- especially brick-and-mortar operations – some entrepreneurs see it as a silver lining to launch new ventures. In cities across the U.S., for instance, startups are surging. As shutdowns changed consumer shopping behaviors, many entrepreneurs rooted their efforts in the rapid rise of Read More
E-commerce is a powerful tool for your business. It's a great way to reach customers overseas, make products visible to self-directed consumer researchers, even transform a small organization into a global contender. But are you making the most of your e-commerce potential? If your company is counting on third-party digital catalogs for its e-commerce sales, Read More
Your business's ability to reach new audiences and markets - and to deliver high-quality service to those it already serves - depends on the strength and resilience of your supply chain. A flexible supply chain that gives you options is clearly preferable to one that doesn't adapt and is prone to bottlenecks. But what does Read More
Today's shoppers have multiple options when choosing where to buy from. The e-commerce era has made geography less important, which has created an extra challenge for business owners: How can you cultivate a loyal repeat customer base when your audience is freer than ever to shop around?The answer may reside in tactics that can make Read More
The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has created uncertainty across every industry and business worldwide. As many retail brick-and-mortar stores remain closed, shoppers are dependent on e-commerce businesses more than ever, especially in categories such as consumer product goods, grocery and staple items. And this trend is likely to continue. For example, eMarketer released data in December Read More
