No ecommerce without logistics. Because whenever a consumer orders something online, that product has to be shipped from one place (a warehouse or fulfilment centre) to another (the consumer’s house, a pick-up point, et cetera). So logistics play a very important role in the whole ecommerce process. In order to achieve success in the online retail industry, one has to have a very solid logistics plan in place.
Zalando has successfully launched Zalando Fulfillment Solutions, which gives fashion brands access to the company’s logistics infrastructure and know-how. Zalando can take over the order fulfillment for partners, from inbound to return. Continue reading
Zalando is ready to conquer the Nordic region. The online fashion platform successfully completed its location search and will open its first Nordic fulfillment center in Sweden later this year. The fulfillment center will be built in Brunna, near Stockholm, and is meant to meet the demand of its customers in Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Norway. Continue reading
Parcel service provider GLS has further expanded its international FlexDeliveryService. By adding new countries, FlexDeliveryService is now available in twelve connected countries in Central and Eastern Europe. With the service, online shippers will be informed of scheduled deliveries and can decide when and where they want to take delivery of the parcels. Continue reading
The Swiss company TeleRetail has developed a delivery robot that is designed to cover long distances up to about 80 kilometers. The robot, which is still a prototype, could be used for suburban and rural deliveries. Continue reading
Magento Commerce has launched its own multicarrier solution, called Magento Shipping, which automates shipping and fulfillment for online retailers and brands. With the solution, Magento users get access to regional and international carriers to automate their fulfillment. Continue reading
European logistics service provider Hermes has announced a new international shipping solution, aimed at UK-based sole traders and small and medium-sized enterprises. Online retailers with a Hermes Business Account can now send their products to cross-border shoppers in 23 European countries. Continue reading
AliExpress, the business-to-consumer ecommerce marketplace of Alibaba, has selected Dutch postal service PostNL as the delivery partner for the majority of its packages to the Netherlands. Sellers on AliExpress will get direct access to PostNL’s distribution network, while Dutch consumer no longer have to wait for weeks to get their package. Continue reading
Although 52 percent of consumers in the United Kingdom see next-day-delivery as their most preferred delivery method, still a fifth of UK retailers are failing to offer their customers next-day delivery. On the other hand, 65 percent of retailers offer click & collect, even when only 18 percent of consumers consider this their preferred delivery method. Continue reading
Amazon is seeking a total of 1,300 warehouse units across Europe. The American retail giant is looking for small distribution facilities near major cities, so they can function as last-mile centers that receive and store shipments prior to their final deliveries to customers nearby. Continue reading
Otto, the major German ecommerce company, is using artificial intelligence, with an algorithm originally designed for experiments at the CERN laboratory, to improve its online activities. Thanks to the technology, Otto has managed to drastically decline its returns. Continue reading