The State Of Retail Logistics: Strengthening Cross-Channel Supply Chain Execution

By Bob Heaney, Sahir Anand

This study of over 128 enterprises indicates that cross- channel logistics is increasing in depth and importance as retailers are expanding the scope and strength of their extended supply chains. Aberdeen's September, 2009 report, The 21st Century Supply chain: Three key Imperatives for Retailers denoted that leading retailers are three times more likely than all other companies to focus on cross- channel logistics (in-bound and out-bound) needs by coordinating multi-warehouse, multi-site, and multi-tier product flow across all channels. As much as possible these retailer address the imperatives for effective logistics through timely response to customer demand, visible operations, and elevated levels of collaboration across all channels. The goal for leading retailers and suppliers is to work cohesively to ensure that products reach the right place at the right time.