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.
  • INDUSTRY PRESS ROOM
  • SUBMISSIONS
  • MEDIA FILE
  • Create Account
  • Sign In
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Free Newsletters
  • MAGAZINE
    • Current Issue
    • Archives
    • Digital Edition
    • Subscribe
    • Newsletters
  • STRATEGY
  • GLOBAL
  • LOGISTICS
  • MANUFACTURING
  • PROCUREMENT
  • VIDEO
    • News & Exclusives
    • Viewer Contributed
    • CSCMP EDGE 2022 Startup Alley
    • Upload your video
  • PODCAST ETC
    • Podcast
    • White Papers
    • Webcasts
    • Events
    • Blogs
      • Reflections
      • SCQ Forum
    • Mobile Apps
  • MAGAZINE
    • Current Issue
    • Archives
    • Digital Edition
    • Subscribe
    • Newsletters
  • STRATEGY
  • GLOBAL
  • LOGISTICS
  • MANUFACTURING
  • PROCUREMENT
  • VIDEO
    • News & Exclusives
    • Viewer Contributed
    • CSCMP EDGE 2022 Startup Alley
    • Upload your video
  • PODCAST ETC
    • Podcast
    • White Papers
    • Webcasts
    • Events
    • Blogs
      • Reflections
      • SCQ Forum
    • Mobile Apps
Home » Retailers hope to handle peak season surge through more diverse fulfillment channels

Retailers hope to handle peak season surge through more diverse fulfillment channels

Radial survey shows that consumers are open to continuing pandemic habits like curbside and in-store pickup for online orders.

dropshipping-3264486_1280.jpeg
September 8, 2022
Supply Chain Quarterly Staff
No Comments

With the winter peak season just around the corner and forecasters struggling to predict consumers’ quirky, post-pandemic shopping habits, American brands and retailers are hoping to fulfill orders through increasingly flexible omnichannel patterns, according to the third party logistics provider (3PL) Radial.

Weary retailers have already spent two years trying to stay afloat strained pandemic and supply chain woes, yet they now face another uphill battle this holiday season, Radial said. Consumer spending has become more selective, even as shoppers continue their demands for more speedy delivery timeframes.

In response, retailers will seek to match the burst of holiday demand through blended fulfillment channels, King of Prussia, Pennsylvania-based Radial said. The conclusion comes from a consumer study which surveyed 1,000 adults across the U.S. to gather insights around their plans and expectations for the 2022 peak season.

“The retail sector has undergone significant unpredictability and digital acceleration over the last two years. Supply chain disruptions and evolving consumer behaviors have shifted a formularized market, into a dynamic one. The impact of inflation introduces a new variable for brands to plan and strategize around this year,” Laura Ritchey, Chief Operating Officer and EVP at Radial, said in a release. “To ensure peak operations run smoothly, it is essential that brands focus on inventory management and measure against consumer demand. The need for sound omnichannel offerings will ensure customers get a great experience regardless of the channel from which their order is fulfilled.”

Survey results showed that nearly half (46%) of consumers said they will shop the same amount in-store this year compared to 2021, but 58% said they would increase their use of online purchases, an 8% rise from last year’s survey.

At the same time, new fulfillment options that became popular during the pandemic are sticking around. One in three consumers anticipates increasing their buy online pick-up in-store (BOPIS) usage, and 30% say they expect increasing buy online pick-up at curbside (BOPAC) when shopping this holiday season.

Regardless of channel, the total revenue generated will likely follow similar consumer demand as previous years, despite challenges like rising inflation, varying gas prices, and troubled stock markets. Respondents said that 38% will modify the volume of gifts they purchase, but that trend was counter-balanced by the 40% who still plan to buy the same amount of gifts as last year.

Other results showed that shoppers expect fast package delivery now more than ever, with one in three (33%) consumers saying that the most reasonable timeline for when they expect holiday gifts ordered online to be delivered is two-to-three days. That number is up from 23% in 2021 and 14% in 2020 research.

Despite those soaring expectations, consumers in the survey still found room to complain about their top frustrations from last year’s holiday shopping spree. The top challenges listed were:

• 66% of consumers experienced items being out of stock

• 40% said they did not receive items on time

• 39% of respondents noted that items were not available via the preferred channel they wanted to purchase them (i.e., not available in-store, online, or through another pick-up method)

 

 

E-Commerce
KEYWORDS Radial
    • Related Articles

      DHL eCommerce Solutions to triple peak season hiring surge

      New PFSweb Research Reveals What Retailers Learned from 2020’s Peak Season

    Recent Articles by Supply Chain Quarterly Staff

    Cargo theft and fraud rose 41% in the first 20 weeks of 2023 over last year, CargoNet warns

    Gartner: Top supply chains of ’23 balance risk control, new growth channels

    OSHA, industrial safety experts to headline National Forklift Safety Day 2023

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

    Report Abusive Comment

    Most Popular Articles

    • Report: Sagging freight stats show that trucking sector is returning to its historic mean

    • Survey: parcel delivery drivers are frustrated by using their own smartphones for work

    • Heavy transport across two continents

    • Survey: most Americans unaware that truckers face shortage of parking spaces

    • Supply chain executives not yet seeing expected results from technology investments

    Featured Video

    20221107korber large vs

    Enhancing Customer Experience with Your Supply Chain Strategy

    Viewer Contributed
    With the rise of e-commerce, many businesses have had to transform their warehouses to handle online orders in addition to regularly scheduled inventory shipments. This means warehouses need more information than ever before to ensure they can meet customers' needs. As a result, companies need to select warehouse...

    FEATURED WHITE PAPERS

    • Three layers of forklift safety: Promoting operating best practices

    • The Complete Guide to Automated Packaging

    • Five tips for parcel success in 2023

    • Guide to Pallet Rack Safety

    View More

    Subscribe to Supply Chain Quarterly

    Get Your Subscription
    • SUBSCRIBE
    • E-NEWSLETTERS
    • ADVERTISING
    • CUSTOMER CARE
    • CONTACT
    • ABOUT
    • STAFF
    • PRIVACY POLICY

    Copyright ©2023. All Rights ReservedDesign, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing