Software

Optimizing the supply chain for the best retail experiences

Here are four ways OEMs can add value and help to optimise the supply chain for their customers

May 4, 2020

The way we all shop is changing - and it is likely to have changed forever. From increased demand for click and collect through to the use of self-scanning devices in supermarkets, shoppers will reduce the amount of face-to-face interaction they have with staff and customers in the future. Instead they may prefer to use technology where possible to complete their purchases; it's the digitization of the shopper. Will self-scanners, self-checkout and click and collect be the nev,; norm for the masses? And how vvill the supply chain need to adapt in order to meet these new and shifting requirements? Here are four ways OEMs can add value and help to optimize the supply chain for their customers.

l. Devices to meet demand

We have seen supermarkets struggling to meet demand throughout the coronavirus pandemic. Shopping for essentials such as toilet roll and hand wash has been challenging for most consumers due to stockpiling and the difficulties associated with getting new stock through the supply chain quickly. It's clear that maintaining availability in the supp!y chain and on the shelves has been hard for many grocery retailers; improved inventory visibility and replenishment processes are therefore areas where OEMs could support retailers, with devices that deliver key insights, and a better overview of what's in stock, where.

2. Processes for picking and fulfillment

Retailers also need to build more flexibility into the speed of their on line picking and fulfillment processes to cope with unforeseen spikes or downturns. With almost daily changes in protocol and the need to quickly adapt during the coronavirus pandemic, retailers require the right technologies - such as track and trace - for deep insights to quickly manage changing supply chain demands. Many larger retailers have these processes in place already yet there will still be tweaks and improvements to be made. Other retailers will now also be following suit and seeking new ways to get these processes on board. OEMs are well-placed to advise on technologies to help them get there.

3. Automation support

Many retailers have been investigating and on-boarding automation in distribution centers, micro-fulfillment centers and in-store to speed up processes. Online supermarket Ocado - for example - has been working to introduce automation using a human-like robotic hand on its production line. The hand can pick up delicate grocery products and could be introduced in as little as three years. And JD.com has a warehouse entirely automated apart from four members of staff, with robots that can process orders at a rate of up to 200,000 products a day. The coronavirus crisis is now likely to speed up tech advances such as these in order to make picking products and moving them through the supply chain more efficient and agile to meet surges in demand. Retailers will be seeking experts to advise on the best automation technologies for their circumstances and OEMs could provide content and guidance on how to achieve this.

4. Self-service retail

Now that we have all bought into the idea of social distancing - and we can see the benefits it has in terms of reducing the spread of any viruses or bugs = shoppers are !ess like!y to want to hang around in retail stores in the coming months/years. It's probable that shoppers in brick and mortar stores will instead choose to quickly find what they are looking for when in-store and check out using self-scanning and self-checkout options - in the form of kiosks or click and collect technologies

Frictionless stores such as Amazon Go are also on the rise and we expect this trend to grow - to provide more shoppers with a cashier-free checkout experience, allowing them to pay using a touchless kiosk, or to scan and pay for items using a mobile app. OEMs can work with retailers to provide the bespoke kiosk or frictionless technologies they need, powered with Zebra scan engines inside for rapid time to market.

The world of retail was already fast-paced and continually shifting even before the coronavirus outbreak - with many retailers introducing multiple or omnichannel shopping options for consumers. Now, more than ever, brick and mortar stores must re"examine the agility of their supply chain, from ordering and receiving goods into their warehouses right through to shelf stock visibility to cope with peaks and troughs in demand. They must also delight customers with a choice of technologies to use to shop quickly and safely. This provides a fantastic chance for CEMs to supply both the guidance and devices retailers need * it's a big business opportunity and one that's not to be missed.

For OEM support across sectors, talk to the team at Zebra Technologies about our range of scan engines - and our expertise - helping you get your innovations to market faster and more cost effectively.

Included In This Story

---

Zebra Technologies

Zebra’s scan engines for self-service kiosk solutions give customers seamless quick service technology while providing a long lifecycle they can count on.

Request Info

Learn More