Retail Omnichannel Needs Better Forecasting & Planning

This column discusses the challenges brick-and-mortar retailers have been having when competing against the likes of Amazon.com and other e-tailers. The retailers are developing omnichannel supply chains that can support online order fulfi llment, while trying to limit the disruption this might cause to their existing fi ne-tuned store-based operations. Part of the change they will need to make involves their forecasting and planning processes, which work well for shelf sales, but not necessarily for online order fulfi llment. Use of omnichannel chains involves more complex deployment of inventories to satisfy consumer demand.