Smart Shipping Strategies for Reducing Cart Abandonment

Lower prices, free shipping and convenience are the main reasons why most customers shop online. That said, high shipping costs or hidden delivery charges often deter online shoppers from purchasing. eCommerce retailers also need to balance their freight and last mile delivery charges so they remain profitable even when sales volumes are mounting

The warehouse of the future - How will it revolutionize efficiency

Hyper-Efficient Warehouses of the Future. The application of the latest tools and technologies will make warehouses hyper-efficient. This infographic explains how.

7 Trends that are Transforming E-commerce in 2018

$400 Billion! That is the estimated amount of revenue that the e-commerce industry is said to have cashed in during 2017. One quarter of 2018 will soon be over and we have a faint idea of how the e-commerce industry will evolve and take new forms in the days and months ahead. As of now, one thing is certain – in 2018, customers are harder to win, tougher to please and even more difficult to retain.

Inventory Accuracy: Why It Matters & How to Achieve It

Customers turn red with anger when their orders are not fulfilled on time. Inside salespeople struggle to push orders down the pipeline when there is no inventory to mark their requisitions against. Production comes to a standstill or at least slows down to snail pace when inventory is not available in sufficient quantities.

On the Horizon – Top Shipping Trends for 2018

The maritime sector is highly responsive to economic, technological, political and demographic changes. Carriers need to know the pulse of the latest trends so that they can set their strategy compasses in the right direction. Here are some shipping trends for 2018 that will set the sails for the whole shipping industry in a new direction

Top ways to improve logistics productivity

Productivity in logistics can be improved by removing outdated systems,taking care of the infrastructure set up,analytics,machinery and systems. This infographic offers suggestions on how to make sure your organization is on the right track in terms of productivity.

5 ways to Optimize Supply Chain Performance

Supply chain management (SCM) is what enables businesses to put products in customer’s hands from the moment they are dispatched from factory floors or warehouses. For an omnichannel business, it is the backbone that helps attain a competitive advantage.

Tips To Maximize Warehouse Space Without Physical Expansion

Warehouses are expensive. Every square inch of space costs money and time to manage. Unfortunately, no business enjoys an abundance of both and, in most cases, a warehouse that is smaller than the capacity required is opted since it helps reduce the total carrying cost of inventory.

Order Fulfillment Strategies to Maximize Peak Season Sales

The good news is that for a typical online store, the peak season sale spanning a month or less can bring in one-fourth of the entire year’s sales. Since 2015, Black Friday and Cyber Monday have remained the most profitable days for retailers. In fact, some retailers like Best Buy consider the holiday season a “favorable competitive environment” which helps them achieve their annual earnings target.

Key Ingredients of a Future Proof Supply Chain

Enterprises that have a future-proof supply chain are able to withstand the storm of the extremely fluid business environment, and the fast-paced nature of technological changes.

5 Tips for Reducing Lost Warehouse Inventory

A well-managed warehouse is a powerhouse for the entire business. But managing a warehouse that holds tons of inventory worth millions of dollars on a daily basis is not a simple task. There are inherent challenges that make the lives of warehouse managers difficult.

How Real-time Inventory Management Enhances Your Omni-Channel Strategy

Over the past decade or so, shopping has evolved from being a “chore” to a “customer experience” that makes frequent turns along the path to completing a purchase. Case in point: 67% of customers begin shopping on one device, but complete their purchase via another device or channel.

The Advantages And Drawbacks Of Logistics Outsourcing

The rise of on-demand delivery has forced modern-day businesses to rethink their traditional logistic operation models. Outsourcing the entire function to a trustworthy 3PL partner has become a viable option since it reduces the complexity of achieving deliveries until the last mile.

Density-Based Pricing:The Next Big Change Coming to the LTL industry

The debate over whether density-based pricing will succeed in toppling the traditional National Motor Freight Classification’s (NMFC) classification based pricing in the LTL (Less Than Truckload) industry is seemingly never-ending.While one section of the carriers still believes in the NMFC, a number of LTL shippers are voting for density-based pricing as the way forward.

Inventory Management and Your Bottom Line

Inventory management is about much more than having sufficient quantity of stock. It is also about ensuring that the right stock reaches the right customer at the right time. For any profit-oriented business, inventory management is a make-or-break factor.

Four Things You Should Know About Climate-Controlled Warehousing

Transporting perishable goods like leafy greens and frozen items or other merchandise with a low tolerance for extreme temperature swings from factories or procurement centers to the end customer can be challenging. Ask anyone in the logistics industry if a climate-controlled warehouse is really necessary and they are sure to come back with an astounding ‘YES!’.

Seven Steps Toward a Sustainable Supply Chain

Businesses are seeking supply chain sustainability owing to its importance in the very survival of the business. Here is an overview of the seven critical steps which will ensure supply chain sustainability.

Improve the Customer Experience using Returns and Reverse Logistics

Reverse Logistics is highly important for a successful organization as it helps them to provide best customer experience. But this entails proper knowledge of the competitive market position, strategies to enhance customer journey and providing the right message to the market place. This infographic gives a clear idea on how to leverage the benefits of Reverse Logistics.

Digitized Trucking Set to Change the Logistics Game

On November 16, 2017, Elon Musk introduced the Tesla Semi to the world. The gazillion-battery-powered truck is said to be capable of hauling 80,000 pounds with a run time of up to 500 miles on a single charge. Also, it will drive itself. When Tesla Semi trucks and other digital transport carriers start traveling the roads, the transport and logistics industry will change forever.

Outstanding Customer Service: A Journey, not a Destination

Gone are the days when customers had to be on hold for an hour listening to the background on-hold music, desperately hoping to get connected with a customer service representative. Social media has brought about a vast improvement in the way customer service is provided and only those brands that provide real time customer service inspire loyalty and word of mouth recommendation from customers.

Five Ways to Streamline Last Mile Logistics

Omni-channel e-commerce has stretched delivery and logistics to their maximum capabilities. Customers have become accustomed to having their packages arrive same day or, worst case, next day. Unlike the past when it was normal for packages to take a couple of days to reach their destination, today’s logistic partners are finding creative ways to achieve maximum delivery in the shortest time spans possible.

The Effect of Weather on Trucking: An Infographic

Weather is a crucial safety concern to trucking as it can cost considerable amounts of time and money. Some interesting facts about weather-related delays and the cost of delays in severe climate changes.

Six Proven Fulfillment Metrics for Higher Customer Satisfaction

On its busiest days, Amazon fulfills millions of orders to customers located in all corners of the globe. Although Amazon's founder, Jeff Bezos, doesn’t meet these customers face-to-face, the company has figured out how to achieve high marks for customer satisfaction through its well-planned order fulfillment techniques.

Tips to Reduce Product Damage During Shipping

Product damage during shipping is a serious business menace. It inflates operations costs, creates irate customers due to delayed deliveries and puts a heavy strain on inventory – not to mention the doubling of shipping costs to replace damaged goods. Here are some professional suggested tips to reduce damage.

Inventory Planning Red Flags: Ignore at Your Own Risk!

Inventory is a pivotal reason why many businesses succeed or fail. Too much or too little has a direct impact on profits and losses. Even global retail giants like Walmart, Nike and Best Buy sometimes encounter inventory problems of massive proportions.

Building Blocks of a Successful Omni-Channel Supply Chain

How to strike the right balance between fulfilling growing customer expectations and following market trends without sacrificing profits.

What do Customer’s Look for While Choosing a Product Online?

Estimated online retail sales worldwide are projected to reach $2489 trillion by 2018 which represents a growth from 7.4% in 2016 to 8.8% by next year. With more businesses adopting e-commerce practices, the competition is set to become increasingly aggressive.

Steps to Choosing the Right Order Fulfillment Center

All businesses strive to execute their orders quickly, accurately and efficiently. The key to a smooth and successful fulfillment of an order is in choosing the right fulfillment provider. A trusted partner or service provider who will help the business grow is what every online business needs. However, the challenge is finding a reliable and efficient partner.

Third Party (3PL) and Fourth Party (4PL) Logistics: What’s the Difference?

The key to the smooth, successful shipment of goods is choosing the right forwarder. A freight forwarder who works efficiently with excellent information flow and is always aware of your cargo status can be a trusted and valued resource.

How Emerging Technologies are Disrupting the Logistics Industry

The global logistics market is now worth $4 trillion, representing about 10% of the global GDP.The future of logistics is paved with innovation and technology. Here is a run-down of how emerging technologies will disrupt the logistics industry.

Avoiding Inventory Pileups: Tips for Keeping Stock Levels “Just Right”

It is important to be aware of how much stock or inventory is being stored. Accurate control over inventory the stocking process leads to timely order fulfillment and therefore positive cash flow. Inventory is thus the ‘Ace’ of the supply chain game. However, being over-stocked can erode profits.

Best Practices for Managing Online Returns

The internet has done a lot to level the playing field between buyers and sellers. There’s a new generation of “smart customers” who – with a few clicks – can compare competitive products, their features, prices, availability and delivery options, product reviews, etc.

Does Your Fulfillment Process Actually Deliver on Your Customer Promise?

According to eMarketer, e-commerce sales worldwide will reach $2.356 trillion in 2018. This, in turn, means more businesses will be looking to expand their online visibility and claim their share of this forecast. Further, many e-commerce businesses will take the omni-channel approach to grab a good share of their business.

Enhance Your Fulfillment Process for Enhanced Business Performance

Thanks to advanced technology, today’s consumers have more choices than ever before. That’s why every touchpoint with your customers is so important – including ensuring the smooth, timely delivery of customer orders. The “fulfillment process” encompasses all activities from receiving an order right through delivery of the goods to the customer.

A Blueprint to Prepare Ahead for Holiday Sales

Successful e-commerce retailers treat the holiday shopping season as a continuous process that involves ongoing planning and preparation well before a holiday season begins. Let’s look at some of the challenges e-retailers will face as the calendar marches toward Black Friday 2017 and what preparations should be made to achieve the desired results.

Why Same Day Delivery Should be at the Top of Your E-commerce Agenda

Back in 2014 Amazon opened Pandora’s Box with the launch of same day delivery for products ordered on its e-commerce portal. Often viewed as a double-edged sword, the concept comes with a price tag for both buyers and sellers: consumers pay extra for the convenience factor and retailers also bear a fair share of the delivery costs. Nevertheless, statistics show the same day delivery trend is here to stay.

RFID and Logistics: A Welcome Revolution

RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technology is a welcome revolution in the world of logistics. RFID technology is enabling many transportation and logistics companies to achieve near perfect shipping, receiving, and order accuracy rates – along with greater inventory accuracy, nearly 30% faster order processing speeds and a 30% reduction in labor costs.

Shipping Strategy - Maximizing Profits & Customer Satisfaction

In today’s highly competitive e-commerce market, it is ideal to offer free shipping. But owing to high cost of order fulfillment, it is necessary for businesses to plan a profitable shipping strategy. This infographic guides you how to go about it.

How an Effective Put-away Process Improves Warehouse Operations

An effective put-away process is an important stock management strategy. Put-away refers to every activity from initial receipt of stock until it is finally stocked at the destination. Accurate control over the stocking process leads to timely order fulfillment and eventually ‘happy customers.’

The Logistics of Customer Satisfaction

“Smart” devices have created a whole new genre of customers who love speed. With one click of a button, consumers can review multiple products with similar features, along with their associated costs, delivery options and reviews from other consumers who have purchased those products.

Impact of Traffic Congestion in Logistics

Traffic congestion related delays is the biggest pain point in the logistics and freight industry. In this infographic we look at the cause and effect that lead to congestion on roads and possible strategies to overcome traffic congestion.

Optimize Your Supply Chain with EOMS

Before a business can even think, blink or wink, customers can decide a product’s fate with a click. That’s why it is vital for businesses to anticipate and cater to what the customer wants and deliver it on time, as shortage of product and/or delivery delays almost always equate to lost sales.

Top Omni-Channel Fulfillment Trends for 2017

Customer behavior is in a state of continuous flux. Businesses seeking success in a highly competitive world need to understand how their customers behave. Those in the logistics and fulfillment business need to understand how vital their role is for customer satisfaction.

Impact of Warehouse Management Systems in a Customer-centric World

From managing inventory, space and labor to shipping, picking and packing, Warehouse Management System (WMS) helps optimize almost all warehouse functions. The latest and sophisticated Warehouse Management Systems can integrate other software systems like barcode scanning systems, transportation management systems, etc.

What Should You Look for in a Freight Forwarder?

The supply chain and logistics sector is set to grow in the coming years. Tech analytics firm CB insights says $5 billion will be invested this year alone – which is an astounding 1,300% jump from what it was just three years ago. Accordingly, there will be more service providers offering their services, and increased competition among them.

Best Practices for a Safer Warehouse: An Infographic

Unsafe working condition can not only prove costly for the company in case of OSHA citation, it can affect employee satisfaction at workplace which is important for seamless operation. In this infographic, we look at the best practices to be followed to make the warehouse a safer place.

A Guide to Automated Warehouse Vehicles

Automated warehouse vehicles are broadly referred to as ‘Automated Guided Vehicles’ or ‘AGVs.’ Depending on the navigation system they use, automated warehouse vehicles are referred to as Vision Guided Vehicles (VGV), Laser Guided Vehicles (LGV) etc.

Drop shipping: Evaluating the Pro’s and Con’s

Drop shipping as a fulfillment choice, owes its success to simplicity, efficiency and cost-effectiveness. It allows businesses to offer customers a broader selection of products without having to keep goods in stock. When a customer orders a product, the business entity simply passes the order to the wholesaler partner or vendor, who then delivers the products directly to the customer.

Bimodal Supply Chain: Ready to Take a Calculated Risk?

To keep up with the changes caused by digitization, it is imperative to find new solutions to expand your distribution and fulfillment network. Bimodal supply chain development could well be the answer to bridge the growing gap between enterprise demand and supply.

How Supply Chain Visibility Improves Overall Performance

Obtaining real-time visibility across all tiers in the supply chain can significantly increase speed-to-market, reduce capital expenditures and manage risk. The focus of this infographic are the steps to be taken to increase the supply chain visibility.

Is the Need-for-Speed Reshaping How Warehouses Look?

Today, nearly a half of American households have at least one family member subscribing to Amazon Prime membership. Though the Prime service costs $99 a year, the key attraction to the service is faster delivery! Yes, today consumers are willing to pay more for faster deliveries of their desired products.

Achieving Efficiency in Supply Chain Management

Improvising visibility to the value chain is the top priority of most of the companies today. The latest trends indicate a shift to make the supply chain activities become more collaborative, with data sharing and planning across departments and organizations in the value chain. Checkout our infographic on this concept.

Augmented Reality: Re-Shaping the Future of Logistics

The logistics and distribution sector has embraced the AR phenomenon with open arms. Several top businesses in the sector are investing in AR solutions that help distribution centers cater to their needs more effectively. Here are four key areas of logistics and distribution where AR can be a game changer.

Top-Down or Bottom-Up Planning: What Works Best for Your Business?

Two of the most common planning approaches are top-down planning and bottom-up planning methods. Although these two models represent two contrasting operational strategies, they both share similarities in how a company identifies its principal goals.

Ruling the Waves: How Politics Can Impact International Shipping

Today’s business environment is extremely fluid. The best-laid plans of logistics and shipping companies can often be derailed by unforeseeable external developments. Here are instances of how politics can influence international shipping.

How to Avoid Stock-Outs and Increase Sales

While the goal of most businesses is to sell the stock on hand in the fastest possible time, accomplishing this goal can ultimately lead to stock-outs at some point. A CNBC report estimates the total value of lost sales for retail businesses due to stock-out issues was $634.1 billion in 2015.

Learn To Resolve Your 3PL Business Challenges With Automation

Flexibility and nimbleness are the cornerstones of success in today’s business climate. That’s especially true for retailers who are constantly looking for ways to rise above the competition. Increasingly, this may involve shipping goods in non-standard packaging, different-from-norm size and weight.

10 Best Practices for Seamless e-commerce Order Fulfillment

Shipping is not just about moving things from the warehouse to the customers. Right before the checkout process, if the customers see there is an added shipping cost or if there is no clarity regarding the return policy, they might dropout. Let’s see why shipping can be an excellent branding exercise.

How to Deliver a Branded Shipping Experience

Packaging and shipping present a great opportunity to increase brand visibility and enhance the customer experience. Yet many retailers overlook this opportunity, opting instead for plain unbranded packaging and shipping materials.

Ways to Ensure Forklift Safety in Warehouses

Forklifts have long been integral to warehouses. However, when handled inappropriately forklifts can be very dangerous. The heavy and sharp arms of the forklift can cause serious damage to people and materials if the machine is not operated correctly.

Is your 3PL Partner EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) Savvy?

In these times, when e-commerce sites are swooping upon customers with tempting promises of fast and free delivery, large companies need to make sure if their third party logistics partners are EDI savvy.

Does Your Order Management System Need a Tune Up?

Order management system is critical for attaining cross-channel success. Yet the retailers face a lot of challenges with respect to the same. Here are a few tips to fine-tune your order management system for optimal results.

Transforming e-Commerce Shipping to a Competitive Advantage

With customers getting used to the convenient, fast and free shipping policies of e-commerce giants, smaller e-retailers are having a tough time competing. A good shipping strategy can play a major role in driving up sales and improving your customer’s buying experience. Here’s how you can transform your shipping strategy to a competitive advantage.

Are Driverless Trucks the Wave of the Future?

Many of the technological advancements that we take for granted today were nearly unimaginable just a decade or two ago. One such technology-driven wonder of recent times is the driverless truck. With the help of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and increased connectivity, driverless trucks are already hitting the roads in many parts of the world.

Top Five Tips to Turn Your Holiday Returns Into Sales

Returns are part and parcel of e-commerce businesses. One in every three online sales comes back as a return. The National Retail Federation estimates about 10% of items purchased during the 2015 holiday season coming back as returns.

10 Tips for Increasing Brand Loyalty in 2017

Customer experience is something that extends beyond usability. For customers to remember your brand and crave for it always, you also need to establish an emotional relationship with your customers. Check out this infographic to know what should be the focus areas of marketers when they incorporate measures to boost brand loyalty.

How Barcode Reader Technology Improves Supply Chain Logistics

Customer returns are an inevitable part of the sales process. While it can be a very cumbersome and less than desirable aspect of your business, the extent to which your company successfully manages the return process will leave customers with a lasting impression on your business that can impact future sales. Recent statistics show 97% of all consumers consider the product return process important to whether they shop with a business again.

Reverse Logistics: How to Manage Returns to Improve Profitability

Customer returns are an inevitable part of the sales process. While it can be a very cumbersome and less than desirable aspect of your business, the extent to which your company successfully manages the return process will leave customers with a lasting impression on your business that can impact future sales. Recent statistics show 97% of all consumers consider the product return process important to whether they shop with a business again.

Top Trends Shaping the Future of Supply Chain and Warehousing

It’s all about staying relevant in a changing business environment—naturally, logistics and supply chain operations are evolving to meet the trend. The old is giving way to the new; it’s time to check out the top trends shaping the future of supply chain and warehousing.

How to Plan Your 2017 Inventory in the Most Optimal Way

Inventory is one of those double-edged swords. If you have too little of it, you risk missing out on sales. But carrying too much inventory is also risky – it ties up cash, takes up warehouse space, may be perishable, seasonal or a short-lived trend. The goal of inventory planning then becomes stocking enough to fulfill customer orders while avoiding the burdens of excess stock or locking up sizable cash in inventory.

Top Benefits of Effective Inventory Management

Today's online sellers are facing a constant challenge to optimize their ecommerce websites to cater to multi-channel selling requirements, without which it is difficult for them to reach their potential customers. When your business spans across multiple selling channels, chances are there that your inventory might spiral out of control. If not maintained properly, it can result in disappointing your customers and receiving poor feedback.

Top Customer Retention Strategies for E-commerce Businesses

Repeat customers are the lifeblood for any business – and most especially so for e-commerce businesses that lack brick-and-mortar outlets to attract walk-in customers. Returning customers spend 3X more compared to one-time customers, however, earning repeat sales from customers is getting tougher. Consumers are bombarded with an ever increasing number of choices from competitors who promise better prices, products and service.

What's Real-Time Inventory Management & Why You Need It

“Out of stock.” Those three little words wield the power to kill e-commerce orders faster than you can click the refresh button on your keyboard. In fact, 52% of online shoppers will abandon all items in their carts upon learning that just one item they are attempting to purchase is not in stock. And the problem doesn’t end with just one lost order: only 17% of customers return to the same e-tailer after such an experience.

5 Tips for E-commerce Fulfillment Success during the Holidays

It’s estimated that up to 20% of annual sales take place between the “Black-Friday-to-Christmas” holiday season. However, e-tailers who assume a windfall just by being in the game are in for disappointment. E-commerce is still a highly competitive space, and e-tailers need to be battle-ready to weather the deluge and delight the customers amidst heavy traffic and order volumes.

Characteristics of an Ideal 3PL Partner

Having a third-party logistics (3PL) provider is a must for any retailer to succeed. Even companies with in-house logistics department can seek the support of 3PL providers to expand their footprints in more geographies. 3PL also helps you save considerably on the cost and time front. This infographic points out the necessity of why businesses should go for 3PL partnerships. Read it now.

Advantages of Outsourcing non-Core Services to a 3PL Company

Outsourcing is simply the strategic use of external resources to deliver services or perform duties originally handled by internal resources and employees. Companies can realize several benefits by outsourcing business processes to 3PL companies, including lower costs, improved quality of goods/services, increased customer satisfaction, easier access to improved technology, resource management and so on.

Outsource Warehousing & Shipping to Increase Your Business Reach

Cross-border online consumer purchasing is increasing 28% a year and will reach $1 trillion by 2020 according to information published by Internet Retailer. That’s nearly twice the growth rate for consumer web purchasing as a whole, which is expected to reach $3.4 trillion within the same time frame. That’s great news for eCommerce companies – especially those that have figured out the ins-and-outs of international fulfillment and shipping.

Social Commerce Shouldn’t Be Forsaken- Know Why

If your brand is not on social media like Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, then you are probably losing some bigger opportunities. Social media referral traffic to ecommerce sites witnessed a 198 percent increase between 2014-2015. Social commerce has a promising and bright future. Analyze why you should not abandon the idea of social commerce.

Advantages of a Mobile Inventory Management System

The traditional ways of managing inventory are outdated. This is the age of the Smartphone! Through progress in technology, we can now track inventory conveniently and effectively using our smartphones. Here are the benefits that you can reap with the use of a Mobile Inventory Management System.

What Are the Services That A Company Can Safely Outsource?

Whether you are an entrepreneur or an established business owner, at some point you may find yourself agreeing that it is impossible to do everything yourself and that outsourcing some services could help the growth and success of your business. Once you make the decision to outsource some of your services, you’ll find you have more time and resources to focus on other important aspects of your business that need immediate attention.

Points to Consider While Automating Business Via BPO

Many organisations are opting to automate their services in order to improve the quality of their business, enhance processes and increase customer satisfaction. While many companies choose to do it themselves, Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) is one of the easiest ways to automate your business.

Multi-Channel Fulfillment Best Practices to Leverage Your ROI

Competition is increasing every day! Consumers want products and services delivered to their homes or offices, ordered via the communications channel of their choice. This has led to a boom in the e-commerce industry with virtual companies replacing traditional brick-and-mortar shops with one-stop shopping convenience, courtesy of the internet.

Order Fulfillment and the Ideal Customer Experience

There is no greater joy for customers than getting the right products delivered to them at the earliest. Here is a guide for fulfillment partners to go about accomplishing order fulfillment and thereby satisfy customers. Go for a fulfillment partner who is able to help companies achieve this task.

E-commerce Fulfillment Options: What's Right for your Business?

Starting an e-commerce business involves many steps and decision that need to come together at the right time to ensure success. You will need to build a strong customer base and deliver products and services on time. Many company owners choose to outsource their fulfillment operations so they are free to concentrate on other business necessities while customer requirements and satisfaction are carefully managed by experienced fulfillment professionals.

Is Social Media Synonymous With Customer Support?

We now live in a world dominated by Social Media. It not only connects people across the globe, it also provides a marketing platform for businesses to interact with consumers. The strategy of providing customer service through various social media channels such as Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram etc. is referred to as social media customer service.

What Contact Center Metrics Should You Be Tracking?

Pretty much everyone involved with the industry would agree that measuring performance in the contact center is the key to ensuring productivity and continuous improvement. What there tends to be disagreement about, however, is which contact center metrics are most important. Most companies establish a set of Key Performance Indicators that are used to assess individual agents and subsequently aid in the growth of the company.

Business Success: It's About Service, Not Sales: An Infographic

Ultimately, it is customer service and not the sales figures that a company makes that matters more, when it comes to long-term business success. Having a robust CRM in place, can definitely help in achieving excellent customer service. Read this infographic, to understand how to optimize internal process and serve customers efficiently.

Choosing a 3PL Provider: Look for More than Just Price

Who would you turn to if you needed surgery? The best, most qualified doctor or an inexperienced one who charges half the going rate? Similarly, if you needed investment advice, would you consult with a reputable financial firm or trust your local auto mechanic with your hard-earned savings? The same concept applies when you decide to outsource to a 3PL provider (third party logistics).

Why Size Matters for Contact Centers?

Ten years ago, there were no web chats, no apps, no social media hype and limited interaction via email. In contrast, more than 35% of interactions happen via social media today. This shift in customer preferences toward a faster, comfortable service system has led increasing numbers of companies to business process outsourcing (BPO) to contact centers to meet customer requirements effectively and efficiently.

How Poor Customer Service Affects Your Bottom Line

In the near future, the key differentiator of successful brands would be its customer service rather than price or product. Numerous studies show that customer service is a crucial factor in determining the profit of a company. This infographic looks at what companies should not be doing to piss off customers further when they approach your staff for a service.

The Importance of the Contact Center Culture

How strong is the ‘culture’ in your organization? What do we mean by culture? Company culture incorporates the values and behaviors that contribute to the social environment of your organization. Is customer satisfaction the ultimate goal? Are your employees empowered enough to satisfy customer requirements? What are the company’s true core values? How would you establish a good culture? What is the most important question here? Company culture versus contact center culture is often a tricky topic.

The Changing Rules of Customer Engagement

Historically elusive and difficult to measure, customer engagement has been the focus of many recent research initiatives which have demonstrated that not only can it be measured, but that even a one percent improvement in customer engagement can increase revenues and profits of an organization. If you want to show your commitment towards customer engagement, you need to meet the customer expectations seamlessly and spontaneously, at their preferred time.

Comparison of Shared v/s Dedicated Contact Center Agents

A contact center can be a critical aspect of effective customer management in any company. Contact center agents interact with customers via several modes of communication including email, live chat, telephone, messaging etc. It is crucial to maintain an efficient customer service management system to ensure high customer satisfaction. Many companies outsource to 3PL service providers to achieve effective results without taking on the costs and headaches associated with in-house resources.

When is Self-Service an Undesirable Option for Customers

Many among us have moved to the ‘self-service’ option wherever possible. Technological boom and social media hype could be the reason for this changing pattern. A lot of us are happy making purchases online, sitting back, relaxed in the comfort of our homes rather than shopping at retail stores. Customers might want the self-service system to be available to them in many instances, yet when it comes to customer service they actually want human support.

How to Choose the Right Contact Center

A contact center is the central point of customer management. While traditional call centers focus solely on voice calls, omni-channel contact centers manage various modes of communications like voice calls as well as data applications like emails, web-based chats, instant messaging and webpage sharing. Here is a basic checklist to help guide you during the screening process and narrow down to the right contact center

What to Consider When Choosing a Fulfillment Partner

Business is booming and product is flying off the shelves. That’s a good thing, right? But amidst all the excitement, you start to realize that the physical demands and detail work involved with picking-packing-and-shipping orders is taking its toll. Orders are going out late or, worse, wrong. Tracking is getting complicated. Costs are spiraling upwards. And customer complaint calls are escalating. It’s time to call in reinforcements.

Managing a Branded Environment: An Infographic

45% of a brand's image depends on what it speaks and how it conveys the same. A branded environment is a devoted physical space that is optimized to strengthen the brand engagement, identity and experience. Checkout our infographic that details the necessity of having a branded environment and the key elements of a successful branded environment.

Five Reasons to Outsource E-commerce Fulfillment

The process of receiving orders from a web store, packing those items and shipping them to the customers around the world is referred to as e-commerce fulfillment. Professional e-commerce fulfillment providers have warehouse management systems to handle the unique fulfillment needs of their customers. They help companies by meeting their performance requirements and allowing them to focus on their core business.

How to Evaluate a Potential BPO Fulfillment Partner

Fulfillment refers to the process undertaken by firms to deliver the products or materials they have offered to their customers. While a majority of businesses handle their own order fulfillment initially, it often becomes difficult to meet customer expectations as a company grows. Finding the right fulfillment partner is a challenge in itself and requires extensive screening.

The State Of Omni-Channel Engagement: An Infographic

Omni-channel trend is the latest buzzword in retail domain as it helps in streamlining both online and in-store customer experience. Accessing customers through diverse channels is the primary and the most crucial step to attain success in today's business. In this infographic, we try to analyze the significance of Omni-channel marketing & customer service experience and its present state.

How Brands Can Achieve Return on Social Media Investment

The past couple of years have seen a boom in the social media sector. According to a market research, people spend an average of about 4 hours a day socializing online and it has been observed that most of the time is spent engaging with brands. This has led brands to concentrate more on the social media experiences they provide to customers.

Are Work At Home Agents the Way of the Future?

Work-at-home agents can work long hours from the comfort of their homes, saving hours of travel time and avoiding harsh weather conditions. These employees are not restricted by any physical limitations. With both employees and employers benefiting from the work-at-home arrangement, is it likely this will soon become the way of the future?

Ways to Retain Ecommerce Customers: An Infographic

A loyal customer is somebody who has made multiple requests of service from your company, and does so on a more frequent basis than your company average. They are a fan of your service and are no longer influenced by your competition. Checkout this infographic showcasing 15 golden steps to retain your online customers.

Strategies for Increasing
e-Commerce Customer Loyalty

It takes 10 times more money to acquire a new customer than to retain an existing customer. So, it makes financial sense for a business to work more towards retaining their existing customers than in acquiring new ones. Loyal customers tend to purchase more as compared to new customers and also indulge in word of mouth marketing which creates brand awareness without costing you anything.

Branding In The New Digital Age:
An Infographic

Branding is the most significant part of any marketing strategy. From print to the present day digital marketing, branding has undergone lot of changes. An infographic that visualizes the importance of branding across all digital marketing efforts, highlighting the how well-designed marketing strategies can help you attain long-term business success.

Fulfillment And The Customer Experience

E-retailing has opened up the world to big and small businesses, giving them access to customers around the globe. But stiff competition in this sector has led to e-retailers relying on factors like free shipping and flexible returns to attract customers which, in turn, presents a whole new set of challenges – particularly when it comes to managing returns.

Strategies For Reducing
e-Commerce Returns In 2016

E-retailing has opened up the world to big and small businesses, giving them access to customers around the globe. But stiff competition in this sector has led to e-retailers relying on factors like free shipping and flexible returns to attract customers which, in turn, presents a whole new set of challenges – particularly when it comes to managing returns.

Top 5 Mega Trends in Customer
Service Delivery

As customers become increasingly tech savvy, highly demanding and ready to switch brands for the smallest reasons, customer service is fast being redefined to a form that is instantaneous, intuitive and increasingly proactive. Here are the top mega trends in customer service delivery as we see them today.

Is Customer Service Working
For Or Against Your Brand?

When it comes to ways to contact customer service, today's customer is spoiled for choice. From phone and email, to live chat, text messaging and social platforms, customer service has become truly multi-channel. Here are a few ways companies can use customer service to promote their brand.

Is Unscripted Response The Best Way To Differentiate Your Brand?

It is normal for customer service agents to follow standard scripts while communicating with customers. Companies believe that having a scripted response brings uniformity in their customer service, ensures their service meets required standards, and also makes it easier to train new agents.

Top 5 B2B E-Commerce
Best Practices

The B2B market is expected to become twice the size of the B2C market by 2020. In the US alone, B2B e-commerce sales is expected to cross $1.1 trillion by 2020. Another study, this one by UPS, shows 63% of industrial buyers purchase online, with half of them transacting through e-commerce platforms.

Top 5 Strategies to
Improve Inventory Management

Inventory management is one of the most critical functions in any organization. An effective inventory management system enables organizations to react swiftly to market demands and also bring in substantial cost reduction through optimal stock holding.

Do's and Don'ts to Optimize Multi-Channel Contact Centers

As customers increasingly demand quick and convenient ways to seek customer service, organizations face the challenge of transforming their contact centers to make the latest communication channels available to their customers.