Skip to content
Search AI Powered
Human content, AI powered search.

Latest Stories

How is omnichannel retailing impacting supply chain operations?

Illustration with four interlocking circles that show icons for a mobile phone, a truck, a store, and a credit card swiper.

New survey from MIT looks to uncover how e-commerce is reshaping supply chains, challenges faced, and the technology being used to support omnichannel strategies.

Supply Chain Xchange Staff
By Supply Chain Xchange StaffOct 25, 2024
Supply Chain Xchange Staff
See Full Bio

Do you have five minutes to help shape the future of retail by sharing your insights and experience? The MIT Omnichannel Supply Chain Lab has officially opened its 2024 Omnichannel Survey, and researchers want to hear from you.

This year’s survey is investigating the impact of e-commerce on the different tiers of the supply chains, the most common challenges faced when defining and implementing an omnichannel strategy, and the role of artificial intelligence and tech-related innovations supporting it.

What did we learn in 2023?

Last year’s survey unveiled some game-changing trends in omnichannel retailing, particularly around the explosive growth of artificial intelligence (AI). Here are some highlights:

  • AI is taking over: 70% of retailers are now leveraging AI in their operations, with a 90% adopting it within just the last three years. It’s clear: AI is no longer a luxury; it’s a necessity.
  • Where's AI making waves? Retailers are using AI for everything from demand forecasting (65% adoption) to pricing optimization (48%) and inventory management (43%). These tools are revolutionizing how businesses operate.
  • Investing in the future: Looking ahead, 83% of retailers plan to ramp up their AI investments. This commitment signals a new era for retail, driven by technology and innovation.

Be part of the change

As the 2024 survey kicks off, your voice matters more than ever. By participating, you’ll contribute to vital research that will help define the future of omnichannel retailing and technology integration. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to make your mark. Click here to take the survey.

TechnologyTech & Infrastructure
artificial intelligenceaie-commercemit omnichannel supply chain labmiteva ponceomnichannel retailing
TechnologyTech & Infrastructure
artificial intelligenceaie-commercemit omnichannel supply chain labmiteva ponceomnichannel retailing

Recent

photo of worker at port tracking containers
Article

Trump tariff threat strains logistics businesses

diagram of blue yonder software platforms
Article

Blue Yonder users see supply chains rocked by hack

drawing of person using AI
Article

Amazon invests another $4 billion in AI-maker Anthropic

More Stories

screen shot of AI chat box

Accenture and Microsoft launch business AI unit

In a move to meet rising demand for AI transformation, Accenture and Microsoft are launching a copilot business transformation practice to help organizations reinvent their business functions with both generative and agentic AI and with Copilot technologies.


The practice consists of 5,000 professionals from Accenture and from Avanade—the consulting firm’s joint venture with Microsoft. They will be supported by Microsoft product specialists who will work closely with the Accenture Center for Advanced AI. Together, that group will collaborate on AI and Copilot agent templates, extensions, plugins, and connectors to help organizations leverage their data and gen AI to reduce costs, improve efficiencies and drive growth, they said on Thursday.

Keep ReadingShow less
Mobile robots, drones move beyond the hype

Mobile robots, drones move beyond the hype

Supply chains are poised for accelerated adoption of mobile robots and drones as those technologies mature and companies focus on implementing artificial intelligence (AI) and automation across their logistics operations.

That’s according to data from Gartner’s Hype Cycle for Mobile Robots and Drones, released this week. The report shows that several mobile robotics technologies will mature over the next two to five years, and also identifies breakthrough and rising technologies set to have an impact further out.

Keep ReadingShow less
digital chain links

How to evaluate blockchain for your supply chain

In 2015, blockchain (the technology that makes digital currencies such as bitcoin work) was starting to be explored as a solution for supply chains. It promised cost savings, increased efficiency, and heightened transparency, among other benefits. For that reason, many companies were happy to run pilots testing blockchain for themselves. Today, these small-scale projects have been replaced by large-scale enterprise adoption of blockchain-based supply chain solutions. There are plenty of choices now for blockchain supply chain products, platforms, and providers. This makes the option to use blockchain available now to nearly everyone in the sector. This wealth of choice does, however, make it more difficult to decide which blockchain integration is best (or, indeed, if your organization needs to use it at all). To find the right blockchain, companies need to consider three factors: cost, sustainability, and the ultimate goal of trying new technology.

Choosing the right blockchain for an enterprise supply chain begins with the most basic consideration: cost. Blockchains work by securely recording “transactions,” and in a supply chain, those transactions are essentially database updates. However, making such updates has varying costs on different chains. If a container moves locations, that entry is updated, and a transaction is recorded. Enterprises need to figure out how many products, containers, or pieces of information they will process daily. Each of these can be considered a transaction. Now, some blockchains cost not even $1 to record a million movements. Other chains can cost thousands of dollars for the same amount of recording. Understanding the amount of activity you will need to record against the cost of transactions is the first place for an enterprise to start when considering blockchain. Ask the provider which blockchain their product is built on, and its average transaction cost. This will help you find the most cost-effective product or integration.

Keep ReadingShow less
office workers at computer talking about AI

Mid-market businesses stumble in rush to AI

Mid-marketorganizations are confident that adopting AI applications can deliver up to fourfold returns within 12 months, but first they have to get over obstacles like gaps in workforce readiness, data governance, and tech infrastructure, according to a study from Seattle consulting firm Avanade.

The report found that 85% of businesses are expressing concern over losing competitive ground without rapid AI adoption, and 53% of them expect to increase their budgets for gen AI projects by up to 25%. But despite that enthusiasm, nearly half are stuck at business case (48%) or proof of concept (44%) stage.

Keep ReadingShow less
image of laptops and cables to suggest computer hackers

TSA rule would require cyber risk management for railroads

The federal Transportation Security Administration (TSA) yesterday proposed a rule that would mandate some surface transportation owners and operators, including those running pipelines and railroads, to meet certain cyber risk management and reporting requirements.

The new rule would require:

Keep ReadingShow less
Copyright ©2024.