Systemax CEO says customer service must focus on digital | UNFI plans to spin off Cub Foods and Shoppers | Sobeys to open 6 additional FreshCo stores in Canada
The European Union will launch an antitrust case against Amazon within the next two weeks, alleging that the e-commerce company used restricted third-party seller data to develop competing products, according to sources. Amazon declined to comment.
Distributors need to overhaul their customer service operations to prioritize digital features, such as chatbots, apps and text-based order tracking, Systemax CEO Barry Litwin says. "The preconceived notion of a business experience online versus a consumer experience online is all blending," he says.
United Natural Foods will move ahead with plans to spin off Cub Foods and Shoppers supermarkets into their own operating unit, a process that UNFI Chairman and CEO Steven Spinner says could take up to a year. The decision comes after UNFI announced last month it was putting the planned sale of the stores it acquired in 2018 on hold to avoid any additional disruptions during the pandemic.
Maintaining Business Continuity in Tough Times COVID-19 has impacted the global economy and changed the way businesses operate. Overnight, every business has needed to reassess how to do more with less. Thankfully, sales order automation has made this possible for companies like Genpak. Watch this webinar, now available on-demand, to find out how you can keep customers supplied and supported.
Payroll, customer profitability and order economics are three areas for distributors to reassess if they want strong profit performance coming out of the pandemic, says Al Bates of the Distribution Performance Project.
Over 75% of US companies have experienced supply chain disruptions stemming from the coronavirus pandemic, according to an Institute of Supply Management report. One way some companies will adjust is to seek local sources of products, Jack Keough writes.
It's important to make sure sales teams stay accountable, especially as remote work becomes more commonplace, writes Brian Trautschold. Daily activity targets, structured coaching programs and technology can all play a role in accountability efforts, Trautschold writes.
Business owners can minimize risk of coronavirus-related lawsuits from workers by following CDC guidelines for personal protective equipment, social distancing, sanitizing and temperature monitoring, writes Johnny C. Taylor Jr., president and CEO of the Society for Human Resource Management. He notes that protections for employers vary by state.
Ken Blanchard offers six tips for deeper, more thoughtful listening. "Acknowledge any emotions the person is expressing and show them you understand by restating their feelings back to them in a nonjudgmental way," he writes.
Did you miss the May 28 webinar with Alan Beaulieu: "Distribution Post COVID-19 Outlook"? If yes, then you have until 5 p.m. ET, on Friday, June 12, to join the hundreds who benefited from Alan's forecast for the short-, mid- and long-term. Purchase today to receive the webinar recording and slide deck, and watch on demand at your convenience!
At this critical time for the economy, online payment acceptance can mean the difference in whether you're paid. Stream the podcast from NAW Trusted Partner Unified to learn how replacing paper check acceptance with an easy-to-use "PayNOW" link on your website allows customers to pay in real time, online with credit card.
