Major distributors show continued shift to e-commerce | AmerisourceBergen to pay $1.3B for Germany's PharmaLex | WESCO to purchase IT company Rahi Systems in $217M deal
MSC Industrial Supply, MRC Global, Grainger and Watsco have all posted gains this year in digital sales, including e-commerce, and that channel is expected to become even more prominent, writes Digital Commerce 360's Mark Brohan. This year "will accelerate a shift that makes it an even bigger priority to serve an increasingly digital-first customer," Brohan writes.
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Warehouses are evolving with a growing focus on business intelligence and technology, such as robotics, electric vehicles and sustainability features. "What type of transportation is going to arrive at our facilities tomorrow?" asked Todd Lewis, vice president of real estate investment trust company Prologis Ventures. "We need to work on that today."
Amazon is fine-tuning its logistics network by closing, canceling development or delaying openings of dozens of delivery stations, fulfillment centers and other related facilities, MWPVL reports. Amazon CEO Andy Jassy recently said the retailer had doubled the size of its fulfillment network during the past two years, and an Amazon spokesperson noted the retailer is continuing to open and enhance facilities.
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The metaverse is transforming the marketing of e-commerce as brands create virtual stores, personalize virtual shopping experiences and develop a more in-depth understanding of customers via those virtual interactions, writes X Agency's Roland Wilson-Barge. "As these technologies develop and the lines between the physical and digital worlds blur, e-commerce marketing as we know it will need to integrate the metaverse into its holistic branding campaign," Wilson-Barge writes.
Self-confidence is critical for top salespeople, but imparting confidence in your company to clients -- and all the people in their organization -- is equally important, consultant Colleen Francis writes. Four ways to do so include ensuring a mix of tangible and intangible benefits and sharing testimonial stories.
Poor business writing, from emails to contracts or marketing content, costs businesses an estimated $400 billion annually through direct and indirect losses. Style guides and artificial intelligence are some methods that can be used to address common problems, such as a lack of clarity and organization, writes Alex Lashkow of AI-powered business-writing assistant Linguix.
Building an ethical culture can improve a company's performance, writes Emily Miner, a director in LRN's Ethics & Compliance Advisory practice, who recommends that leaders begin with their own values to create a shared, equitable, accountable and transparent workplace. "Transparency is a two-way street between leadership and team so encourage those you guide to speak up, ask questions, share ideas and contribute to the overall discussion in a way they are comfortable with doing," Miner writes.
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