Trading partner onboarding and discovery for retailers
Trading partner onboarding and discovery can be a challenge. When expanding product assortment, retailers are used to the process being an incredibly slow one. It’s not atypical for them to spend as many as eight weeks just sourcing vendors for a particular new...
7 Inventory Management Metrics to Track and Improve Business Operations
About Guest Author Nick Shaw Nick Shaw is the Chief Revenue Officer (CRO) of Brightpearl, a leading provider of inventory, warehouse and Omnichannel retail software. He is responsible for Global Marketing, Sales and Alliances for the leading retail inventory...
Looking for an EDI developer? Think about full-service EDI instead
It’s no secret that technology talent is hard to come by these days, and an EDI developer is no exception. EDI developers are a rare breed with specialized and broad skills that make them especially difficult to find, such as: Implementing and monitoring EDI systems,...
4 Surprising Benefits of a Full-Service EDI Solution for QuickBooks
About Guest Author Dave Rosi, VP of Marketing at Right Networks Dave is responsible for the planning, development and execution of Right Networks’ marketing initiatives including new growth, customer loyalty, building the organization’s overall marketing capabilities,...
![2020 Drives a European Data Evolution [EVENT]](https://www.spscommerce.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Screen-Shot-2020-10-23-at-9.58.52-AM-1-1080x675.png)
2020 Drives a European Data Evolution [EVENT]
More and more retailers and suppliers across Europe are seeing the value of shared sales and inventory data. They are unlocking new opportunities to boost sales, optimize assortments and reduce stock outs. As the pandemic hit the continent in 2020, data proved its...
How EDI Service Providers Help Unlock EDI Success
Like many technologies, EDI services are not one-size-fits-all solutions. EDI services need to be implemented in a unique manner for different businesses. Full-service EDI providers are staffed by experts in multiple disciplines who work behind the scenes to make...
How to Crush Walmart OTIF Requirements
If you’re a supplier working with Walmart, chances are you’ve heard of Walmart’s on-time, in-full (OTIF) requirements. According to Walmart, the program will “ensure that customers can purchase the products they want, when they want, in-store and on-line.” What’s new...
5 Product Bundling Tips to Increase Sales and Customer Satisfaction
About Guest Author Nick Shaw Nick Shaw is the Chief Revenue Officer (CRO) of Brightpearl, a leading provider of inventory, warehouse and Omnichannel retail software. He is responsible for Global Marketing, Sales and Alliances for the leading retail inventory...
5 Ways to Build a Resilient Retail Supply Chain
2020 has been a wild ride. It stretched retail supply chains to their limit with factories and stores closing and reopening. Then, online shopping accelerated, and pickup or delivery options were needed more than we had ever seen before. This year will be remembered...
Save Big Money with Order Automation
Automated order management is a multi-million dollar opportunity for many organizations, but where will these savings occur? If your company is willing to make an investment of time to secure trading partner data, you need to know its worth the effort. Luckily, order...
Tips on Automated Order Management, from 20 Years of Expertise
Managing orders from dozens of retailers across retail, e-commerce and other channels can be daunting for suppliers. Retailers expect replenishment orders to be fulfilled quickly. And, next season’s orders are queuing up fast. Manual order management takes up valuable...
Distributor Strengthens Retail Partnerships with Full-Service EDI
In every part of the globe, distributors face ongoing pressures. This is certainly true in Australia. Businesses need to maintain margins, deliver superior customer service and comply with the complex trading requirements. Cellnet is one of Australia’s leading...
How to Modernize Your Warehouse Inventory Management Practices
Consumer demand for omnichannel shopping and faster product deliveries is intensifying the need for better warehouse inventory management. How can organizations use automation to get inventory in and out of warehouses (and to consumers) as quickly as possible? Want to...
Invoice Reconciliation: From Headache to Hassle-free with EDI
Reconciling orders, shipments and invoices takes valuable time and resources. When something is wrong, a retailer can end up missing out on valuable discounts or even paying for products they never received. Retailers, including Independent Timber Merchants...
How to Proactively Mitigate At-Risk Orders
As Murphy’s Law states, “whatever can go wrong, will go wrong.” This adage certainly holds true when it comes to managing the day-to-day order process. Missing orders, back orders and late shipments are just a few of the common supply chain problems that can cause...
Holiday Prep in the Era of Retail Disruption
This year is destined to be a retail holiday season like no other. Supply chain disruptions and risks of additional COVID-19 outbreaks are having a dramatic impact on the retail industry. According to IBM’s annual retail index, the pandemic has accelerated the trend...
Overcoming Increasing Order Volumes With QuickBooks EDI For Order Automation
Chocolate without the sugar, what could be better? Consumers agree. They’ve been snacking, baking and gobbling up Lily’s Sweets which can now be found at a growing number of national retailers and grocers. The company’s business has more than doubled in two years and...
Supply Chain Collaboration, a $195B Opportunity
Billions of dollars are ripe for the taking. The latest Coresight Research report attributes a four percent increase in sales for those retailers and suppliers using shared sales and inventory data to improve performance. With the U.S. retail sales predicted to top...
No More Struggles with Retailer EDI Changes at L’Oreal Australia
Australian retailers such as Coles and Woolworths have needed their suppliers, including L’Oreal Australia, to do EDI for many years as part of the order fulfillment process. As a retailer’s business and supply chain needs evolve so do their EDI requirements....
Unleashed & SPS EDI: A Global Solution for Nutricare
Nutricare’s natural health care products are a global success. Consumers across Australia, Europe and the United States have become loyal fans of their amazing products. As a result, the small business was seeing: Increasing number of retail customers Growing order...
Three Strategies to Get Ahead of Supply Chain Disruption
To keep consumers and workers safe, many retail organizations have recently ramped up their ecommerce efforts. This includes accelerating the rollout of buy-online, pick up in store (BOPIS), curbside delivery and same-day delivery services. According to a recent...
How Transportation EDI Can Declutter Your Day
As the pace of retail quickens, so does the need to have better visibility to products and shipments in transit. This is what makes EDI and transportation a perfect match. When suppliers (aka shippers) and carriers want to know answers to the following questions, the...
EDI Systems: Key Considerations Before You Buy
Have you been researching “What is an EDI system?” or “How to set up an EDI system?” If so, you’re probably aware there are countless EDI systems available in the market today that likely all sound the same. In fact, a Google search for “EDI providers” leads to over 8...
Reduce Returns with Better Inventory and Item Data
When stores closed during the COVID-19 outbreak, many consumers flocked to e-commerce and omnichannel retail shopping. Consumers increasingly chose low-contact shopping methods, like buy online, pick up in store (BOPIS), curbside pickup and home delivery. As stores...
Why Drop Ship Automation is Crucial for Successful 3PLs
Drop shipping has become big business in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Many suppliers and 3PLs report that drop-ship orders have tripled or more in recent months. So, the questions on everyone’s minds is how to drop ship more efficiently and more profitably....
Automated Data Speeds Up 3PL Warehouse Operations
Third-party logistics providers (3PLs) excel at warehouse operations. They do it fast. They do it right. They are the experts. This is the service that their customers pay for. But, does part of a 3PLs’ ability to quickly fulfill orders fall on their customer’s...
How to Shift Inventory Based on Shifts in Consumer Demand
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to cause shifts in consumer demand. Some consumers are shopping at fewer retail stores but buying more on each trip. Others are flocking to e-commerce and other low-contact shopping methods, like curbside pickup. At the same time,...
EDI Software for the Undecided
Whether you’re new to EDI software or a veteran, choosing the right solution is a big decision. Perhaps you’re asking, “what should I look for in EDI software?” or “what’s involved with a new EDI software implementation?” Let’s explore some fundamental questions about...
Automated Updates Improve 3PL Inventory Visibility
A supplier’s inventory resides in many locations across the retail supply chain. This makes accurate visibility a challenge. A supplier’s primary location for inventory is likely at their 3PL’s warehouses. Without direct visibility to on-hand inventory, suppliers rely...
Master the inventory balancing act for BOPIS
Managing inventory has never been easy. But it’s more complex now than ever with the rise of digital fulfillment options such as buy online, pickup in store (BOPIS), curbside pickup, and home delivery services like Shipt. These fulfillment options have grown...
E-Commerce and the New Age of Retail
About Guest Author Shipfusion Shipfusion sets your business on autopilot and combines flexible, reliable fulfillment with powerful, real-time technology. Shipfusion has multiple fulfillment centers across the US and Canada - making it easy to manage your e-commerce...
![Australia’s Grocery Retailers and Vendors Automate with EDI [Case Study]](https://www.spscommerce.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/iStock-1223553745-1080x675.jpg)
Australia’s Grocery Retailers and Vendors Automate with EDI [Case Study]
What happens when you turn your grocery supply chain inside out? How do your vendor relationships change when you cut out the distributor and go direct to your suppliers? The answer: You have a whole new grocery supply chain to automate. This was the case with Drakes...
NetSuite and SPS: A perfect pairing for natural food & beverage brands
About Guest Author Sean Gillespie As Chief Operating Officer at SuiteCentric, Sean oversees the NetSuite development team, sales and marketing initiatives, and management of the company’s NetSuite Solution Provider and CAP memberships. With more than 20 years of...
3PL Study Finds Accurate Data Key to Order Accuracy
The saying “garbage in, garbage out” certainly applies to the retail supply chain. Wherever incomplete or errant data is found, so are mistakes, delays and additional costs. In April 2020, SPS surveyed nearly 200 third-party providers (3PLs) about data. The responses...
Replacing inventory with information
Inventory information can be the lifeline or the death rattle of companies in the retail ecosystem. Companies – regardless of size – need to balance inventory with meeting customers’ needs (whether your customer is an actual shopper, a retailer, or a manufacturer)....
3PLs Embrace Automation to Optimize Warehouse Staffing
Third-party logistics providers (3PLs) are being stretched to do more while keeping their margins in line, especially when it comes to staffing expenses. Why? The biggest cost for most 3PLs is human capital. Warehouse staff are necessary, but expensive. Making sure...
SPS Commerce Ranked #1 Twin Cities Largest Software Development Firm
The Minneapolis St. Paul Business Journal recently published its annual list of who’s who among Twin Cities tech firms. This year the Journal combined the Software Developer and Software-as-a-Service lists into one. And, SPS was (again) ranked as the largest...
Better Visibility to Orders Requires the ASN
Retailers and distributors are looking for real-time updates on the status of their orders. Why? They want to: Maximize open-to-buy budgets Remove the need to carry safety stock Manage inventory without compromising customer satisfaction If buying organizations have...
How to Manage Increased Drop-Ship Demand at Scale with SPS and NetSuite
Are you new to the drop ship order process? Has the pandemic replaced many of your bulk orders with drop-ship ones? Or, maybe you’ve dabbled in drop ship, but now you’re seeing your drop-ship orders skyrocket? If so, you’re definitely not alone. Every segment of...
The Data Needed for Distributed Order Management
A consumer places an online order. The next step is for the buying organization to put it in a box and ship it to them. Sounds simple, but those of us in retail and distribution know that it’s not. Where should the item be pulled from? Inventory isn’t always on-hand...
Boost Omnichannel Sales with Retail Product Data Management
Whether suppliers sell their products in stores or through e-commerce, the right item information and visual assets are essential. From attractive photos to accurate dimensions and vivid descriptions, consumers need product data when shopping on any device or at any...
![[INFOGRAPHIC] Reduce Stock on Hand & Improve Inventory Optimization with Retail Data Analytics](https://www.spscommerce.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/iStock-850852928_super-1080x675.jpg)
[INFOGRAPHIC] Reduce Stock on Hand & Improve Inventory Optimization with Retail Data Analytics
Finding ways to reduce stock on hand or improve inventory optimization isn’t easy. It’s especially challenging when the sales and inventory data you get from retailers is incomplete, delayed or in multiple formats that you have to compile yourself. Fortunately, a...
Managing Drop-Ship Returns with the EDI 180
The reverse logistics process has typically been an afterthought in the retail supply chain, until now. In the past 18 months, the number of drop-ship orders has skyrocketed. As more than 25 percent of drop-ship orders are returned, establishing an efficient returns...
Gear Up for Retail Stores Reopening
We are beginning to see retail stores reopening across many states. As stores open back up, retailers expect their suppliers to be prepared to collaborate with them to jointly find areas of opportunity. Location-based sales and inventory data can arm you with the...
Optimize the Open-to-Buy Process with Order Acknowledgments
Once a buyer places an order with a supplier, they are often left in the dark about if and when the order will arrive or what will be on the delivery. The lack of a confirmation and/or order acknowledgment leaves buyers asking questions like: Can the vendor ship the...
5 Tips to Manage Order Volume Velocity without Retail Chargebacks
Orders can spike quickly when trends take off or consumers are displaced, often with little notice. In just a few days, new retailers are calling and wanting to do business. But, don’t forget that all good things typically come with a few strings attached, or in this...
How a retail data tool can improve forecasting and decision-making
If you’re like most businesses, making decisions and planning for the future is especially challenging in today’s uncertain market. It's even more challenging when you look at the retail data that informs your decisions and find that it's incomplete, delayed or...
Optimizing Retail Order Management Requires Data-Driven Insights
Consumers are pushing the limits of retailers’ operations, especially given today’s omnichannel world. Retail order management has expanded beyond a linear process from order to store shelf. Today, order management must address the dozens of ways consumers can shop,...
How to Avoid Overspending on Package Shipping Rates
Cash flow is the lifeblood of small businesses. Optimizing shipping costs can help businesses preserve cash, which is more important now than ever. Compare shipping rates for drop-ship fulfillment For companies that drop-ship, the ability to reduce package shipping...
Using Analytics to React to Disruptions with Data
Earlier this week, I was speaking to a footwear supplier in California who wanted to see how their sales were shifting by week and by state. I also talked to a supplier of fitness products whose sales were spiking and wanted to make sure they had inventory in the...
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