Enabling your customers to have access and buy any items in your network of inventory is key to lifetime value and continued profitability.

The Endless Aisle Process

Retailer Loads all Network Inventory in a Central Repository

Typically in an Order Management System, the inventory across all owned facilities and the extended supplier network (via Drop-Ship Inventory) is loaded and available for request to understand if inventory is available.

Customer Request Inventory Availability from Within Store

If no inventory is available in stores, the store associate uses a device to check if any inventory is available in other notes, typically summed up at a network level for the sake of discussing with the consumer.

Customer Orders Available Inventory through Device In-Store

Typically, through the same device used to check inventory the customer completes an order to be shipped directly to them, or in some cases made available for pickup back at the original requesting store.

Retailer Ships the Goods to Desired Location for Customer

Depending on customer’s desired fulfillment option, the order is fulfilled by another node which the OMS chooses is most optimal and the customer receives the goods ordered. Tender is settled against at the point of shipment and the initial order lifecycle is completed.

The Benefits

Retailers who implement Endless Aisle Capabilities experience:

Increased Store Sales
Higher Lifetime Value of the Consumer
Increased Margin in Order Fulfillment (when sourced via SFS)
Increased Inventory Utilization

of Customers order from competitor when retailers are out of stock

of inventory is typically out of stock when customer shops in store

The Preparation

Each of the four sections below are preparation areas to consider before starting your project. Hover over each line item to get more details and validating questions.

Research & Requirements

Assessing Inventory Accuracy
Understanding ‘Inventory Protection’ Strategies

System Design & Implementation

Designing ‘Real-Time’ Inventory Integrations
Designing Sourcing/Allocation Rules for Fulfillment

Go back to Omni-Channel Use Cases >>

The Challenges

Inventory Related

Challenges

Inventory is missing or misplaced in store
Inventory is damaged or not in sellable state
Inventory is received, but not in pickable state

Considerations

Inventory Protection Levels
Timing of Making Inv. Available
Historic Damage / Shrink Rates
Lifecycle of Products for Eligibility Rules

Store Associate Related

Challenges

Inventory is missing or misplaced in store
Inventory is damaged or not in sellable state
Inventory is received, but not in pickable state

Considerations

Inventory Protection Levels
Timing of Making Inv. Available
Historic Damage / Shrink Rates
Lifecycle of Products for Eligibility Rules

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The Endless Aisle Insights

2906, 2018

The Pickup Imperative: BOPIS is Now a Necessity

By Zach Zalowitz|2019-08-27T08:53:54-07:00June 29th, 2018|

Every week I see articles come out about the “end of retail” or “retail apocalypse”, but with so many articles focusing on the importance of the customer in-store experience, we still continue to

1105, 2017

Top Five Pitfalls of Store Fulfillment, and How to Avoid Them

By Zach Zalowitz|2019-09-27T07:51:55-07:00May 11th, 2017|

We were asked to speak recently at Retail Value Chain Federation's (RVCF) annual spring conference on the topic of "Store Fulfillment: Top Five Common Pitfalls, and how to avoid them". The session was

1105, 2017

Store Inventory: Selling a Possibility

By Zach Zalowitz|2019-08-27T08:53:48-07:00May 11th, 2017|

Omnichannel initiatives over the last five years have seen a dramatic uptick in the number of store fulfillment projects to fuel cross-channel commerce. This was apparent at Aptos' annual user conference in Florida during

2508, 2016

Organizing for Omnichannel: Inside and Out

By Michael Murrison|2019-09-26T00:31:57-07:00August 25th, 2016|

Omnichannel has become an increasingly hot buzzword in retail over the last five years. It’s a differentiator for some and a means of survival for others. Some brands look at it as a

How It Works

Here is our methodology to ensure the success of your omni-channel business solution.

Business Case & Roadmap

Key Services Delivered:

Define Current Capabilities
Define the Future State
GAP Analysis
Solution Alternatives
ROI Analysis
Business Solution Roadmap

Requirements & System Selection

Key Services Delivered:

Solution Requirements
Key Business Scenarios
RFI/RFP Demos
References
Contract Negotiation
System Selection

Project Roadmap Creation

Key Services Delivered:

Budgeting
RACI Resource Planning
Phasing
Change Mgmt Planning
Risk Assessment
Contingency Planning
Project Governance

Solution Implementation

Key Services Delivered:

Project Management
Change Management
Design
Integration
Environment Build/Configuration
Application Testing
Integrated Testing
Operations Testing
Training
Conversion
Support

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