Holiday Season Trends That Will Shape the Retail Supply Chain Industry

The 2021 holiday season seems to continue many trends that emerged during the pandemic. The customer must be made happy with their online and offline experiences. The competition will only get stiffer, and expectations for a fast, efficient and transparent order fulfillment higher. Here are some holiday season trends to watch out for in 2021:

• Both online and offline shopping continue to grow - The pandemic has made convenience the top priority for many-a-shopper, and the digital realm has taken precedence over retail.

• Curbside pickup remains popular - Even as brick-and-mortar stores enjoy their time in the spotlight again, customers will keep themselves from crowded places.

• Cleanliness becomes non-negotiable - This concern has grown exponentially since the pandemic, as stores can be breeding grounds for infection.

• Pop-up stores and fulfillment models are here to stay - Pop-up fulfillment models can do away with separate fulfillment centers for physical and online stores, bringing flexibility to fulfillment models.

• Renewed focus on sustainability and green logistics - Micro-fulfillment centers, e-cargo bikes, drones, electric vehicles, and adopting delivery logistics software to save on fuel emissions are becoming popular.

• Optimizing the all-mile - A delivery logistics software can help businesses tackle logistical constraints and find the fastest, most efficient routes for delivery.