Omni-Channel Sales and Smart Logistic Service Framework - As-Is and To-Be Paradigms

Abstract

E-commerce (EC) has fundamentally changed retail business models. Mobile devices (or m-commerce) and social networks drive retail innovations by better enabling data transfer and communications between EC participants (buyers, sellers, intermediaries). Many suppliers or intermediaries have invested in building virtual channels. Omni-channel sales integrate resources of different channels and provide consistent and satisfactory shopping experiences to potential customers. This research analyzes the retail industry's as-is omni-channel sales across social, legal, economic, policy, and technological (S.L.E.P.T) views. The research presents the to-be model of smart logistic services for omni-channel sales and distribution. The Internet-of-Things (IoT) enabled solutions supporting smart logistic services for omni-channel sales are the focus of the research. Finally, the as-is and to-be logistic process models are benchmarked with respect to their performance indices including operating costs, times, and required human resources.