Even for retail, an industry accustomed to disruption — from shifting customer demands to economic downturns — 2020 was a year like no other. COVID-19 shutdowns accelerated fundamental changes in consumer behavior, highlighted supply chain issues and required quick moves to new business models such as e-commerce, contactless payments, in-store fulfillment and curbside pickup.
Not surprisingly, retail chief financial officers (CFOs) and finance organizations have keenly felt the effects of these pandemic-era moves. They have worked overtime to respond to changing conditions and used financial and operational data to help make decisions.
