The omnichannel retail environment evolved significantly last year as consumers adopted online ordering, both for pickup and delivery, at a rapid pace.
The trend has continued in 2021, with first-quarter e-commerce sales up 39.1% over year-ago levels and accounting for about 13.6% of total retail sales, according to data from the U.S. Commerce Department.
The increase in omnichannel volume, combined with ongoing pressures in the labor market and challenges in the macro-economic environment, is forcing retailers to rethink their supply chain operations and highlighting the need for investments in both deep learning and automation.
