Keynote Case Study: APICS: 2,000 Supply Chain Leaders. The Future Of Retail Was Already Here.

For the APICS Annual Conference in Las Vegas, I addressed roughly 2,000 supply chain, logistics and operations executives, sharing the program with Jack Welch, on the accelerating disruption of retail, including Amazon-driven expectations, warehouse robotics, the end of inventory and intelligent connected packaging.

The keynote, “The Acceleration and Disruption of Retail,” made the point plainly. The future of retail was already here.

Amazon was changing expectations. Robotics was accelerating operations. Intelligent packaging was creating new value. The future belonged to organizations that moved faster.

Six trends are shaping that shift.

• Amazon Effect. Customers expect instant buying, tracking and returns.
• Omnichannel Retail. Store, online, pickup and delivery are now one experience.
• Robotics & Automation. Automation is reshaping warehousing, logistics and fulfillment.
• Intelligent Packaging. Connected packaging becomes a platform for data and engagement.
• End Of Inventory. Demand driven fulfillment is replacing slower, stock heavy models.
• Faster Fulfillment. Speed, visibility and agile replenishment define advantage.

The future of retail is speed, intelligence and fulfillment.

Supply chain audiences tend to feel the acceleration before anyone else in the organization does. You can browse more of that work in the case studies collection here.