Automation is the key to online retail

As online retail takes a more prominent role, one of the more stark consequences for the retailers involved is erosion of margins. Online retail is price-driven, very competitive and fuflillment can be hellishly expensive.

ASOS is one of the key players but when you are forecasting profit margins of circa 6.5%, it doesn’t take much to throw things off course. Earlier this year, ASOS fell foul of currency fluctuations and had to tell shareholders it would more likely make profits of around 4.5%.

So what do retailers do about this? Do they increase prices? Not likely! They want to build volume as well as margin and rising prices would push customers to their competitors.

Therefore they must look at efficiencies and that’s where logistics and fuflillment come in. It is the prime area where the most impressive savings can be found. It you can pick and pack faster with fewer touches and fewer people, you’ll boost your margins. ASOS, with its massive investment in automated technology at its Barnsley DC is certainly making this bet.

This casts automated handling equipment suppliers and the logistics professionals that will design, operate and maintain these systems in an absolutely critical role.

In the July / August issue we looked at retail automation - exploring the cutting edge technologies that are helping to automate item picking, handling, storage and returns. 

Articles included:

SDI Group warn that retailers who do not invest in automated systems that can accommodate volume growth, reduce costs and ensure smooth supply chain flow will struggle to compete.

Beumer Group shows its experience managing returns with both mail order and online retailers.

TGW helps a fashion retailer make the switch from person-to-goods picking to goods-to-person.

LB Foster mechanises fashion returns at Clipper's Selby DC.

This is not technology for the sake of technology. In each case, real business benefit is sought and delivered.