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1 July 10, 2017 Deborah Weinswig, Managing Director, Fung Global Retail & Technology [email protected] US: 917.655.6790 HK: 852.6119.1779 CN: 86.186.1420.3016 Copyright © 2017 The Fung Group. All rights reserved. 1) This is the third report in our X Factor series on the major factors impacting the US retail industry. We believe supply-chain efficiency will be a key factor that will make or break a retailer going forward. 2) Cost-cutting and enhancing operational efficiency are key areas that major US retailers have been emphasizing on their earnings calls these past few quarters, as the industry faces the changing preferences of consumers who are increasingly embracing online shopping. 3) We have identified three key initiatives that are transforming supply-chain operations: optimization, speed and innovation. 4) Digitalization will inevitably transform the way retailers operate brick-and-mortar stores, ultimately involving every stakeholder along the retail value chain. Deep Dive: Retail X Factor— Supply Chain Deborah Weinswig Managing Director, Fung Global Retail & Technology [email protected] US: 917.655.6790 HK: 852.6119.1779 CN: 86.186.1420.3016

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Page 1: Deep Dive: Retail X Factor— Supply Chain - Deborah Weinswig · analytics in one central system. The three key elements needed to transform the supply chain: optimization, speed

1

July10,2017

DeborahWeinswig,ManagingDirector,FungGlobalRetail&[email protected]:917.655.6790HK:852.6119.1779CN:86.186.1420.3016Copyright©2017TheFungGroup.Allrightsreserved.

1) ThisisthethirdreportinourXFactorseriesonthemajor factorsimpactingtheUSretailindustry.Webelievesupply-chain efficiencywillbeakeyfactorthatwillmakeorbreakaretailer goingforward.

2) Cost-cuttingandenhancingoperationalefficiencyarekeyareas thatmajorUSretailershavebeenemphasizingontheirearnings callsthesepastfewquarters,astheindustryfacesthechanging preferencesofconsumerswhoareincreasinglyembracingonline shopping.

3) Wehaveidentifiedthreekeyinitiativesthataretransforming supply-chainoperations:optimization,speedandinnovation.

4) Digitalizationwillinevitablytransformthewayretailersoperate brick-and-mortarstores,ultimatelyinvolvingeverystakeholder alongtheretailvaluechain.

Deep Dive: Retail

X Factor— Supply Chain

Deborah Weinswig

Managing Director,

Fung Global Retail & Technology

[email protected]

US: 917.655.6790

HK: 852.6119.1779

CN: 86.186.1420.3016

Page 2: Deep Dive: Retail X Factor— Supply Chain - Deborah Weinswig · analytics in one central system. The three key elements needed to transform the supply chain: optimization, speed

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July10,2017

DeborahWeinswig,ManagingDirector,FungGlobalRetail&[email protected]:917.655.6790HK:852.6119.1779CN:86.186.1420.3016Copyright©2017TheFungGroup.Allrightsreserved.

TableofContents

ExecutiveSummary..........................................................................................................................3TheSupplyChainasanXFactorofRetail................................................................................3

InventoryLevelsarePickingUpAgain.............................................................................................5

PhysicalRetailers’Supply-ChainInitiatives......................................................................................6

Amazon’sSupply-ChainInitiatives.................................................................................................10DigitalizationoftheSupplyChain..........................................................................................11

Conclusion:InnovateorDie...........................................................................................................12

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DeborahWeinswig,ManagingDirector,FungGlobalRetail&[email protected]:917.655.6790HK:852.6119.1779CN:86.186.1420.3016Copyright©2017TheFungGroup.Allrightsreserved.

ExecutiveSummaryThisisthethirdreportinourXFactorseriesinwhichweidentifythemesthatwebelievewillbecriticalfortheUSretaillandscapein2H17andbeyond.

Inthisreport,wefocusonthesupplychain.Wesummarizethechallengesthatretailersfaceintheirsupplychainsandanalyzetheinitiativestheyhaveembarkeduponoverthepastfewquarters.Basedonourfindings,weseetheneedforretailerstodigitalizethesupplychaininordertobetterpositionthemselvestocompeteintheincreasinglychallengingretailindustry.

XFactor―CompetitiveAdvantagesthatCouldRevolutionizeanIndustry

TheSupplyChainasanXFactorofRetailTherapidlychangingretailenvironmentanddisruptionfrome-tailershavecausedtraditionalretailerstosufferfromdeceleratingtop-linegrowth.Cost-cuttingandenhancingoperationalefficiencyhavebecomethefocalpointsofdiscussionduringearningscallsthesepastfewquarters.Byinvestingintheirsupplychains,retailersarelookingatsolutionsthatwilleventuallytransformhowtheysourceanddelivergoodstotheconsumer.

Byanalyzingconversationbetweentopmanagementandanalystsduringrecentretailers’earningscalls,wehavesummarizedthreekeyinitiativesthataretransformingsupply-chainoperations:

• Optimization:Increasingtheefficiencyofthesupplychain,whichleadstoshorterleadtimesaswellascostsavings.

• Speed:Enhancingspeed-to-marketsoretailerscanmanagetheirinventoryandproductofferingswithmoreflexibility.

• Innovation:Investinginnewsupply-chaintechnology.

Inordertoadapttothefast-changingretailingenvironment,retailersneedtolookatdigitalizationtotransformthewaytheyoperatetheirbrick-and-mortarstores.Thetransformationneedstoinvolveeverystakeholderalongthevaluechain,andalltheprocessesandinformationflows―suchasdataaccessibility,datasharing,collaborationanddataanalytics―needtobefluidandtransparent.

Figure1.Supply-ChainInitiativesSummaryTable(Sortbyalphabeticalorder)

RetailersSupplyChainInitiatives

Optimizations Speed InnovationsTraditionalRetailersJCPenney • CloseditsLakelandDistribution

Center.• Formedatrialpartnershipwithsupplierstoshiftstocktosuppliersinordertoreduceinventory.

• Improvedclearanceprofitabilitythroughtheimplementationofnewpricinganalyticsandsupply-chainefficiencies.

• Cuttheleadtimefromdesigntosalesfloorfromaprivatebrand’sprocess.

• Gavebettervisibilityontrendsandbettervisibilityonwhatthecustomersarebuying.

• Integrateditsdata-drivenapproachtopricingandstandardizedpricinganalyticsinonecentralsystem.

Thethreekeyelementsneededtotransformthesupplychain:optimization,speedandinnovation.

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DeborahWeinswig,ManagingDirector,FungGlobalRetail&[email protected]:917.655.6790HK:852.6119.1779CN:86.186.1420.3016Copyright©2017TheFungGroup.Allrightsreserved.

RetailersSupplyChainInitiatives

Optimizations Speed InnovationsTraditionalRetailersKohl’s

N/A

• Theproportionoftheproprietarybrandbusinessimpactedbyitsspeedinitiativewillincreasefrom25%attheendof2016toabout40%ofoverallproprietarysalesin2017.

• Leveragingtechnologytoincreasethepercentageofinventoryshippedfromstorestofulfillonlinedemandoronlinedemandpickedupin-store.

Macy’s,Inc • Consolidatedthenumberofitssuppliers.

• Reducedtheamountofapprovalsandstepsneeded.

• Triedtospeedupthedecision-makingprocesswithgreatercollaboration.

• Increasedthepaceoftime-to-marketandworkedcloselywithprivatebrandsandreactedtomarketchangesquickly.

• Encourageditsbrandpartnerstobemorecreativeandsharedopportunitiesthroughdataandinnovation.

Nordstrom • Spendingonsupply-chaintechnologyhasgrownby20%onaverageoverthepastfiveyears.

N/A

• Expectedtoinvestroughly$3.4billionoverthenextfiveyears.

• Roughly40%ofthecompany’splanisallocatedtomodernizingitstechnologyplatform.

• AcquiredDSCo.whichprovidesacloud-basedservicetotrackinventoryandorders.

Sears • Improvedbothflexibilityandprofitabilityinthesupplychainbyincreasingitssourcingcapabilities.

• Madeitsinventoryacrosstheentirestorenetworkavailabletomembers.

• Enabledcustomers’orderstobefulfilledbytheneareststore.

• Connectedtheecosystemofstoresandwarehousesbyleveragingtechnologyandsupply-chainplatforms.

BigBoxandWarehouseClubsTarget • Openedanewfacilitytotest

differentiateddistributioncapabilities.

• Dramaticallyreducedstorelabordedicatedtounloadingtrucksandstockingthesalesfloor.

• Beganatestthatofferssame-daydelivery.

• TargetRestockallowscustomerstoorderarestockshippingboxfilledwithessentialitemsandhavethemdeliveredtotheirhomesquicklyforalowflatfee.

• Allocatedcapitalinvestmentofmorethan$7billionoverthenextthreeyearstofocusontechnologyandthesupplychain.

• Gainedinsightsthroughsupply-chaindatatounderstandpotentialoperationalchallengesanddetermineappropriatepricinganddeliverywindowsbasedonconsumers’preferences.

Walmart • Doubledtheefficiencyofitstruckfleet.

• Controllingthesupplychainbyhavingdirect,long-termrelationshipswithgrowersfortheirgrocerybusiness.

• Adoptednewtechnologyandappstoprovidereal-time,in-stockinformationoninventorylevels.

OnlineRetailerAmazon • Investedinbuildingfulfillment

centersandwarehousesclosetomajormetropolitancities.

• DashisaWi-Fi-enableddevicethatreordersfrequentlypurchasedconsumerproductswithasinglepressofabutton.

• Filedapatentforaflyingwarehouseconceptthatcanactasalaunchpadfordeliverydronesforlast-miledelivery.

• Hasmorethan45,000robotspoweredbyKivaSystemsinitswarehouse.

• Filedapatentforanon-demandapparelmanufacturingwarehouse.

Source:Companyearningscalls

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DeborahWeinswig,ManagingDirector,FungGlobalRetail&[email protected]:917.655.6790HK:852.6119.1779CN:86.186.1420.3016Copyright©2017TheFungGroup.Allrightsreserved.

InventoryLevelsarePickingUpAgainManyUSretailershavebeensufferingfromweakeningtop-linegrowthinthepastfewquarters.Decliningmalltraffic,anoverstoredindustryandthestructuralshiftinconsumers’preferencestowardonlineshoppinghavecontributedtothestagnantdemandatphysicalstores.

Mostretailersstrivedtoadoptaninventory-lightmodelafterthefinancialcrisisin2008;forexample,Walmart,increasedinvestmentinitssupplychain.However,emerginge-tailershavebecomeadisruptiveforcethatisdrivingrapidchangeintheretailindustry,andretailersmustonceagainadapttosurvive.

Lookingatinventoryturnoverataselectgroupofretailersanddepartmentstoressince2008,wenoticethattheinventorylevelsofmajorretailersarerising.EvenatWalmart,knownforitsworld-classsupply-chainmanagement,itsinventoryturnoverin2016wasclosetolevelsseenin2008―whichwereunusuallyhighbecauseoftheaftereffectsofthefinancialcrisis.

AndifwelookatAmazon,eventhoughitsinventoryturnoverhasalsoincreasedovertheyears,thisislargelyduetoitsstrategyofofferingasmanydifferentproductsaspossible.AccordingtoExportX,whichisane-commercecompany,Amazonoffered488milliondifferentproductsin2015,introducinganaverageof485,000newproductsperday(bycomparison,Walmartoffersapproximately150,000productsatitsSupercenterstoreformat).Themassiveselectionmeansinventoryturnoverrisessignificantly.

Figure2.AverageInventoryTurnover(IndexedInventoryTurnoverin2008=100)

Source:Bloomberg,FungGlobalRetail&Technology

Assuch,increasingsupply-chainefficiencyhasbecomeakeyareaforretailerstosharpentheircompetitiveness.Inthestrategyupdatesduringretailers’conferencecallsthesepastfewquarters,seniormanagementhavereiteratedtheirfocusoncostcuttingandopeningupnewrevenueopportunitiesbyinvestinginsupplychains.

80859095100105110115120125130

2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

Walmart Macy’s NordstromKohl’s JCPenney Sears

Inventoryisbuildingupagainduetoinefficienciesinsupply-chainmanagement.

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Inthesecondpartofourreport,wesummarizethekeypointsthattopmanagementatMacy’s,Walmart,Kohl’s,Nordstrom,JCPenney,Sears,TargetandAmazonhasmentionedduringtheirrecentearningscalls.

PhysicalRetailers’Supply-ChainInitiativesWebreakoutthetopretailers’supply-chaininitiativesintothreekeycategories:

• Optimization:Increasingsupply-chainefficiency

• Speed:Enhancingspeed-to-market

• Innovation:Investinginsupply-chaintechnology

JCPenney

ChallengesandPrioritiesMarvinEllison,PresidentandCEOofJCPenney,saidthekeybenefitofe-commerceisconvenience.JCPenneyhadbeenlearninghowtosimplifythein-storeenvironmentsoitcanofferabettershoppingexperience.Optimizingthenetworkfromanomnichannelstandpoint,JCPenneydecidedtoclosesomestorestoensureitcouldserviceitsomnichannelcustomersmoreeffectively.

Supply-ChainInitiatives• Optimization:JCPenneyhascloseditsLakelandDistributionCenterand

formedatrialpartnershipwithsupplierAshleyFurniture,shiftingstocktothesupplierinordertoreduceheldinventory.Itisworkingonimprovingitsreplenishmentprocessdomesticallyandtobelessdependentonaverylongsupplychain.Inaddition,theretailerhasmadeeffortstoimproveinventoryclearanceprofitability,implementnewpricinganalyticstoolsandenhancesupply-chainefficiencies.

• Speed:JCPenneyhasreducedtheleadtimefromdesigntosalesfloorintheprivatebrands’manufacturingprocess,allowingbettervisibilityontrendsandonwhatthecustomersarebuying.

• Innovation:JCPenneyhastakenadata-drivenapproachtopricingandstandardizedpricinganalyticsintoonecentralsystem.

Kohl’s

ChallengesandPrioritiesAccordingtoKevinMansell,CEOofKohl’s,theweakapparelenvironmenthashurttoplinegrowth.Kohl’sstrivestomaketheproductofferinginunderperformingstoresmorerelevantandmoreeffective.Itintendstocontinuetolowerinventoryperstorebyabout3%peryearoverthenextthreeyears,withlargerinventoryreductionsatitsretailstoresandatitswarehouses.

MarvinEllison,PresidentandCEOofJCPenney,saidthekeybenefitofe-commerceisconvenience.

TheweakapparelenvironmenthashurttoplinegrowthofKohl’s.

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Supply-ChainInitiatives• Speed:Kohl’sfocusesonspeedandlocalizationinitiativestoimproveits

supplychain.Thisspringitexpandeditsspeedinitiativetootherprivateandexclusivebrandsacrosstheapparelandsofthomecategories.Thepercentageoftheproprietarybrandbusinessofoverallproprietarysalesimpactedbythisspeedinitiativewillincreasefrom25%attheendof2016toabout40%in2017.

• Innovation:Kohl’sisleveragingtechnologytoincreasethepercentageofinventoryshippedfromstorestofulfillonlinedemandoronlinedemandpickedupin-store.

Macy’s

ChallengesandPrioritiesDuringrecentearningscalls,Macy’smanagementhascommentedonthehugechallengeithasbeentofindtherightsizefitforitscustomers.Itisdifficulttostandardizesizesandpatternsforeachoftheirbrandswhentheyhavedifferentmanufacturingandsourcingpartners.Toensurethestoreshavethesizeandcolorthatthecustomerwantsinstock,Macy’sneedtobuildtheassortmentsandholdsufficientstockforthebest-sellingstyles.

Supply-ChainInitiatives• Optimization:In1Q17,JeffreyGennette,PresidentandCEOofMacy’s,

saidthecompanyhasconsolidatedthenumberofsuppliersitworkswithintheFarEastandnowhasembeddedteamsinplacetoreducetheamountofapprovalsandstepsinthebuyingprocess.

• Speed:Macy’shasalsotriedtospeedupthedecision-makingprocessthroughgreatercollaboration.Thishasmeantincreasingthepaceofthedecision-makingprocessandworkingcloselywithprivatebrandsandreactingwithmarketchangesmorequickly―beingmoreagileandthusabletomakedecisionsmorequickly.

• Innovation:Macy’sencouragesitsbrandpartnerstobemorecreativeandshareopportunitiesthroughdataandinnovation.

Nordstrom

ChallengesandPrioritiesAccordingtoMichaelKoppel,ExecutiveVPandCFOatNordstrom,theretailerhasbeenworkingthroughtheoperationalchallengesofoperatinganintegratedin-storeandonlinebusiness,asitdidnothaveallthesystemsfullyaligned.Processingreturnsmadeonlinein-storeandfindingtherightwaytobalanceinventoryarealsokeychallengesthecompanyfaces.Duringrecentearningscalls,managementhasalsomentionedchangingcustomerexpectations―whatcustomersexpectnowadaysisverydifferentfromwhattheyhadexpectedinthepast.

Macy’smanagementhascommentedonthehugechallengeithasbeentofindtherightsizefitforitscustomers.

MichaelKoppel,ExecutiveVPandCFOatNordstromsaidwhatcustomersexpectnowadaysisverydifferentfromwhattheyhadexpectedinthepast.

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Supply-ChainInitiatives• Optimization:Spendingonsupply-chaintechnologyhasgrownby20%on

averageoverthepastfiveyears.

• Innovation:Nordstromexpectstoinvestroughly$3.4billionover thenextfiveyears.Roughly40%ofthecompany’splannedexpenditure hasbeenallocatedtomodernizingitstechplatform,makingdigitaland mobileenhancementsandexpandingthefulfillmentnetwork.Nordstrom acquiredDSCo.,aproviderofcloud-basedservices,totrackinventory andorders,andhencelowerretailers’costsbyrequiringthemtohold lessinventory.

Sears

ChallengesandPrioritiesAweakdemandenvironment,warmweather,increasedpromotionalactivitiesandintensecompetitionarethekeychallengesthatSearshasmentionedonitsrecentearningscalls.Thecompanyintendstoimprovetheperformanceoftheapparelbusinessthroughchangesinsourcing,productassortment,spaceallocation,pricing,expensemanagementandinventory-managementpractices.

Supply-ChainInitiatives• Optimization:Searsisworkingonimprovingbothflexibilityand

profitabilityinthesupplychainbyimprovingitssourcingcapabilities.

• Speed:Thecompanyismakinginventoryacrosstheentirestorenetworkavailabletomembersofitsloyaltyclubsocustomerscansearch,findandpurchaseitemsregardlessofphysicallocation.Thesystemenablesthestoreclosesttothecustomertofulfilltheordersoitcanbedeliveredfasterandatalowercost.

• Innovation:Searsistakingstepstoconnecttheecosystemofitsstoresandwarehousesbyleveragingtechnologyandsupply-chainplatforms.Thishasallowedthecompanytodeliverto99%ofUShouseholdswithintwodaysorless.

Target

ChallengesandPrioritiesJohnJ.Mulligan,COOofTarget,reiteratedthatthechallengefacingthecompanyistomakeretailshoppingmoreexperiential―inotherwords,deliveringmoreoftheinspirationthatconsumerscanonlyfindinthephysicalstores.Heexpectsconsumerstocontinuetobedrawntoe-commercetosavetimeonshoppingandemphasizedthatretailersneedtounderstandhowconsumers’preferencesandexpectationsareevolving.Bybeingabletoanticipatethedirectionconsumersareheading,retailerscanfindnewwaystoengagethemateverystage.

Aweakdemandenvironment,warmweather,increasedpromotionalactivitiesandintensecompetitionarethekeychallengestoSears

JohnJ.Mulligan,COOofTarget,reiteratedthatthechallengefacingthecompanyistomakeretailshoppingmoreexperiential.

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Supply-ChainInitiatives• Optimization:TargetopenedanewfacilityintheNortheastthatwill

allowtheretailertotestdifferentiateddistributioncapabilities,includingstorereplenishmentbasedontheappropriateunitofmeasureoneveryitem.Targethasalsodramaticallyreducedhoursofstorelaborthatisdedicatedtounloadingtrucksandstockingthesalesfloor,sothatthestorelaborcanfocusonservingcustomers.

• Speed:AtitsTribecastoreinNewYorkCity,Targetisreadytobeginbeta-testingofsame-daydeliverytocustomersatthatstore.TargetRestock,whichwillbeginrollingouttotheTwinCities,allowscustomerstoplacearestockorder―aboxfilledwithessentialitems,suchastoothpaste,diapers,coffeeandcereal―andhaveitdeliveredtotheirhomesquicklyforalowflatfee(constrainedbyaweightlimit).

• Innovation:Targethasallocatedcapitalexpenditureofmorethan$7billionoverthenextthreeyearstofocusontechnologyanditssupplychain.Itplanstobuildasmartnetworkthatleveragesallitsstoresanddistributionassetstoserveconsumersmorequicklyandmoreflexiblyineverychannel.Bydigitalizingthesupplychain,Targetcangaininsightintothepotentialoperationalchallengesanddetermineappropriatepricinganddeliverywindowsbasedonconsumers’preferences.Theseinnovationsaredesignedtoprovidemoreconvenience,inspirationandfasterfulfillment.

Walmart

ChallengesandPriorities Onrecentearningscalls,DouglasMcMillon,CEOofWalmart,hasreiteratedfourprioritiesforthecompany:

1. Makeeverydayeasierforbusyfamilies.

2. Operatewithdiscipline.

3. ChangehowWalmartworksbybecomingamoredigitalenterprise.

4. Deliverresultsandpositionthecompanytowin.

Walmartfocusesonsustainabilityandenhancingtheshoppingexperienceforitscustomers.

Supply-ChainInitiatives• Optimization:Ithasdoubledtheefficiencyofitstruckfleet.

• Speed:Walmartcontrolsthesupplychainforitsgrocerybusinessbyhavingdirect,long-termrelationshipswithfoodgrowers.

• Innovation:Walmarthasadoptednewtechnologyandappstoprovidereal-timeinformationtoimprovein-stocklevelsandbettermanageinventory.

Walmartfocusesonsustainabilityandenhancingtheshoppingexperienceforitscustomers.

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Amazon’sSupply-ChainInitiativesNext,welookathowAmazondifferentiatesitselfthroughsupply-chainmanagement.

Basedonthethreefactorsdiscussedabove,wehighlightafewexamplestodemonstratewhatAmazonisdoingcomparedtotraditionalretailers:

• Optimization:ForitsPrimeMembers,Amazonoffersfreetwo-hourshippingineligibleareasorfreetwo-dayshipping.Toenablesuchanefficientlogisticsprocess,Amazonbuiltfulfillmentcentersandwarehousesclosetomajormetropolitancitiesafewyearsago.Duringitsfirstquarter2017earningscall,BrianOlsavsky,SVPandCFO,mentionedthatmostofthe51%year-over-yeargrowthincapexwasspentonexpandingthefulfillmentnetwork.Thisechoedlastyear’s“DragonBoat”initiative,whichBloomberghassaidisacorporatestrategytotakecontrolofAmazon’send-to-endsupplychainglobally.Amazonalsoformedateamtofocusonthedevelopmentofdriverlesstechnology,andalsoaimstoachievelogisticsautomation,accordingtotheWallStreetJournal.

• Speed:Amazoniscontinuouslyinvestingintechnologiesandproductsthatautomatetheshoppingprocessandspeedupfulfillment.It’sDashButtonisadevicethatmakesreorderingcertainproducts,suchasdetergent,aseasyasthepushofabutton.Lastyear,Amazonalsofiledapatentforaflyingwarehouseconceptthatactsasalaunchpaddispatchingdeliverydronesforlast-miledelivery.Theconceptcallsforablimporairshipthatwouldactasaflyingfulfillmentcenterhoveringintheairwheredemandforcertainproductsisramping.

• Innovation:AccordingtoTheSeattleTimes,Amazonnowhasover45,000robotsinitswarehouses.PoweredbyKivaSystems,theserobotscansort,pickandpackorderswithoutanyhumanintervention.Inaddition,AmazonlaunchedahomevirtualassistantAlexa―anAI-powereddevicethatithopeswillbecomethecentralnervoussystemoftheconnectedhome―whichenablesshoppingthroughvoicecommands.Inlate2015,anotherpatentfilingfromAmazonshowsanon-demandapparelmanufacturingwarehousethatcanquicklyproducetheproductafteranorderisplaced.Thesystemwouldincludeanassemblyline,cuttersandtextileprinters.

Primemembership,theDragonBoatinitiative,DashbuttonsandwarehouserobotsaresomeexamplesofhowAmazonisdigitalizingitssupplychain.

DashandAmazonwarehouserobotshelpAmazontodigitizethesupplychain.

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Figure3.Amazon’sWarehouseRobots

Source:Amazon

DigitalizationoftheSupplyChainInordertoenhanceoptimization,speedandinnovationofthesupplychain,retailerswillneedtorelyondigitalizationtotransformtheirsourcinganddistributionprocessesaswellashowtheyoperatebrick-and-mortarstores.Thetransformationwouldrequireeverypartneralongtheretailvaluechaintobeinvolved.

Someexamplesofdigitalizationalongthevaluechaininclude:

• Productdesign:Digitaldesignsoftware,cloudcomputing,virtualsampling,predictiveanalyticsand3Dprinting.

• Manufacturing:InternetofThing(IoT)technology,sensorsanddigitalprinting.

• Distribution:Robots,autonomousvehicles,blockchaintechnology,radio-frequencyidentification(RFID)andnear-fieldcommunication(NFC).

• Sales:Technologythattracksinventoryand/orconsumerbehavior,whichincludesdeviceswithradio-frequencyidentification(RFID)sensorsthatcantrackthelocationandmovementofitemsin-store,aswellastrackconsumerbehaviorin-store.

Onthesupply-chainside,end-to-endinventorytrackingthroughIoTenablescloserintegrationwithallstagesofthesupplychain,i.e.,distribution,supportingmoreefficientoperationsandlimitingtheoccurrencesofmisplacedorout-of-stockitems.

Digitalizationcantransformthesupplychain.

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Connectedsupplychainsalsoincreasetheopportunitiesforcustomerstoconnectandinteractwithproducts,andretailerstocapturenewrevenueopportunities.In-storeconnectedtechnologyincreasesmerchandiseengagement—forexamplebyusingsmartmirrorsthatenablecustomerstovirtuallytryonitemsorthroughNFCtagsthatsendinformationaboutanitemtothecustomer’ssmartphone.

Formoredetailedanalysisofdigitizationofthesupplychain,pleaserefertoourreports:IoTinRetail—DigitalizingBrick-and-MortarStoresandAnOverviewoftheDigitalizationoftheApparelSupplyChain.

Conclusion:InnovateorDieThebrick-and-mortarchanneliscurrentlylosingthegrowthfighttoe-commerce.Asaresult,majorretailersareundertakingnewsupply-chaininitiativesfocusingonoptimization,speedandinnovationinordertosurviveinthenewdigitalcommerceera.Thepremiseistomakephysicalretailingasconvenientasonlineshoppingfortheconsumer,andtoachieveoperationalefficiencybasedonanomnichannelbusinessmodel.Giventhespeedoftechnologicalinnovation,traditionalretailbusinessesarefacedwithan“innovateordie”propositionandonemajorareathatrequiresinnovatingistheirsupplychains.Bydigitalizingthewaygoodsaredesigned,produced,soldanddelivered,retailersstandtobenefitfromoperationalefficiencyaswellasnewrevenueopportunities,competingmoreeffectivelyinadigitalworld.

Digitalizationcanenableinventoryleveltrackingandlocationtracking―justafewofthemanybenefits.

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July10,2017

DeborahWeinswig,ManagingDirector,FungGlobalRetail&[email protected]:917.655.6790HK:852.6119.1779CN:86.186.1420.3016Copyright©2017TheFungGroup.Allrightsreserved.

DeborahWeinswig,CPAManagingDirectorFungGlobalRetail&TechnologyNewYork:917.655.6790HongKong:852.6119.1779China:86.186.1420.3016deborahweinswig@fung1937.comSimicChanSeniorResearchAssociate

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