Innovation in Sourcing, Part Four: How You Can Seize the Future   In my last four articles, we’ve taken a look at the key trends shaping the future of retail, and therefore, sourcing. We’ve seen how customers are now expecting more personalization, more speed, and more transparency in their retail experience, mostly due to the rise of Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) companies that use data to power the business. We’ve also discovered how these same trends are […]

Innovations in Sourcing, Part Three: Just-in-Time Manufacturing   What’s one of the most exciting trends in sourcing? Well, for me, it’s how some companies are using just-in-time manufacturing to produce their goods and usher in a new era of inventory management. Let’s see what’s happening. Wanted: Inventory Management for the Digital Age Take a look at last quarter’s earnings calls, and you’ll feel like you’re reading the retail version of A Tale of Two Cities. […]

Innovations in Sourcing, Part Two: Advancing the Cause of Sustainability (and Digitizing It, Too)   In my last post, we saw how digital platforms, such as Inspectorio, are changing the way that retailers, brands, and suppliers approach quality control and compliance. In this post, we’ll discover how technology is transforming sustainability, which continues to be of increasing importance to today’s consumer. The Challenges of Sustainability Efforts Sustainability initiatives are complex. They require many different people, […]

Innovations in Sourcing, Part One: Digitization in the Supply Chain   In my last article, I outlined three important trends that are shaping the future of retail, and therefore, sourcing. More specifically, I talked about how customers are now demanding more personalization, more speed, and more transparency in their retail experience, thanks to the stunning success of Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) businesses, which are largely fueled and enabled by data. So, in the next few sessions, I’ll […]

A New Blog Series: Sourcing of the Future   I am, by profession and nature, both a lover and student of retail. I try to stay current on industry trends, and since my particular passion is sourcing, whenever I hear about the latest and greatest retail innovators, my first question is: “How are they going to make, sell, and ship that?”  So, in the next several articles I’m going to share my thoughts on how […]