Category Archives: consumer

Sensors in grocery stores and customer benefit

Posted on January 24, 2017 by aviyer2010

An article in the Wall Street Journal (January 20,2017) titled “Kroger tests sensors, analytics in interactive grocery shelves” describes Kroger, the US grocery chain, deploying sensors that detect mobile devices and, through LCD screens on aisles, interact with customers’ shopping … Continue reading →

Posted in consumer, Cost, Ecommerce, logistics, loyalty, mgmt5612018, Operations Management, product, technology, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 159 Comments

What innovation lessons can one learn from LEGO ?

Posted on January 23, 2017 by aviyer2010

The book “Brick by Brick:How LEGO rewrote the rules of innovation and conquered the global toy industry”  by David Robertson describes the rebirth of LEGO and strategic choices made along the way. The book lists ideas such as a) linking … Continue reading →

Posted in Collaboration, competitiveness, consumer, Cost, disruption, Innovation, logistics, Operations Management, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Will floating warehouses and drone delivery enable Amazon to deliver in minutes?

Posted on December 29, 2016 by aviyer2010

An article in CNN.com titled “Amazon patent hints at floating warehouses in the sky”  (December 29, 2016) describes a plan to carry anticipated inventory in a blimp located close to customers, with drone delivery in minutes to a customer.  Example … Continue reading →

Posted in Capacity, competitiveness, consumer, Cost, delivery, logistics, mgmt5612018, Operations Management, ordering, Supply Chain Issues, technology | Tagged | 46 Comments

WalMart tests blockchain technology to track food and enable targeted recalls

Posted on December 18, 2016 by aviyer2010

An article in Bloomberg Technology (November 18, 2016) titled “Wal-Mart Tackles Food Safety With Trial of Blockchain” describes tests of a packaged produce item in the USA and pork in China using blockchain technology to track the supply chain across … Continue reading →

Posted in consumer, Cost, delivery, labeling, logistics, retailers, technology | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Do surging ecommerce orders portend lower ontime Christmas deliveries by UPS and FedEx

Posted on December 17, 2016 by aviyer2010

An article in the Wall Street Journal (December 13, 2016) titled “UPS, FedEx Struggle to Keep Up with Surge in Holiday Orders” describes the increase in ecommerce orders from 18% last year to 25% this year and a reduction in … Continue reading →

Posted in Capacity, competitiveness, consumer, Cost, delivery, Ecommerce, Supply Chain Issues, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Hatchimals – the 2016 toy in demand

Posted on December 13, 2016 by aviyer2010

An article in the Wall Street Journal (December 13, 2016) titled “Hatch me if you can:Hunt for Hatchimals Goes Global” describes the 2016 hit toy wonder, the Hatchimal, a toy that hatches from an egg and is a walking toy … Continue reading →

Posted in consumer, Cost, disruption, product, Supply Chain Issues, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

The supply chain impact of India’s cash crunch

Posted on December 13, 2016 by aviyer2010

An article in the New York Times (December 13, 2016) titled “India Hobbles a Cash Crisis, and Electronic Payments Boom”, describes the shortage of the new currency bills in India following its demonetization of 500 and 1000 rupee notes (which … Continue reading →

Posted in consumer, Cost, disruption, retailers, Service Operations, technology, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Amazon’s cashierless grocery store plans

Posted on December 6, 2016 by aviyer2010

An article in Business Insider (December 6,2016) titled “Amazon’s new grocery store highlights a huge hole in Donald Trump’s promise on jobs” describes plans by Amazon to open thousands of stores where customers can check into the store with their … Continue reading →

Posted in competitiveness, consumer, Cost, disruption, logistics, Operations Management, retailers, Service Operations, technology | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

The Lock 52 bottleneck and potential impact

Posted on November 28, 2016 by aviyer2010

An article in the New York Times (November 23, 2016) titled “Choke Point of a Nation:The High Cost of an Aging River Lock” describes the 80 million tons of grain, coal, fuel and other products worth $22 billion in trade … Continue reading →

Posted in Capacity, consumer, Cost, delivery, disruption, logistics | Tagged , , | 24 Comments

The Danish “hygge” fashion trend in Britain

Posted on November 27, 2016 by aviyer2010

An article in the Guardian (November 22, 2016) titled “The hygge conspiracy” describes the marketing of the Danish concept of “hygge”, which implies cosiness, as a fashion trend. Cashmere cardigans, sewing patterns, wallpaper etc are all linked to this concept … Continue reading →

Posted in consumer, Global Contexts, labeling, product, Service Operations | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment