Tag Archives: Ecommerce

Free ecommerce shipping, online sales, supply chain impact

An article in the New York Times (Jan 4, 2012) describes the 15 % growth in ecommerce sales this year compared to last year. 92% of the online sites offered free shipping and retruns. The resulting surge caused FedEx to … Continue reading

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Real time analytics and Schwan food sales growth

An article in the Wall Street Journal (Jan 4,2012) describes Schwan Foods network of        6,000 home delivery drivers and their use of real time data analytics. Operasolutions, an analytic consulting company, mines purchase patterns to identify a … Continue reading

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Dynamic Pricing of taxicab fares and fairness

An article in the New York Times (Jan 9,2012)  describes taxi pricing at Uber, a company that charged $27 per mile at the start of New Year’s Eve and $135 per mile late night.  Prices were revealed at the wnd … Continue reading

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Ad Free product cost and Supply Chain Impact

An article by Michael Schulder in CNN.com (Dec 29, 2011 http://www.cnn.com/2011/12/29/tech/gaming-gadgets/kindle-ads-schulder/index.html?hpt=hp_bn6) describes the choice between an ad free Kindle for $ 109 and one with ads for $ 79. Clearly Amazon is estimating the ad related revenues as $ 30 … Continue reading

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Ebooks, publishers and libraries – what is the coordinating contract ?

An article in the New York Times (Dec 25, 2011) describes worries by publishers reagrding ebooks sold to libraries. The ease of borrowing, and the absence of a return trip to the library for ebooks, makes the process frictionless and … Continue reading

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The “internet of things” and supply chain impact

An article in the Wall Street Journal (Dec 18, 2011) describes the role of smart sensors and cameras using real time information to impact health care, energy and water conservation and transportation. A GE project uses cameras in hospital rooms … Continue reading

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Ebooks more expensive than paper ?

An article in the Wall Street Journal ( Dec 15, 2011) describes a decision by book publishers to dictate retail prices for ebooks, with retailers requiring permission before discounting. Given that used paper book prices are set by market trends, … Continue reading

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Using security cameras to fine tune retail assortment and displays

An article in Bloombergbusinessweek (Dec 19, 2011) describes the use of security camera video data to track consumer flows within Montblanc’s retil stores, with software by Retailnet enabling adjustments that increased sales 20 %. Given that individual tracking of customer … Continue reading

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Toygaroo – the “Netflix of Toys” ?

Toygaroo (http://www.toygaroo.com) is a Netflix like service for children’s toys. parents sign up for three different levels of service (4, 6 or 8 toys outstanding) and pay a monthly fee. All shipping is through federal Express and is free to … Continue reading

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Higher taxes for ebooks than books in Europe

An article in the New York Times (Dec 2, 2011) describes the classification of ebooks as a service in Europe, thus facing sales taxes close to 20% vs a tax close to 5% for paper books.  In addition, books a … Continue reading

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