Today’s the day Amazon marks its 20th birthday. When it started life it was one of the first online merchants, selling books and gathering enough data about its customers so that it could eventually start selling them other things that match their interests. Now it’s unleashed a day of promotions (more…)
Editor’s Comment
1.3m Yodel customers speak, while Amazon invents another peak
It only seems like last week that I was writing about Amazon in my weekly editor’s column, and here I am doing it again. But before I find myself lost up the Amazon once more, I’d like to tell you about some customer research from Yodel that eDelivery was given an exclusive (more…)
A right old carry on up the Amazon, Danes get their skates on, and history for sale
The news that Amazon has introduced its Prime Now service to the UK, offering one and two hour delivery to addresses in London can be looked at in a number of ways. But it can’t be ignored. Such is the way of the world with the behemoth of ecommerce that (more…)
Amazon Uber alles, Maplin goes C&C, and get your EDC skates on
It’s easy to be cynical about the so-called sharing economy. I should know, as I frequently am. But you don’t need to look far to find real examples of businesses that are shaking up the markets they enter, and in one case in particular, turning it inside out. With its (more…)
Mind the gap – Ocado’s brave new world and Mothercare’s eastern promise
I doubt very much that anyone reading this can remember the post-WWII era that saw the breakthrough in labour-saving devices. But since then, there’s been an explicit promise where technology is concerned – it will save us all time and effort. In fact, it goes back hundreds of years before (more…)
From Amazon’s Minions to dabbling with Doddle, from new launches to our first conference
Three interesting little developments in the delivery world have caught my eye in recent days. In no particular order, they were as follows. Amazon is running a social media competition from Universal Pictures to promote the movie Minions. You know who they are, right? Funny little characters that appeared in (more…)
Home delivery: is it where your heart is?
There’s a lot of focus on what’s round the corner – the next-big-thing phenomenon, referred to here just a few weeks ago. And rightly so. After all, new services are the lifeblood of a successful business in a competitive market. But it wouldn’t do to turn your back on the (more…)
Argos, Sainsbury’s, Hermes, eBay: all change
Unless you’ve been away, or you were hiding under a rock or at the bottom of a well, you’ll be aware that the people of Ireland voted last week in a referendum, the result of which will eventually lead to a change in the law regarding same-sex marriage. It’s ok, (more…)
Under pressure, the kids are all right, and the bear necessities
Someone once told me that business is like a car, the only time it will run by itself is if it’s going downhill. Someone else once told me that the pace of change we are currently experiencing is the slowest it will ever be – it’s only going to get faster. (more…)
Do business in the Nordics, prepare for the Digital Single Market, and monetise the elderly
In the wake of the UK General Election result, the issue of a European exit referendum is back on the agenda. Europe is on the agenda here at eDelivery, too. One of the reasons is that, although it generated a good many fewer headlines, last week also saw the publication (more…)
Editor’s comment: Doing it by the numbers
Two zero four. 204 days, that is. Until Friday 27 November. I shan’t call it by its other name, not just yet anyway. In terms of planning, it’s all over bar the screaming and shouting, according to most people I’ve talked to recently. And there will be screaming and shouting. (more…)
We’ll have a P please Bob – partners, planning, and peak.
Did you recognise the reference to the iconic 90s TV quiz show Blockbuster in the headline? Well, if this week’s eDelivery newsletter were an episode of Stephen Fry’s panel quiz show, QI, this week’s letter would undoubtedly be P. In our case it’s P for partnerships, P for planning and (more…)
Editor’s column: Welcoming new readers to eDelivery
If you’re one of the many people who signed up for an eDelivery subscription at last month’s eDelivery Expo (EDX at the NEC) this could well be the first eDelivery newsletter you’ve received. In which case, I’d like to personally thank you for subscribing and bid you welcome to eDelivery, (more…)
What do Debenhams, House of Fraser and DPD have in common? Success and innovation.
It feels like spring has well and truly sprung this week, at least across most of the UK. And in one of those clichéd segues so beloved of media types, the green shoots of spring that I see all around me have brought to mind the green shoots of new (more…)
Your starter for 10 – where is the omnichannel profit?
The next print edition of eDelivery magazine is currently being put to bed, which is one of those awful pieces of jargon people-in-the-know like to use. It’s not being given some warm milk and being read to, you understand. It is, instead, being finalised and made ready for printing and (more…)
FedEx swoops on TNT, Zara calls up Clipper, MetaPack warns on loyalty
What’s the best thing to wake up to after a cracking Easter weekend? Some breaking news, of course – it’s enough to make you egg-static. But that’s more than enough lame Easter egg themed puns for now. The breaking news to which I am referring, of course, was the announcement (more…)
Editor’s column: EDX drones, Tesco delivery woes, John Lewis C&C grows: all in eDelivery
This time next week eDelivery Expo (EDX 2015) will be well and truly under way. We’ll have had a demo of a drone delivery, courtesy of Scurri. And one lucky expo attendee will be gearing themselves up to show off about the Apple Watch they’ve won. Over the two days, (more…)
Asda & Aldi upset the nimbys, John Lewis hires apprentices, and we give you 10 of the best for EDX
Two weeks today we will be getting eDelivery Expo (EDX 2015) well and truly under way. For those of you who aren’t aware, and I realise I have talked about EDX a lot in these columns and elsewhere, it will take place on 25 & 26 March at the Birmingham (more…)
Editor’s column: Groupon speaks, Asda leads, and 1 billion parcels are heading your way
It is now a mere three weeks until eDelivery Expo (EDX 2015) gets under way on 25 March at the Birmingham NEC. When I was first told about the two day event, at which the great and the good of the industry will meet, speak and network, it seemed like (more…)
Editor’s column: Carrefour plays to its strengths, DHL sounds a note of caution, Raleigh gets on its bike
This week my thoughts turn to Italy. Not because of the weather, but because I interviewed Paolo Rangoni, Supply Chain Director of Carrefour Italy, who will be speaking at EDX 2015. It’s certainly interesting to hear Europe’s biggest retailer’s take on what omnichannel means to their organisation. You can read (more…)