British ecommerce fulfilment specialists J&J Global Fulfilment has announced the official launch of its newest fulfilment centre in Gorzów, Poland. The strategic expansion is set to support faster growth, lower costs and stronger customer experiences across Europe.
The new site is strategically positioned in one of Europe’s fastest-developing logistics corridors and offers next-day delivery to over 80 million consumers across Poland, Germany, Czechia, Slovakia and Austria. It is also connected to major parcel and freight networks via Poznań, Warsaw and Berlin. When paired with the existing flagship Netherlands facility, the Poland site strengthens next-day delivery across the continent, making it the ideal location for growing eCommerce brands wanting to reduce delivery times and operational costs.
This latest fulfilment centre marks the 7th global location alongside the UK, Europe, the East and West Coasts of America, Australia and Canada, the latter of which also launched in the last year. The new centre is strategically positioned to work with the existing global network and will offer all the benefits of J&J’s proprietary tech platform, ControlPort™, and internationalisation consultancy, Navigator
Emma Dempsey, CEO of J&J Global Fulfilment, said: “We are incredibly excited to bring our award-winning technology and decades of experience to Poland. This location represents a major milestone in our ongoing mission to help brands see more, sell more and grow more. This means real time data insight, specialist growth services and access to new markets. The new facility represents the ongoing investment in our network of international fulfilment centres and reinforces our commitment to provide a truly global capability to our customers. It’s a very exciting time for everyone at J&J, and we’re already looking at additional network locations across the world in key eCommerce hotspots.”
The Gorzów centre is also equipped to handle Dangerous Goods (DG), offering specialised compliance and handling capabilities for a wider range of product categories.
Online power-tool retailer, UK Planet Tools, has invested early in ‘right-size’ packing automation to remove constraints on growth and build-in flexible capacity for peak. Starting out in 2010 as a local retailer of high-quality tools and fixings, serving customers in and around Milton Keynes, UK Planet Tools has grown rapidly to become one of the largest online suppliers to the building trade for power-tools and related products. Thousands of orders a day are shipped to customers across the UK.
As with most ecommerce businesses the speed and efficiency of the pick, pack and dispatch operation is vital, making all the difference to customer satisfaction levels and potential sales – particularly, at peak. For the managing director of UK Planet Tools, Bohdan Hrystayenko, this was an aspect of the business where he could see automation bringing significant cost savings combined with an uplift to productivity and it was the packing operation that held the greatest potential for a fast return on investment (ROI).
Labour savings
Having spoken with Sparck Technologies, Hrystayenko was aware of the major benefits, in the form of labour and materials savings, that could come from using automated ‘right-size’ boxing technology. Sparck Technologies’ CVP Impack auto-boxing system has the capability to tailor-make up to 500 boxes per hour, for multiple or single item orders, using advanced 3D scanning technology to optimally size, create and label each parcel in one seamless process – reducing package volumes by up to 50%, cutting cardboard usage by 30% and eliminating the need for void fill.
The technology was perfect for UK Planet Tool’s varied product profiles and mixed order quantities. The CVP Impack was highly flexible, capable of scanning and making boxes to the exact size needed for single item orders or multiple items, time and time again.
Why wait?
“This machine was exactly what we wanted,” says Hrystayenko. “Even though our daily throughput was only about half the capacity capable of the CVP Impack we knew we could reap enormous benefits from installing the machine now, rather than waiting. We were confident that with this machine in place we would have the operational flexibility and extra capacity to grow, without any fears over hitting peak volumes or trying to find additional labour. It was the right thing to do.”
An order for a CVP Impack was placed at the beginning of November 2024 and installed on 17th December, with ‘right-size’ packages rolling off the machine just two days later. “Space in the warehouse was tight but with some creative thinking from ourselves and Sparck we made it work. It was an incredible feat, supplying and installing the whole system in just eight weeks,” he says.
Big benefits
“The benefits for our business have been enormous,” says Hrystayenko. “With each box now custom-made to fit the exact dimensions of every order, we’ve eliminated the waste of shipping empty space. This alone has saved us 40% on consumables and material costs. Our reliance on manual labour has dropped significantly, transforming what was once a labour-intensive packing process. Like many ecommerce businesses, Mondays are our busiest days. Previously, we had to start early to clear the weekend backlog, but now we don’t begin until 8am. Thanks to the CVP Impack, just two operators can manage 250–300 packages per hour, removing the need for overtime and extra staffing.”
But for Hrystayenko, the most significant benefit from purchasing the Sparck’s CVP Impack has been the uplift in customer service, enabling a 5pm cut-off for a next-day delivery – a reliable fulfilment capability that builds customer confidence and wins new business. “The Trustpilot reviews have been glowing green ever since,” says Hrystayenko. “In fact, I calculate that had we installed the CVP Impack before the autumn peak we could have done 1.5x the business we did. This machine has given us the opportunity to grow the business. There’s no stopping us now.”
ASOS, a global fashion destination, has announced a collaboration with Celonis to optimise supply chain operations. Through the Celonis Process Intelligence platform, ASOS is connecting its end-to-end supply chain to provide full visibility, transparency and accountability, enabling reductions in process variation, increasing speed to market, and improving the customer experience.
“ASOS is a prime example of how leading retailers can use Process Intelligence to transform their operations,” said Rupal Karia, General Manager for UKI and MEA at Celonis. “With Celonis, ASOS gets unprecedented visibility into its end-to-end supply chain and can identify and act upon opportunities for improvement in real-time. Together, we’re unlocking the full potential of ASOS’ supply chain to deliver faster, smarter, and more efficient operations at scale.”
Transforming ASOS’ Supply Chain and Driving “Speed to Customer” with a Process-first Approach
As a leading online fashion retailer, ASOS operates in a highly dynamic and competitive market where speed to customer is a critical differentiator. Leveraging the Celonis Process Intelligence platform and its game-changing object-centric process mining (OCPM) technology, ASOS can connect its product, inbound supply chain, logistics and outbound delivery & returns teams, providing a holistic, real-time view of the full supply chain process—from purchase order to putaway to products on the doorstep. This enables ASOS to gain actionable insights into key supply chain performance metrics, which will help drive faster, more reliable order fulfillment.
“With Celonis, we’ve connected our entire supply chain—from intake and inbound to outbound and returns—enabling teams to break down silos, streamline processes, cut costs, and deliver the latest trends to customers faster,” said Laurence Moore, Head of Strategic Projects, Supply Chain at ASOS.
A Vision for the Future: Scaling Process Intelligence across ASOS
As part of its long-term digital transformation strategy, ASOS is exploring ways to expand Celonis across multiple business functions, including Purchase-to-Pay, Order Management, IT Service Management, and Warehouse Management. With real-time process monitoring, ASOS can further enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and continue delivering an outstanding customer experience.
Heating products and electrical cable distributor Pitacs Ltd has selected Forterro’s ERP and Warehouse Management Solution, Orderwise Cloud, to drive automation, improve operational efficiency, enhance ecommerce and support the next stage of the company’s digital transformation.
Founded in 1990, Pitacs is one of the UK’s largest manufacturers and distributors of heating products and electrical cables, with brands including luxury, sculptural heating AEON, trade favourite Ultraheat, Pitacs Heating, Pitacs Cable, TIME Cable and TIME LED.
The business had been using different systems from different vendors for ERP and WMS for many years, but with increasingly disparate processes and mounting inefficiencies, the company recognised the need for a modern, integrated ERP platform.
“Orderwise Cloud gives us a fully connected solution to replace multiple disjointed systems,” said Farrukh Lodhi, Finance Manager, Pitacs. “Our teams had been coming up against challenges around accessing data, making key business decisions and driving automation across each department.
“Orderwise solves these challenges by delivering one single solution which has the functionality and tools to continue to drive the business forward. We’re excited about the potential of the platform to support our ongoing ecommerce growth and position us as a more agile, responsive organisation.”
With ambitions to expand its ecommerce capabilities, Pitacs was looking for a trusted solutions partner with a proven track record of delivering similar projects and working with companies in the same sector. Orderwise Cloud offers the tools and functionality to support these goals while unifying all departments into a single, easy-to-use system.
“Pitacs is a forward-thinking business that needed a scalable, flexible solution to match its growth ambitions,” said Tom Price, Director, Forterro. “Orderwise Cloud gives them the visibility and control they need to streamline operations and deliver on their digital transformation journey.”
Orderwise Cloud is a powerful ERP solution designed for distributors, wholesalers, retailers, and manufacturers. It helps businesses optimise workflows, connect processes, and improve warehouse management. Built on Amazon Web Services (AWS), it provides a secure, future-proof infrastructure with scalable access from anywhere.
There is a $367B ‘Second Hand’ opportunity hiding for parcel locker networks, argues Francesco Tribuni (pictured below), Sales Manager and Industry Expert for Bloq.it
One of the joys of being part of the parcel industry is that innovation is continuously in the background: there’s no day, week or year without radical changes. Those changes are more often exogenous, therefore always enabling new opportunities in the first and last mile.
The most promising one I see nowadays is coming from circular economy: second hand, peer to peer, resale, repair services (…) call it whatever you’d like. It is a growing market, with global second-hand apparel market likely to reach $367B by 2029.
Francesco Tribuni
So, what makes this so appealing?
It is not the ‘resale’ in itself as we’re all accustomed to it, but rather the fact that we can upgrade from a neighbourhood market level, which takes place once per week and with limited local reach, to online platforms connected with hundreds of millions of users. At this moment in time, we can now buy and sell online to a worldwide audience in a few clicks, buying a shipping label for a few €/$/£/¥, and also building a private business that could escalate to a 6 figure level.
How can Logistics support it and add value?
From a customer perspective, and especially for private users, online sales/purchases will start from the usual checkout, where logistics is perceived as an integral and not separate part of the process. Amazon has accustomed us to feel the shipping process as an easy thing, consumers like EASY processes. Also, don’t forget that +90% of private sales will have an average order value lower than the original price, due to this shipping cost must be cheaper, to be cheaper it must be self-service and with fewer steps.
Parcel businesses have the potential to support and add value through C2C services where the standard ‘A to B flow’ (A = Pickup Address, and B = Delivery Address) is radically different. Let me list some below:
– Instead of ‘addresses’, A and B are Parcel shops & Parcel Lockers. – Shippers will buy labels on demand, no account needed. – Labelless and boxless shipments: Parcel shops or Drivers will label and box products to be shipped. – Parcel Lockers can be a temporary storage space. – A to B is valid for both outbound deliveries & returns. – Shipment will be prepaid, and Shipping Costs will tend to be cheaper. – One Delivery Driver can potentially handle 500 to 1K parcels per Day. – Cross Border is the New Normal, consumers are more open to buy abroad if the product is made available at an affordable price and transit time.
The forecast is quite clear: parcel and postal business can ‘extend’ its portfolio and revenue stream by accessing the mass of citizens (consumers) that are willing to resell their preloved things gathering dust in their homes. The potential market of C2C is enormous. And how should we logistics operators ‘deliver’ this change?
I see 2 ways: – First – develop as fast as possible what’s above with a reliable and updated tech stack (people value convenience) together with an extended OOH Network where Parcel Lockers can play a crucial role. – Second – ‘transform’ the Logistic Arm of a Second Hand Marketplace. This is what Amazon, Alibaba and most recently Vinted have done in recent years, after using Couriers as suppliers for years.
Lastly, a final thought about parcel lockers. It’s easy to call them ‘machines of bent metal’, but the real truth is that a smart parcel locker is the tech and logistics upgrade of a delivery driver (that won’t end nor replace their job): – More deliveries per day. – Little to no failed attempts. – Customized UX while picking/returning a Parcel. – Savings on Shipping Costs. – Modularity can enable additional parcel capacity for peak periods
I’m biased on this topic, I know. But it’s safe to say that the future of every online order is already here.
Direct-to-Consumer (D2C) eCommerce sales keep increasing. Good news for retailers, logistics and warehouse operators, but not necessarily if many items are sent back after receipt. David Priestman reports on how reverse logistics can be made less challenging.
“Amazon-style returns for D2C brands,” is what ReturnBear’s CEO, Sylvia Ng (pictured, below), told me her company can offer when we met at Manifest Las Vegas. International ecommerce returns management is the forte and niche of the Canadian company she leads. “Some buyers know they will return items when they buy them,” she states.
Returns rates in the D2C brand sector average a whopping 35%, with clothing and fashion being the largest sector for returns by far. “Electronics, home goods, and beauty products tend to have high return rates,” Ng adds. “Electronic goods often face issues with buyer’s remorse or compatibility concerns, while homeware goods like furniture can suffer from size mismatches.”
Sylvia Ng
Returns cause inevitable supply chain headaches, but how can they be ameliorated? As a 4PL (fourth party logistics operator) ReturnBear, based in Toronto, work with brands to lessen the costs and complications of returned, unwanted goods. In 2024, ReturnBear surpassed the 1 million returns milestone, processing over 1 million returns through its end-to-end system, which includes a returns portal and automation software.
“Merchants face high costs and returns take too long,” says Ng, adding that sustainability issues also press brands and retailers to lessen the, often, long load back. When a consumer wants to return one item or more and be refunded a retailer merchant first has to provide them with a shipping address label. Ideally, the consumer should get an instant refund but do the first mile of the return journey – namely to take the re-packaged parcel(s) to a returns centre.
Keeping it Local
If a brand merchant sells in multiple countries ReturnBear keeps the products local. The company has such a facility near us, in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, that receives all British returned items and keeps them in the UK for re-despatching. When the item(s) are received back at the returns centre they can be checked, inspected and re-packaged or tagged ready for delivery to the next customer, without going all the way back to the retailer’s warehouse or factory, which is usually far from the consumer and often in a different country.
“Merchants can easily sell in a hundred countries overnight using global selling platforms,” Ng tells me, “but there is no easy way to get returns back. Our expansion into the UK market is part of our vision to be the first global end-to-end platform for single-day returns. The new MK facility is run in partnership with Reship and the expansion coincides with us extending our support to clients.” By entering the UK market, ReturnBear can now offer a suite of reverse logistics solutions to enable merchant retailers to provide good experiences without a direct local presence.
“Cross-border eCommerce continues to outpace domestic growth, driven by increasing consumer confidence in international shopping and the expansion of global fulfilment networks,” Ng says. “However, challenges like returns, duties, tariffs, and logistics complexities remain key pain points – ones that we help brands navigate.” There is a need to streamline returns processes and improve customer experience.
ReturnBear offer merchants package-free and label-free convenient return points as an alternative to returning items by post. The company claims that as much as half of return logistics costs can be saved by this method. There are over 1000 such return drop-off points in Canada, covering 80% of the population there. “While Canada is our primary operational base, we operate in the US, UK and Australia with dedicated returns warehouses that help merchants receive, verify, and process returns. Where applicable we forward fulfil the returned inventory to local customers, preventing the need for merchants to ship product back to centralized warehouses that are typically across borders or oceans. With this service we reduce the distance travelled by returns by 40% and therefore reduce emissions by the same amount. We’re seeing strong demand in the US, UK, and Australia for this service which is very aligned with our strategic expansion.”
Stopping Fraud
Cross border returns, with pre-clearance, commercial invoices and shipping manifests are provided. What about bulk shipments? “Our batch consolidation model allows brands to reduce the cost and environmental impact of returns by grouping multiple returned items together before they are shipped back to a warehouse or resale location. Instead of processing individual return shipments, items are collected at regional hubs and shipped in bulk – lowering logistics costs, reducing carbon footprint, and improving efficiency.”
“Fraud prevention is important, so we verify that the correct item has been returned if a refund has been actioned by the scanning of the returns shipping label,” Ng explains. “Merchants can easily sell in a hundred countries overnight using global selling platforms. But there is no easy way to get returns back. Our expansion into the UK market is part of our vision to be the first global end-to-end platform for single-day returns,” she added. “Consumers check for convenient returns before buying, and merchants must meet consumers’ expectations to grow in local markets. ReturnBear provides a simple way to do that.” And we all must keep the consumer happy, right?
With over 150 international attendees representing 92 leading companies in the world of eCommerce and logistics, the 2025 edition of CMC’s Innovation Day on Wednesday concluded with outstanding success. Held at the CMC Packaging Automation headquarters in Città di Castello, the event reaffirmed the company’s central role as a global benchmark in packaging automation.
This year’s theme, LIMITLESS, served as the guiding thread for a day filled with insights, visionary thinking, and innovations that are reshaping the future of right-sized packaging. The morning conference featured presentations from international customers, system integrators, and industry leaders who shared real-world case studies and emerging market trends. Logistics Business will bring you the full story in our next issue.
Among the speakers were DHL – who presented its project with Adidas; Avantor and Element Logic – who highlighted their joint project in Germany and the crucial role of CMC Genesys integration with AutoStore; and eMAG – the largest eCommerce player in Eastern Europe, who presented its packaging automation project developed in partnership with CMC. Exotec offered insight on the importance of right-sized packaging in complementing the new Skypod system.
In the afternoon, guests visited CMC’s production facility for exclusive demonstrations of the full range of on-demand packaging solutions and two of 2025’s key technological innovations:
• CMC Super Vertical: an ultra-compact machine capable of producing right-sized boxes and mailers, specifically designed for small to mid-sized distribution centers. It is ideal for retrofit projects and for maximizing space without compromising productivity.
• New CMC Genesys Concept and Genesys PRIMA: a scalable and modular machine, able to operate either as a stand-alone box-first solution or integrated within warehouse workflows. With the integration of CMC’s patented Vary-Tote technology, the system can handle irregularly shaped products within advanced pick-to-pack processes.
The event also saw a strong presence of system integrators from across the globe, eager to explore the flexibility and scalability of CMC’s solutions for end-to-end project implementations.
Underscoring the event’s success and rising international demand, CMC announced that, for the first time, Innovation Day will also be held at its Tech Centre in Atlanta, Georgia on July 16th. Already functioning as a training hub and testing lab for clients and technology partners, the U.S. site will host the second edition of CID25 to offer an immersive experience to the North American market.
“Integration is no longer optional — it’s essential. At CMC, we believe that innovation must start with listening. Since 1980, we’ve helped companies improve their fulfillment processes and achieve their sustainability goals through high-speed, high-performance technology. In recent years, market demand has shifted: businesses now need scalable solutions that can be deployed in existing, space-constrained environments. This is what has driven our R&D efforts. The result is a new generation of ultra-compact, intelligent systems that can handle a wide variety of items without compromising on package integrity or throughput. With CID25, we wanted to demonstrate that when innovation is driven by vision and passion, there are no limits,” said Francesco Ponti, CMC Executive Chairman and CEO.
Tania Torcolacci, Head of Global Marketing and Strategic Partnerships at CMC, added: “The excitement we received during the event encouraged us to extend Innovation Day to the U.S., where we aim to replicate the energy, dialogue, and value generated here in Italy.”
Evri, one of the UK’s largest dedicated parcel delivery companies, and DHL eCommerce, the e-commerce logistics specialist of DHL Group, have today announced a strategic transaction that will see the merger of DHL eCommerce UK with Evri. The merged Evri business will deliver over 1 billion parcels and a further 1 billion business letters annually and is poised to bring significant benefits to consumers and businesses by offering greater choice and cost competitive solutions. As part of the transaction, DHL Group will acquire a significant minority stake in Evri.
Evri’s cost-effective and flexible courier offer will be complemented with the addition of DHL eCommerce’s premium van delivery network. Rebranded Evri Premium – a network of DHL eCommerce, this will remain a dedicated and secure, separate network that will offer fast, time-sensitive deliveries with enhanced shipping security protection for high-value and large items for B2B and B2C parcel services.
The new Group will include an expanded international capability for inbound and outbound parcels to complement Evri’s own international network by making use of DHL eCommerce’s extensive expertise in cross-border parcel shipping and out-of-home network of nearly 150, 000 global access points. This includes faster transit times across the world with access to DHL’s own eCommerce network in Europe, the U.S. and selected Asian markets such as India.
Notably, Evri is entering the UK business letter market for the first time, with DHL’s UK Mail retained in the new combined Group and offering a best-in-class mail service. This will also offer e-commerce businesses more options for sending lighter-weight items. In addition, customers will benefit from the Group’s new combined out-of-home shop and locker network parcel delivery and collection which will be the UK’s largest.
Martijn de Lange, CEO of Evri, said: “We are excited that DHL eCommerce UK will merge with Evri to bring together two highly complementary UK businesses – committed to innovation and offering customers and clients the best possible service. By combining Evri’s scale, innovation and DHL eCommerce’s best-in-class premium van network, we are creating the pre-eminent parcel delivery group in the UK. Over the last decade Evri has grown ten-fold in size and this transaction will further expand our access into the European and global e-commerce markets. Since Apollo-managed funds came on board as our owners, they have backed our intent to drive forward and grow to become the UK’s premier parcel delivery business.”
Pablo Ciano, CEO of DHL eCommerce, said: “DHL eCommerce and Evri both stand for top service quality, reliability, and sustainability, which makes this partnership a great fit for our customers. Together, we’ll be able to offer more efficient, far-reaching, and innovative solutions to keep up with the fast-paced e-commerce market. By joining forces in the UK, we’re creating a one-stop shop for all our customers’ parcel needs here and giving them better delivery options from around the world.”
The service portfolio of the newly formed Group will include:
• Cost-effective and flexible courier network for next-day and standard deliveries for small and large items for retailers, businesses and consumers.
• A separate, dedicated and secure premium network for high-value and larger parcels for B2B and B2C deliveries.
• A leading SME one stop shop solution which offers everything from mail, lightweight, larger, secure, B2B, international and fulfilment services.
• The UK’s largest out-of-home network of 15,000 access points.
• Extensive international capability to complement Evri’s own international network by making use of DHL eCommerce’s expertise in cross-border parcel shipping and global out-of-home network of nearly 150,000 access points.
• The operation of a best-in-class mail service on behalf of businesses in the UK.
On completion, the combined Group, will bring together a team of over 30,000 couriers and van drivers, 12,000 colleagues, with a fleet of 8,000 vehicles to deliver over 1 billion parcels and 1 billion letters annually.
Evri Chairman and Apollo Partner Alex van Hoek, said: “This is a tremendous milestone in Evri’s journey, and we are delighted to welcome a global leader like DHL as a strategic partner and shareholder. By embracing technology and innovation, Evri has grown from strength to strength in a dynamic e-commerce market. With DHL’s complementary expertise and strong network, the business is well positioned to further improve its reliable services and the customer experience.”
Following completion, Martijn de Lange will lead the combined business in the UK, with Stu Hill, currently CEO of DHL eCommerce UK, becoming MD of Evri’s Premium DHL network business. The DHL eCommerce UK executive team will also join the new group.
Evri will continue to be majority owned by Apollo-managed funds. Completion of the transaction and the outlined partnership are contingent upon closing conditions, including customary regulatory approvals. The businesses of DHL Express, DHL Supply Chain and DHL Global Forwarding in the UK are unaffected by this transaction and will continue to operate as they do at present.
New data reveals multi-channel shoppers spend 15% more per order when unified commerce is offered by retailers. Retailers are engaged in an ongoing battle to innovate and adapt to evolving customer demands in an uncertain economy. New data from Manhattan Associates reveals that retailers relying on siloed, outdated systems are struggling, while leaders in unified commerce are gaining a competitive edge by delivering better customer experiences and more efficient operational outcomes. The report shows that blurring the lines between the physical and digital shopping experiences to create a seamless brand journey is becoming more important. Physical stores can no longer rely solely on transactions; they must adapt to serve as fulfilment hubs, service centres, and brand anchors.
Key to growth
“Retailers who’ve embraced unified commerce are seeing impressive results, including a 23% higher inventory turnover and a 22% reduction in customer acquisition costs,” says Craig Summers (pictured), MD UK/VP Northern Europe & MEA, Manhattan Associates. “In today’s competitive market, that’s a significant advantage.”
With 77% of retailers acknowledging that customer acquisition costs have increased substantially, unified commerce offers a solution by driving efficiency and attracting customers through personalised experiences powered by real-time data. This is key, as customers who engage across multiple channels generate 1.5X higher lifetime value, highlighting the potential of unified commerce.
Bridging the channel gap
While a massive 73% of retailers recognise that seamless cross-channel cart and wish list functionality is essential, only 32% can actually deliver it. Summers adds, “This isn’t just about convenience; it’s about meeting customer expectations. Retailers need to invest in platforms that allow customers to start a purchase on their phone, continue it on their laptop, and pick it up in-store seamlessly.”
The connected customer journey is still reliant upon human relationships, however. Using technology enables retailers to extend the reach and impact of their in-store teams, enhancing rather than replacing human expertise. In-store staff remain a crucial part of connecting the physical and online customer experience.
Craig Summers
Furthermore, 69% of retailers recognise that real-time clienteling is key. Summers notes, “Retailers need to equip their staff with devices that connect them to customer data and preferences in real-time, enabling them to provide tailored recommendations, and build lasting relationships that shape their digital experiences too.”
Boosting efficiency and slashing costs
Traditional stores are being crushed under the weight of rising expenses, with labour costs having risen for 63% of retailers. Unified commerce offers a solution by automating inventory, routing orders intelligently, and deploying self-service kiosks, thereby empowering retailers to streamline operations and reduce costs.
Summers explains that; “designing operations to anticipate changes and adapt to customer needs is essential to ensure retailers build resilience into their value chain, while giving time back to sales associates who can focus on higher-value customer interactions, and more strategic decision-making.”
This frictionless efficiency extends to the shopper experience too. Seamless checkout is now a basic requirement, with 57% of retailers recognising its importance. This also necessitates payment experiences that automatically adjust to customer preferences offering options like mobile wallets and buy-now-pay-later. 76% of retailers acknowledge that flexible, mixed payment methods are critical for lowering cart abandonment.
Unified commerce is now a strategic imperative
Summers concludes: “The UK retail sector is at a turning point. By embracing unified commerce, retailers can navigate current challenges and market uncertainty to unlock new opportunities for growth, efficiency, and customer loyalty. Investing in unified commerce is no longer optional; it’s a strategic imperative for long-term success.”
Hurricane Commerce, a provider of cross-border e-commerce technology, has successfully integrated its Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solutions with the Universal Postal Union’s (UPU) Customs Declaration System (CDS). This milestone marks a significant step toward improving the efficiency, accuracy, and compliance of global e-commerce shipments.
With this integration, postal operators worldwide will have access to Hurricane’s AI-driven data enhancement technology, ensuring that shipments are fully compliant with customs regulations, reducing delays, and streamlining the movement of goods across borders. The partnership aligns with growing global regulatory requirements, including the European Union’s Import Control System 2 (ICS2) and the US STOP Act. Recent fast-moving developments in the global logistics landscape have further focused the need for accurate, compliant, complete and timely data for clearing shipments across borders.
Hurricane Commerce’s Director of Postal Development, Mark Woodcock, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration: “We are thrilled to have reached this milestone with the UPU to bring our cutting-edge technology to postal operators around the world. This integration with CDS will help posts meet the increasing demands of cross-border trade, ensuring faster deliveries, lower costs and a better customer experience for businesses and consumers alike.”
David Spottiswood (pictured below), Co-Founder at Hurricane Commerce, added: “I am delighted to have worked with the Deputy Director General and his teams on a speedy agreement and integration of the Hurricane technology. This will place the postal industry at the forefront of e-commerce growth, ensuring that our postal customers can now access compliance and regulatory solutions directly from the UPU CDS.”
The integration is expected to benefit postal networks by enhancing data accuracy, reducing customs clearance times, ensuring global transportsecurity and improving customer satisfaction in the e-commerce landscape.
