Integrated Solutions For Retailers Builds On OrderDynamics Recent Forrester Report in New Omni-Channel Research Supplement

Integrated Solutions for Retailers recently called on Forrester Research Principal Analyst, Peter Sheldon, and Retail Systems Research Managing Partner, Nikki Baird, for insights into the race towards Omni-Channel retailing.  The report, Can You Meet Consumer Expectations at Any Cost? is featured in the April 2014 print edition and builds upon the findings from our recent Forrester report, The Retail Order Management Imperative.

While both Baird and Sheldon approach the race to Omni-Channel seamlessness from decidedly different viewpoints, they share similar underlying strategic intentions. Both agree that a retail order management system is an imperative. Addressing the orchestration of the complex fulfillment scenarios Peter Sheldon states:  "When we talk about all these Omni-Channel permutations, such as click-and-pick, order from store, e-commerce fulfillment from stores, and so on, order management is the foundational layer. It's the glue that holds online and offline together".

The report also delves into change management and the need for company-wide buy-in and the role C-Level executives are playing in bridging the gaps between channels -- consistent with trends identified in The Retail Order Management Imperative -- 39% of retailers have a dedicated executive leading its Omni-Channel implementation and initiatives.

Click here to access the full report and to learn more about the imperatives in the race to "any-channel" retail commerce.

OrderDynamics Featured in Recent eMarketer Omni-Channel Fulfillment Report

With unprecedented sales, news of flying drones, bad weather and the now infamous delivery debacle, the 2013 retail holiday season was a watershed moment for Omni-Channel retailing. A lot can be learned from last year’s holiday season and that precisely is the focus of a recently published report by eMarketer entitled DELIVERY AND PICKUP TRENDS: RETAILERS SEEK THE PATH TO FULFILLMENT. The report (available to eMarketer subscribers) explores the lessons learned from last year’s holiday season and how retailers are meeting the changing demands and expectations of consumers through an Omni-Channel strategy rooted in fulfillment efforts.

Takeaways from the 2013 Holiday Season 

According to comScore the November-to-December 2013 period broke ecommerce records with a staggering $46.5 billion in sales. While The United States Postal Service’s prediction of a 12% increase in shipping volumes last year fell short of the more than 19% reality, carriers cannot shoulder all the blame. As the report notes, both carriers and retailers were unprepared for the unprecedented surge in online sales, leading to overpromising and under-delivering on customer deliveries. Citing a study by StellaService and consulting firm Kurt Salmon, the report notes that retailers made several errors including failing to upgrade their shipping capabilities to accommodate last-minute orders. Going forward, for the 2014 holiday season the report mentions that some retailers will attempt to spread out sales to mitigate the amount of shopping on Cyber Monday. In addition, retailers such as Best Buy will continue to leverage their stores for fulfillment to meet fast delivery times.

The Gap in Omni-Channel Fulfillment Execution 
The report also notes that while retailers acknowledge the value of seamless fulfillment there is still a gap in execution -- a finding very much in line with our recent Forrester Research report, The Retail Order Management Imperative. Moreover, enabling cross-channel offerings and revamping supply chains requires a significant investment of time and resources. eMarketer broached the topic with key findings from The Retail Order Management Imperative, as well as in an interview with OrderDynamics President Michael Turcsanyi. Michael notes that the role of real-time inventory and the challenges of inventory accuracy within an Omni-Channel commerce strategy has led to many retailers to delay investments into Omni-Channel strategy. In addition, the report focuses on in-store fulfillment and the impact such programs can have on store revenue and even customer loyalty. In speaking of efficiencies and profitability gained from in-store fulfillment programs, Michael explains, "The big picture here for a retailer at scale is big money. There’s a lot of money at stake around improving profitability and driving new net revenue into their stores."

Click here to access the full report to learn more about how multi-channel retailers are rethinking the store for fulfillment.

OrderDynamics to Exhibit & Speak at eTail Canada 2014

The OrderDynamics team is abuzz with excitement for this year’s eTail Canada Conference.  In its fourth year, the ecommerce and Omni-Channel retail event will be held on May 5 - 7, 2014 in Toronto Canada.

Throughout the course of the conference attendees can look forward to gaining insight and sharing ideas related to every facet impacting their ecommerce and Omni-Channel business today.  Key themes of this year’s show include Omni-Channel optimization for seamless online usability, cross-channel fulfillment and capturing CRM data to build a holistic customer profile.

The event will commence with a day of retailer-only roundtable discussions and think tank sessions. OrderDynamics President Michael Turcsanyi is slated to join an impressive list of thought leaders on Day 1 for the roundtable discussions. Michael will lead the discussion on The Retail Order Management Imperative: Why OMS is Playing a Pivotal Role in Cross-Channel Revenue Growth.  To cap off the first day of the conference, OrderDynamics will be hosting a cocktail reception at Zazou Lounge for the day’s participants.

Here are the details surrounding the roundtable discussions:

The Retail Order Management Imperative: Why OMS is Playing A Pivotal Role in Cross-Channel Revenue Growth 
When: May 5, 2014
Time: 10:30am (First 5 Rotations)
Speaker: Michael Turcsanyi, President at OrderDynamics

The team at eTail have once again lined up a strong panel of leading retailers and top analysts.  Attendees can look forward to speakers from Walmart Canada, Roots Canada, Beyond the Rack, and Lowe’s Canada.  Peter Sheldon, Principal Analyst at Forrester Research will also be exploring the nature of Canadian online shoppers and debunking the myths that surround them in his speaking session “It’s Different Here….Oh Really?”.

To meet our team and learn more about why OrderDynamics is Canada's leading commerce platform and retail order management provider drop by booth #2. We look forward to meeting you at eTail Canada!

Full event details:

eTail Canada 2014
Venue: Hyatt Regency Toronto (370 King St. West)
When: May 5 - 7
City: Toronto, ON
Registration Info: Click Here to Register (promo code: ETCA14ODYNAMICS)
Conference Website: www.etailca.com
OrderDynamics Booth: 2

Michael Turcsanyi, President at OrderDynamics, discussing the exciting evolution in retail and commerce at last year's eTail Canada conference.

J.McLaughlin Selects OrderDynamics to Expand Omni-Channel Fulfillment Operations

OrderDynamics® Corporation, the leading provider of global order management and Omni-Channel solutions, today announced J.McLaughlin, a national retailer of apparel and accessories, has selected the OrderDynamics retail Order Management System to expand its Omni-Channel fulfillment strategy, streamline operations, and increase cross-channel revenue.

J.McLaughlin, a rapidly growing 78 store retailer in the United States, is migrating from its in-house developed system to the OrderDynamics retail Order Management System (OMS) to support their increasingly complex fulfillment needs through automated order routing of inventory across retail stores and warehouses. By intelligently managing existing inventory pools spread across various locations with flexible business rules that can be changed as their needs evolve, J.McLaughlin can rapidly improve shipping speeds while streamlining the entire lifecycle of web orders as their Omni-Channel operations continue to scale.

In addition, J.McLaughlin will further enhance its cross-channel shopping experience by optimizing in-store pickup of orders placed online. By putting the retail Order Management System at the center of their technology infrastructure, J.McLaughlin can seamlessly connect all retail systems including their commerce platform, ERP, and POS systems to provide customers with real-time inventory information and consolidated purchase history from web and retail stores. In-Store Pickup and full transparency of inventory reflects J.McLaughin’s desire to drive increased store traffic while leveraging the first-class customer service and available-to-sell inventory at each retail store.

“In order to operate a best of breed Omni-Channel shopping experience, we needed a sophisticated Order Management System that could connect our retail systems, order data, and entire inventory network,” said Charles Yoo, Vice President of IT and Operations at J.McLaughlin. “OrderDynamics proven ability to streamline in-store fulfillment at scale, route orders based on complex and evolving scenarios, and increase cross-channel revenue made them an ideal long term partner.”

“Omni-Channel retailing represents a unique opportunity for brick and mortar retailers to simultaneously improve customer service and overall profitability by strategically balancing existing inventory supply with growing consumer demand,” said Michael Turcsanyi, President at OrderDynamics. “J.McLaughlin is an example of a forward thinking retailer that is going beyond enabling Omni-Channel fulfillment by completely optimizing the way they serve their customer. Our technology will give J.McLaughlin the ongoing flexibility and agility to exceed consumer expectations while profitably executing these strategies.”

About J.McLaughlin
J.McLaughlin, founded in 1977 by brothers Kevin and Jay McLaughlin, is a premier luxury apparel and accessories company that has become an innovator in vertical brand development and management. Through sixty company-owned retail locations and a growing e-commerce market, J.McLaughlin supplies ladies and men’s accessories and apparel that support the lifestyles of the most desirable demographic audience. Throughout the company’s thirty-five year history, J.McLaughlin has been effective at following this loyal consumer base from settled urban areas to key suburban outposts and regional leisure locales. The J.McLaughlin brand is known for product integrity and authenticity and a style described as “tradition with a sense of humor” that combines the sophistication of Manhattan with the casual lifestyle of the Hamptons, Palm Beach, and Nantucket.

Notable.ca Young Entrepreneur: Michael Benadiba, CEO of OrderDynamics®

OrderDynamics Corporation CEO, Michael Benadiba was recently featured as the daily Notable.ca Young Entrepreneur. With over 1.5 million monthly visitors, Notable.ca connects young professional adults (YPs), forward-thinking visionaries and trend-setters, with noteworthy people, places, products, parties and events.

The interview takes a look at Michael’s career thus far as the CEO of OrderDynamics Corporation and President & CTO of MBC Managed IT Services. Michael’s involvement in the ecommerce industry spans well over a decade, from his first ecommerce website proposal straight out of high school to leading a rapidly growing enterprise.

Michael also reveals how his passion for problem solving and helping others led to establishing his own successful business MBC Managed IT Services and subsequently co-founding OrderDynamics.  On the subject of why the co-founders started OrderDynamics, Michael states: “We wanted to help retailers realize their online potential by developing intuitive software that solves real world challenges and removes barriers to success.”

In addition to discussing his flair for problem solving and love for digital commerce, Michael dishes on his favourite local haunt, interest in travelling and skydiving, and offers compelling advice to budding entrepreneurs and young professionals-alike.

Read the full length interview here

2014 Dx3 Canada Conference: Recap of the Show

Last week OrderDynamics exhibited at the 2014 Dx3 Canada conference in Toronto.  For a second consecutive year OrderDynamics was a Bronze-level sponsor at the digital marketing summit.  The conference provided a great opportunity to see first hand how new technologies are impacting the way Marketing, Operations and IT professionals are engaging digital audiences.

The OrderDynamics Team at Dx3 Canada 2014.

In speaking with many Canadian retailers and manufacturers during the two-day conference, it was clear both are prioritizing ecommerce and online growth more than ever.  However, both acknowledge there is much more work to be done in terms of streamlining fulfillment, order management systems in general, and more.  Additionally, many retailers mentioned similar challenges when addressing Omni-Channel commerce strategies including an uncertainty of the technology required to properly enable and optimize cross-channel initiatives, as well as the ability to manage (and sell) all inventory across an entire organization (retail stores, warehouses etc.).

These are just several examples of complexities retailers of all sizes face as they continue to adjust to evolving Omni-Channel expectations.  Our experience helping some of Canada’s leading retailers launch sophisticated Omni-Channel strategies helped provide guidance and baselines throughout these conversations for some retailers considering similar investments.

The Fastest Path to Omni-Channel Revenue and Profit
On day one of the conference, OrderDynamics President Michael Turcsanyi presented “The Fastest Path to Omni-Channel Revenue and Profit in 5 Steps”, a step by step guide for retailers to phase themselves into Omni-Channel retailing and transform their operations.  The presentation focused on growing trends within retail, organizational shifts required to meet evolving expectations, and the value of offering cross-channel initiatives.  The half-hour session was packed with quality statistics of the Canadian retail industry and featured several key takeaways including:

• Create an Omni-Channel committee responsible for driving change
• Split your Omni-Channel initiatives into actionable phases; and prioritize around your customers and their needs
• Select a sales attribution model that promotes buy-in across departments and teams
• Adjust organization P&L to incorporate Omni-Channel revenue, savings, and costs
• Select a flexible technology platform that you can grow with

OrderDynamics President Michael Turcsanyi presenting at Dx3 Canada 2014.

Cutting Edge Digital Retail Solutions Entering Stores
Finally, one of the more engaging exhibits at the conference was the Retail Collective, an interactive and tech-driven digital shopping experience which featured virtual fitting rooms, web and mobile storefronts, interactive displays, in-store analytic platforms and more.  While the Retail Collective served as a practical example of ways digital solutions can be used within a retail store to drive enhanced engagement and improved customer experiences, it also stood as a reminder that retailers will need to thoroughly analyze whether innovative tools like these have a place in its stores.  Not all in-store retail experiences will benefit from such technologies, and yet, some might flourish.  Retailers will have to respect what their customers want in a shopping experience and temper sophisticated technology with what has helped make their stores successful in the past.

One of the interactive displays by Perch inside the Retail Collective.

While impressive, one concern shared among our team was the disconnect between some of these in-store technologies and the ecommerce platforms powering digital commerce storefronts.  In this live example, there appear to be an integration or strategy to connect each technology to further leverage and align functionalities.  That said, it’s not difficult to envision a time in the near distant future where all data and new touch points are completely integrated to provide an even more synchronized shopping experience for consumers.  As retail continues to reinvent itself, technologies and new concepts like these will most likely become the norm.  And as commerce platforms continue to shape how in-store retailing is handled (in-store fulfillment, cross-channel customer history, enterprise-wide inventory and more), it will be interesting to see how everything integrates over the coming years.

We’d like to thank Dx3 Canada for hosting a fantastic digital marketing conference and everyone who took the time to speak with us during the event.

The Retail Collective -- a glimpse into the near distant future of in-store shopping. 

In the meantime, we invite you to visit our website at www.orderdynamics.com to learn more about our ecommerce platform and retail order management system.

Sincerely,
The OrderDynamics Team
1 (866) 559-8123

OrderDynamics Set to Deliver Omni-Channel Presentation and Exhibit at Dx3 Canada 2014

On March 5 and 6, many of Canada’s leading brands and retailers will converge on the Metro Toronto Convention Centre for the third annual Dx3 Canada Conference. OrderDynamics is proud to be a bronze-level sponsor for a second consecutive year.

The two day, digital-focused conference, is expected to host more than 4,000 attendees and will feature over 50 renowned speakers. This year’s line-up of speakers includes leaders from Walmart Canada, Canadian Tire, LXR & Co. and OrderDynamics President Michael Turcsanyi.

Our panel session, "The Fastest Path to Omni-Channel Revenue and Profit in 5 Steps", will address how retailers can accelerate revenue and profitability with Omni-Channel strategies and technologies.

This presentation will focus on the following topics:

1. Catalog and ecommerce merchandising best practices
2. Centralizing enterprise-wide inventory in real-time
3. Consolidating customer history to a single record for all online and in-store transactions
4. Fulfillment from retail stores to enable ship-from-store, in-store pickup and return anywhere
5. Intelligently automate Omni-Channel fulfillment for greater profitability

Full Presentation Details:
Date: March 5
Time: 4:15pm – 4:45pm
Speaker: Michael Turcsanyi, President OrderDynamics

Basic event registration is free and can be done here. The free registration also includes access to our Omni-Channel presentation detailed above.

OrderDynamics will also be exhibiting at this year’s Dx3 Canada. Join us at booth 608 to discover why global brands like Bouclair Home and Laura Canada are relying on OrderDynamics to launch their 2014 Omni-Channel strategy. Also, learn how leading Canadian retailers like Henry’s, The Shoe Company, JYSK, Eclipse Stores and more are leveraging our retail Order Management System to drive accelerated cross-channel revenue growth.

Click here to connect with OrderDynamics at the 2014 Dx3 Canada Conference.

Retail Cloud Software Company eCommera Secures $41 Million to Fuel Global Expansion

eCommera, a global software-as-a-service (SaaS) commerce and big data company that was formed to help retailers profit from the move to omni-channel, has announced a $41 million Series C funding round – one of the largest raises in its category.

Dawn Capital led the round together with investors ePlanet Capital, Frog Capital, Westcoast Capital, WPP and new partner Wti. The funding will be used to advance global growth of the next-of-breed Decision Intelligent Commerce solution built exclusively for retailers. This solution combines big data predictive analytics with online, mobile and operational software to allow retailers to sell everywhere, fulfil from anywhere and to do so profitably.

Founded in 2007, eCommera has grown rapidly and enters this round of funding as one of the fastest growing companies in its segment, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 46 percent over the past three years. This has been driven by strong customer demand with over 20 new retailers and brands added to its roster in 2013. Today the company’s cloud commerce, order management and big data platforms are a vital component in the success of over 70 leading retailers and global brands across 32 countries, powering mobile, online and in-store customer touch points and operations. Notable customers include Asda, House of Fraser, Neiman Marcus, Brooks Brothers, Lifetime Brands, Bouclair, and Clarins.

“We began by assembling a team who pioneered the retail, analytics and technology industries, including the former chief scientist at Amazon, and we have remained fervently focused on answering the omni-channel retailer’s most pressing needs: to reach more customers across the globe, to convert and serve them more profitably, and to offer a seamless experience from first touch to fulfilment,” said Andrew McGregor, CEO of eCommera. “We are supported by an investment group that understands the power of data in solving retail-specific complexities and see the significant global opportunity in new software and systems to command the next generation retail experiences and operations. We are already one of the largest cloud-software and service companies in the European market and this investment will enable us to accelerate our global growth, with specific focus on the North American market.”

“The fundamental changes happening in the $15 trillion global retail market are driving a shift in the way end-to-end retail operations are managed and run,” said Norman Fiore, General Manager at Dawn Capital. “eCommera has created a game-changing technology that specifically enables retailers to increase profitability and deliver compelling customer experiences at every touch-point in every channel. The eCommera team has continually demonstrated their ability to create technology solutions that retailers did not even know were possible, but are desperately in need of, and we are excited to be supporting them in their next phase of growth.”

eCommera has been recognized for its technology leadership and rapid business growth with inclusion in the Sunday Times Tech Track 100 for the past three years and the UK Government-backed Future Fifty programme. Just in 2013, eCommera’s retail clients experienced an average online traffic growth of 42 percent.

Further information about eCommera can be found at www.ecommera.com

Advisors for this round included William Blair & Company and White & Black.

About eCommera
eCommera is a cloud software business that combines big data analytics, commerce and order management platforms to deliver a next of breed Decision Intelligence solution designed exclusively for retail. This allows retailers across the globe to sell across any channel, fulfil from any store or warehouse and to do so profitably. The business works with over 70 retailers and global brands across 32 countries. In 2013 eCommera acquired OrderDynamics one of the leaders in Order Management software. Today eCommera has offices in Asia, Europe and North America.

Bouclair Home to Launch Omni-Channel Commerce Experience with OrderDynamics

OrderDynamics®, Canada’s leading on-demand commerce platform provider, today announced Bouclair Home, a national retailer of home decor products and houseware accessories, will launch its ecommerce website using the OrderDynamics commerce platform. With the launch of the Bouclair.com eCommerce site, the Canadian retailer will provide improved levels of customer service and accelerate cross-channel sales growth through a new seamless Omni-Channel commerce strategy.

Bouclair, who operates 113 stores across Canada, needed a robust commerce solution to support their vision of centering operations around their customers by unifying the shopping experience across digital and physical storefronts. Bouclair selected OrderDynamics based on their impressive experience launching Omni-Channel commerce solutions for national brick and mortar retailers, in addition to the cutting edge retail order management capabilities within their cloud-based commerce platform.  According to “The Retail Order Management Imperative”, a global Omni-Channel study by Forrester Consulting commissioned by OrderDynamics in November 2013, 82% of retailers stated a retail order management system would play an important role in the execution of their Omni-Channel strategy.(1)

Bouclair’s partnership with OrderDynamics provides them with a suite of Omni-Channel retail tools, which will allow them to leverage their retail stores to support critical Omni-Channel commerce functionalities including:

• Buy online pickup in-store
• Inventory visibility across all retail channels and systems
• Return web purchases to any retail store
• A single customer profile that combines online and in-store purchase history
• Cross-channel loyalty payment options and more 

“I was impressed with OrderDynamics and their eCommerce solution. We have a big opportunity to generate incremental sales and I feel these guys can help us achieve our goal,” said Peter Goldberg, President and CEO at Bouclair.

In addition, Bouclair will be able to take advantage of the OrderDynamics retail store dashboards to support in-store pickup, leverage the integrated mobile commerce platform, and multi-language functionality to support French-Canadian customers. Upon its 2014 launch, the new Bouclair website will also include a custom blinds selector that will enable customers to customize the size of blinds.

“With 51% of retailers expected to roll out buy online pickup in-store fulfillment programs within the next two years (2) , we are excited to provide Bouclair a competitive advantage in 2014 by leveraging its national network of retail stores to offer an unmatched level of service to their customers,” said Michael Turcsanyi, President at OrderDynamics. “It’s inspiring to see Bouclair’s commitment to Omni-Channel commerce and we look forward to helping them deliver a world class cross-channel shopping experience.”

About Bouclair Home
Bouclair Home is a national retail chain that offers coordinated and contemporary fashion for the home.  Our designers travel the world searching out the latest trends in style, colours and design. Bouclair Home is a lifestyle brand which brings exclusive fashion to the mass consumer at a value price. Bouclair Home is focused on Home, Fashion and Value.


1, 2 “The Retail Order Management Imperative”, Forrester Consulting, commissioned by OrderDynamics, November 2013

  

OrderDynamics and Forrester Research to Host First State of Omni-Channel Retailing in Canada Event

JANUARY 14, 2014, TORONTO, ON – OrderDynamics™, Canada’s leading On-Demand eCommerce Platform and Retail Order Management System, in association with the Retail Council of Canada and Canada Post, today announced the first in a series of eCommerce and retail-focused evening events, entitled The State of Omni-Channel Retailing in Canada, to take place Tuesday, February 4 in Toronto. The event will feature a Keynote presentation from Forrester Research Principal Analyst Peter Sheldon.

In 2013, OrderDynamics commissioned a global study with Forrester Research which identified the top Omni-Channel challenges and priorities of 337 retailers, including many of Canada’s most prominent and innovative retailers. The report, The Retail Order Management Imperative, revealed the key role Order Management Systems play in enabling and accelerating cross-channel revenue growth. As part of The State of Omni-Channel Retailing in Canada evening event, OrderDynamics along with Forrester Research Principal Analyst, Peter Sheldon, will explore what it means to be a best-in-class Omni-Channel retailer, how retailers can meet customers Omni-Channel expectations, and why in investing in Omni-Channel technology and operations is an imperative, not an option.

During the presentation on this ground-breaking research and first-of-its-kind event, attendees can expect to learn:

• Key Omni-Channel retail trends in 2014 
• Which Canadian retailers are really catering to the needs of the Omni-Channel consumer
• Top expectations and shopping trends of Canadian consumers
• How technology will play a key role in delivering Omni-Channel excellence
• Why the time is now to invest in an Omni-Channel strategy

“Omni-Channel retailing has paved the way for retailers to further connect with their customers while accelerating growth through cross-channel strategies and tactics, but has also created additional complexities and challenged traditional operations. We’re excited to share our experience and leverage the expertise of Forrester Research to help retailers in Canada create best-in-class Omni-Channel experiences,” said Michael Turcsanyi, President at OrderDynamics.

OrderDynamics invites retailers, merchants and strategists alike to attend this exciting event and gain great insight into essential information that affect the current and future retail landscape in Canada. All attendees will receive a complimentary copy of The Retail Order Management Imperative whitepaper, complimentary drinks and more.

Event Information:

The State of Omni-Channel Retailing in Canada
Date: Tuesday, February 4, 2014
Where: The Stirling Room - 16 Trinity St, Toronto
Time: 6:00-9pm
Cost: Free attendance for retailers and online merchants.

For more information and to register, visit www.orderdynamics.com/OmniSummit. Space is limited.

OrderDynamics is Set to Attend the NRF BIG Show 2014!

The NRF’s 103^rd Annual Convention & Expo, better known as Retail’s BIG Show 2014, is less than two weeks away! OrderDynamics is excited to once again attend the EXPO at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City January 13-15, among more than 400 attending companies.

This year’s BIG Show features nearly 600 exhibitors, 520 of which are solutions providers looking to share the latest and most innovative retail tools, technologies and trends. The BIG Show will also be home to over 100 sessions, including keynote presentations by retail experts from eBay, American Eagle Outfitters, Barney’s New York, Macy’s, Gartner, Oracle, IBM and countless others, addressing How Brick & Mortar Retail will Thrive in the 21^st Century; Navigating Retail’s Relentless Reality; How Selling the Right Mindset Can Grow Your Brand; and Retail Lessons in Global Expansion. Former US President, George W. Bush, will accompany NRF Chairman of the Board, Stephen I. Sadove in a special keynote address titled A Presidential Perspective, sharing his economic insights gained from his two terms each as US President and Governor of Texas.

During the four-day Convention and EXPO, attendees and exhibitors alike will have the opportunity to mingle and strike up conversation at various networking events each day, including the Microsoft Opening Night Reception, and the NRF Retail Industry Awards featuring Mitch Joel of Twist Image. OrderDynamics is eager to meet with new and familiar faces, and invites everyone to look for us at these exciting events.

Click here for more information on the NRF BIG Show 2014. We look forward to seeing you there!

Happy Holidays from OrderDynamics!

OrderDynamics® is thrilled to recap on another eventful and progressive year, and extend our thanks to all of our valued clients, partners and vendors who made it possible. 2013 has been a year of new opportunities and exciting projects, in addition to our participation in conferences, panel discussions and speaking engagements, and new technology releases that we have become known for.  We are immensely grateful for the continued support we receive from our friends and colleagues.

Our Commitment to Helping Retailers Enter Omni-Channel Commerce

This year, we helped several Canadian retailers launch brand new Omni-Channel operations featuring cross-channel fulfillment, inventory and merchandising functionality including The Shoe Company and Eclipse.  JYSK.ca, a Danish brand of furniture and home décor, also integrated its existing eCommerce Platform with OrderDynamics Retail Order Management System. The integration allows JYSK to ship orders using store stock, and offer their customers the ability to pick up online orders in-store – a program that greatly extends their product offering given the nature of their product and large-sized packages that make traditional delivery costly and time-consuming. JYSK also leveraged the OrderDynamics Retail Order Management System to offer deeper product assortment and inventory redundancy via Endless Aisle functionality.

Henry’s Camera added a new convenience-focused service offering to its existing Omni-Channel operations called Reserve Online, Pickup In-Store. After launching in summer 2013, Henry’s quickly saw increased customer engagement online, along with increased store foot traffic.

Cutting-Edge Order Management Study with Forrester Research

In September, we commissioned a global study with Forrester Research, surveying retailers from Europe, Asia and North America to weigh the importance they place in retail order management systems, and their impact on driving Omni-Channel retail initiatives and cross-channel revenue growth.  The study, entitled the "The Retail Order Management Imperative", revealed compelling stats indicating that 82% of retailers surveyed believe that a retail Order Management System is essential in executing a successful Omni-Channel retail strategy. Additionally, cross-channel fulfillment programs, such as ship-from-store are the highest priority over other aspects of an Omni-Channel strategy, stating that these programs help extend the online assortment to include products typically not sellable online, reduce online cart abandonment associated with shipping time and costs, reduce store markdowns resulting from individual store stock availability with cross-channel inventory visibility, while in-store pickup helps increase store foot traffic, and provides the opportunity to upsell and cross-sell thereby boosting average order value. Omni-Channel retail has become such a priority, that almost a third of retailers surveyed have already implemented Omni-Channel fulfillment capabilities, and 39% have designated a C-level executive role for creating, implementing and managing Omni-Channel strategies. 

Click here to watch the replay of our live webinar on the findings of this study, “How a Retail Order Management System Accelerates Omni-Channel Growth,” featuring Principal Analyst of Forrester Research, Peter Sheldon.

Significant Growth for OrderDynamics

In June OrderDynamics was acquired by UK-based eCommera, a leader in Decision-Intelligent Commerce solution. The acquisition further strengthens OrderDynamics, providing a global infrastructure and experienced team with offices located in the UK, France, India, Bulgaria and the US. As one of the fastest growing providers of cloud-based commerce software and solutions globally, the addition of the OrderDynamics retail Order Management System to eCommera's portfolio enhances already compelling omni-channel and end-to-end commerce solutions. OrderDynamics and eCommera combined serve more than 70 brands and retailers across the world.

Click here to read more about the acquisition.

Thought Leadership and Participation at Leading Retail Events

 OrderDynamics had a busy year, exhibiting at many industry events and conferences including IRCE 2013, eTail Canada, The NRF BIG Show and Shop.org.  We also had opportunities throughout the year to host and moderate panel discussions with retail experts from Mountain Equipment Co-op, London Drugs, Aldo, FutureShop and Laura Canada. OrderDynamics also attended the NRF BIG Show in January, and Shop.org in September. 

In September, we also had the honour of presenting the Most Innovative Retailer Award as a sponsor of the 2013 Canada Post eCommerce Innovation Awards, recognizing the cutting-edge strategies of successful Canadian Retailers.   In addition, we received this year several honourable mentions in various eCommerce and retail-related publications, and were recognized as an eTail Rising Star, indicating our growing reputation as industry experts.

Many Thanks!

It has truly been an exciting and eventful year, with impressive site launches, and existing OrderDynamics retailers continuing to outpace average industry stats at alarming rates on key shopping days including Black Friday and Cyber Monday. We would like to once again thank our clients, partners and friends for their overwhelming support in 2013, and look forward to continued growth and learning in 2014. 

From the OrderDynamics Family to yours, Season’s Greetings and Happy New Year!

OrderDynamics Order Management Study with Forrester Research Featured in Global Publications

In November 2013, OrderDynamics® released the results of a global study with Forrester Research entitled “The Retail Order Management Imperative”. OrderDynamics commissioned the study in September, which surveyed 337 retailers in North America, Europe and Asia to assess the importance they place in a retail order management system, and its effects on implementing a successful omni-channel retail strategy.

The results of the Forrester Report were astonishing, sharing key statistics indicating that retailers believe order management technology underpins omni-channel retail initiatives, with cross-channel fulfillment programs being the most important aspect of an omni-channel strategy, and that many retailers are already allocating (or plan to) a C-level executive to manage these initiatives.

Since the report’s release, along with a Webinar on November 26 featuring Principle Analyst at Forrester Research, Peter Sheldon called “How A Retail Order Management System is the Key to Unlocking Your Omni-Channel Strategy”, the report has gained the attention of many publications around the world. France’s eCommerce Mag published a French recap of the report last week, pushing the study results toward a larger international demographic. The UK’s Banner Managed Communications and Retail Times both also published recaps of report, as did the US-based Retail TouchPoints. Major tenets of the report were included in Econsultancy’s (another UK publication) “10 Interesting Internet Marketing Stats We’ve Seen This Week”.

The most interesting of the media attention received was that found in the UK’s Marketing Week which went beyond summarizing the report findings, and included thought leadership on the real-world application of the retail order management imperative. Marketing Week’s Michael Barnett suggested that while retail order management systems create more cohesive and successful cross-channel fulfillment programs that drive increased levels of growth for the retailer, this is only one piece of the puzzle, and retailers must ensure that store fulfillment tactics provide the same convenience for consumers as it does for retailers. Mr. Barnett spoke with Michael Ross of OrderDynamics’ parent company, eCommera, who stated that store fulfillment tactics such as In-Store Pickup, Reserve Online and Ship from Store only work well if sufficient data systems are in place to ensure consumers always receive the most current and accurate information when ordering online, otherwise there could be disconnects in inventory information that can leave retailers unable to fulfill orders and customers unsatisfied.

It is interesting to see how the information from “The Retail Order Management Imperative” is being interpreted by retailers and retail experts. Omni-Channel commerce retail and cross-channel fulfillment  via a retail order management system help close the gap between tech-savvy consumers who are comfortable shopping online, and those who still need assurance as to the safety and ease of it by meeting the growing demands for convenience and rapid fulfillment through unifying cross-channel shopping experiences.  Retailers need to act quickly to implement cross-channel initiatives to keep up with evolving competitors and consumer expectations or risk falling behind those who can provide consumers with ideal shopping experiences that satisfy and excite them, ensuring repeat business and improved brand loyalty.

To download a copy of "The Retail Order Management Imperative", click here.

OrderDynamics Continues Commitment to Canada Supporting Dinner Honouring Prime Minister Stephen Harper

OrderDynamics®, Canada’s leading On-Demand eCommerce Platform and Order Management System, proudly sponsored and attended the Jewish National Fund of Toronto’s 65th Annual Negev Dinner on December 1, 2013, paying tribute to Canadian Prime Minister, The Right Honourable Stephen Harper.  The Jewish National Fund (JNF) was founded over 115 years ago to lead the creation of a Jewish state and thereby predating Israel by almost 50 years. JNF is the largest and longest-standing organization dedicated to the development of 100% of the country of Israel. 

OrderDynamics CEO, Michael Benadiba with Canada's First Lady, Laureen Harper, and Dr. Regan Tessis

As Canada’s 22nd Prime Minister, Mr. Harper has lead Canada in the global community to defend the rights and freedoms of all cultures and ethnicities and, in particular, educating against anti-semitism and related crimes such as the Holocaust. As such, the Jewish National Fund of Toronto has spearheaded the construction of The Stephen J. Harper Hula Valley Bird Sanctuary Visitor & Education Centre in Israel, as part of the Hula Lake Nature and Bird Park, thanking Mr. Harper for his continued commitment to the Jewish community. OrderDynamics was honoured to be a part of this event supporting our country’s leader and the human rights of fellow Canadians and people all over the world.

JNF CEO, Josh Cooper

The Negev Dinner took place at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, welcoming respected members of the Jewish community, and major sponsers such as Bank of Montreal, Deloitte, Rogers, the Canadian Police Association, and many others. The evening’s events were emceed by the Hon. Jason Kenney and the Hon. John Baird, and included an elegant cocktail reception and dinner ceremony, along with addresses from Israeli Ambassador, Rafael Barak; CEO of JNF, Josh Cooper; Negev Dinner Chairs, the Hon. Linda Frum and Howard Sokolowski; and a special message from Israeli President, Benjamin Netanyahu. Mr. Harper also spoke on his gratitude and dedication to the Jewish community, announcing his tour of Israel this coming January, and provided the evening’s entertainment performing a live concert with his band for the dinner attendees.

Prime Minister, Stephen Harper and his band.

The JNF will put proceeds from the 2013 Negev Dinner toward the Stephen J. Harper Hula Valley Bird Sanctuary Visitor and Education Centre Project. To learn more about the Project, the Jewish National Fund , and the Negev Dinner, visit www.Toronto.JNF.ca/negev2013

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OrderDynamics Black Friday Through Cyber Monday 2013 Report

As the dust settles after arguably the busiest shopping weekend of the year, it is interesting to look at how retailers fared in the midst of tighter budgets due to impending health taxes in the US, yet even lower promotions than seen in the past. Top that all off with the Jewish celebration of Hanukkah coinciding with Thanksgiving for the first and last time in several lifetimes, there was a lot of curiosity leading up to Thanksgiving as to how the early gift giving would affect retail sales. Overall retail spend over the 5 days between Thanksgiving and Cyber Monday fell 2.9% from last year to $57.4 billion; however, only a third of consumers shopped in-store, and online spend increased considerably.

OrderDynamics Retailers Continue to Outpace Industry Standards

While online spend over the 5-day shopping weekend increased almost 20%, OrderDynamics retailers saw a substantial 46.2% increase in sales from the same time last year.  More specifically, long-standing OrderDynamics retailers generated 38.2% more revenue over last year, with newer retailers padding the extra 8%. Processing nearly 30% more orders year-over-year, OrderDynamics servers saw traffic and sales peak around 9pm each evening. It is interesting to note that many OrderDynamics retailers leverage omni-channel fulfillment processes that are built into the OrderDynamics retail Order Management System; based on consumers’ obvious desire for omni-channel and store-fulfillment options, this may be what gives OrderDynamics retailers a significant edge over their competition.

Omni-Channel is the Future

A Black Friday forecast report by ComScore and UPS found that consumers place significant value in omni-channel shopping and fulfillment options, which was evident in the substantial increase in mobile sales during the holiday weekend. Notably, 56% of shoppers prefer to shop the online stores of omni-channel enabled retailers; however 60% of consumers surveyed indicated that being able to return online orders in-store is the most important element of shopping online, followed by 44% stating the desire to pick up online purchases in-store. A recent study by Forrester Research indicated that retailers are aware of consumers’ increasing demands for omni-channel options, as 83% ofretailers already support or plan to implement omni-channel offerings including store-fulfillment tactics like in-store pickup and return anywhere. With Christmas fast-approaching, it would appear these omni-channel initiatives instill confidence in shoppers looking to ensure they can have their purchase in-hand on-time for Christmas gifting, while also minimizing the hassle of returns by being able to take care of them in a single trip to the mall.

The Creep into Thanksgiving Day Shopping Continues

With surprising and somewhat unexpectedly high revenue last year on Thanksgiving, it’s no shock that even more retailers pushed for consumers’ cash this Thanksgiving. Kohl’s, JC Penny and Macy’s opened on Thanksgiving evening for the first time ever, while Turkey Day retail veterans Target, Best Buy and Toys R US opened even earlier than last year, before most tables were even cleared at 6pm.  Online Thanksgiving Day shopping increased 27% over 2012 according to the NRF, yielding a record-breaking $1.06 billion in revenue, proving that Thanksgiving Day shopping is sure to become a new holiday tradition.

Black Friday Breaks Records – Again

In 2012, Black Friday spending surpassed the $1 billion mark for the first time. This year, online sales alone reached nearly $2 billion, up 15% from last year’s record. According to the NRF, 92 million people shopped on Black Friday (almost 7% more than last year), nearly half of which shopped online and spent 2.2% more on each order than seen in 2012. Despite there being more shoppers this year, ShopperTrak reported that in-store traffic fell more than 11% year-over-year, indicating a significant shift toward couch-shopping over braving store crowds.  This may suggest that consumers are increasingly comfortable with the deals available to them online - including an increase in free shipping offers -  making shopping from home more worthwhile as they realize they can efficiently take advantage of great deals in a matter of minutes from their computers rather than spending hours in-line at a store.

Cyber Monday is the Largest Spending Day of the Year

Cyber Monday 2013 blew Black Friday out of the water, surpassing Friday’s impressive online cashout by 15% at $2.29 billion. Online sales peaked at 11am with 23% more traffic over 2012, and while this traditionally has tapered off throughout the day, PSFWeb stated that the morning traffic maintained a steady pace well into Monday evening. The continued yearly growth of Cyber Monday may be attributed to extensive marketing, as mobile marketing alone increased 77% on Monday compared to any other shopping day, keeping promotions in close proximity and top of mind which would undoubtedly test consumers’ ability to refrain from shopping.

Consumers Are Giving Mobile a Larger Slice of Pie This Year

Mobile shopping activity saw a significant boost over the 5 day holiday weekend, again likely due to extra mobile marketing efforts. Of the $1.93 billion spent online on Black Friday, 22% came from mobile devices, yielding $259 million across smartphones and tablets. PayPal noted a 121% increase in mobile payments globally on Black Friday, likely due to the redesign of their mobile wallet app and introduction of Beacon payment technology, both released earlier this year.  Still, Black Friday mobile stats were dwarfed by Cyber Monday, boasting 55% growth at $419 million, accounting for 18.3% of total online sales. Tablets appeared to be the device of choice, accounting for twice as much revenue as smartphones at nearly 13%, and an overall higher average order value.

Key Thoughts & Notable Trends

Based on consumers’ shopping habits during this year’s Thanksgiving shopping weekend, what can we expect next year?

• Consumers’ will become even more interested in Thanksgiving Day shopping in the coming years, as noted by the 27% increase in Thanksgiving shopping this year. However, they will continue to do so online as opposed to in-store, likely out of respect for the holiday itself, while faster shipping and store fulfillment initiatives act as extra encouragement to shop from home instead of braving crowds.

• With the overall 5-day spend yielding 2.9% less revenue than last year despite greater overall shopping traffic, retailers may soon have to consider that competing for the sale is leading them to discount too much. That said, it is interesting to note that OrderDynamics saw increases in shopping traffic as early as Wednesday night. With Thanksgiving happening later in the month this year, and holiday sales and promotions still kicking off around mid-November, it is likely that holiday spending is being diffused across a longer period of time, leaving less money to be spent on key shopping days such as Black Friday and Cyber Monday. This holiday shopping weekend will again be in the last week of November next year in 2014, so this trend can be expected to continue; it will be interesting to see whether retailers can sustain the same level of revenue as seen this year, or if sales will continue to decline.

• Omni-channel fulfillment will be a key selling point next year, as indicated by recent studies. With retailers such as Walmart already heavily promoting in-store pickup this year, being able to retrieve purchases in-store better accommodates consumers’ need to have what they want when they want it. Last year, free shipping was the competitive advantage, but has since become table stakes. With delivery times, the potential to miss a scheduled delivery when not at home, and weather conditions that may delay delivery, in-store pickup is just more reliable. It begs the question, though, whether retailers and their store staff will be ready to accommodate the increase in store traffic should customers opt for same-day in-store pickup of their Black Friday/Cyber Monday online purchases. With store traffic already amplified on these shopping days, retailers will need to be able to allocate additional resources - including scheduling more sales associates and allotting space to pack and store customer orders - to maintain a level of service that meets customer expectations, and keeps them coming back.

• With retailers continuing to invest in omni-channel retail as part of their rapid fulfillment strategies, and concept ideas such as Amazon Drones already fuelling considerable conversation, we can infer that same-day delivery and fulfillment from distribution centers and store stock may be a prominent strategy for next year’s holiday season.  For web-only retailers, same-day delivery would allow them to compete with omni-channel store fulfillment tactics that enable customers to receive their purchases more quickly than standard delivery options.

OrderDynamics Unveils Global Research Uncovering the Key Role a Retail Order Management System Plays in Driving Omni-Channel Commerce Initiatives and Accelerated Cross-Channel Growth

OrderDynamics®, the leading provider of global order management and Omni-Channel solutions, today released the results of a new global retail study that identifies the role order management technology plays in accelerating cross-channel growth by supporting consumer oriented features such as buy online, pickup in-store, and fulfilling web orders from retail stores.

In a commissioned study conducted by Forrester Consulting on behalf of OrderDynamics, an eCommera company, Forrester Consulting surveyed 337 decision makers across North America, Europe and Asia with knowledge of their firms’ multi-channel fulfillment strategy. The research revealed that cross-channel fulfillment programs are the top Omni-Channel priorities among retailers. Despite the focus on fulfillment tactics, the newly released study, “The Retail Order Management Imperative,” found while only 49 percent of retailers currently use an order management system, many of these solutions are ill equipped to support complex cross-channel fulfillment offerings. Moreover, the study found that traditional order management systems typically cannot support the multiple facets of evolving Omni-Channel commerce initiatives. The study identifies several key findings including:

Cross-Channel Fulfillment Programs Trump Other Omni-Channel Initiatives
The study discovered that optimization of cross-channel fulfillment processes such as pickup in-store, ship-to-store and ship-from-store are being prioritized over other Omni-Channel tactics like single view of the customer and cross-channel loyalty programs. In-store pickup options provide retailers with greater in-store traffic and new opportunities for more cross-selling.

• 26 percent of retailers in the United States and 47 percent of retailers in Europe already have ship-from-store capabilities, while 10 percent and 18 percent respectively soon plan to enable this offering.
• 23 percent of retailers already have a buy-online, pickup-in-store program in place. Likewise, 20 percent have a reserve-only pickup-in-store program. According to the study results, these store pickup numbers are set to almost triple in the next 12 months.
• 63 percent of retailers surveyed indicated that gaining a competitive advantage over online pure-play retailers by leveraging their stores assets (inventory, shipping cost efficiencies and reduced delivery times) was a primary driver for investing in Omni-Channel initiatives. 
• Retailers already (or expect to) fulfill an average of 35 percent of online orders from their retail stores.

Order Management Technology Underpins Omni-Channel Initiatives 
The study also identifies the growing need for modern retail order management systems that can support complex fulfillment programs in addition to standard order automation features. The study states, “Some retailers have invested in traditional order management systems that are largely centered on order automation, many do not possess the technology to enable next generation fulfillment... As a result, an increasing number [of retailers] are investing in retail order management systems to provide not only a consolidated cross-channel view of inventory and order data, but also to support the orchestration of complex cross-channel sales and fulfillment scenarios.”

• 85 percent of retailers stated a retail order management system would play an important role in the execution of their Omni-Channel strategy.
• 75 percent of the retailers surveyed believe an order management system will reduce inventory costs and improve fulfillment efficiencies.
• 63 percent of retailers are considering SaaS-based order management systems to support their rapidly evolving Omni-Channel initiatives. 

Omni-Channel Initiatives have the attention of the C-Suite
The study reveals the importance C-level executives are placing on Omni-Channel commerce strategies. The study states, “… at many of the retailers we surveyed the CEO, CIO, COO and CMO are all taking an active role in defining their firm’s Omni-Channel strategy and prioritizing explicit programs that will serve to connect the cross channel purchase journey their customers now expect.” The successful implementation and execution of Omni-Channel commerce requires the input and ongoing collaboration between many departments and shouldn’t fall onto the sole responsibility of one individual.

• 39 percent of retailers have created a dedicated executive or c-level role to lead and coordinate Omni-Channel initiatives.
• 34 percent of retailers have their CEO leading Omni-Channel initiatives.
• 9 percent of retailers have already re-aligned their online and offline departments to become an Omni-Channel organization with a single P&L.

As part of the research in this study, Forrester Consulting completed in-depth surveys and interviews with retail executives to understand the full spectrum of challenges and considerations being put into order management and Omni-Channel initiatives. “The vast majority of our 2,000 stores are enabled for distribution. At the end of the day that is the big advantage we have – we can have the product same-day/within minutes – pure plays cannot match that. With ship-from-store and store distribution centers we can get the product to customers much faster,” said a Director & General Manager at a Major US Retail chain.

“Omni-Channel fulfillment represents a strategic advantage for many retailers by leveraging inventory across multiple locations, and streamlining fulfillment processes. These initiatives ultimately lead to reduced operational costs, and more importantly, an enhanced customer shopping experience. It's clear retailers recognize a retail order management system as a strategic solution for enabling next generation fulfillment tactics and gaining an advantage over direct competitors and nimble web-only retailers,” said Michael Turcsanyi, President at OrderDynamics.

Learn more:

• To download the free global study, “The Retail Order Management Imperative”, click here
• Watch the Webinar Replay, “How A Retail Order Management System is The Key to Unlocking Your Omni-Channel Strategy”, with special guest Peter Sheldon, Principal Analyst, Forrester Research, Inc., click here.

Research Methodology
OrderDynamics commissioned Forrester Consulting to conduct a study into 337 decision makers representing retailers across North America, Europe and Asia to undercover the challenges retailers face when deploying Omni-Channel commerce strategies, top Omni-Channel initiatives and the benefits seen by implementing a retail order management system.

Webinar: How a Retail Order Management System Accelerates Omni-Channel Growth

In September 2013, OrderDynamics® commissioned Forrester Research for a global study on the effect of Retail Order Management Systems on Omni-Channel retail initiatives. The study, entitled The Retail Order Management Imperative, surveyed 337 mid- and large-retailers across 8 countries, seeking out the trends, challenges and obstacles in implementing a successful omni-channel retail strategy.  

The findings of this study indicate a sense of urgency to invest in omni-channel solutions to gain a competitive advantage, with nearly 40% of retailers having designated a C-level executive to align and manage integrated online and offline retail channels. Additionally, research findings show a large focus on cross-channel fulfillment programs as the highest priority omni-channel retail initiative, wherein retailers are already, or are expecting to, fulfill 35% of online orders from in-store stock with initiatives like ship-from-store, buy/reserve online and pickup in-store. Of the retailers currently employing these tactics, 41% indicated a boost in customer loyalty and 47% reported higher online revenue with buy online, pickup in-store and ship-from-store programs, respectively.

The key underpinning of the study’s results is the role order management technology plays in facilitating omni-channel retail initiatives. Currently, 49% of retailers surveyed use an order management system, however, traditional order management systems that are highly focused on online order processing lack the technical sophistication to create a unified cross-channel shopping experience; 85% of the survey sample assert that retail-specific order management solutions are the key to executing a successful and seamless omni-channel strategy.

Date: Tuesday, November 26
Time: 2-3pm EST
Presenters: Peter Sheldon, Principal Analyst at Forrester Research, and Michael Turcsanyi, President of OrderDynamics

Click here to view a replay of the webinar.

eCommera’s DynamicAction to Bolster Holiday Profits for Calendars.com

eCommera, the decision-intelligent commerce company, today announced that the world’s largest calendar retailer, Calendars.com, has selected DynamicAction by eCommera to optimize their business and help drive profits this holiday season.

Calendars.com

While online retailers are typically strongly averse to technology implementations during the holiday shopping season to avoid possible site crashes or errors, Calendars.com made the bold move to employ the DynamicAction decision analytics software to support and grow this season’s sales. As DynamicAction is SaaS-based and does not affect site code, retailers can confidently invest in the low-maintenance platform while also efficiently allocating resources to other profit driving initiatives.

Calendars.com sees over 80% of their annual revenue during November through January, making this an opportune time to utilize decision analytics to make critical decisions to capture the most revenue possible during this period.  DynamicAction will allow Calendars.com to compile and analyze data from current marketing, sales and operational data to understand current customer behaviour and sales trends, as well as obtain detailed recommendations on product merchandising, inventory management, and fulfillment strategies based on customer expectations.

“We knew that DynamicAction is critical technology that can positively affect our holiday season,” said Paul Hoffman, CEO of Calendars.com. Mr. Hoffman credits the DynamicAction and Decision Science Practice Manager Solutions as acting like additional team members that make complex business decisions, allowing actual team members to confidently execute an effective retail action plan.

Read the official press release here.

Eclipse Launches Omni-Channel Commerce Fulfillment Strategy with OrderDynamics eCommerce and Order Management Solutions

NOVEMBER 6, 2013, TORONTO, ON – OrderDynamics™, Canada’s leading on-demand commerce platform provider, today announced Eclipse first eCommerce offering, EclipseStores.com, using the OrderDynamics eCommerce and Order Management Solutions. The recent launch showcases the retailer’s vision to support its 68 stores in Canada with an innovative omni-channel commerce strategy.

The new site expands on its non-transactional predecessor by offering a full catalog of Eclipse-branded apparel, accessories and outerwear, using OrderDynamics dynamic Product Merchandising tools to display vibrant product images with multiple views. Product pages also feature a Shop This Outfit component, which recommends items to build an outfit according to current fashion trends, allowing shoppers to leverage fashion expertise as they would from in-store sales staff. To further support a seamless omni-channel shopping experience, shoppers can check in-store stock of their desired items at a location most convenient to them with a Google Maps-Integrated Store Locator.  

The sophisticated eCommerce launch includes several critical omni-channel features including ship from local stores, enterprise-wide inventory visibility, convenient fulfillment options and more. The combination of the OrderDynamics retail Order Management System, alongside its Epicor ERP system, has enabled efficient inventory distribution to drive a seamless shopping experience for customers. In addition, having full visibility into inventory across all retail stores and distribution centres has enabled Eclipse to intelligently route all web orders based on business rules and stock availability.

The OrderDynamics retail dashboards, in-store tools, and deep integration with Canada Post fulfillment solutions provides Eclipse the opportunity to grow as a national brand by fulfilling web orders across the country where retail outlets are not available, and offers customers the convenience and choice of having their order shipped to either their home or closest Canada Post location. During the first weeks since their omni-channel launch, more than 21% of customers had web orders shipped directly to a Canada Post office, highlighting the need for convenient fulfillment options in Canada.

“We are very proud to provide the same quality shopping experience with our new eCommerce site as found in our stores,” said Genevieve Bulgin, Director of Retail Operations at Eclipse. “Using the tools available to us through OrderDynamics, we’ve been able to greatly expand our business, and extend our commitment to customer service across Canada with our online channel”.

“Eclipse is a great example of a Canadian retailer that is using retail oriented commerce technology to streamline efficiencies and improve customer service,” added Michael Turcsanyi, President at OrderDynamics. “Their drive to create a best-of-breed omni-channel shopping experience puts them in a strong position to leverage its national reach for accelerated cross-channel growth.”

To learn more about Eclipse and their omni-channel commerce launch, click here.

About Eclipse
Eclipse Stores Incorporated is a privately owned Canadian retail chain offering trendy styles and great basics for women. There are over 65 Eclipse stores located in eight provinces across Canada. Each store carries a variety of styles, including dressy, casual, and athletic clothing, as well as outerwear and accessories. Eclipse stores carry styles developed under the company’s private labels, Eclipse and Tattoo, as well as several popular brand name denim collections. Operations for the chain are based out of St. John’s, Newfoundland, and the main distribution center is in Montreal, Quebec. For more information about Eclipse, visit http://www.eclipsestores.com or email eclipse@eclipsestores.com.

Retail West 2013: Recap of the Show

As the 2013 Retail West conference came to a close, it was apparent how true a quote from that morning’s opening Keynote was. The quote came courtesy of Mountain Equipment Co-op (MEC) CEO, David Labistour, as he depicted the new retail reality of 2013. “This is the end of retail as we know it,” he said, referencing the way retailers are rapidly redefining their shopping experiences to serve evolving consumer expectations.

The OrderDynamics Team at Retail West 2013

The second annual Retail West conference in Vancouver last week supplied no shortage of ecommerce discussions. In fact nearly all of the conference's content was centered on ecommerce – a stark difference between it and the 2012 version of the conference, which encompassed a more general overview of Canadian retail operations as a whole.

Ecommerce is a Top Priority for Canadian Retailers
It was refreshing to hear many of Canada's top retailers focusing operations on their customers, using ecommerce as the lynchpin of the strategy – a concept that a 2013 Forrester Research report, 'The State of Online Retailing In Canada' reinforced earlier this year. Labistour touched on a number of customer-first efforts MEC have put in place over the last 18 months. His thoughts and experience with in-store technologies - such as iPads for customer services reps to engage and better serve shoppers - were fascinating. His views were that the iPads were cumbersome and didn't add enough value to the overall shopping experience. But the iPad test helped MEC identify areas for improvement in its mobile sites and apps to support in-store shopping experiences. Using mobile sites and apps as customer shopping tools is consistent with the approach Lowes Canada have begun to take with mobile commerce as well.

Retail West 2013 Exhibition Room

Labistour also spoke at length about new distribution models for faster, more efficient fulfillment. He stressed the idea that “ship products from anywhere” is a new reality consumers expect, and that Omni-Channel retailing is here to stay. His Keynote presentation made for a seamless transition into the Omni-Channel panel that was hosted and moderated by OrderDynamics CEO Michael Benadiba.

OrderDynamics Omni-Channel Presentation
Michael Benadiba, alongside Josh Johnston (Ecommerce Manager, London Drugs) and Tony Holbrook (Ecommerce Operations Manager, MEC) dug into the Omni-Channel shopping expectations of Canadian consumers and how brick and mortar retailers are leveraging store fulfillment and cross-channel shopping experiences as differentiators over dominant web-only retailers. In the case of London Drugs, Josh Johnston revealed that the prominent Western Canadian retailer actively uses ecommerce tools, promotions and tactics to drive localized store traffic. Much of the discussion was about Ship-From-Store capabilities and the operational efficiencies gained from this strategic fulfillment initiative. Tony Holbrook's view of in-store fulfillment summed up where many feel Omni-Channel commerce is heading when he said, "I see convenient fulfillment methods as one of the most strategic investments Canadian retailers can make in the next few years." As ecommerce continues to grow in Canada and abroad, it’s clear that fulfillment is the next “battleground” for retailers to optimize and take advantage of.

OrderDynamics CEO Michael Benadiba with Josh Johnston of London Drugs and Tony Holbrook of MEC

OrderDynamics would like to thank everyone who came and participated in our Omni-Channel presentation and panel. We would also like to thank Josh and Tony for contributing to one of the day's best presentations.

Certainly the 2013 Retail West conference will be remembered for its digital-heavy content and that's very appropriate given the state of the Canadian retail industry today. While Canadian retailers continue to play catch-up to US retailers who, in some cases, have been operating best of breed Omni-Channel shopping experiences for years, it's clear the gap is closing. Omni-Channel is continuing to capture greater acceptance within the Canadian retail community, although questions of “how” continue to linger. We are already looking forward to the 2014 Retail West conference to see the evolutions between this year and next.
OrderDynamics would also like to thank everyone we had the pleasure of speaking with during the conference and the Retail Council of Canada for hosting the event.

In the meantime, we invite you to visit our website at www.orderdynamics.com to learn more about our ecommerce platform and retail order management system.

OrderDynamics CEO, Michael Benadiba, and President, Michael Turcsanyi

Sincerely,
The OrderDynamics Team
1 (866) 559-8123