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.

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.

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!

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.

OrderDynamics is Getting Ready for Retail West 2013

The Second Annual Retail West Conference is set to take place on October 22, 2013 in Vancouver, Canada, and the OrderDynamics Team is thrilled to be exhibiting once again. For the second year in a row, the Retail Council of Canada will be at the Pan Pacific Hotel in Vancouver to share insights on retail and omni-channel trends, best practices for retailers looking to build their customer base while also growing their business, and real-life case studies on winning strategies leading Canadian retailers are leveraging today.

The single-day conference offers a full schedule of 6 concurrent sessions along with 3 super sessions featuring panel discussions with Canadian retail experts examining mobile trends, driving traffic to online and brick stores, retail marketing and more. OrderDynamics CEO, Michael Benadiba, will be moderating a panel on How to Exceed Canadian Omni-Channel Shopping Expectations While Accelerating Growth and Profitability, wherein Josh Johnson of London Drugs and Tony Holbrook of Mountain Equipment Co-op will discuss the current state of omni-channel retail adoption in Canada, what Canadians expect from their omni-channel shopping experiences, and the strategies London Drugs and Mountain Equipment Co-op are employing to accommodate and surpass customer expectations. 

In addition, OrderDynamics will share insights from their global research project conducted in conjunction with Forrester Research regarding retail Order Management Solutions and their impact on facilitating omni-channel shopping experiences. As part of the upcoming global report, OrderDynamics will unveil some of their findings on how well-known Canadian retailers have or plan to strategically invest in implementing retail Order Management Systems to better cater to customer expectations of convenience and flexibility while also accelerating cross-channel growth.

OrderDynamics will also be hosting the Official Retail West Cocktail Party on the eve of the conference, October 21 at 6pm in the Cascades Lounge at the Pan Pacific Hotel in Vancouver. The OrderDynamics Team invites all Retail West attendees and exhibitors to stop by for drinks, h’ors d’oeuvres and a great networking opportunity to get acquainted with the various retailers and consultants that will make up what is sure to be a great show.

For more information on Retail West 2013, and the Official Retail West Cocktail Party, visit OrderDynamics.com/RetailWest2013.

Internet Retailer Conference & Exhibition 2013 - Recap of the Show!

Some of the OrderDynamics team at IRCE 2013 in Chicago

A few quick weeks have passed since the 2013 Internet Retailer Conference and Exhibition wrapped up earlier this month and it’s been a whirlwind to say the least. The first week of June saw OrderDynamics announce it had been acquired by eCommera, a global leader in Decision Intelligent Commerce solutions, exhibit at the Retail Council of Canada’s annual STORE Conference, and exhibit at IRCE 2013 in Chicago!  What a way to start June, but we couldn’t be happier with the reception we received to our news, as well as the new connections and friends we made at each of the respective conferences.

The 2013 edition of IRCE was bigger and better than any of its previous years.  The Conference played host to more than 9,500 attendees and 600+ vendors at McCormick Place in Chicago while marking the first time the event was managed by its new ownership, GLM Events.  And just like other years, a number of themes and trends were very apparent throughout the Conference including the need for cloud-based order management solutions, global commerce expansion, B2B commerce, and omni-channel commerce enablement.  The latter two trends were extensions of themes we observed at IRCE’s 2012 Conference, but still worthy of mention.

A Partial view of the IRCE exhibiting hall featuring 600+ vendors

Order Management Is A Must
In recent years order management has evolved from “nice to have” to “must have”, largely because of growing consumer and customer service expectations, and also due to incredible ecommerce growth and complex retail system integrations.  The emergence and re-prioritization of omni-channel commerce in 2011 and 2012 (and especially seen at the 2012 IRCE and 2012 Shop.org Annual Summit) brought retail order management features like buy online pick up in-store, ship from store, distributed fulfillment, single view of the customer, advanced order handling, mobile POS, and more to the forefront of the industry and revealed how difficult it is to execute intricate strategies without proper tools and solutions.  These requirements indicated brick and mortar retailers of all sizes had gaps in their backend infrastructure that couldn’t be filled by extending frontend ecommerce platforms or backend inventory/accounting systems.  In addition, web-only retailers are aggressively seeking order management solutions to reduce the amount of manual tasks needed to process a growing volume of orders and to create business rules that streamline warehouse/distribution center fulfillment procedures. 

Another picture of the OrderDynamics team hard at work during IRCE 2013

Order management’s rise in importance across the ecommerce industry speaks to the evolution of web and retail shopping and how critical multi-channel shopping and fulfillment options have become for merchants set on delivering premium service to its customers.  Those who follow ecommerce closely likely regard Macy’s and Nordstrom as early adopters of omni-channel, but since other enterprise retailers such as Staples have also answered this movement by creating new omni-channel enabled stores to cater to this ongoing evolution.  Retailers with long term omni-channel intentions are already putting significant investments into order management solutions to help support evolving business needs and ultimately provide improved customer experiences.  Doing this will enable much more flexibility and represents how strategic order management is and will continue to be move forward.  At the end of the day, robust order management solutions will improve the level of service and choice retailers are able offer shoppers, and that’s a great thing for consumers.

OrderDynamics founders (left to right) Jules Sukhabut, Michael Turcsanyi, Michael Benadiba

Global Commerce Expansion Is Still Unchartered
While the idea of well-known North American retailers expanding online operations into new markets in Europe and beyond isn’t exactly new, there are still a large number of merchants slowly investigating the move.  In many cases, U.S.-based retailers are using Canada as an unofficial testing ground and practical learning experience.  The careful consideration and long term planning going into these decisions is completely understandable – it’s a huge investment that needs to be executed perfectly – and accurately articulates the need these growing retailers have for quality partners who understand local-yet-foreign markets.  From the conversations we shared throughout IRCE, it’s clear that there is no single ecommerce solution tailored to each and every global market and retailers already know that.  As a result they are testing and evaluating new partners for different markets in order to understand various solution strengths and expertise.  Global expansion still has a long way to go in terms of stabilizing strategies and operations, but this approach makes a lot of sense and fundamentally helps retailers better understand small intricacies with new markets while undertaking the least amount of risk.  It also re-confirms the importance that should be placed on finding the right partners with the right, global optimized technology.

Pinny Gniwisch, formerly of Ice.com, discussing the value of long term solution partner

There is so much more that could be written about this terrific Conference, including the amazing list of speakers IRCE 2013 had.  While difficult to name everyone, we’d to make special mention of the Keynote session that featured the one and only Al Gore, as well as a host of dynamic and insightful speakers including Pinny Gniwisch, formerly of Ice.com, Jon Barker, COO of Hayneedle, and Cindy Lincks Director of Analytics at Brooks Brothers.  

Former Vice-President Al Gore as IRCE 2013's Keynote Speaker

We would also like to take the opportunity to say a special thanks to several of our clients for dropping by our booth and exclusive ecommerce networking party during the three main days of IRCE including Henry’s, The Shoe Company, Cascio Interstate Music, and a number of others.

OrderDynamics team working away on day 2 of IRCE

The 2014 IRCE will also be held in Chicago and we already can’t wait.  The next big retail conference OrderDynamics will be exhibiting at will be the 2013 Shop.org Annual Summit September 30 – October 2 (also in Chicago).

We will be reaching out to all interested parties over the next two weeks. Please feel free to contact us directly: solutions@orderdynamics.com.

In the meantime, we invite you to visit our website at www.orderdynamics.com to learn more about our On-Demand Commerce Platform and Connected Commerce, omni-channel vision.

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

Canadian Retailer: Laura Canada’s Bold Jump Into Ecommerce

The Spring issue of Internet Retailer applauded new trends from some of Canada's leading retailers and highlights OrderDynamics client Laura Canada and their 2012 eCommerce launch. Since 1930 Laura has followed a simple model of providing superior customer service with motivated, driven sales associates and fashion consultants at its retail stores. Their eCommerce launch last year applied the same mentality and attention to detail in order to unify customer experiences and set a new standard for cross-channel shopping in Canada.

According to eMarketer, online sales in Canada have consistently increasing by 14% year over year. By 2015, online sales will exceed $31 billion, an astounding benchmark compared to only 10 short years ago. Laura Canada is embracing eCommerce, in part to capitalize on the growing Canadian market, but also because they see online retailing as a way to provide additional service to its long-time customers by supporting their in-store experience.

“Though Laura Canada is well positioned for growth in the coming years, their jump into eCommerce isn’t solely based around new customer acquisition. The cornerstone of Laura Canada’s success has been centered on strong service and customer oriented programs.  They see their new online channel as an integral way to support customers with even more multi-channel features, many of which are set to be incorporated into their 2013 offerings,” says Michael Turcsanyi, President of OrderDynamics, in this issue of Canadian Retailer.

The article walks readers through mission critical elements of the Laura.ca launch and explains how the leading apparel retailer selected its state of the art eCommerce platform. The article also details Laura’s effort to integrate their eCommerce platform their warehouse, CRM, ERP, email marketing, and loyalty systems to offer a best-in-class shopping experience and transparency to their customers. Laura’s eCommerce implementation with OrderDynamics also features a built-in integration with Canada Post, enabling customers to have parcels delivered straight to any of Canada Post’s 6,500 post offices across the country. 

Sam Barnes, Director of eCommerce at Laura Canada, spoke about entering eCommerce with OrderDynamics, saying “[Our] goal is to provide the absolute best shopping experience for our customers across all sales channels. The on-site experience, ongoing service and quality of fulfillment, are all key to our eCommerce strategy.  OrderDynamics integration with Canada Post’s eCommerce services has proven to be a feature that our customers are already making great use of.  These integrations helped Laura immediately achieve several short and long-term goals for our eCommerce channel.”

There is a growing urgency for retailers across Canada to unify retail touch points and move toward creating an integrated omni-channel experience. With the launch of Laura.ca, Laura Canada has done just that, while setting a new cross-channel retailing standard in the process.

Read the article here.

eTail Canada 2013 - Recap of the Show!

As eTail Canada 2013 concluded last week, we couldn't help but be amazed at how far the Canadian retail industry has come in just a few years.  The third installment of eTail Canada offered the most accurate portrayal of eCommerce and omni-channel retailing in Canada that we’ve ever seen.  Too often assumptions or generalities are made on this emerging market, however the three day event really captured the challenges and successes of Canadian retailers, as well as the evolution of modern Canadian consumers.

Michael Turcsanyi, President at OrderDynamics, discussing the exciting evolution in retail and commerce

Day One Highlights
The opening keynote panel, which featured Ted Starkman (former President of the Shopping Channel) and  Tanbir Grover (Director of eCommerce at Lowe’s Canada), touched on an array of high-level omni-channel concepts including the idea that mobile sites and strategies are playing an important role in supporting in-store shopping experiences.  Tanbir continued to suggest that as an online community we still need to figure out what the right mobile experience is, and that we need to spend the same amount of time and thought on mobile shopping sites and strategies as we’ve done in the past for desktop experiences.

Day One Keynote Panel with Ted Starkman and Tanbir Grover

The final theme of this panel session discussed Canada’s retail landscape and the incoming wave of U.S. retailers expanding north of the border.  “Canada is seeing global competition for the first time,” said Ted Starkman.  He continued to explore how Canadian retailers will react to increased competition and aggressive expansion plans.  He also noted that many of the U.S. retailers set to enter Canada (or currently entering Canada) already have strong awareness with Canadian consumers, citing Target and Nordstrom as notable examples.

Later that morning, OrderDynamics CEO, Michael Benadiba, lead an executive roundtable discussing best practices being used by mid-large retailers to deploy omni-channel commerce initiatives.  The roundtable featured great contribution and savvy advice from some of Canada’s biggest and most sophisticated retailers – both Canadian, as well as those based out of the U.S.  As if it wasn’t already clear, the appetite and desire to deliver a best of breed, unified shopping experience is at an all-time high in Canada.  While it makes perfect sense, it’s encouraging to see such a challenging undertaking taken so seriously by senior retail leaders.  As we've noted in recent omni-channel focused webinars, Executive buy-in is a critical when launching omni-channel commerce strategies.

OrderDynamics CEO Michael Benadiba leading an omni-channel focused roundtable during eTail Canada

During the afternoon sessions, Tara Conway (Director of eCommerce at Toys "R" Us Canada) spoke about Toys "R" Us and their ongoing cross-channel efforts to drive improved shopping experiences and deliver ultimate convenience for their customers.  According to Tara, cross-channel customers for Toys ‘R Us are more loyal, and buy more than single channel customers (her stats suggested cross-channel customers buy 3-4 times more frequently, similar to results from Macy's).  Tara also suggested major challenges in launching (and maintaining) omni-channel strategies are ensuring eCommerce and IT departments are completely aligned, and that endless online aisle inventories can lead to frustrating in-store experiences when product assortment isn’t consistent from web to store – two points that can be overlooked when creating customer-centric strategies.

Tara Conway of Toys 'R Us discussing expectations of Canadian consumers

Day Two Highlights
eTail Canada’s second day started with a keynote presentation from OrderDynamics VP of Operations, Tammy Nyman.  Tammy’s address focused on the evolution of Canadian consumers, their expectations, and what retailers are doing to meet these growing expectations.  She also outlined the percentage of Canadian retailers operating eCommerce websites (statistics were collected from an independent study of 900+ retailers in Canada by OrderDynamcs in January 2013).

Following Tammy’s session, she continued to chair and moderate several speaking panels throughout the day including an insightful panel that featured Todd Dean (VP of Cross-Channel and eCommerce at ALDO Group) and Thierry Hay-Sabourin (Director of eCommerce at Best Buy Canada/Futureshop).  Like much of the conference, this session focused on omni-channel retailing, and how Canadian retailers are “flattening” their organizations to adapt to modern shopping expectations and reduce channel-centric approaches.  Thierry had a great quote that truly depicts the challenge that lies within omni-channel commerce, saying “Multi-channel retailing means involving every area of your business and working together.  It means massive disruption for organizations.”  Todd Dean added to that too, “Omni-channel is a re-think of the retail model.  It supports the consumer decision making journey.  [Aldo] has no hesitation to change our online experience if it isn’t supporting our retail stores.”

OrderDynamics VP of Operations Tammy Nyman moderating ecommerce leaders from Aldo and Futureshop

The afternoon keynote presentation featured Peter Sheldon of Forrester Research.  While the tone of Peter’s presentation was a bit more urgent than that of previous sessions, it was largely based on his views that eCommerce in Canada has so much potential.  Peter talked at length about the need for Canadian retailers to offer more convenience and improved fulfillment options to customers, suggesting both Futureshop and Laura Canada as market leaders.  Peter’s presentation offered revealing stats and trends about Canadian consumers and their shopping habits, including the fact that two-thirds of Canadians have purchased online goods from US retailers - a sign that Canadian consumers aren’t afraid to pay more (duties/shipping, exchange rate, etc.) for products they want and can't find locally.

Forrester Research Principal Analyst Peter Sheldon's keynote presentation

OrderDynamics would like to extend a big thank you to eTail Canada for asking us to be part of the event’s content and thought leadership.  We also want to thank everyone who took the time to stop by our booth and attend our omni-channel retail roundtable.  Lastly, we’d like to say a special thank you to everyone who was able to attend our eCommerce Cocktail party on the evening of Day Two.  We're already looking forward to an even bigger eTail Canada in 2014!

OrderDynamics ecommerce networking and cocktail party

In the meantime, we invite you to visit our website at www.orderdynamics.com to learn more about our On-Demand Commerce Platform.

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

Webinar: The Omni-Channel Face Off: How Canadian retailers can stay ahead of U.S. Competitors with Omni-Channel Commerce Strategies

In order to create a seamless and consistent experience across all retail channels and touch points, Canadian retailers need to take advantage of cutting edge technologies, adopt new approaches, and work with experienced partners to maximize their market presence before global competitors enter Canada.

Having a sophisticated Omni-Channel commerce website is king, regardless if you have an existing eCommerce channel today.  If Canadian retailers cannot provide a best-in-class shopping experience across online and retail channels, they’ll risk losing sales and potentially lose ground on a rapidly changing retail industry.

Canadians retailers need to constantly review their current eCommerce program, asking themselves, am I gaining competitive advantage or being passed by aggressive U.S. retailers and innovative Canadian retailers?  A solid Omni-Channel strategy, sophisticated eCommerce solutions, a stimulating retail environment, as well as a best-in-class online shopping experience must be key components of any program that impacts the customer's buying experience.

On May 15th, 2013 at 1pm EST, join Michael Turcsanyi, President of OrderDynamics, for an exclusive webinar that will provide an overview of the shifting Canadian retail landscape and an opportunity to learn how Canadian retailers can gain competitive advantage through an Omni-Channel commerce strategy.

Key talking points will include:

• Plan, build and maintain a cutting edge Omni-Channel commerce strategy
• Empower customers to purchase through their most convenient touch points
• Detailed overview into today’s eCommerce landscape and future trends
• How Canadian retailers have the advantage

Click here to register for this webinar. (Space is limited.)