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

.

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

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.

OrderDynamics Monthly Google Updates Report - September 2013

Google created a stir with its first algorithm rewrite in 12 years, while Analytics and Adwords were relatively quiet compared to numerous updates and feature additions in August.

Google Search

On September 26, Google announced that they had rewritten the Google Search algorithm for the first time in 12 years, naming the new algorithm Hummingbird. The announcement came after weeks of SEO specialists speculating Panda updates after seeing major fluctuation in search results, especially around September 17-20. Google stated that the rollout of Hummingbird started in late August continuing throughout September, and affected roughly 90% of global Google searches., though it aims to improve speed and precision of search once the rollout is completed.

A big question as a result of Hummingbird is how it is different from Panda and Penguin. Danny Sullivan of Google described Hummingbird as an overall cleanup of the Google Search algorithm as a whole, while Panda and Penguin are simply individual parts of the algorithm. Panda and Penguin are still components of Hummingbird, and as such, best practices in accommodating them to support SEO are still valid.

Google Analytics

Google Analytics announced on the Analytics blog on September 18 that by the end of 2013, Google Analytics will no longer be officially compatible with Internet Explorer 8. The Platform will still be accessible on IE8, however functionality will not be optimal. Google asserted that the deprecation of compatibility “supports a modern browsing experience”, as it will allow them to streamline compatibility with newer browser technologies that will enable them to add new features faster.

On September 30, Google launched a new Google Analytics mobile app for Android devices. The refreshed app offers a new look and responsive design so it renders well on all Android devices, no matter the device’s orientation, better real-time reporting, and advanced segment dimensions that allow for deeper analysis.

Google Adwords

Adwords introduced new Conversion Reports for Offline Campaigns, which enables Adwords advertisers to import and compile offline conversion data with that of online campaigns. The feature became necessary after Adwords created Offline Campaigns, wherein Adwords generates a unique “Google” phone number to be used in ads in place of a business’ actual phone number which tracks user engagement, but not conversions. However, Adwords now allows this data to be imported, and can be integrated with Marketo, Mongoose Metrics, SugarCRM, Salesforce and more.

On September 25, Adwords introduced the Ready Creatives feature to facilitate easy creation of high quality ads. Ready Creatives offers two components: Ready Image Ads and Ready Ad Gallery. Ready Image Ads draw from images on a website by simply inputting its URL. Advertisers can then select the image to use for their ad, and edit the creative with specific messaging in a variety of styles. Ready Image Ads provide advertisers with a repertoire of prebuilt templates for static, dynamic and video ads, which they can customize according to their needs and desired messaging. Ads made in Ready Creatives are in HTML5 format, ensuring the ads render well across all browsing devices.