This year's Retail Industry
Leadership Association (RILA) Conference provided a great
opportunity to re-connect with retail industry leaders and solution
providers in the supply-chain realm. As we wrap up the activities
from the conference, several key trends stick out in our minds from
some of the great sessions and discussions.
The conference provided valuable insight on the state of the
supply chain, and on strategic considerations from retailers about
which aspects of consumer expectations are fungible and which are
underpinned by a permanent shift in behaviors.
Returns are costly, and the customer is now picking up part of
the tab
During her presentation, Nordstrom's Chief Supply Chain
Officer, Alexis DePree, stressed that returns are a crucial joint
in the retail value-chain, challenging retailers to maintain high
levels of customer service while managing costs. A retailer's
approach to handling returns needs to be an extension of the
experience offered
