It’s getting bizarre. Bakers don’t bake (Sara Lee), electronic equipment suppliers (Cisco) don’t manufacture, booksellers don’t actually have books on the shelves, etc.
Some folks from Wharton are out with a new study on “virtual order fulfillment“.
Whichever way retailers choose to go, say the authors, opting for a virtual, traditional, or hybrid inventory structure „is and will continue to be a high-stakes decision where companies risk customer loyalty, large investments, and ultimately market success.‰