A central theme of this year’s eTail Fulfilment & Returns  conference is the future of stores versus online. It’s a monster of an issue that has been debated fiercely in business circles for the best part of a decade.

At this conference, the emphasis is on the pragmatic elements of the conundrum – the operations, technology and logistics that underpin the complexities of modern retail’s omnichannel offer.

Last mile delivery, click & collect and returns processes are just three of the areas to be tackled – all of which many retailers urgently need help improving. The event’s agenda has been designed to assist delegates as they strive for clearer strategic thinking, more efficiency and the bedding in of delivery networks that are reliable and robust. If retailers are to survive in this hugely competitive, and constantly evolving market, shared insights like these are gold-dust.

Building a future with bricks and clicks

eTail Fulfilment & Returns aims to showcase the very latest thinking for e-fulfilment models, giving logisticians and technology experts a platform to present their vision for the most efficient way of solving customer problems, and delivering great customer services as the market progresses. Ecommerce pioneers and retailers mastering the art of combining bricks and clicks will be sharing lessons learnt, best practice ideas, and hopes for the future.

Big questions in eTail

So what kind of speaker themes can we expect? On Day 1, Dave Crellin, Head of Online Operations Development at Sainsbury’s will give a keynote address on ‘How to design your last mile delivery model in order to achieve the fast, convenient and cost-effective deliveries promised to your customers.’  Meanwhile, as part of a special session (also on 11^th Sept) on warehouse optimization, John Munnelly, Head of Operations at John Lewis will be asking: Is a robot going to be your warehouse worker´s best friend in a near future?

A high point of Day 2 will be the keynote from Martin Austermann, Adidas’s Director Global Logistics 3PL Strategy and Procurement. He’s tackling: ‘More goods are coming back and costs are spiraling – how can you convert the challenge of returns to your advantage?’ Expect lots of valuable take-aways from all these revealing session, as well the workshop tracks during the two days.

Competitive advantage

Daniela Cavinatto, Operations Director, Direct to Consumer at Lego says the event “aims to bring definitive insights on leveraging operations as a competitive advantage to any business seeking a truly omni-channel approach to eCommerce”. The agenda certainly reflects this.

Retail Connections will be attending the event to tap into this great content, and we aim to share highlights from the two-day conference. It’s all happening on the 11^th and 12^th September, at the Hilton London Canary Wharf, so see you there!

eTail Fulfilment & Returns 2018 is taking place 11th – 12th September, 2018, at the Hilton London Canary Wharf

You can download the eTail Fulfilment and Returns agenda here.