TECHNOLOGY
People are still the strongest and most adaptable resource ever
A case of location , location , location ? Multi-channel buying patterns , high SKU churn and fluctuating business volumes mean that the one huge repository dedicated to single product lines is no longer adequate . Consequently , warehousing and distribution are becoming more complex and fragmented to mirror this . Of course the exact template for this depends on the product and its life-cycle . Fresh produce needs to be housed close to its market , but for some non-time dependent products such as white goods , it ’ s a delicate balance between speed and costs .
Dark stores and small satellite distribution centres are filling this gap to a certain point , however the landscape is changing . Click-andcollect and indeed an increasing
16 June 2015