Retailers, just like their customers, sometimes have to shop around to get the products they need to line their shelves. This process is called sourcing, and it’s an essential part of supply chain management—the journey from manufacturer to shoppers’ homes.

• IBM defines sourcing as the “process of identifying, evaluating and selecting suppliers to provide goods and services,” while procurement software provider GEP tacks on an important caveat, defining the sourcing process as including “every activity that revolves around identifying and assessing potential suppliers as well as selecting and engaging with an appropriate supplier who offers the best value.”

In other words, in supply chain management parlance, sourcing is about finding both the right products and the right price. But within that simple concept are a wide range of practices, and many retailers are now throwing out their old playbooks to adapt to changing economic conditions.

Keep reading here.—AV

Cohesive customer journeys are a must in today’s retail landscape. Customers expect an omnichannel experience whether they’re in-store, online, or both.

The first step in meeting these demands is a robust, reliable network. Enter: T-Mobile for Business. Their nationwide 5G network keeps employees and customers seamlessly connected to your retail touchpoints. Just look at everything it can do:

• 5G Business Internet simplifies connectivity and in-store experiences.
• T-Mobile SASE fortifies point-of-sale systems and safeguards e-commerce infrastructure.
• 5G Advanced Network Solutions delivers AR/VR experiences to customers + employees.

With all those capabilities, you can expect improved shopper experiences, optimized operations, and the network you need to boost sales.

Get the right solution on the right network with T-Mobile for Business.

Amazon hasn’t been able to fully crack the grocery code thus far, but a massy change is perhaps in the offing.

Amazon recently dropped its cheapest private label brand, Amazon Saver, which offers grocery essentials, mostly priced under $5. The tech giant started to roll out the new private label with products like smoked ham and pancake syrup, and claims it will add “more than 100 items” to the Saver aisles in the coming months. Amazon Saver products can be bought both in-store at Amazon Fresh and online.

“Amazon Saver is the most affordable line within all of Amazon’s offerings, and we strive for that to be the case within industry too,” Molly McWhinnie, an Amazon spokesperson, said in an email to Retail Brew.

Keep reading here.—VC

With near constant news of data leaks and security breaches, online privacy has become a huge priority for American customers impacting the way people shop online.

According to the recently released 2024 Digital Consumer Insights Survey by Ipsos and Carter, it might mean retailers need to rethink their strategies as consumers become increasingly aware of data collection practices.

Gone are the days when the concept of “accepting cookies” prompted a Google search or was knowledge limited to tech-savvy consumers.

Keep reading here.—JS