Published August 7, 2018
Augmented Reality (AR) utilizes technology to provide additional insights and abilities in the real world, with one example being the Google Translate app’s ability to take a picture of text in many languages and then immediately translate it for you onscreen. An excellent AR app to help you understand signs or menus in foreign countries, or even that fancy restaurant around the corner.
I am introducing the concept and emerging new logistics reality of Augmented Fulfillment, (AF) which will allow logistics operators to add and enhance customer experience capabilities.
Augmented Fulfillment is the addition and integration of a specialized suite of technology, flexible automation and forward micro-fulfillment locations which will effectively ‘augment’ your current fulfillment network allowing you to improve Next Day and Same Day delivery to consumers.
Any major retail or e-tail company out there has already invested millions, tens of millions or even hundreds of millions of dollars in their eCommerce fulfillment center or network of fulfillment centers to support their online business.
These days the majority of eCommerce fulfillment operations are done out of one or two fulfillment centers due to the fact that large volumes of orders are needed to justify the capital expense of building these large automated fulfillment centers and drive a satisfactory Return on Investment (ROI).
Until recently this was the most viable eCommerce solution at scale when the majority of customers were willing to wait three to five days to get delivery of their eCommerce order. Those days are over with next day and soon same day delivery becoming the eCommerce norm.
The problem is consumers are not willing to pay anything more for these improved service levels. Logistics and supply chain operators are now truly between a rock and a hard place. Without a solution retailers and e-tailers who just maintain the status quo will likely not be around in three to five years.
There is a new solution emerging which can be rapidly and cost effectively bolted on to your existing eCommerce fulfillment network to deliver on next day and same day delivery demands, this is AF.
AF is the addition and integration of a specialized suite of technology, flexible automation and forward micro-fulfillment locations which will effectively ‘augment’ your current fulfillment network allowing you to improve next day and same day delivery to consumers.
More Resources
LinkedIn: The Automated Local Fulfillment Imperative
Blog: The Automated Local Fulfillment Imperative
Video: Get to know MonarchFx
