Research & Statistics
News lenge is to give fairness and responsibility a business-oriented approach . Our concept is that companies should focus on creating shared value , turning social and environmental challenges into sustainable , fair and potentially profitable business models . The ‘ Fair and Responsible Challenge ’ aims to find new and innovative ideas to advance this vision ,” states Bill Meahl , Chief Commercial Officer , DHL .
The second challenge is the “ Robotics Challenge ”. The aim is to develop a prototype of a self-driving delivery cart that can autonomously accompany staff during last mile delivery . “ Our colleagues have to deal with an ever-increasing number of parcels that need to be delivered . As our couriers are currently required to manually push this volume through the streets , we encourage concepts that support our employees ,” Meahl continues . The submitted prototypes need to be able to traverse typical urban and rural landscapes at walking-speed while at the same time carrying parcels .
After submission , entries are reviewed in a pre-selection process based on their functionality , potential to solve the given problem and its perceived commercial feasibility . Following pre-selection , a panel of logistics experts will select three finalists of each challenge , who then have the chance to present their idea or prototype in front of 180 senior supply chain professionals at the DHL Innovation Day on November 17 . For each challenge a winner is awarded during a live-voting process . The highest numbers of votes are awarded as winners of the DHL
Innovation Challenge , receive a monetary prize out of a pool of combined 20,000 Euro , and display their idea at the DHL innovation Centers in Troisdorf / Germany and Singapore . In addition , DHL will invite the winners to discuss opportunities to materialize their ideas into a joint proof of concept .
Research & Statistics
UPS STUDY : AVID ONLINE SHOPPERS MAKING MORE THAN HALF OF THEIR PURCHASES WITH E-COMMERCE
Tech-savvy shoppers taking more control with smartphones . Technology drives retailers to redefine the store .
Avid online shoppers , who make two or more purchases online in a typical three-month period , are leading a retail revolution . These consumers are shopping more with their smartphones and demanding a more seamless experience between virtual and physical stores , according to the fifth annual UPS Pulse of the Online Shopper™ study .
This is the first time in the study ’ s five-year history that more than 50 percent ( 51 %) of all purchases made by respondents are made online , up from 48 percent in 2015 .
“ Consumers are skilled at using technology to their advantage and thrive on gathering information when shopping ,” said Teresa Finley , Chief Marketing Officer at UPS . “ This year ’ s UPS study revealed that 45 percent of online shoppers love the thrill of hunting for and finding great deals , and that physi- cal stores continue to play an important role in that experience . The challenge is how to best engage with shoppers to fulfill their desires .”
Evolved Shoppers
The shift from traditional in-store shopping to shopping with multiple channels continues . Seventeen percent of consumers plan to shop less in store , shifting time to their electronic devices .
The use of smartphones is up 10 points ( to 77 %) over the past two years , and retailers are responding . Online shoppers report a better mobile experience with satisfaction up eight points ( to 73 %) since last year . Social media ’ s influence on purchasing decisions is up nine points ( to 34 %) in the last year with nearly a quarter of respondents ( 23 %) having made purchases through social media sites .
Shiny New Objects
Some traditional online retailers are experimenting with showrooms without inventory to provide consumers with the opportunity to examine products at a physical location before buying them online . One in six shoppers say they have visited such retailers . These locations are finding some initial success with millennials , women and urban shoppers .
While marketplaces such as Amazon and eBay are well-established shopping resources , consumers are turning to them earlier to find the best deals . Thirty-five percent of online shoppers now begin their searches at marketplaces .
Reimagining the Store
Cross-channel transactions , which refer to purchases using in-store and
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