As the lock down continues, Bis Henderson Consulting will be providing insights and expertise at various virtual events throughout May. Our Digital and Strategy Director Louisa Hosegood will be providing content and hosting a series of peer-to-peer discussions at two ongoing events this month: SC Intent Group and The Retail Hive.
If you’re looking to learn, solve challenges and network with like-minded peers – we’re finding virtual events are the next best thing to traditional conferences and Round Table events.
As a reminder, all of our specialists are still active should you need any support with your operation.
The Supply Chain Intent Group - Reacting To Changing Customer Behaviours
**POST EVENT UPDATE – SUMMARY FROM LOUISA HOSEGOOD
“Asking such a challenging question to a group representing a variety of sectors from retail, healthcare, brewing and manufacturing, was always going to create an interesting discussion. And it did!
Different products, different business models and different customer responses during COVID but one common theme – customers behaviours are changing and although uncertain some of it is likely to stick, and this situation is forcing businesses to reassess and re-imagine their supply chains, challenge old norms and push into new territories.”
Key takeaways
- COVID has accelerated some shifts that were already underway – e.g. online mix
- Multi-channel retailers are looking at how to best use all estate assets to increase fulfilment capacity with minimal impact on overall cost base
- FMCGs and other B2Bs are seeing the need to pivot towards B2C product types and services
- Creating flexibility earlier in the supply chain will be important e.g. production of global brands instead of country specific
- Heavy regulation is a barrier to supply chain agility, how much will this pandemic situation serve to loosen some of the rules?
Date: On-going throughout May
Topic: B2C Supply Chain
The Supply Chain & Logistics Intent Group is a free to join network of over 450 Heads from cross-sector enterprises, and in these challenging times has become even more pertinent to its members as it provides a forum to:
- Explore improvements and optimisation opportunities
- De-risk next moves or changes
- Test your thinking what works for others
- Identify shared challenges and solutions
- Future-proof their supply chain in changing environments
Specifically for B2C supply chains, their ongoing small scale discussions running throughout May are designed for real sharing of experience and insights. With some fantastic speakers on Supply Chain risk, future of final mile, competing with Amazon and reacting to changing customer behaviours.
Louisa will be hosting the following discussion:
Wednesday 13th May: 13.00 – 14.00
Reacting To Changing Customer Behaviours
On the back of our recent whitepaper ‘Preparing supply chains for a new retail landscape post Coronavirus (COVID-19)’ Louisa is set to chair a round table discussion that should really brings the report to life:
Synopsis:
Consumer habits have changed / are changing / will change permanently. We’ve seen considerable differences of opinion on this in recent discussions, so how do you prepare for consumer supply chain post COVID? Or, how do you build in the agility and flexibility to cope with the near term volatility and change?
How are others see how others are preparing? And what they’re expecting to see?
The Retail Hive - Focus on Fulfilment
**POST EVENT UPDATE – SUMMARY FROM LOUISA HOSEGOOD
“Last week became a week of sharing experiences, comparing ups and downs, frantic nodding, light-hearted anecdotes and meeting (albeit virtually) a wide variety of like-minded passionate people. The topics were varied and really relevant, great input from everyone and has left us all with plenty of food for thought”
Key takeaways
- Biggest priority for investment is Automation
- Automation may not be an end all solution, but with the increase of orders we do need to understand how to utilise it
- Get the business fitter, which starts with rationalising the SKU’s and products
- In a fast growth environment where capacity is struggling to keep pace with demand, automating across the quick wins with speed is often vital
Session Feedback
Day 1 – Warehouse management systems (WMS)
“Interesting to debate ‘buy’ vs ‘make’ when it comes to systems and where companies want to retain their control. It’s a minefield of technology out there and choosing a new WMS is a big investment of time, money and change capacity. So how can smaller or medium sized companies navigate the maze of suppliers and solutions on offer to find the best for their business?”
Day 2 – Returns
“Coronavirus is creating the impetus to review all parts of the supply chain – including the sometimes forgotten part of the chain – returns. How can companies respond to changing customer behaviour and improve customer experience and loyalty through having friction-less returns processes e.g. no labels, contactless drop, collected, auto-refund?”
Day 3 – Supply Chain agility
“Collaboration and relationships with suppliers and 3PLs was a big part of the agility discussion. The quote of the session for me was ‘we’ve lifted the Wizard of Oz curtain and the new transparency is working so well we won’t be putting it back'”
Date: 19th -21st May
Topic: Focus on Fulfilment
The Hive Network enables peer-to-peer discussions on relevant issues affecting our industry – now more than ever they’re enabling peers to seize the opportunity our current situation lands us in; to collaborate, share insights, and host meaningful dialogue.
Retail has well and truly been put into the spotlight as the world copes with the outbreak of COVID-19. The Retail Hive have responded with a three day event ‘The Retail Hive Digital: Focus on Fulfilment’ running between 19th May – 21st May, consisting of digital Round Table discussions, facilitated 1:1s and featured key notes.
Louisa will be taking part in various events across the three days.
More about Louisa...
Louisa Hosegood FCMA is Digital and Strategy Director at Bis Henderson Consulting. She has 18 years’ experience in retail and eCommerce, fulfilling senior supply chain leadership roles at some of the UK’s largest retailers – Marks & Spencer, John Lewis and Tesco. Until recently she was Head of Logistics Network Development at Marks & Spencer, where she was responsible for developing the strategy and design for a simpler omni-channel logistics network to support store and online sales of £5bn pa for the retailer’s Clothing and Home lines.
Over a ten-year career at John Lewis, Louisa held both the post of Head of Supply Chain Strategy and Head of Commercial Assurance – Operations, roles that encompassed strategy formulation and mobilisation, operational and commercial insight, executive communication and risk management.
