E-Commerce in Logistics and Supply Chain Management

Background

The rapid growth of e-commerce is being related to economic development and often been cited as a driver of economic growth. E-commerce is also touted as a powerful medium through which developing economies can exploit the potential of global markets. Today, e-commerce in developed economies represents the latest leader of chance in physical distribution network and SCM, whereas in developing economies, e-commerce market is still in its infancy but it is expanding and becoming integral part of commercial life. This field evolved substantially over the past four decades and continues to grow today. In the early days, low prices and convenience were the driving forces for e-commerce, but today, e-commerce retailers (also known as e-tailers) are catering to every kind of shopping experience, service and product. Presently, it remains the case that as the gross revenue earned from e-commerce is increasing year on year from nascence to critical mass, most transport service providers (TSP) or retailers, particularly multi- and omni-channel retailers, are only starting to realize what this will bring to their retail logistics and physical distribution network infrastructures and what role they can have within. So much as, today e-commerce has become a complementary retail touch point for the traditional brick-and-mortar retail.