Call for Change

Over the years, the retail landscape has undergone significant changes due to the growing popularity of online shopping. With the rise of e-commerce, traditional brick-and-mortar stores have had to adapt in order to remain relevant. One of the ways in which retailers have evolved is by converting their stores into fulfillment centers. In the past, retail stores were primarily places where customers could browse and purchase products. However, as consumers have increasingly turned to online shopping, retailers have had to find new ways to meet the demands of their customers. One of the challenges of e-commerce is the need to deliver products quickly and efficiently. Simply adding more fulfillment centers is not always the most cost-effective solution. As demand for online shopping continues to grow, retailers must balance the need to provide fast and convenient delivery with the cost of maintaining and operating a large network of fulfillment centers. This has led many retailers to repurpose their physical stores as fulfillment centers to help speed up the delivery process.

Introduction

The wine and beer industry has undergone significant changes in customer behavior over the past decade. With the rise of online shopping, more and more customers are choosing the convenience and ease of access that eCommerce provides. This shift in customer behavior has created an urgent need for retailers to adapt to the evolving eCommerce landscape. Recognizing this need, one of the largest independent retailers of beer, liquor, and wine identified an opportunity to shift towards an eCommerce fulfillment model.

The company had successfully managed its brick-and-mortar stores using a proprietary management system called “Spirits” over the last 20 years. However, this system was built on outdated technology and was not compatible with the current eCommerce landscape. The company realized that it needed a new intelligent supply chain foundation that could be scaled flexibly to support their vision of becoming the first national network of retail liquor stores designed and optimized for eCommerce fulfillment.

When Tech meets human ingenuity

Customer, a premium liquor retailer brand, is one of the largest independent retailers of fine wine, spirits, and beer in the country. They are known for providing top-notch service, a huge selection, and the best prices in the area. With a desire to expand their success nationally, Customer embarked on a radical reimagination of their digital customer experience.

By combining the power of digital with a customer-centric mindset, Customer sought to offer truly personalized experiences across their retailer and eCommerce channels. Their ultimate goal was to delight and engage customers by transitioning from retail to eCommerce and fueling new growth for their business.

To achieve this, Customer teamed up with Advatix, a company with the expertise necessary to create a platform that would best serve their customers. Advatix designed a roadmap for a new, flexible, and scalable architecture that allowed for ship-from-store and communicated with the existing ‘Spirits’ model. The existing inventory management software, originally created for brick-and-mortar operations, was updated using Advatix Cloudsuite™ to be compatible with the current eCommerce landscape, providing real-time inventory visibility.

Thanks to Advatix’s work, Customer now offers a seamless shopping and delivery experience with both shopping and fast shipping options. Their new platform helps the company provide their customers with personalized experiences that keep them coming back for more.

Value Delivered by Advatix Cloudsuite™ Retail: Ship from Store Solution

Advatix CloudsuiteTM has enabled Customer to revolutionize its digital customer experience by offering a seamless shopping and delivery experience with both shopping and fast shipping options. The platform’s integration has enabled the company to implement ship-from-store technology, which has streamlined their eCommerce operations and enabled them to scale their business nationwide. With real-time inventory visibility, the platform has helped provide personalized experiences to the customers, keeping them engaged and loyal to the brand. The result is a successful expansion of the business that has increased revenue and customer satisfaction.

Technical Foundation:

Our solution’s technical foundation is based on creating a connection between the customer’s inventory management software and Advatix Cloudsuite™. This integration allows for the client’s existing system to serve as the primary source of truth while continuously synchronizing with our platform in real-time.

Custom Integration Layer:

Our solution incorporates a custom integration layer that enables seamless connectivity between multiple e-commerce platforms, including but not limited to Shopify, City Hive, Wiwino, and Caskers. The tailored integration framework we have created ensures smooth and efficient communication between these platforms, providing our clients with a comprehensive and unified view of their online sales channels.

Unique Pick Path:

Our solution utilizes a unique pick path strategy that is customized specifically for online orders, allowing retailers using Advatix Cloudsuite™ to optimize their inventory management processes. This customized pick path sequence ensures that the correct items are efficiently selected from the store’s inventory to fulfill online orders while still maintaining a positive in-store customer experience. By allocating specific shelf rules for online orders, client can streamline their fulfillment processes and provide their customers with faster, more reliable delivery options.

Carrier Integration:

Our solution features carrier integration with multiple regional and national carriers, including We Ship, FedEx, and UPS. This integration enables liquor-regulated shipment with features such as adult signature required (ASR) for accounts that are licensed for shipping alcohol. By implementing these features, all deliveries are made safely and in compliance with legal guidelines, providing our clients with a reliable and compliant shipping solution.

Tracking Systems:

Our solution includes customized internal and external tracking systems, which we call “Where is my order.” This tracking system provides customers with real-time updates on their order status, including the order journey and various events that occur along the way. Customers can receive customizable email notifications to stay informed throughout the entire process, providing a seamless and transparent shopping experience. Our solution is designed and developed to enhance customer satisfaction and streamline the fulfillment process.

Customized brand experiences:

Our solution provides customized brand experiences through personalized packing slips that include options for brand logos and engraving. These packing slips offer a unique and personalized touch to each order, reinforcing the brand identity and elevating the overall customer experience. By providing these options, our solution enables retailers to create a lasting impression and increase customer loyalty through personalized and thoughtful touches. stomized packing slip with options of including brand logos and engraving options.

Launching New Stores:

The company was able to seamlessly integrate with over 175 online stores, resulting in significant revenue growth by utilizing our OMS+ platform, . This approach enables retailers to expand their reach and increase their customer base quickly and efficiently, allowing them to focus on growing their business and increasing profitability.

Visibility :

The platform provides enhanced visibility through customized reports and dashboards, enabling our clients to gain valuable insights into their business operations. For example, our platform allows for detailed tracking of order flow by country, by store, and other customizable metrics. This enhanced visibility enables our clients to make data-driven decisions and optimize their operations for improved efficiency and profitability.

Outcome:

Our solution has enabled the company to successfully convert all retail stores to tech-driven eCommerce fulfillment, resulting in significant revenue growth. The company is currently expanding to all states, and has already integrated with over 175 online stores through our OMS+ platform in just one year. Our solution has enabled the company to streamline their operations, increase visibility, and optimize their fulfillment process, resulting in improved efficiency and profitability.