reply How can retailers effectively respond to orders during an outbreak?

Digital Commerce 360 recently released a new report, how online retailers are coping with coronavirus. The report says this is an unprecedented challenge for online retailers. It is unclear what long-term impact the covid-19 outbreak will have on e-commerce, but in the short term it has led to significant changes in warehouse operations. Online sales have surged in many categories, sending amazon sellers into a panic.According to the latest report from Customer Growth Partners, from Feb. 5 to March 9, retail transaction speed (retail transaction speed, an important sales target) for U.S. fashion retailers was down nearly 10% from the beginning of the year. According to IDC, global retail growth in 2020 is estimated to be about half of what was predicted before the COVID 19 outbreak, but the impact will be uneven. Fashion, furniture and electronics retailers will be hardest hit. Grocery stores have won, but their operating costs are higher, and they need to be more aggressive in preparing omni-channel shoppers and responding to changes in demand.The report says the pandemic has touched every aspect of the retail industry, from store closures to shipping delays, revised return policies and radically changed marketing messages. This is just the beginning. The news is changing fast. The plan put in place a month ago now needs to be revised. As the threat of an outbreak continues to loom, retailers face difficulties in changing their business strategies. The recent surge in online shopping has left most retailers with supply-chain problems.The report shows that retailers can do something about the outbreak. Provide customers with the option to still receive their orders. Social distance is now the norm, transforming online shopping and in-store pick-up (BOPIS) into roadside pick-up when the store is closed; Delivery and contactless options, such as leaving packages at the door and in the car; Extend the return and replacement time frame. Not only will this satisfy customers and save them from unnecessary difficulties, but the logistics center will have more time to receive and process inventory; Consider out-of-stock and pre-sale options. If the entire supply chain is affected and inventory is sold out or cannot be shipped to the delivery point, accepting deferred orders or pre-selling products can help to promote sales. Customer expectation management of delivery time is critical to these orders; Continue to accept orders based on currently available but uncompleted inventory.According to the report, retailers can easily open and close distribution locations (distribution centers, specific stores, regions, or entire store networks) if a given location can no longer fulfill orders, ship or pick up goods. If many or all other fulfillment locations are closed, enable a new fulfillment location, such as a temporary or pop-up site. Route rules for distribution locations should be reconfigured in cases where Labour is in short supply or less affected.