Fulfillment Expert Omnipack on Opportunities in E-Commerce 2021

The full-stack fulfillment expert Omnipack from Poland, which is also active in the DACH region, provides an initial outlook for the current year. What does e-commerce look like in 2021 and what challenges will it face? Omnipack addresses these and other questions and summarizes the findings. The goal is to provide companies in the industry with a clear overview of trends, challenges, and opportunities, as well as the objectives of Omnipack.

(Warsaw) A brief look back at the year 2020 shows two extreme manifestations: On one hand, many industries worldwide were negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. On the other hand, e-commerce, for example, experienced strong growth. According to the German E-Commerce and Distance Selling Trade Association (bevh), online spending in Germany alone rose by 16.47 percent in the second quarter of 2020 compared to the same period the previous year. Overall, the e-commerce sector reacted quickly to market changes – many companies digitized most of their activities and moved them online. Additionally, customers increasingly chose different shipping options: methods like click and collect and picking up packages at pick-up and drop-off points became increasingly popular.

Trends in E-Commerce

For 2021, Omnipack sees new trends as well as existing developments that will continue. For example, there is a growing awareness among companies and customers regarding sustainability, with a particular focus on the ecological component. Furthermore, the full-stack fulfillment expert predicts that consumer behavior will continue to change sustainably due to the pandemic. Customers will increasingly take the option to purchase goods online. As a consequence, this results in an even more dynamic e-commerce environment and the opening of new online shops. New, however, is the significant potential for social commerce – that is, commerce through social media. There, companies can address potential customers even more directly and specifically. To facilitate the purchasing process on their platforms, social media providers are introducing more and more features that merchants can adapt accordingly. Generally, the use of artificial intelligence in e-commerce will further advance the personalization of the purchasing process. An increasing range of technologies and the use of augmented reality is also conceivable, allowing, for example, customers to try on clothes and shoes at home or to place furniture in advance for better planning of their interiors. Customers will also be interested in an even better shipping experience: an evolution of solutions for express shipping is to be expected.

Challenges and Opportunities for E-Commerce

Combined with the still existing conditions, these developments present several opportunities but also significant challenges for companies in e-commerce. It is especially important to ensure flawless order processing: online shops and the subsequent logistics process must handle a sudden increase in orders. Otherwise, there is a risk of irretrievable loss of customers. Moreover, effective data utilization is increasingly important for retailers: comprehensive analyses of existing data offer diverse possibilities. In addition to improving the customer experience, companies in e-commerce will be able to predict shopping behavior as well as preferences and desires more accurately. At the same time, companies are more responsible than ever for protecting themselves and their customers from cyber-attacks and investing in new security technologies to maintain business operations.

Use of 5G in Logistics

Another opportunity arises from the upcoming implementation of 5G in logistics, which will reduce so-called black holes in the supply chain. The new mobile standard not only helps track deliveries in real-time but is also essential for the autonomous control of vehicles and drones in warehouses. The minimized delay in data transmission significantly increases the safety of autonomous operations. In addition to technological developments, Brexit also plays a significant role in trade with Great Britain. Despite the trade agreement with the EU and thus the elimination of potential tariffs, companies will face bureaucratic hurdles. At the same time, Brexit is also a great opportunity to gain new customers. The reason: If British companies want to continue selling their products in the European Union, it will soon be much more advantageous for them to ship from warehouses on their territory. This allows them to reduce shipping costs, shorten delivery times, and avoid many formalities.

Omnipack’s Goals for 2021

In line with the anticipated developments in e-commerce, the full-stack fulfillment expert Omnipack has set several goals for 2021. In addition to further expanding abroad, the company aims to acquire more customers in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Great Britain, Sweden, and other European regions. Additional convenience features will be introduced through the optimization of in-house technology, such as in the order management system. Through this expansion, customers will have access to a merchant portal where they can manage their processes and get an overview of current stock levels. Additionally, the company is currently developing data science tools for customer service, which, thanks to their artificial intelligence, will ensure greater efficiency and consequently higher quality. “The year 2021 promises to be exciting for e-commerce. A significant transformation is already evident, gaining new dynamics due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Online sales will continue to increase, which will also require more from logistics. We are ready for all companies in the industry to find a suitable solution together for every task,” says Marek Włodarczyk, Head of Sales DACH at Omnipack. Photo: © Adobe Stock https://omnipack.io/de/