As the excitement builds for this year’s eCommerce Expo and Technology for Marketing, Gavin Warwick, European Partnership Manager at supply chain software provider SmartFreight explains what’s exciting him about the industries today as well as the trends helping shape the future.
What industry trends are you looking forward to seeing at this year’s eCommerce Expo and Technology for Marketing?
Coming from a distribution logistics and IT background, this is an area of personal interest, so speaking with the eCommerce community to understand what their present challenges are and how they are hoping to address them will be on our radar. The ongoing digitisation of the warehouse and distribution environments will no doubt be a key conversational topic for us too.
What are the biggest challenges facing eCommerce retailers heading into Q4 and peak season?
The supply chain has become increasingly visible and important for so much of our economy in recent years, and eCommerce is no exception. This isn’t just in terms of the last mile and customer experience, something we have been speaking a lot about over the past number of years, but increasingly also from a sourcing and manufacturing perspective. I think a lot of companies are taking a step back and having a wholesale review of what they do, why they do it and how they can improve and build in both increased efficiency and resilience to their supply chains. There are many variables at play and understanding their relative importance to your business is critical when reviewing your supply chain and associated processes.
What is most exciting to you about the eCommerce and digital marketing industry right now?
It has to be the benefits of AI. The ability to identify trends in what customers purchase, and personalise customer recommendations based on past purchase histories, results in higher customer satisfaction. Not to mention the support for merchants with their stock levels and route optimisation for delivery fleets. AI can play a key role in predicting and managing frequent disruptions within the supply chain.
Why is it important to bring the industry together at events like eCommerce Expo and Technology for Marketing?
Exhibitions are vital for businesses because they allow for face-to-face interactions, leading to more meaningful connections. They offer unique opportunities not available through other marketing channels as well as offering the chance to stay abreast of industry trends.
What’s the best piece of advice you would give to new people joining the industry?
The eCommerce sector is still in its infancy, it is fast-paced and dynamic and it offers a vast array of roles that will offer exciting and rewarding careers catering for individuals from all kinds of backgrounds and skill sets. For me, this is its attraction. For those willing to roll up their sleeves and make a difference, there will be a niche for you. It’s probably a bit of a cliché, but understand what you're passionate about, find a role that reflects this interest, and grow your career from here.
Meet the SmartFreight team on stand H62:
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