The compendium maps how cross-border e-commerce will be defined in the next new normal across Europe over the year to come.

It comprises a collection of seven annual blue paper reports on strategic topics like customer centricity, green supply chain, marketplaces and sustainability and channel-related fields like direct-to-consumer brands, omni-channel and scale-ups.

This year, inflation and the slowdown of consumption have major implications for the retail sector. Rapid adaptation by the latter is needed to integrate change and return to the ‘new normal’, a press release from the platform said.

CBCommerceNEXT Compendium is the result of six round table brainstorming sessions gathering ten international C-level retail executives in each of the seven high-level groups. 

“The key to reducing channel conflict is channelisation: recognising that customers are different on each channel. This means providing an experience that connects with a community of shoppers so that one channel no longer competes with another. This includes differentiating between product selection, pricing, communication, logistics and payments” said platform chairman Oliver Lucas in a release.

As 24 per cent of freight vehicles in the European Union (EU) are running empty, a green supply chain strategy is needed, the compendium said.

“This year, we have explored logistics horizontal collaboration which is less known but powerful innovation to increase supply chain efficiency, effectiveness and sustainability,” said chairmen Sven Verstrepen and Roel Gevaers.

Channel integration remains a major challenge as well for traditional retailers. In this current inflationist context, it is crucial to attract the omni-channel customers.

In 2024, companies will have to comply with the next regulatory European framework which includes 14 indicators to assess their environmental impact and products, the compendium added.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)