Traditional Distribution and its Online Cousin 'Barely Akin'

摘要

The late humorist Erma Bombeck once wrote a piece titled "Marriage and Living Together Are Barely Akin, Let Alone Alike." With apologies to Bombeck, I'd like to borrow portions of that title for this month's column, which focuses on the differences between traditional distribution facilities and those that serve online shoppers. Both types of facilities have the same objective: to get the right product to the right customer at the right time. And both operate out of the same kind of real estate: warehouses typically located near major transportation arteries. But they aren't as similar as they appear—or as some online marketers might assume. In fact, one can safely say they're as different as night and day.