Retailers are looking at innovative strategies for enhancing revenue by, for example, improving the levels of integration between channels to market and branching into new product areas.

Cost reduction is a significant issue so retailers are striving to take costs out of the supply chain by using wireless technology, business process outsourcing and other strategies. There is a continued emphasis on across-the-board cost reductions, by adopting a wide range of measures, including better buying, improving service productivity and improving the efficiency of business support functions (including finance, HR and IT).

How to consistently improve levels of customer service across disparate channels is also proving to be a key issue when operating a multi-channel strategy.