J. (Joydeep) Paul MSc

The spiraling growth of e-commerce in the current decade has led the traditional retailers to incorporate the online sales channel to their portfolio. This gives rise to a so-called brick and click model whereby omni-channel retailers need to manage the logistics of both replenishing their physical stores and delivery to online customers. The presence of an extensive logistics infrastructure opens up opportunities for consolidation of different flows in such complex networks. In the first part of the research, we consider the consolidation opportunities for two network flows —replenishment flows to physical stores and online delivery flows to the same stores that also serve as pick-up-points. In the second part, we concentrate on the future growth of omni-channel grocery retail and how the different distribution models will help to provide the seamless customer experience in a cost effective way.