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The Impact of E-Tailing on Inventory Management

Arfwidsson, Viktor and Hjelm, Carl (2017) MIO920
Production Management
Abstract
Background In traditional retailing, where the challenge lies in providing
goods in a store with limited space while minimizing tied up
capital and obsolescence, good inventory management is often
an important competitive advantage. However, the emergence
of the online channel changes some of the challenges,
and the associated requirements on inventory management.
These dierences are studied in this thesis project.
Purpose The purpose of the thesis project is to study how e-tailing as
a market channel impacts inventory management in a company.
Methodology In order to fulll the purpose, a multiple case study was
used. In each case study, interviews were conducted and
annual reports were studied. The general approach was to
... (More)
Background In traditional retailing, where the challenge lies in providing
goods in a store with limited space while minimizing tied up
capital and obsolescence, good inventory management is often
an important competitive advantage. However, the emergence
of the online channel changes some of the challenges,
and the associated requirements on inventory management.
These dierences are studied in this thesis project.
Purpose The purpose of the thesis project is to study how e-tailing as
a market channel impacts inventory management in a company.
Methodology In order to fulll the purpose, a multiple case study was
used. In each case study, interviews were conducted and
annual reports were studied. The general approach was to
examine the eects of e-tailing as a market channel and how
they impact inventory management.
Conclusions For pure e-tailers, centralizing inventory reduces the inventory
management complexity signicantly. This enables them
to implement various activities that attract customers, but
increase the complexity and risks. Mature e-tailers seem
to have well-developed policies to mitigate risks whereas etailers
experiencing rapid growth seem less concerned about
how their activities aect the complexity of inventory management.
Furthermore, multi-channel retailers face a number
of decisions that potentially can create synergy eects in
their inventory management. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Arfwidsson, Viktor and Hjelm, Carl
supervisor
organization
course
MIO920
year
type
M1 - University Diploma
subject
keywords
E-tailing, Online retailing, Multi-channel retailing, Inventory Management
other publication id
17/5585
language
English
id
8928902
date added to LUP
2017-11-28 14:14:42
date last changed
2017-11-28 14:14:42
@misc{8928902,
  abstract     = {{Background In traditional retailing, where the challenge lies in providing
goods in a store with limited space while minimizing tied up
capital and obsolescence, good inventory management is often
an important competitive advantage. However, the emergence
of the online channel changes some of the challenges,
and the associated requirements on inventory management.
These dierences are studied in this thesis project.
Purpose The purpose of the thesis project is to study how e-tailing as
a market channel impacts inventory management in a company.
Methodology In order to fulll the purpose, a multiple case study was
used. In each case study, interviews were conducted and
annual reports were studied. The general approach was to
examine the eects of e-tailing as a market channel and how
they impact inventory management.
Conclusions For pure e-tailers, centralizing inventory reduces the inventory
management complexity signicantly. This enables them
to implement various activities that attract customers, but
increase the complexity and risks. Mature e-tailers seem
to have well-developed policies to mitigate risks whereas etailers
experiencing rapid growth seem less concerned about
how their activities aect the complexity of inventory management.
Furthermore, multi-channel retailers face a number
of decisions that potentially can create synergy eects in
their inventory management.}},
  author       = {{Arfwidsson, Viktor and Hjelm, Carl}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{The Impact of E-Tailing on Inventory Management}},
  year         = {{2017}},
}