OREANDA-NEWS. DHL, in collaboration with the data analyzer IDC Manufacturing Insights, today published an in-depth analysis of logistics in the omni-channel business model. This publication - the DHL Omni-Channel Logistics Trend Report - reveals that the logistics industry has a significant role to play in the transformation to an omni-channel business model.

There is growing recognition by markets and consumers that traditional channel-based approaches are now out-of-sync with the anytime, anywhere shopping behavior and delivery expectations of modern consumers. This is driving the new omni-channel approach in which all sales channels - brick-and-mortar, online, and mobile - converge into a single seamless channel of orchestrated product flow.

"Within the next three years, most of the world's population (90 percent) will have fast mobile Internet connection, and today more of us are browsing and buying online. Already some 70 to 80 percent of consumers in the U.S. use multiple channels before making their purchase decision and we expect this to increase in most markets globally", explains Matthias Heutger, Senior Vice President Strategy, Marketing & Innovation at DHL Customer Solutions and Innovation.

While the omni-channel transformation is well underway, this report reveals that most companies are not yet ready for omni-channel; they are persisting with channel-based approaches that cannot meet new consumer demands.

Heutger adds: "Consumers expect access to information at all times, faster delivery speeds, and a personalized shopping experience. Companies can't meet these expectations using a traditional channel-based approach. An omni-channel strategy is needed for future success."

There is a clear difference between these approaches. Multi-channel retailing aims to optimize the consumer experience in each separate sales channel, whereas the omni-channel approach is holistic, channel-agnostic, and customer-centric.