IRCE 2008 Session Descriptions

Listed below is the individual session description. To view a speakers' bio simply click the links inside the session description.

Day Three—June 11, 2008
Track E: Taking Security, Payments and Operations to Failsafe Levels

The backbone of online retailing—the operations infrastructure—is no longer an afterthought to the design and marketing of a site. This track will help retailers build robust systems that can grow with a company.

2:15 - 3:00 p.m.

Changes in the parcel industry and how they affect e-retailers

Melissa Priest, Managing Director, AFMS Logistics Management Group

Jeff Carter, VP, Fulfillment, Backcountry.com

Never before have retailers needed to stay more current than in today's shipping market of vendor consolidation, service improvement, expanding technology and value-added service offerings. This session will detail the new carrier services, capabilities and technology that all online retailers must deal with. It will examine such topics as how to ensure a contract is market competitive and includes the latest discounts and pricing incentives and how industry consolidation affects shipping costs. It will also reveal carriers' pricing techniques and help retailers determine if single- or multi-sourcing is best for their operation, if they have partnered with the right carriers and if they have negotiated the best possible rates for their shipping needs. Our first speaker is the founder of AFMS, a leading carrier negotiation and consulting firm, who will speak about the trends and issues he sees throughout his client base. He will be joined by a retailer who has negotiated the ever-changing carrier market to create a shipping program that has improved his company's profitability.