What is the core of Wal-Mart's e-commerce development?

Wal-Mart has been called "a logistics enterprise disguised as a retail enterprise" by many professionals. This is because Wal-Mart's "low price every day" comes not only from its suburban location and large-scale procurement, but also from its cost savings in the operation process, especially in the logistics process: Wal-Mart is the first retailer to centrally manage the store logistics through the distribution center, that is, the supplier transports the goods to the designated distribution center (hub)-the logistics process from the supplier to the distribution center is called "InboundLogistics". Then Wal-Mart uses its own transportation team to deliver the goods concentrated in the distribution center to the retail stores (spokes)-the logistics process from the distribution center to the retail stores is called OutboundLogistics.

Today, 80% of Wal-Mart's goods are distributed centrally by the distribution center (only 50% of its main competitor, K-mart, and the other 50% are distributed directly by suppliers).

In the subsequent global expansion, Wal-Mart followed this model, only outsourcing some distribution centers and outbound logistics operations to third-party logistics companies. For example, Canadian logistics company Exel is responsible for the distribution of Wal-Mart's five distribution centers (5 million square feet) and 365,438+02 stores in Canada. To this end, Exel outsourced 65,438+050 trucks and 350 drivers to serve Wal-Mart's distribution center.

E-commerce shows that, compared with the supplier's direct supply logistics system, the centralized distribution model can better exert the scale effect, and reduce the logistics cost, shorten the inventory cycle and strengthen the control of goods through information and electronic management. In this way, Wal-Mart's logistics cost is only equivalent to 1.0- 1.5% of sales, while its main competitor Kmart's logistics cost once reached 8-9%, Sears. Centralized distribution also reduces the warehouse area of Wal-Mart stores by 10-25%, which can maximize the retail area and save rent.

However, the development of centralized distribution mode needs the follow-up of logistics center. Take Wal-Mart as an example. By the end of 20 10, the company had established 123 distribution centers to support its 3,804 supermarkets, discount stores and community stores all over the United States. In addition, 609 Sam member stores in the United States also have 25 separate distribution centers; Outside the United States, in order to support Wal-Mart's 4,557 retail stores all over the world, 134 distribution centers have been established overseas, bringing the total number of distribution centers to 282, with an average of 1 distribution center for every 32 stores, and each distribution center can support sales of 654.38+05 billion US dollars (about 654.38+00 billion RMB).