Recent trends and advances of information application use in retail, distribution and e-commerce: marketing and management opportunities, challenges and solutions

Introduction

In this special issue we aim to understand the latest research that investigates the from marketing and management implications from complexity surrounding and challenges faced in adopting the latest informatica/information computation technologies by traditional retail, distribution and e-commerce enterprises. The empirical studies and conceptual contributions will enhance the understanding of challenges meeting the end users’ information technology expectations and requirements. According to Accenture plc, 65% of retailers offered either buy online, pick up in-store (BOPIS) or kerb side pickup in 2020, compared to 52% in 2019. This shows on one hand the increase of retailing towards E-commerce and on other side a reducing traditional brick-and-mortar retailing.

The economy of a country is more dependable on its business organizations. These business organizations stand on the perfect business strategies to get a prime position via adding the concepts of information technology. Customer Loyalty and trust is utmost important. If the customer has a negative experience, then they are unlikely to make a repeat visit. In this context, elevating the retails experience immediate attention. Moreover, e-commerce is on the driving position to promise its contribution such as online shopping, online food delivery services, e-healthcare, e-care, E-solutions etc. E-commerce covers all aspects of system design and research in systems framework, computing techniques, quality of design, software and system testing assurance, security and its emerging applications. However, in spite of all these, E-commerce is still in growing phase which include planning, analysis, design, implementation and maintenance or support with the help of IT sector. The purchasing and selling of products and services through electronic transactions i.e., over the network is E-Commerce. Recently, e-purchases through Amazon, Flipkart etc., has contributed to a radical growth of economy. Regardless of the industry, - manufacturing, retail, service or distribution – to take informed decisions and to grow, we rely on clean, consistent and connected data. The entire process heads towards its integration with many fields like supply chain management, risks and security, data informatics and management, artificial intelligence. The rise of e-commerce business has gained powerful impact in research community. This special issue demands the insights of authors, investigators on integral areas which have direct and indirect impact on e-commerce activities. Concentration over the future research directions related to open challenges in field of artificial intelligence in e-commerce, data science in e-commerce, predictive modelling using big data analytics, security, and analysis in e-commerce, integrated supply chain management from a marketing and management viewpoint. Artificial intelligence has changed the perspective of customers by introducing voice enabled inquiries and customer support. This also brings many challenges along with. Further the data centric solutions focused on knowledge engine, product search and management, smart customer support. The security of Retail, Distribution and E-commerce websites/ applications, its data and transactions drag the attention of attackers to hack and steal the data. This opens up doors towards the innovative tools and technologies for making Retail, Distribution and E-commerce infrastructure a robust and secure system. The researcher’s practical perspective over these areas will add to research society. To maintain the diversity; this special issue invites the contribution from investigators, scientists, statisticians, mathematicians, and industrial practitioners.

The objective of this Special Issue is to concentrate on all aspects and future research directions related to this specific area of retail, distribution, and e-commerce. This includes but not limited to, customer focussed, online shopping, online food services, e-healthcare, e-care, e-solution, reaching customers through omni channel logistics, and enterprise focussed, service-oriented modelling, and reliable and secure system design.

Indicative list of themes and key features of the Special Issue

Topics to be discussed in this special issue include (but are not limited to) the following:

• Reliable and Secure System Design
• Use of AR/VR and Immersive technologies in Retail, Distribution and E-commerce
• Methods of system analysis and design of Retail, Distribution and E-Commerce Applications
• Engineering Technologies in Retail, Distribution and E-Commerce
• Emergence of policy models and mechanisms 
• Enhance the effective use of knowledge-engine
• Business intelligence and data analytics on Retail, Distribution and E-commerce data.
• Predictive modelling and analysis on Retail, Distribution and E-commerce data.
• Challenges and solution in Voice-enabled customer support.
• Artificial Intelligence-based mythologies and its applications in Retail, Distribution and E-commerce
• Fraud Detection over e-transactions on business
• Security and Analysis in Retail, Distribution and E-commerce websites/ applications and data.
• Computational Intelligence in Retail, Distribution and E-commerce

Paper submission

Authors may submit a full paper (6000 - 8000 words, including tables, figures, and references) to the special issue of the International Journal of Retail & Distribution Management.

The papers must follow the author guidelines on Emerald’s website.

You must select the special issue Recent trends and advances of information application use in retail, distribution and e-commerce: marketing and management opportunities, challenges and solutions at the end of the submission process on ScholarOne.

Important dates 

Opening date for full submissions: 23 January 2023

Closing date for submissions: 8 May 2023

Lead Guest Editor

Dr. Mohammad Shabaz

Model Institute of Engineering and Technology, Jammu, J&K, India

[email protected]