Changes in assortment planning-Adapting to multichannel

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In my previous post, I wrote about the Drop-Shippers and how they are bringing about change in the way retailers and e-tailers work. Taking the concept forward, I wanted to outline some research and understanding which I had got, and figured evolution in the assortment planning for these retailers and e-tailers. 
assortment planning, multichannel strategy


Strategy while Assortment planning in the olden days:
Approach:
Merchants responsible for stores plans Store assortment- what should be sold in the stores.
Online Catalog manager plans for products to be made available for online.
Impact on business:
1-Stores and Online channels are working in isolation.
2-Branding, merchandising is greatly different.
3-User experience while dealing with channels is totally different, and adversely impacts the business.
4-Offerings differ across channel.

Strategy while Assortment planning for Multi-Channel supported business:
Approach:-refer to the elicitation above.
3- Business Manager or Assortment Manager plans the set of products which form the assortment.-What do we sell.
2- The portion of the total assortment which would  be held by them. This is about inventory.  The area between 2 and 3 is what gets outsourced to direct vendor shippers.
1- the assortment which should be planned for the store assortment and managed at the stores.
Impact on business:
1.Much larger assortment on offer.
2.Greater affinity between channels.
3.Merchandising becomes common leading to better user experience.
4.Extending to new channels is easier and works better.


Do share your thoughts on what other aspects of assortment planning have evolved as you read the following.

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