iForce experiences record-breaking growth

iForce, a supply chain management business in the UK, which operates online and multi-channel fulfilment centres on behalf of clients including John Lewis, Cath Kidston, and Fortnum and Mason, has experienced a record-breaking 2015 with 57.8 percent growth in the number of items it picked for customers of its retail clients compared to the previous year.

As online and digital sales channel continue to grow so does iForce, with the company fulfilling 82.2 million items during the calendar year, compared to 52 million in 2014.

Its peak trading period between November 21, 2015 and January 2, 2016, also saw increases with items picked up 24 percent to 13.9 million, whilst orders were up 4.8 percent to 1.6 million, pointing to a significant increase in value per order placed online this year compared to last.

This increase in spend per order was also seen across the whole of the year with iForce recording a 14.3 percent growth in the number of total orders it fulfilled compared with its growth of 57.8 percent in items picked.

Brian Gaunt, chief executive officer of iForce, said: “iForce has been able to enjoy its most successful and profitable year to date, boosted by continued growth with our existing retail clients and new contract wins.”

iForce, also operates returns processing for brands including supermarket giants Tesco and Sainsbury’s, which also experienced year-on-year growth of 13.5 percent in the number of returned items processed.

Gaunt added: “The level of returns springing out of the growth of multi-channel retailing is becoming an increasing concern to retailers as consumers move from trying items out in store to trying them at home and then returning items they don’t want. Processing as many of these returned items efficiently and quickly to allow the retailer to sell at full sale cost is of paramount importance for the online and digital sales channels to become profitable.”

Image: iForce for John Lewis