<div dir="ltr"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal;margin:0in 0in 8pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b><span style="font-size:24pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Special Issue of <i>INFORMS Journal on Applied
Analytics</i>—Analytics Behind Designing and Managing Omni-channel Supply
Chains</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal;margin:0in 0in 8pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The introduction and rapid
proliferation of e-commerce in recent years have forced many companies to
rethink their operations, including their supply chains, to integrate online
and offline channels, inspiring the birth of the omni-channel world. Although this
omni-channel environment offers new, unparalleled opportunities for accelerated
growth, most companies (notably, retailers) are also facing unprecedented
challenges, and the very survival of brick-and-mortar channels is in question.
They must keep pace with ever-evolving technology and customer expectations,
and offer a seamless experience across all channels, blurring the lines of
distinction between brick-and-mortar and digital experiences.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal;margin:0in 0in 8pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Several companies have responded to
this challenge by offering additional services, including buy online/pickup-in
store (BOPS), reserve-online-pick-up-and-pay-in-store (ROPS), ship-to-store
(STS), ship-from-store (SFS), or buy-inStore/ship home (BSSH). However, there
are still many open operations research/management science (OR/MS) questions
involving the integration of supply chain network design, product fulfillment,
distribution, pricing, and returns. To address these questions most
effectively, companies must turn to advanced analytical approaches within a data-rich
environment.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal;margin:0in 0in 8pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Within this context, this special
issue is expected to present a broader, more thorough insight for the
successful application of analytical practices by companies participating in
omni-channel supply chains on topics such as (but not limited to):</span></p>
<ul type="disc" style="margin-bottom:0in">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal;margin:0in 0in 8pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Demand prediction for online vs. offline channels
concerning product level, SKU level, location, and time of consumption;</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal;margin:0in 0in 8pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Location analytics combining geographic data,
map-driven analysis, infrastructure, facility size and availability, and
spatial patterns;</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal;margin:0in 0in 8pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Analytical approaches (including novel inventory
models) to address central issues from e-fulfillment to omni-channel
fulfillment;</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal;margin:0in 0in 8pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Distribution and delivery models with a variety of
service offerings for last-mile delivery (e.g., same-day, next-day, bulk,
inexpensive, expedited, and premium delivery), especially with membership
services that offer “free” deliveries or that consider different delivery
pricing models;</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal;margin:0in 0in 8pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">New shipping ideas and models supporting omni-channels,
including handling the challenges of closed-loop supply chains;</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal;margin:0in 0in 8pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Pricing, omni-channel revenue management, managing the
financial impact of returns, mark-down optimization, and market
segmentation;</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal;margin:0in 0in 8pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Collaboration and coordination with supply chain teams
and partners internally and externally, potentially with pricing
contracts;</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal;margin:0in 0in 8pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Integration of information systems and optimization
tools;</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal;margin:0in 0in 8pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Analytical barriers and challenges in the design and
management of omni-channel supply chains;</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal;margin:0in 0in 8pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Influence of new trends in the digital-platform
economy, sharing economy, and disruptive manufacturing on omni-channel
supply chain design.</span></li>
</ul>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal;margin:0in 0in 8pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Authors should review the
instructions on preparing a paper for the <i>INFORMS Journal on Applied
Analytics</i> at: <a href="https://pubsonline.informs.org/page/inte/submission-guidelines" target="_blank"><span style="color:blue">https://pubsonline.informs.org/page/inte/submission-guidelines</span></a>.
Papers must be submitted online at: <a href="https://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/inte" target="_blank"><span style="color:blue">https://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/inte</span></a>.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal;margin:0in 0in 8pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">When submitting a paper, please note
the following:</span></p>
<ul type="disc" style="margin-bottom:0in">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal;margin:0in 0in 8pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Under “Step 1: Type, Title, & Abstract,” select
“Special Issue” for “Type.”</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal;margin:0in 0in 8pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Under “Step 5: Details & Comments,” answer “This
paper is for which special issue?” with “Omni-channel Supply Chains.”</span></li>
</ul>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal;margin:0in 0in 8pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The editors encourage potential
authors to contact them with ideas for papers before making a full submission
of a paper. Please note the following dates:</span></p>
<ul type="disc" style="margin-bottom:0in">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal;margin:0in 0in 8pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">November 15, 2019:</span></b><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> Letter
of intention to publish due to the editors, with an abstract including the
organization at which the work was implemented.</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal;margin:0in 0in 8pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">February 15, 2020:</span></b><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> Target
deadline for the first round of submissions.</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal;margin:0in 0in 8pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">May 15, 2020:</span></b><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> First
round of reviews completed; decisions (and requests for revision, if
appropriate) delivered to authors.</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal;margin:0in 0in 8pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">August 15, 2020:</span></b><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> Second
round of reviews delivered to authors.</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal;margin:0in 0in 8pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">November 15, 2020:</span></b><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> Final
versions of accepted papers must be submitted.</span></li>
</ul>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal;margin:0in 0in 8pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Publication contact information for
the Special Issue Editors:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal;margin:0in 0in 8pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b><u><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Burcu B. Keskin</span></u></b><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal;margin:0in 0in 8pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">University of Alabama</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal;margin:0in 0in 8pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><a href="mailto:bkeskin@cba.ua.edu"><span style="color:blue">bkeskin@cba.ua.edu<br>
</span></a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal;margin:0in 0in 8pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b><u><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Pavithra Harsha</span></u></b><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal;margin:0in 0in 8pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">IBM T.J. Watson Research Center</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal;margin:0in 0in 8pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><a href="mailto:pharsha@us.ibm.com"><span style="color:blue">pharsha@us.ibm.com<br>
<br>
</span></a>CFP: <a href="https://pubsonline.informs.org/doi/10.1287/inte.2019.0994"><span style="color:blue">https://pubsonline.informs.org/doi/10.1287/inte.2019.0994</span></a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:107%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> </p><div><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div><p style="color:rgb(153,0,0);font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:16px;margin:10px 0px 0px;font-weight:bold">Burcu B. Keskin</p>Professor, Operations Management<br>Reese Phifer Fellow in Operations/Manufacturing</div><div>ISM Associate Department Head</div><p style="margin:10px 0px 15px"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px">355 Alston Hall<br>Tuscaloosa, AL 35487 <br></span><font color="#000000" face="Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14px">Phone </span></font><a href="tel:205-348-8442" style="color:black;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;background-color:transparent" target="_blank">205-348-8442</a><br><a href="mailto:bkeskin@cba.ua.edu" style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;background-color:transparent" target="_blank">bkeskin@cba.ua.edu</a><font color="#000000" face="Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14px"> </span></font><span style="color:rgb(153,0,0);font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px">| </span><font color="#990000" face="Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size:14px"><a href="https://culverhouse.ua.edu/news/directory/burcu-keskin/" target="_blank">https://culverhouse.ua.edu/news/directory/burcu-keskin/</a></span></font></p><p style="color:rgb(153,0,0);font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:16px;margin:10px 0px 0px;font-weight:bold"><a href="https://www.ua.edu/" style="color:rgb(153,0,0);font-size:15px;font-weight:400" target="_blank"><img src="https://strategiccommunications.ua.edu/img/signatures/ua-nameplate.gif" width="274" height="15" border="0" alt="The University of Alabama" style="border:0px;vertical-align:middle"></a><br></p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>