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We investigate how online price dispersion has evolved since the bursting of the Internet bubble by comparing price dispersion levels in years 2000, 2001, and 2003 and between multi-channel and pure play e-tailers. The results show that although online price dispersion declined between 2000 and 2001 when there was a shakeout in Internet retailing, it increased from 2001 to 2003, the post bubble period, in particular, for desktop computers, laptop computers, PDAs, electronics and software. The proportion of items for which price dispersion at multi-channel retailers was higher than that at pure play e-tailers, increased steadily during 2000–2003. These findings suggest that online price dispersion is persistent even as Internet markets mature.

Nowadays companies are constantly changing their retail settings and strategies to keep up with technological developments and consumer needs. Digital transformation enabled one’s shopping experience to be more efficient in terms of money, time, physical effort and other elements that determine the price a consumer has to pay. Channels of communication and distribution have evolved, increased in number and also became integrated. Mobile devices, mobile applications and location services help consumers in their shopping journey. These developments have led us to a new concept called omni-channel management. In theory, the omni-channel refers to a single and unified channel experience with multiple touchpoints, which include physical stores, online stores and direct marketing; mass communication channels (television, radio, print media, C2C, etc.), online channels (social media, search engines, comparison sites, e-mail, display etc.) and mobile channels (SMS, branded apps, etc.). Some examples of omni-channel practices are click-reserve, click-collect, tablets as in-store sales tools, in-store product order through mobile apps, etc.

In this chapter, the latest trends in marketing channels are discussed with enabling digital technologies and relevant success factors. Challenges and opportunities in implementing omni-channel strategies and several omni-channel initiatives from Turkey are reported.

A research was employed to present consumers’ preferences of touchpoints/channels for search, payment and delivery, and to find out the drivers that lead consumers to use more than one channel simultaneously and/or interchangeably in a buying process. The results will guide the readers to understand consumer behaviour in the new omni-channel world.

The direct marketing retailers have traditionally provided mail order and call center channels. In the emergence of Internet channel, the direct marketing retailers have reported a large increase in the use of Internet channel, and some have encouraged the customers to use the Internet channel more than other channels due to potential cost savings for the firm. However, over a decade of Internet usage, the traditional Call Center channel has not disappeared in the direct marketing industry. This study is motivated by this observation and incorporates the variables that capture the benefits of using different channels in the multi-channel choice model.

We apply the proposed model to a transactional database from a direct marketing retailer that operates multiple channels. Our empirical result shows that the multi-channel choice model that incorporates the channel benefits has stronger channel share prediction power than the model without. It further shows that consumers are more likely to choose the Internet channel when the consumer has low perceived risk and high experience and familiarity with the purchase, but they are more likely to choose the Call Center when the consumers have high perceived risk and low experience and familiarity.

This chapter presents a summary of the literature on the influence of the Internet and other digital innovations on markets, consumers, and firms. The review leads to a list of topics in need of research in the general areas of big data, online and mobile advertising, consumer search, online privacy, online reviews, social networks, platforms for online transactions, and the impact of the Internet on retail markets, including multi-channel and omni-channel retailing. We discuss the big data approaches that have been applied to problems of targeting and positioning and suggest areas for further development of these approaches. We also discuss the emerging area of mobile advertising, which can further enhance targeting. On the consumer side, the evidence indicates that the Internet has greatly lowered the costs of search and access to retailers. Much of the consumer data are transmitted to sellers, and much of the online advertising is transmitted to consumers, through platforms, such as Google. We conclude that better models of competition among these platform firms are needed and that they need to be examined for anti-trust violations. While online retailing has grown rapidly, it still has a relatively small share of retail sales. Since sellers can combine the advantages of online and offline channels, it has been common for sellers to branch into multi-channel retailing. Given the increased availability of detailed consumer data, omni-channel selling, which emphasizes strategies for the various touchpoints that lead to a transaction, is an area for further development.

In retail industry, it is very important that companies start to own an omnichannel approach in order provide an integrated experience. This approach is recognized as a key to have sustainable growth for companies and brands. In this study, it is aimed to examine the application of omnichannel decisions in different marketing channels and the contributions of this approach in the strategic plans of companies to create an overall customer experience in Turkey. For this purpose, a thorough literature review was provided on different marketing channel approaches, especially retailing and wholesales. In-depth interviews with companies showed that companies in Turkey are underway to include omnichannel approach in their short-term plans to improve their sales volume, and these companies also use this approach as a positioning by creating an integrated customer experience through customer relationship management.

This study explores the importance of application search engine (ASE) technology in the omni-channel strategy. For this purpose, this chapter firstly explains the concepts of the omni-channel and the search engines and the importance of them. Then, omni-channel in the framework of ASEs is discussed. Finally, recommendations for further researches are presented.

This chapter explores how a distinctive classroom space – the Multi-Channel Sound Studio – became the focus of a collaborative, interdisciplinary project which simulated the real-world challenges of writing, performing and recording a professional standard radio drama to a tight deadline. Students from six different degree programs combined to create an original production depicting events in the early stages of World War Two. Students had a unique opportunity to work with academics and other students on a live brief project, to exercise their creativity and take the chance to gain vocationally relevant skills. Students learned first-hand the challenges associated with a fast-paced project that had input from multiple voices and a shared responsibility for the successful outcome of a piece of work bound for public exhibition. The discussion and lessons learnt from this project are of value to colleagues interested in pursuing authentic, collaborative and interdisciplinary projects with their students both within and beyond arts-based disciplines.