Explain what other things could be improved based on what was presented.

Benchmarking involves evaluating an organization$$s operations or internal processes by comparing them to those of a top$-$performing entity within or outside the industry. My former employer, Belk, could use benchmarking to improve their online process. As of $2023,$ there are $274\mathrm{.}70$ billion online buyers in the United States. This is $81$ percent of the US population. $($Mosby$,$ A$.2024,$ July $13).$ With the increase in online shopping, Belk could get a little piece of that pie by making their online process a little more user friendly. As of $2024.$ There are a few improvements that could be made here. I think Belk could learn from ThredUp.com. ThredUp is an online $$thrift store$.$ The mission of ThredUp is to shop with intention, rejecting the throwaway fashion culture, and standing for sustainability by shopping for gentle used clothes. $(2024,$ March $4).$ While the two businesses are a little different, ThredUp has a great online process. ThredUp allows a user to save clothing and shoes sizes. This will allow for online technology to filter items down that are catered to the customer to make online shopping easier. ThredUp also has outfit suggestions or $$Shop the Look$$ which will put matching pieces together and the customer can purchase the whole look. Belk has this on a smaller scale. However, having this option will help to cross sell products and full outfits to help the $$fashionably challenged$$ like me$.$ This could increase revenue for online business. Belk$$s current online revenue is $$50\mathrm{.}3$ million compared to ThredUp which is $$322\mathrm{.}0$ million. By making the online shopping process more convenient and catered to the customer, the more likely the customers will return to the site. Belk could also take some cues from ThredUp on how to be more sustainable.

Belk Inc should use external benchmarking to research ThredUP. Also, Belk should look at are the Thredup services, processes, and other methods. It is important to obtain a management commitment to the new online process before anything else. Belk could even try to meet or partner with ThredUp to talk about their processes.

The challenge could be that ThredUp would not be cooperative. Data accessibility may be difficult to obtain if ThredUp is not cooperative. There may confidentiality agreements that prevent either company from disclosing information.