This week we are going to discuss distribution and customer experience. Your tasks are as follows:

1. Many companies are using technology to cut out the middleman and sell more directly to the consumer - think about music or video downloads, e-books, software, etc. How do you think technology will continue to revolutionize the distribution channel in the future? What are some ways technology is revolutionizing logistics? What other industries might benefit from a more direct-to-consumer model using technology?
2. Experts predict the future of B2C e-commerce to be very rosy indeed, with exponential increases in internet sales of some product categories within the next few years, What effect do you think the growth of e-retailing will have on traditional retailing? Do you think we will have a future of empty malls and stores? In what ways will this be good for consumers, and in what ways will it not be so good? What suggestions do you have for brick-and-mortar retailers for competing with e-commerce?