WPP launches outsourced direct-to-consumer e-commerce solution

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“The last couple of years have changed the way people shop forever. The acceleration of e-commerce, the shift to customers buying direct from brands, and the increasing importance of social in the commerce journey, have all meant that there is a demand for a fully managed service with omnichannel expertise,” says Mark Read, CEO of WPP.

“WPP is a leader in commerce services, with existing strength in strategy, creativity and integrated experience, and now is the perfect time to launch the Everymile service,” he adds.

End-to-end e-commerce solution

Everymile builds on WPP’s existing global omnichannel commerce capabilities in strategy, customer experience and technology development, adding demand generation, online trading and merchandising, supply chain and logistics.

It will enable companies and brands to deliver brand-led DTC commerce – from the customer’s screen to their doorstep – simply and cost-effectively.

Everymile will look after the entire process from the minute a customer visits a brand’s website (having first helped the target audience to find that website) and clicks to order, through to the delivery of their purchase.

Its solution will be tailored to a client’s specific demands and expectations, allowing brands with a business and commerce strategy in place to quickly overcome many of the operational challenges in ecommerce, such as lack of customer data, cost to entry and management of multiple third parties.

The launch of Everymile makes WPP the only company in its sector to offer an end-to-end e-commerce solution.

Helping with DTC complexities

The new service will be led by Mark Steel, previously director, Retail & Consumer Industry at Google Cloud and before that digital director at Argos, where he worked with WPP CFO John Rogers, who is executive sponsor of Everymile.

“Developing DTC capabilities is a strategic imperative for brands today, but we know that getting it right is complex,” says Steel.

“Everymile is there to help with those complexities, drawing upon our collective experience and expertise and helping brands short-circuit the set-up phase by using our proven go-to-market strategy, technology and partnerships.

“We see ourselves as a growth partner for clients, helping build brand awareness and driving online sales for them, saving both time and stress. We look forward to working with the world’s most exciting brands to deliver their DTC commerce ambitions,” he explains.

Steel is joined by an experienced leadership team drawn from a range of commerce disciplines including logistics and fulfilment, customer service, technology and CRM, and from companies including Sainsbury’s, Disney Store and ASOS.

World Class DTC commerce

Everymile is built on a proprietary ecommerce technology platform, drawing upon the market-leading commerce and technology proposition offered by WPP’s Cloud Commerce Group, which has already helped successfully deliver complex omnichannel commerce to global brands.

“As digital penetration continues to grow at a significant rate, consumers now have even more choice and control of when and how they choose to buy,” says John Rogers, CFO of WPP.

“It is imperative for brands to develop an engaging, brand-led experience through which to build a direct relationship with their shoppers,” he adds.

Rogers says that Everymile provides a completely new proposition for brands, “A fully managed direct-to-consumer commerce service that enables brands to successfully deliver their DTC ambitions through a strategic partnership with WPP.”

This platform gives Everymile clients full ownership of their online brand experience and first-party customer data.

They can then use these insights to create innovative, personalised experiences, ensuring customer relationships are nurtured and enhanced long-term as well as aid new product development.

WPP agencies will also partner to integrate their creative and media solutions and to give cost-effective global reach and scale.

As a fully managed service, Everymile will help bring products to market quickly, and at lower barriers to entry, which will enable clients which choose to do so to build their own in-house DTC capabilities over time.

By helping clients to bypass the lengthy journey of managing multiple partners across the value chain, it also ensures consistency across every customer touchpoint throughout the DTC experience.

Everymile has a transparent revenue share commercial model – providing clients with the technology, talent and capabilities needed to deliver world class DTC commerce. By working on a revenue share basis, it ensures all teams are focused on delivering great results for customers.