Restructuring of the Furniture Industry in the Digital Age: E-Commerce, Logistics Challenges, and Entrepreneurship Ecosystem
Chapter from the book:
Fedai,
Y.
(ed.)
2025.
Innovative Approaches and Next-Generation Engineering Studies in Industrial Engineering.
Synopsis
In the 21st century, where industrial dynamics are rapidly evolving, the furniture sector, known for its traditional structure, is undergoing a radical digital metamorphosis. This study deeply examines how e-commerce is positioned in the furniture industry not merely as an alternative sales channel, but as an integrated value chain management system extending from raw material procurement to end-user delivery. Within the scope of the research, the digitalization reflexes of the global market, bottlenecks in logistics processes (last-mile delivery and reverse logistics), Industry 4.0-based production models, and new-generation entrepreneurship strategies are addressed from a multidimensional perspective. The study focuses on how the balance between the consumer's desire for physical contact and the comfort offered by the digital realm can be established through engineering solutions. In light of current data in the literature, it has been determined that return processes are the primary factor threatening the sector's profitability, while mass customization and Augmented Reality (AR) technologies play a key role in minimizing these risks. Consequently, it is emphasized that digital success in the furniture sector is achievable not only through storefront management but also through a flawlessly functioning data and logistics network in the background.
