How to improve your order fulfilment process
The order fulfilment process is one of the most vital areas of an e-commerce business, particularly with the rapid escalation of online orders.
As the popularity of online shopping continues to grow, businesses are focusing on how to maximise efficiency when it comes to improving their order fulfilment process.
Whether you’re a small or medium-sized business, there are many areas of the fulfilment journey which can be tweaked to make the procedure more efficient.
Here we outline the various areas which can help you improve your order fulfilment process and provide the best experience possible for your customers.
System integration
When dealing with 3PL (third party logistics) companies in your business, there will be many developments within the order fulfilment process which you will need to frequently monitor.
Businesses need to be in the know when it comes to shipping, stock and returns updates. As a result, it’s essential to ensure that your business is sufficiently integrated with third party systems.
At Pointbid, our online systems integrate with many e-commerce platforms, such as:
- Amazon
- Shopify
- Woocommerce
- Linnworks
The ability of 3PL companies to integrate their systems with major e-commerce platforms is invaluable. Businesses can gain access to crucial data and information, keeping track of sales and returns, with the ability to see how the brand is developing.
End-to-end visibility
When it comes to the order fulfilment process, businesses must be kept in the loop from start to finish. From the moment your goods enter the warehouse to picking, packing and shipping, it’s vital that you can monitor the progress at every stage.
Pointbid’s online portal allows businesses to see real-time figures throughout the fulfilment process and gain real insight into how your items are performing. Choosing a 3PL company that provide solutions offering end to end visibility, ensures that you are in the know throughout the order fulfilment process.
Smart inventory management
Another critical aspect of the order fulfilment process, which businesses must frequently monitor is inventory management.
Awareness of the correct stock levels is vital for an e-commerce business to be able to forecast demand. Knowing what’s selling fast and what items are slow-moving allows you to replenish stock accordingly, preventing you from wasting money.
Ultimately, stocking up on popular items prevents customer disappointment and can allow you to make appropriate decisions when it comes to offers.
Smart warehouse storage
There’s another significant benefit of all parties having solid stock knowledge when it comes to order fulfilment. Knowing inventory figures allows 3PL companies to place items in strategic areas of the warehouse.
Best selling items, for example, can be placed centrally to allow for fast picking, packing and shipping. Ensuring the most popular items are in the most accessible areas of the warehouse means that the items can be sent to customers quickly. The aim is to make the picking and packing process as hassle-free as possible – the more time it takes you to find, pack and ship an order, the costlier it will be.
Fast and efficient deliveries are the ultimate priority for e-commerce customers. Your company’s ability to deliver fast and accurate orders are likely to result in happy customers as well as repeat business.
Automated processes
Ultimately, each of these areas to help improve your order fulfilment, all come down to automation. As your business grows, it may no longer be viable to rely on manual processes. Each of the above automated processes ensures that your business can:
- Receive real-time data on sales and shipping
- Make informed business decisions
- Operate your business as efficiently as possible
- Provide the best possible customer service
The benefit of automated processes is that it helps make the order fulfilment process as efficient as possible, eliminating the probability of human error. As a result, operating your business in this way helps to provide the best service possible to your customers as they are more likely to receive items quickly and damage-free.
If you feel like it’s time for your business to improve its order fulfilment process, you may want to consider outsourcing to a 3PL provider. Pointbid Logistics uses advanced technology to ensure goods are accurately picked, packed and shipped to your customers as quickly as possible. If you would like to know more, please give us a call on 0121 326 7368.
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