The success of any e-commerce business can depend on the efficiency of its order fulfillment process. Not only does it increase the profitability of the business, it can also improve customer satisfaction and the likelihood of repeat customers. Without an effective order fulfillment process, a business will struggle.
But how can you streamline your e-commerce business’ order fulfillment procedure? There are numerous tips online; so many, in fact, that it can be difficult to know what will work for you and what won’t. Thankfully, this post has outlined three of the best ways to restructure the order fulfillment process of your business.
Consider Using Automation
Although automation can be scary if it’s new to your business, it doesn’t have to be. Your business would utilize technology to manage the fulfillment process. It can eliminate the inefficiencies that human error can bring and ensure your business continues to run smoothly.
With this increase in effective labor, more orders can be fulfilled at a quicker rate while reducing strain on workers. Manual order management can cause issues like delays, which are often the result of slow processing times and data entry errors. An automated system will prevent these problems and guarantee you keep up with the competitors in your industry.
If your business requires assistance handling order fulfillment, you can partner with third-party logistics (3PL) services. Most of these companies use automation software to improve accuracy in the warehouse and reduce the need for manual labor. For example, Cart.com has digital and physical automation systems in their warehouses to improve various aspects, including goods-to-person systems.
By using a third-party service and their automation technology, this could further ease the demand on your business and its order fulfillment process. Plus, these services often help with other steps throughout order fulfillment.
Maintain Stock Levels
Customers will become very frustrated if the stock levels advertised on your website do not match the products available in your warehouse. Discrepancies can lead to unfulfilled orders. Using effective inventory management will allow your business to uphold and share correct stock levels.
Your business can automate stock tracking, minimize errors, and simplify stock control by implementing an efficient warehouse management system. The workers in your warehouse should also carry out spot check and regular demand forecasting to ensure there is adequate preparation ahead of time.
Other tips to maintain stock levels include improving storage, managing returns resourcefully, and tracking expiry dates if you sell perishable goods.
Allow Customers to Track Their Orders
After orders have been packed, the business should track the goods’ deliveries to the customers. With this information, it can also be passed along to the customers by providing them with up-to-date tracking information. This provides customers with access to the real-time progress of their orders, which is a big benefit. Order tracking prevents customers having to plan their day around the deliveries, and this can boost customer satisfaction.
Sufficient order updates will reduce the number of queries the customer service department of your business will receive, too. It has been proven that frequent updates are important to customers; 83% of e-commerce customers want regular customer support and updates regarding the status of their orders. So, if your business can, it should utilize order tracking.
With these three improvements in place, you can monitor your order fulfillment process and improve it as necessary.
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