Ways to streamline order fulfillment

by Estore Logistics Australia’s largest third-party logistics provider

Here is how to streamline Order Fulfillment Process

Businesses should streamline their order fulfillment process. A streamlined process helps to minimise costs, lower the possibility of errors and improve customer satisfaction. Businesses can take various steps to streamline the order fulfillment process using both technology, capital resources and human resources. This does not require a large investment, but a tailored strategy that is suited to your business and goals.

A streamlined order fulfillment process includes transparency, a continuously improved process, leveraging available order fulfillment infrastructure and ensuring staff who are operating the process are fully trained and motivated. At present, there is not a complete order fulfillment process that is driven entirely by technology. Given current processes involve human intervention, ensuring a sustainable and stable order fulfillment process will reassure customers that their products will arrive on time without error.

Here are a few ways to streamline order fulfillment process for your business.

Keep customers informed

Customers like to be informed about their order. They expect the product will arrive on time without error. Customers do not appreciate orders not being fulfilled because products are not available or because of a technological glitch. It is important to give customers control over their order with regular updates, tracking facilities and the ability to return the product if they are not satisfied with it. These simple measures can build exceptional satisfaction in customers and lead to greater business growth.

Motivate staff

Staff need to be motivated. Educating and rewarding staff are key to keeping them motivated to achieve the goals of the business. Given existing order fulfillment processes require a degree of human intervention, it is important to ensure that these resources work effectively to streamline the order fulfillment process. Providing the necessary equipment, tools and training to help staff achieve their tasks will make it easier for staff to complete their job with little to no error.

Monitor supply chain

A business’s supply chain is the backbone for a successful operation. All suppliers must be monitored on a regular basis to ensure the continuity of stock. Transportation services need to be reviewed to ensure products are arriving on time without defect and that any efficiencies are being achieved. Whether products are being delivered directly to the customer from the supplier or via a distribution centre or warehouse, the end-to-end process must be mapped and monitored to identify any issues in advance of it affecting sales.

Implement smarter systems

Technology exists to streamline the order fulfillment process. Third party logistics companies use technology to retrieve products quicker without error and ship them to the end-user in the quickest time possible. Warehouse Management Systems, customer portals, online stores and integrated resourcing tools mean businesses can track the end-to-end order fulfillment process and have complete and real-time visibility. This helps to resolve incidents faster and allows issues to be rectified sooner rather than later.

Leverage third-party service providers

3PL providers give businesses the option to outsource fundamental aspects of the order fulfillment process. Fulfilling orders is a tedious and costly exercise. Rather than spending time on order fulfillment, businesses can outsource this function to a reputable and experienced provider. This gives the business more time to work on strategy, product innovation and customer satisfaction improvement processes. 3PL providers offer warehousing, docking, eCommerce fulfillment, restore store fulfillment, cross-docking, returns, value added services and pick and pack services.

Continuously improve

All businesses must continuously improve. The Board and Executive Management must meet regularly to discuss how to improve the order fulfillment processes for the benefit of the business and customers. As we have discussed in this blog, there are various steps that can be taken. Each step should be thoroughly reviewed and assessed prior to implementation to ensure that it is fit for the business and will enhance customer satisfaction without any disruption.

eStore Logistics is Australia’s largest third-party logistics (3PL), warehousing and order fulfilment provider for omni-channel eCommerce stores throughout Australia. With large warehouses throughout Australia, technological capabilities that provide real-time data and capable staff that can process orders accurately in a short period of time, eStore Logistics continues to provide leading services to the retail businesses that want to grow. Contact us today by calling 1300 735 133.

FAQs

WHAT IS FULFILLMENT ORDER?

The order fulfillment process is the end-to-end process from initial customer contact through to delivery of the product. The order fulfilment process includes the customer selecting the product they want, customer providing their personal details, customer paying for the product, vendor acquiring the product from the manufacturer or distributor, vendor transporting the product to a warehouse or distribution centre and vendor arranging for the secure delivery of the product to the customer.

HOW TO IMPROVE ORDER FULFILLMENT PROCESS?

Improve the order fulfilment process by minimising delays, errors and cost, and giving greater control and more options to your customers. Third party logistics (3PL providers) enable businesses to leverage warehousing space, established transport routes, order fulfillment flexibility, technology solutions and more.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ORDER FULFILLMENT AND CUSTOMER FULFILLMENT SERVICE?

Order fulfilment and customer fulfillment are similar terms. Businesses must fulfill the order placed and respond to customer queries regarding the order in an effective manner. Businesses need to have processes to deal with order changes, issues caused by third parties or uncontrollable events and circumstances where the order cannot be fulfilled due to errors.

WHAT IS E-COMMERCE ORDER FULFILLMENT?

eCommerce attracts more customers and avoids the need to have many shops. eCommerce order fulfillment occurs where a customer purchases a product online and requests the product be delivered to a nominated address or collected in-store. Businesses fulfill orders daily and use both in-store and online channels to engage with customers.