E-commerce Business Archives – unicommerce.com #1 Cloud based E-commerce Software Solutions to manage Order, Inventory, Warehouse Thu, 28 Mar 2024 09:37:15 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.2 https://infowordpress.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/03105610/favicon.png E-commerce Business Archives – unicommerce.com 32 32 Choosing The Right Inventory Management System For Your E-Commerce Business https://unicommerce.com/blog/how-to-choose-right-inventory-management-system-for-ecommerce-business/ https://unicommerce.com/blog/how-to-choose-right-inventory-management-system-for-ecommerce-business/#respond Mon, 25 Dec 2023 05:35:55 +0000 https://unicommerce.com/?p=258884 E-commerce businesses often run into inventory issues because of inefficient processes led by tab-rich Excel spreadsheets and inadequate data exports. These issues are pervasive and affect a plethora of other organizational functions, jeopardizing the smooth business flow. It has led to businesses understanding that inventory management is a vital part of growth, and they need […]

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E-commerce businesses often run into inventory issues because of inefficient processes led by tab-rich Excel spreadsheets and inadequate data exports. These issues are pervasive and affect a plethora of other organizational functions, jeopardizing the smooth business flow. It has led to businesses understanding that inventory management is a vital part of growth, and they need to find better ways to manage it. In addition, optimizing inventory can help cut down unwanted costs and contribute to improved customer experience.

It is why most of the current e-commerce businesses have shifted to a more clutter-free approach – an inventory management system. This software offers significant advantages over the traditional manual or spreadsheet approaches and gives you granular control over your stock while improving transparency.

But given the plethora of inventory management systems on offer, how do you choose the right one for yourself? This article discusses the thought process and criteria behind choosing the best inventory management software for your e-commerce business.

Questions to ask before looking for an Best E-commerce Inventory Management Software – 

A myriad of factors decide the best-centralized inventory management software for your e-commerce business, and most of them have more to do with your business than the solution itself. So here are the questions to answer before embarking on choosing the best inventory management system.

1. What inventory challenges do your business face?

A great way to start your tryst to find the best inventory management system would be to understand your inventory’s challenges first. Do you feel there is a lack of transparency in managing it? Do you frequently run out of critical items? Can you efficiently handle safety stock, replenishment stock, and average stock level individually? How efficient are you in handling fluctuations in customer demand?

Finding the relevant business issues that you want to cater to would help you refine the options available and find vendors offering the features you need.

2. Do you need a server-based or an online inventory management system?

Several e-commerce businesses still prefer legacy systems and purchase on-premise, server-based inventory solutions even after years of cloud being around. So it is imperative for you to understand the pros and cons of both options and choose one that would suit your business the best.

For example, are you willing to spend higher on an on-location inventory management system, or are you happier with a cloud-based solution to handle your stock requirements effectively? Is your team well acquainted with the former and is showing reluctance to shift? Or are you better off with the 99.9% uptime guarantee that cloud providers guarantee?

All of these would help you make an informed decision about the type of inventory management system to deploy.

3. What are your integration needs?

In the traditional days, most software would run solo and had no interdependence. But in the present day, seamless collaboration has been the way forward. B2B e-commerce brands are looking for solutions that can seamlessly integrate into their present software ecosystem without tweaking what works for them.

A robust inventory management software has also been a critical business differentiator and has enabled e-commerce players to be flexible with regards to their inventory handling and ordering, allowing them to gain an edge over their competition. 

In addition, seamless integration would enable e-commerce businesses to derive critical insights from the inventory management software and feed them to other business processes in a clutter-free manner to achieve impeccable actionable insights.

How to Choose Right E-commerce Inventory Management System?

how to choose the best inventory management system

Now that you understand your business needs, the next step is to look for the following while choosing the best software for inventory management in India or abroad –

#1 Ease of use

Ease of use is one of the primary constraints while looking for the right inventory solution for your e-commerce business. An easy-to-use software will allow your workforce to handle it better and improve their stock handling capabilities.

#2 Scalability

E-commerce businesses are born with the idea to be scalable, and every software choice they make must resonate with the same idea. So it is imperative for you to choose a scalable solution and offer you the bandwidth you seek.

#3 Features

Every e-commerce business has specific requirements. So choose an inventory management software that caters to your particular needs, such as batch tracking, bundling, real-time inventory update, barcode tracking, and more.

#4 Valuable insights

With the advent of data-heavy solutions, it has been easy to derive critical analytics. Analytics play a vital role in the way your business is handled. So, while looking for the right inventory management system, make sure you choose the one that offers a wide range of palpable and practical insights.

Read Inventory Management Case Study – How Multi-Brand Car Service Company attained 9X Sales Growth  

Wrap up

Choosing an inventory management system that is easy to use and caters to all your stock needs is a vital decision. It makes the task easier for your workforce and contributes to better catering to your customers.

Schedule a FREE demo with Unicommerce Inventory Management consultants.

Related Read:

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How to Pick the Best Order Management System (OMS) for Your E-commerce Business? https://unicommerce.com/blog/how-to-choose-best-order-management-system-oms-for-ecommerce-business/ https://unicommerce.com/blog/how-to-choose-best-order-management-system-oms-for-ecommerce-business/#respond Sat, 28 Oct 2023 07:34:40 +0000 https://unicommerce.com/?p=260438 The post How to Pick the Best Order Management System (OMS) for Your E-commerce Business? appeared first on unicommerce.com.

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Introduction

In 2020, e-commerce changed forever. The industry recorded growth equal to 10 years within a short span of 3 months. This put a strain on the supply chain management system of every e-commerce business selling goods online to customers. They were forced to adopt various measures to cope with the huge rush for online goods and manage the supply of goods.

The key to the smooth handling of the massive spike in demand for goods online is to use an Order Management System (OMS) that can cope with customer expectations. On the other hand, it must allow the online business to compete with other players in the market.

Why do e-commerce businesses need a robust order management system? 

As people are increasingly opting to purchase products online, many businesses created e-commerce portals as an extension of their physical stores. Thanks to the availability of high-speed internet connections, consumers have to simply visit the e-commerce portal to browse and select the desired items. E-commerce has changed the way business is done by brick-and-mortar stores. It has provided businesses, especially micro, small, and medium enterprises, with more opportunities to grow while reducing their cost of operating physical stores.

Hence, the global e-commerce landscape is set to grow from US$ 4 billion in 2020 to over US$ 6.5 billion in 2023. While on the one hand, this has created new opportunities to grow, on the other hand, this has also created challenges – how to manage rising inventory from online sales? How can seamless integration of operations be ensured? An e-commerce business’ reputation depends on how well it reacts to orders by online customers and how quickly it executes them.

global e-commerce landscape

This is when a business needs e-commerce order management system. While it is extremely tough and vital to provide a smooth shopping experience to online customers, choosing the right type of multichannel order management system is critical. 

What is an E-commerce Order Management System?

An e-commerce Order Management System (OMS), also called an online order management system, allows online businesses to execute various operations. These include accepting and processing orders, creating invoices, deciding the right warehouses, keeping them informed, updating order details across its sales channels, and allowing customers to track their orders. Businesses can use an OMS to automate time-consuming, repetitive tasks and ensure end-to-end visibility. When seeking out an online OMS, companies must be clear about what is essential and what can be ignored.

Key points to remember while you pick an OMS

1. Seamless integration: An e-commerce Order Management System must include an open API that empowers e-commerce businesses to seamlessly integrate their operations across global marketplaces, carts, logistics providers, and more.

2. Managing returns: In e-commerce, online customers often return their orders if the product is not up to the mark or the waiting period is too long. An OMS must be able to keep track of all return orders and make updates accordingly.

3. Scalability: While picking an e-commerce Order Management System, businesses need to make sure that it is flexible and robust enough and can be scaled up in the future as per the increase in requirement as the business grows.

4. Real-time inventory tracking: An Online Order Management System equips businesses to reduce unnecessary expenses. It should also allow them to pursue potential sales opportunities proactively by enabling them to track inventory in real-time.

5. Multi-Node fulfillment: Also called Multichannel Order Management System, the OMS must empower customers in logistics management to choose the fastest delivery options. It will enable online businesses to maintain warehouse facilities at strategic locations to ensure the quickest delivery. Using OMS, e-commerce businesses can allocate orders to the closest warehouse and communicate the same with the end customer to streamline order fulfillment. A distributed Online Order Management System allows businesses to efficiently manage orders across multiple channels and systems.

6. Evaluate and trial: Businesses must compare multiple software solutions—their features, cost, after-sales technical support, etc.—before choosing an e-commerce Order Management Software. After evaluation, they must finalize the most suitable one and request a free trial from a set of finalized vendors. Based on the trial, evaluation result, and suitability to replace legacy systems, businesses should finalize the most appropriate OMS.

how to pick order management system for business

How can an OMS streamline order operations for your business?

1. Training: Businesses need to keep in mind that to implement a new OMS, it is important to train employees beforehand. They must ensure that the online Order Management System is user-friendly and can be quickly implemented.

2. Centralization: Businesses can integrate and condense their entire information under one roof, saving time and resources and ensuring multichannel compatibility with a multichannel Order Management System.

Read how Businesses are growing with Unicommerce – How Honasa Consumer, the parent company of Mamaearth, attained a 99.99%+ Order Fulfillment rate for its D2C operations?

3. Speed: A multichannel Order Management System are designed to enable e-commerce businesses to speed up productivity. This, in turn, ensures quicker delivery and efficient product handling, leading to higher customer satisfaction.

4. Accuracy: E-commerce Order Management Software enables online businesses to improve accuracy. The advancements in technology ensure the reduction of errors, especially in repetitive processes, allowing them to concentrate on introducing innovative products and processes.

how oms streamline order operations for your business

Watch how Order Management System (OMS) helps in timely order fulfillment –

Final words

An online Order Management System is a must for any e-commerce business. It ensures a quick, personalized, and error-free order fulfillment, resulting in a satisfied end customer. A customized Multichannel Order Management System enables online businesses to save precious time on repetitive tasks, thereby allowing them to concentrate on other important activities such as marketing strategies, product innovation, which will eventually improve their productivity and profitability. Online businesses serve customers transcending geographical boundaries, languages, taxes, currencies, etc. Implementing an e-commerce Order Management System that covers all these factors can empower businesses to reduce complexity in operation, thereby resulting in a better customer experience.

Schedule a FREE demo with Unicommerce’s Order Management consultants.

Related Read:

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Why is Order Management System Important for E-commerce Business? https://unicommerce.com/blog/importance-of-order-management-system-in-ecommerce-business/ Sun, 24 Sep 2023 07:25:50 +0000 https://unicommerce.com/?p=257870 What is an Order Management System? An Order Management System (OMS) is a software solution that enables businesses to efficiently and effectively manage their order processing and fulfillment operations. It acts as a central hub for handling and organizing customer orders, inventory, and related information throughout the entire order lifecycle, from placement to delivery. A […]

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What is an Order Management System?

An Order Management System (OMS) is a software solution that enables businesses to efficiently and effectively manage their order processing and fulfillment operations. It acts as a central hub for handling and organizing customer orders, inventory, and related information throughout the entire order lifecycle, from placement to delivery.

A client order is simply the entire process of receiving, processing and fulfilling a customer’s request. Many different departments are involved in managing an order, including the customer support team, warehouse workers, accounting department, and delivery partners. Maintaining client happiness and safeguarding a company’s reputation are two of the many benefits that one can gain from efficiently mastering order management.

Order Management System (OMS): A Multi-fold System

An e-commerce order management system consists of several interrelated touchpoints and stakeholders that work together to ensure clients get the right items at the right price at the right time. Businesses can use order fulfillment systems to construct customer data and keep track of stock levels and sales records, in addition to ensuring order-to-cash (O2C) operations function smoothly.

The Order Management System Challenges

It is impossible to successfully handle an order with as many touchpoints and parties involved as there are. A few of the problems organizations face are human flaws and system backlogs, stock awareness issues, transit mistakes, and lack of communication. They may all have a detrimental influence on customer happiness and loyalty. However, with the implementation of efficient order management software, these challenges can be effectively addressed and resolved, leading to improved customer satisfaction and loyalty.

An E-commerce Order Management System is the Key

Both B2C and B2B firms use an integrated and responsive order fulfillment system to create a quick-paced, economical, and accurate OMS. A company’s ERP system may be integrated directly with the OMS, allowing for the most efficient and lucrative order fulfillment cycle. 

Additionally, the OMS ensures smooth and timely shipment of orders, further enhancing customer satisfaction and loyalty. The pricing of products and services is also managed effectively through the OMS, ensuring profitability and competitiveness in the market.

Many supply chain professionals have already embraced this technology. Also, big retail companies are investing in technology to automate tasks like order fulfillment, warehouse distribution, and delivery. This trend is likely to continue in 2024 to meet the growing demands of consumers.

Advantages of Using an E-commerce Order Management System  

An OMS provides numerous significant advantages for businesses: visibility at every stage of the selling process, time efficiency, lower risk for mistakes made by humans, as well as increased accuracy, and efficient order optimization. The following are the top advantages of e-commerce OMS:

advantages and benefits of ecommerce order management System1. Efficiency of Automation

By automating the order processing process, an e-commerce order management solution can save the firms’ money on labor, reduce human error, and devote more time to development and customer satisfaction by reducing the chance of human mistakes. Data security is improved since there is less manual involvement.

2. 24*7*365 Accessibility

Due to the e-commerce order management solution of 24/7 access, orders may be processed remotely and in real-time since businesses have internet access to their OMS. Because of this, one can better serve their customers and process their orders more quickly through sales channels.

3. Concentrate On Growth

Several benefits come from automating the ordering and receiving process, such as freeing up time to collect and analyze data for further growth and addressing any difficulties in the fulfillment process. Additionally, automation can greatly improve the customer experience by streamlining the ordering process, reducing errors, and providing real-time updates on order status.

4. Management of Inventories

Using an order management system to provide real-time data on customer orders, things sold, returned, or swapped aids in managing inventory. Once again, this protects client pleasure by preventing corporations from over-selling their products.

5. A Centralized Perspective

One unified system for managing orders offers organizations an overview of the complex fulfillment environment for online sales and guards against order mistakes, customer unhappiness, or lost income due to frequent malfunctions such as inadequate inventory, wrong invoicing, or unexpected shipping issues.

6. Constantly Updated Real-time Data

A real-time data presentation of an order management system makes it possible for businesses, rather than risking consumer discontent with errors or delays, to respond quickly to any challenges that may develop. By maintaining up-to-date product and payment data, businesses may better assess the current health of their cash flow and make informed decisions using business intelligence.

7. Capabilities For Multiple Channels

Expand your e-commerce business’s potential and increase sales volume by utilizing a multi-channel e-commerce management system in which items are offered for sale in many online locations, including an online store. All of the venues where your firm sells its products, including marketplaces, hosted web storefronts, and brick-and-mortar locations, are channels.

A Sound Order Management System is Critical for Several Reasons

The development of e-commerce and consumer expectations in today’s always-on culture has resulted in high volumes, high speed, and great hopes. Consumers have come to anticipate that they may order whatever they want, whenever they want, and from whichever platform suits them because of the widespread use of digital and electronic commerce. The growth of the e-commerce business has transformed the way people shop and interact with businesses online, including the order fulfillment process.

E-commerce fulfillment is in high demand, and to improve this process, businesses are willing to invest in technology solutions like E-commerce Order Management Systems (OMS) to improve their order processing, fulfillment, and overall customer experience.

Watch how Order Management System (OMS) helps in timely order fulfillment –

Conclusion

There’s little doubt that the order management system will impact customer satisfaction. Some firms consider the impact on backend logistics when purchasing an OMS, not the effect on front-end customer service. When a consumer uses Buy Online, Pickup In-store (BOPIS) or a curbside pickup for the first time, it’s critical to assess how they feel about the whole shopping experience.

Remember that a well-functioning OMS improves customer service and returns on investment.

Schedule a FREE demo with Unicommerce Order Management consultants.

Related Read:

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Why is Inventory Management Important for E-commerce Business [2024 Updated] https://unicommerce.com/blog/why-inventory-management-important-for-ecommerce-business/ https://unicommerce.com/blog/why-inventory-management-important-for-ecommerce-business/#respond Sun, 08 Jan 2023 10:50:26 +0000 https://unicommerce.com/?p=258488 Global retail e-commerce surpassed an impressive milestone of 5.7 trillion U.S. dollars in sales in 2022. This upward trend shows no signs of slowing down, and it’s quite clear that e-commerce is a driving force in today’s business landscape. As such, it becomes more important for e-commerce businesses to streamline and optimize their operations. One […]

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Global retail e-commerce surpassed an impressive milestone of 5.7 trillion U.S. dollars in sales in 2022. This upward trend shows no signs of slowing down, and it’s quite clear that e-commerce is a driving force in today’s business landscape. As such, it becomes more important for e-commerce businesses to streamline and optimize their operations. One area that demands particular attention is e-commerce inventory management.

Inventory management is all about getting the right things to the right place at the right time and in the proper condition. However, it is much easier said than done. There are several stages before a product reaches its final destination, such as warehousing and shipment, which can be complex and require careful planning. That’s why having an effective inventory management strategy is crucial for e-commerce businesses. 

This blog will go over the importance of inventory management software for your e-commerce operations and the benefits that an efficient inventory management system brings to your organization!                                   

What is the Importance of E-commerce Inventory Management? 

Inventory management is crucial for e-commerce businesses as it helps optimize stock levels, minimize inventory costs, prevent stockouts, and ensure timely order fulfillment. Effective inventory management leads to improved customer satisfaction, reduced wastage, increased profitability, and better working capital for businesses.

For example, let’s consider an online retail store that sells various products. Without proper inventory management, the store might face several challenges, such as stockouts, where fast-selling items run out of stock, and customers are unable to purchase them; this will result in lost sales and dissatisfied customers. 

On the other hand, if you have excessive inventory levels, it can tie up valuable capital, increase holding costs, and lead to potential losses due to expired or obsolete products. Therefore, implementing an effective inventory management system can help the retail store avoid these challenges and optimize storage space. 

The Crucial Role of Inventory Management Software for E-commerce Businesses

Effective inventory management demonstrates the significance of proper real-time stock management, which can be accomplished by using dedicated e-commerce inventory management software. In comparison to manual data encoding, automation is always preferable. 

Even if your company can survive on manual data encoding, other formulas based on prices are challenging to implement. This software will streamline your customer service and make transactions seamless.

On average, inventory is accurate just 63% of the time for retail. Thus, good inventory management software should:

  • constantly update your e-commerce business’s data in real-time, 
  • reduce human error risk, 
  • be more accurate and quicker in tracking orders, 
  • predict your profits and losses and 
  • ensure warehouse control and customer, supplier, and distributor management.

Having centralized e-commerce inventory management software is critical for warehouses, retailers, and customers alike. This tool ensures that all packages and shipments are tracked and monitored in real-time. To streamline your services and maintain a continual connection with your clients, you should use the most up-to-date supply chain management technologies on the market.

How Can a Robust Inventory Management Software Empower Your E-commerce Business?

Here’s how an effective e-commerce inventory management system can take your business operations to new heights:

1. Streamline Inventory Control and Purchasing: You may be able to specify minimum inventory levels for each item, depending on the inventory software you employ. It will enable you to quickly examine the list of products below that level and place and send fresh purchase orders.

2. Enhance Supplier Management and Ordering: If your reports are generated by advanced inventory management software, you can also check if you have products on order with a supplier and if your supplier has inconsistent deliveries of finished goods. This knowledge is essential if you want to keep procurement and reordering under control.

3. Accurate Information: Sharing accurate information is essential for running a profitable business. Thus, you should use a software system that interfaces with everything from integrated accounting to barcode scanners. As a result, your system will reflect the actual situation on the ground.

4. Boost Employee Efficiency: If your employees know that the inventory management system is constantly updated, they will have more confidence in the software and use it for all tasks. You will have better data due to the improved reporting and efficiency across the organization.

5. Saves Time and Resources: Since many time-consuming inventory management processes are now automated, it saves employees time and allows them to focus on other activities. Furthermore, human error gets removed from the equation to a much greater extent. As a result, these systems reach a better level of precision. 

What are the Benefits of Inventory Management System?

benefits of an inventory management system

Listed below are the benefits of using an effective inventory management system:

1. Greater Efficiency and Productivity – Effective inventory control leads to better storage management, which means that products can be easily located, collected, and packed, as well as supplied to buyers as quickly and efficiently as possible.

2. Customer Satisfaction – When you have the right amount of inventory available, you will be able to fulfill orders faster. This will build trust in customers and may assist you in turning a one-off customer into a repeat customer. The more accurate your inventory management is, the more aligned you will be with customers’ expectations about the availability of the product.

3. Increased Visibility – Efficient inventory management ensures that you make better and quicker decisions. Tracking inventory becomes transparent, and you will know the number of products that are within the warehouses, how many orders came, what was shipped, what was returned, and where are possible stock-outs.

4. Increased Revenue and Profit Margin – Poor stock management can cause revenue losses. You can avoid errors such as stock-outs and overstocks by properly forecasting the correct amount of your inventory. You can lower your cost by reducing supplier lead time. It can be made possible by improving inventory management in the supply chain.

Let’s Make E-commerce Inventory Management Easier!

An inventory management system enhances efficiency in all areas of the e-commerce business. If you work with a warehouse that uses cutting-edge, real-time inventory management technologies, you will be able to keep your consumers satisfied. In short, by prioritizing inventory management and leveraging robust inventory management software, you can unlock operational success, meet customer expectations, and stay ahead in the competitive e-commerce landscape of 2023!

Schedule a FREE demo with Unicommerce Inventory Management consultants.

Related Read:

Uncover Leading Brands Success with Unicommerce!

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Valentine’s Day: 3 Tips to Boost your E-commerce Business This Season https://unicommerce.com/blog/boost-ecommerce-sales-on-valentines-day/ https://unicommerce.com/blog/boost-ecommerce-sales-on-valentines-day/#respond Sun, 06 Feb 2022 09:55:55 +0000 https://unicommerce.com/?p=17434 Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. While the festival of love is knocking on the doorsteps, you as a seller must embrace the profits that come with it. As it brings huge opportunities for you to sell online, you must make the best of your services.  While February is all about Valentine’s Day, shoppers […]

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Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. While the festival of love is knocking on the doorsteps, you as a seller must embrace the profits that come with it. As it brings huge opportunities for you to sell online, you must make the best of your services. 

While February is all about Valentine’s Day, shoppers make it a rather serious affair to let their loved ones know of their affection by spending huge sums on gifts and experiences. Moreover, as per a survey by NRF, the total expected spending is forecasted to be $23.9B in 2022. 

valentine's day consumer spending and celebration plans

Going by the recent trends, e-commerce businesses offering chocolates, flowers, fashion jewelry, and more, have the advantage to increase their business profits during this season. Let’s study these stats in deep.

LOVE wrapped in Statistics

Capturing the data from NRF, here’s the list of the items bought most during this time:

  • Candy: 55.5% 
  • Flowers: 37.5% 
  • Jewelry: 22% 
  • Apparels: 22%
  • Gift Card: 21%

types of gifts and planned spending

Valentine’s for All: eCommerce Operations at Peak

Not only for couples, but Valentine’s Day has also gained popularity as a way to express your feelings to a potential partner, or to your lovely pets, even to your single friends who might feel lonely this time. People look out for the best possible offers at this time to purchase their long wishlist products making it a rather huge opportunity to boost sales for online sellers and retailers with such a big pool of buyers. 

E-commerce marketplaces are the biggest arena for Valentine’s sales as most couples try and surprise their partners by giving them heartfelt gifts with easy delivery at their doorstep, instead of walking around in stores fetching something for them.

For businesses to make the most out of this celebratory time, all you need to do is market your product and streamline operations enabling faster selling across your customer base.

tips to increase ecommerce sales during valentines day

1. Increase your Sales across Multiple Marketplaces this V-day

Sellers need to come up with special offers on limited stocks that not only work for the target customers making big gestures or efforts for their loved ones but also serve a purpose for the ones interested in getting a good deal out of all this. 

Businesses can go for cross-selling as complimentary items are always appreciated by people. You can also give away huge discounts or coupons on your range of products and include customizable hampers to choose from. Moreover, you can also leverage multiple marketplaces to make the best out of this day. 

Hot tip: Going omnichannel can allow you to retain increased customers. Right from back-end operations, including inventory management and order fulfillment to front-end functions, such as marketing and branding, integrating Omnichannel in your business can enable you to grow your bottom line exponentially.

2. Manage your Fulfilment and Avoid Stock Outs

Valentine’s Day is one of the busiest times for e-commerce sellers with huge amounts of purchases made and orders to be delivered. Impacting their overall revenue exponentially, it becomes the top-most priority for the online sellers to manage and track their inventory efficiently.

With non-stop purchases during this time organizing and processing inventory can become the biggest challenge for e-commerce sellers and retailers. If you fail to manage the flow of your orders and prevent out-of-stock order situations then this can cause some serious damage to your business. A good warehouse management system that syncs your orders and regularizes your inventory, as well as returns in real-time, is what’ll work to achieve this.

3. Deliver on time for maximum customer satisfaction

Once all the inventory is processed and orders are packed, you need to make sure that delivery happens right on time. People plan their Valentine’s weeks in advance and it is extremely necessary for them to get their orders on schedule.

Delayed or unfulfilled delivery not only causes unsatisfactory customer experience but markets badly for your overall reputation as an online seller. Make sure you have the best shipping and logistics solutions in place to manage and track your order efficiently to avoid delays. 

Be Ours this Valentine

Being the next biggest thing for e-commerce sellers and retailers post the Black Friday Sales, Valentine’s Sales need your complete focus to pace up your revenue growth. 

To build on that focus you can never totally rely on your manual workforce, rather you onboard a supply chain management system that tracks and manages orders, inventory, and returns across multiple marketplaces, retail stores, and warehouse locations.

All of this can be done with the help of Unicommerce’s automated and highly scalable multichannel e-commerce solutions.

So be our Valentine this time and make the most out of our solutions to take your business up the trajectory of success.

Let’s start with Unicommerce. Request a Free Demo now !!!

 

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How Brands Optimize Their Supply Chain to Scale Operations? https://unicommerce.com/blog/optimize-supply-chain-scale-operations/ https://unicommerce.com/blog/optimize-supply-chain-scale-operations/#comments Fri, 01 Nov 2019 12:10:33 +0000 https://unicommerce.com/?p=15238 ‘Supply chain management’ is now on its way to become a buzzword. To provide a unique customer experience is an art. And how do the businesses achieve that?

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‘Supply chain management’ is now on its way to become a buzzword. To provide a unique customer experience is an art. And how do the businesses achieve that? Simple. By optimizing their supply chain operations.

Advanced Supply chain operations involve highly optimized inventory & warehouse management, flexibility, and speed with order fulfillment, customization along with process implementation.

Let’s see how Brands are leveraging the supply chain software to optimize their e-commerce operations.

Unilever

Unilever is a pro in spotting the trends that disrupt the supply chain management operations. Amongst those trends, many are being driven by e-commerce businesses. And these continue to shape the way people shop and interact with brands. It has quickened the pace as technology advances. People look to e-commerce to deliver lifestyle solutions and not just products and services.

Starting from the production line to the warehouse to post box, Unilever’s packaging has evolved into an impactful tool to help meet consumers’ expectations while keeping up with escalating costs. They understand that at the end of the scale, packaging has become leaner, more resourceful, and designed for delivery.

While the packaging is an essential process of the supply chain, businesses should also work towards a future where the delivery process leverage technology to create a truly streamlined experience across all consumer touchpoints.

Supply Chain Management involves multiple processes, and each process is essential to run a smooth eCommerce business. While the packaging may not be on your top priorities in the supply chain process but it definitely can change your game as for Unilever. For instance, when each package is scanned via its barcode, it automatically syncs into your warehouse or inventory management system, and you could have clear visibility of the status of each order.

Amazon

It’s no hidden truth that Amazon is a master of supply chain innovation. Amazon’s range of fulfillment services is so diverse that it is hard to differentiate whether it is a retailer or a third-party logistics provider. It is quite common to hear that vendors co-locate with customers. But Amazon has come up with reversing the practice and is now operating under its vendors’ roof. The process is explained below:

The supplier picks up the products as per the purchase orders from Amazon. Then the pallets are moved into Amazon’s fenced-off Area of the warehouse. And here, the employees of Amazon sorts the orders into outbound orders, packs them, and dispatch them to their customers.

By establishing an innovative concept of vendor-managed inventory, Amazon is leaving its imprints on the eCommerce market.

But how to manage orders coming from all around the world? How to keep count of each of them and have real-time visibility? Simple. When you leverage technology! That is, with the help of a supply chain software, you can see all the items and their status on a single dashboard. 

McDonald’s

Look after the customers and the business will take care of itself”- Ray Kroc, Founder of McDonald’s.

The world is aware of Mcdonald’s products and deliveries. But of course, all of it is not possible without a proper system and management. According to McDonald’s, it is creating long-term supply chain success based on a “System” where everyone wins.

Kroc believed that if the restaurant owner/operators and suppliers were successful, success would come to him as well. The logistics function of McDonald′s Family Restaurants is a winner in itself. This approach has been wildly successful, as McDonald’s is now in more than 100 countries, with over 35,000 restaurants serving 68 million people each day.

Obviously, McDonald’s is not anywhere linked to the retail e-commerce industry. But it still manages warehouses and logistic operations. And both are an inseparable part of the supply chain management process.

Zara

With bagging the star of the fast-fashion retail world, Zara has been deemed as a leading supply chain operator for years. It stands out not only amongst its competitors in the retail industry but also in supply chain operations across the e-commerce market.

The majority of Zara’s lines are designed and manufactured in-house. And its warehouses and suppliers are located close to the manufacturing plants. The whole of its supply chain is dedicated to introducing new products quickly without any hassle or delay.

Zara has worked a lot to make its supply chain management a perfect process. They manufacture products at minimal costs and utilize just-in-time logistics. Moreover, they have a quick system for inventory replenishment with small but frequent shipments.

Managing logistics is one of the core functions of supply chain management. If you don’t know where your shipment is, you could bear huge losses. The best way to manage this particular supply chain function is to track the status of all your shipments.

H&M

H&M’s supply chain strategy comprises of a consistent search for promising markets, cost-efficiency in production of goods, and reduction in lead times for their retail inventory. Managing supply chain operations is not a piece of cake when it has 950 stores in 19 countries. We can only wonder how it does manage to successfully stay afloat and ensure adequate stock control for its fleet of stores.

The organization relies heavily on efficient and integrated systems for retail inventory management in the major components of its supply chain. This approach played a massive part in enabling success in its stock control management.

As H&M is a fast-moving retailer, it takes on an innovative direction to determine the consumer interests through both traditional analysis and experimental augmented-reality technologies. Its ability to offer affordably priced apparel is mostly due to its strong supplier relationships and its manufacturing strategies to reduce lead times.

The question that comes up is how to know when to replenish inventory just right on time? What if the inventory gets replenished automatically whenever the stock reaches the reorder point? Yes. With technology, everything is possible, and H&M opted for it.

Nestle

Nestlé, with over 2000 brands and a presence in nearly 200 countries, is now on its way to transforming its supply chain management. They are working on a new all-in-one inventory solution that integrates Nestle’s warehouse stock across Alibaba’s platforms into an analytics-driven, shared inventory.

They are looking forward to seamlessly fuse the online and offline customer journeys and opting for an omnichannel strategy. Starting from June 2017, Nestle took a new approach to enhance consumers’ shopping experiences. Within a short period of 19 days since switching to the solution, the percentage of products offering second-day delivery jumped to more than 70 percent, up from 30 percent.

Through combining resources across multiple channels, we hope to build a smarter, new supply chain. This will form the foundation of our New Retail efforts and provide a strong boost for our online business,” said Rebecca Wang, vice president and head of e-commerce at Nestle China

There is no doubt that an integrated inventory can change the game of your supply chain process. The point being, change in the warehouse should reflect in the inventory levels in real-time. So, time to automate your inventory! 

Nike

Nike’s main focus in its supply chain management strategy is its distribution channels. Nike’s distribution channels are divided into two categories:

  1. Selling products to wholesalers in the US and international markets.
  2. Direct-to-consumer (or D2C) sales include inline and factory retail outlets and e-commerce sales through its website. Nike also distributes its products through e-commerce companies like Amazon.

Nike is also on its way to the omnichannel strategy as Nike’s DTC approach works two ways- the Nike-owned retail stores, which are the brick-and-mortar stores, and its digital platform. The Direct To Consumer sales include sales through company-owned retail outlets and e-commerce sales. 

Moving forward, Nike wants to expand its online distribution channel further and expects 30% of its sales to come from online sales by 2023. The world is the witness of how Nike’s focus on digital distribution is paying off. In fiscal 2019, the company’s digital sales increased 35% year-over-year.

When customers are at the center of all touchpoints, the sales jump at a fast pace. But for that, the supply chain management must be so smooth that it ensures a unique experience for all customers.

How Unicommerce Transforms Supply Chain Operations

Streamlining your supply chain operations is the way towards the success of your business. Unicommerce understands the ever-changing eCommerce trends and challenges that come up in supply chain management. That’s why we offer cloud-based marketplace panel solutions to meet the needs of the dynamic eCommerce industry.

You will be able to manage your inventory, orders, warehouse, return orders, shipments, logistics effortlessly. On top of that, you could go in for an omnichannel route, try dropshipping, and integrate your ERP under a single dashboard!

Transform the supply chain operations with Unicommerce and make your e-commerce business grow exponentially!

Read how Businesses are growing with Unicommerce –

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