The post How to Pick the Best Order Management System (OMS) for Your E-commerce Business? appeared first on unicommerce.com.

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:

1. 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:

• What is Warehouse Management System?
• What is E-commerce Inventory Management System?
• Key Benefits of an Order Management System
• FMCG Industry in India: Trends, Challenges, Solutions
• The Comprehensive Guide to E-commerce Integrations
• What is Inventory Cycle Counting & Why to Use it for Effective Warehouse Management?
• Warehouse Returns and Cancellations Management [Reasons, Problems, and Solutions]
• UniShip – Advanced Logistics Tracking Platform
• UniReco – Automated Reconciliation of Orders, Returns and Payments
• Key Challenges & Benefits of Marketplace Payment Reconciliation
• Benefits of Shipping Notifications
• What is the difference between Logistics and Supply Chain Management?

The post Why is Order Management System Important for E-commerce Business? appeared first on unicommerce.com.

The significance of effective e-commerce order management cannot be overstated. It directly impacts customer satisfaction, which in turn affects your business’s reputation and bottom line. One key aspect that plays a pivotal role in the efficiency of e-commerce order management is marketplace integration.

The Role of Marketplace Integration in Order Management

Marketplace integration refers to the process of connecting your single selling platform with various online marketplaces, creating a seamless flow of information between your store and external platforms such as Amazon, Flipkart, Myntra, and others. 

This integration enables a centralized management system, streamlining various aspects of e-commerce order management. It acts as a bridge that brings together your product listings, inventory management, order processing, and customer data, creating a unified and synchronized ecosystem.

Let’s take the case of a small business owner who sells handmade crafts on both their Shopify store and Flipkart. Before, they had to manually update product listings, inventory levels, and order statuses on each platform separately. 

However, after getting an Order Management System with integrated marketplaces, when a sale occurs on Flipkart, the inventory levels are automatically updated on both Flipkart and their Shopify store. Additionally, order details are seamlessly synchronized, eliminating the need for manual input and reducing the chances of errors.

Benefits of E-commerce Marketplace Integrations

Here are some advantages of integrating marketplaces with your single selling platform:

1. Streamlined Processes and Reduced Errors

Marketplace integration eliminates manual data entry of orders on multiple channels, reducing the chances of errors and ensuring that information is consistently updated across all platforms. This streamlining of processes leads to a more efficient and error-free order management system.

RSA Global, a Dubai-based digital supply chain and e-commerce logistics solutions provider, recognized the importance of modernizing its logistics operations. To gain access to widely-used e-commerce marketplaces, RSA Global opted for robust order management. 

The system seamlessly facilitated RSA’s integration with Amazon, Noon, and Custom Website (WooCommerce). These integrations allowed for real-time data synchronization, simplifying data exchange and reducing the risk of manual errors.

2. Real-Time Inventory Management on All Sales Channels

This integration extends beyond order management, enabling the synchronization of inventory levels across all connected marketplaces and the Direct-to-Consumer (D2C) store. By creating a unified inventory source for all platforms, this approach streamlines processes and enhances inventory forecasting capabilities, preventing challenges like overselling or stockouts.

A well-known footwear brand, Neeman’s, required diverse marketplace integrations such as Amazon, Flex, Flipkart, and Shopify, Neeman’s implemented a solution to seamlessly integrate its inventory and manage orders across all required platforms. This has significantly contributed to Neeman’s ability to maintain a steady inventory flow, meeting the demands of its tech-savvy customer base with efficiency.

3. Automated Order Processing

As your business scales, manually processing orders becomes impractical. Marketplace integration establishes seamless connections between the business’s selling platform and various online marketplaces. This integration allows for the automatic transmission of order details, eliminating the need for manual data entry and reducing the risk of errors. 

The integrated system automatically updates order statuses, providing customers with timely information about their purchases from confirmation to delivery. Automated order processing expedites fulfillment tasks, ensuring products are picked, packed, and dispatched efficiently. The result is a smoother transaction process and reduced manpower costs. 

4. Seamless Returns Management

Efficient returns management in e-commerce is achieved through the seamless integration of marketplace platforms with a robust Order Management System (OMS). This integration centralizes returns processing, allowing businesses to handle both Customer-Initiated Returns (CIRs) and Returns to Origin (RTO) with ease. 

The streamlined communication between multiple sales channels ensures real-time data exchange, reducing manual intervention and enhancing visibility into return trends. The automated features of the OMS, such as generating return labels and updating inventory levels, contribute to cost reduction by minimizing manual efforts. 

5. Data-Driven Decision-Making

Marketplace integration serves as a powerful tool for businesses, consolidating data from diverse platforms to facilitate informed decision-making. By seamlessly connecting with various online marketplaces, businesses gain access to a wealth of information, including customer behavior, sales trends, and product performance. 

Analyzing trends becomes more nuanced as businesses can identify patterns in consumer preferences, popular products, and peak buying periods. The real-time synchronization of data ensures that businesses are working with the most current information, enhancing the accuracy of trend analysis.

Let’s Leverage the Power of Marketplace Integrations!

A well-functioning order management system is crucial for the success of any e-commerce business. Marketplace integration emerges as a key player, seamlessly connecting your single selling platform with external marketplaces for a smoother operation. Any business that is not capitalizing on the power of marketplace integrations may find itself navigating unnecessary challenges. 

In today’s competitive e-commerce landscape, where every click counts, the imperative is to leverage this integration as a strategic advantage. Therefore, the call to action is clear, let’s leverage the power of marketplace integrations to propel your e-commerce business forward.

Explore our platforms:

• UniShip – Integrated logistics management system
• UniReco – Automated payment reconciliation system

Related read –

• What is Warehouse Management System?
• Top Inventory Management Challenges
• Top Order management system challenges
• FMCG Industry challenges in India
• Apparel Industryin India: Trends, Challenges, Opportunities & Solutions
• Footwear Industry in India: Trends, Challenges & Solutions
• Logistics vs Supply Chain Management
• E-commerce Apparel Industry: Trends, Challenges, Opportunities & Solutions

The post How Robust Marketplace Integration Transforms E-commerce Order Management appeared first on unicommerce.com.

Overview: Global Multichannel Order Management Market

The estimated valuation of the global multichannel order management market in 2022 stood at around USD 2.95 billion, and it is poised for a substantial growth trajectory with a projected compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.6% from 2023 through 2030. 

The growing popularity of online shopping, coupled with the continuous expansion of the retail landscape, serves as the driving force behind this market’s upward trajectory. Notably, Forbes predicts that online transactions are on track to comprise approximately 20.8% of all retail transactions in 2023, marking a substantial surge in e-commerce revenues. 

Furthermore, as an increasing number of businesses embrace multichannel selling strategies to engage customers across diverse platforms, the demand has surged for efficient order management solutions capable of handling orders from multiple channels.

In simpler words, online businesses like yours need to use the best Online Order Management System! However, it all depends on prevailing order management trends in 2023. Over the last two years, companies have been affected by COVID-19 imposed restrictions. This has also affected online businesses’ activities worldwide. These effects are expected to continue in 2023. Hence, it is crucial to know and understand Order Management System Trends that affect the Order Management System (OMS) market.

What Factors will Fuel the Growth of the Order Management System (OMS) Market?

• Order management plays a pivotal role in shaping the customer experience, despite its placement on the backend of the modern commerce ecosystem. Today’s consumers demand swift access to real-time data, such as inventory availability, as they navigate the path to purchase.

• Presently, the retail and wholesale sectors account for a significant 70% of total spending on OMS solutions. This can be attributed to the rapid expansion of e-commerce on a global scale, spanning regions like the United States, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Latin America. This expansive growth is fueling the demand for OMS solutions within the retail and wholesale industries.

• Furthermore, the manufacturing industry is witnessing a growing appetite for OMS solutions, as more brands delve into direct-to-consumer channels. This strategic shift aims to maximize the value derived from direct customer engagement through owned brand touchpoints.

• The adoption of Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) delivery models for OMS systems is democratizing their accessibility, affordability, and ease of implementation for digital businesses. This approach empowers digital enterprises to concentrate on their core competencies, alleviating the need for extensive customization and enabling them to keep pace with the ever-accelerating demands of the modern customer landscape.

Top E-commerce Order Management System (OMS) Trends for E-commerce Businesses

1. Speedy distribution and e-commerce order fulfillment

While keeping tabs on delivery costs is essential for e-commerce businesses, the speed by which a product goes from ordered to delivered is critical. E-commerce businesses can use multichannel order management system to expedite order fulfillment on orders received from any sales channel. In 2023 an increased number of consumers are expected to opt for next-day delivery while shopping online. The order management software needs to secure the opportunity to fix the chances of repeat business in the future. Besides this, e-commerce businesses need to ensure that customers are not waiting longer than expected after placing the order. 

So online businesses need to ensure speedy order processing and distribution. The longer it takes to process and distribute an order, the longer it will take to reach its destination. This may result in a grievance by customers, resulting in potential loss of business. Accordingly, online companies need to streamline order management software’s order picking and packing process. It will both let them quickly check stocks across all warehouses and identify fulfillment centers closest to the customer. It all depends on how fast online order management software sends order information to a particular order fulfillment center to ensure the order is picked, packaged, and shipped to the buyer. Online businesses can hope this will satisfy a customer and give a repeat order. 

2. Multichannel customer support

In the post-COVID-19 recovery scenario in 2023, online businesses will continue to increase their interaction with customers across multiple sales channels through forms on their website, live chat, social media, and more. It empowers the sales team to provide better customer support using multichannel e-commerce management systems for online businesses. Be it online or offline. The support will have a consistent and positive impact on customers. Increased customer engagement will enable businesses to create a situation where customers, through their positive feedback, will help in the growth of the e-commerce business, and this trend is expected to continue till 2025.

3. Real-time data collection

Through real-time order tracking, sales team strategists of companies can view and collect all the data related to sales. They can track sales figures generated from every retail channel and stay updated about the rise or slump in sales. The Order Management System of e-commerce businesses must have the robustness to handle slumps or spikes in demand. Businesses can figure out the progress throughout an order’s lifecycle by collecting real-time data. In 2023 it is critical for e-commerce businesses that should there be a delay, OMS must display where the problem lies in real-time, giving online businesses time to figure out how to remedy it.

4. Changes in post-purchase expectations

Since the pandemic started and new variants emerged, the latest being Omicron, many more digital tools have been added to online businesses’ systems. A multichannel e-commerce management system is the way forward for businesses, as customers are still scared to step into brick-and-mortar stores. This trend will continue in 2022, as shops use various channels to reach out to customers. Online order management software in 2023 will evolve to blend and manage in-store and online sales by prioritizing seamless shopping experiences to build brand loyalty. 

Read How Businesses growing with Unicommerce – How a leading Consumer Electronics Brand Dispatched 170K+ orders per Month Seamlessly for its D2C Operations

5. Integrating with new marketplaces

Online brands/stores need to understand that online customers are mostly fickle-minded and rarely stick to one platform or marketplace. As online businesses transcend geographical boundaries, it is difficult to know and understand consumer behavior. In 2024, online stores are increasingly using e-commerce order management systems equipped with Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) to correctly predict customers’ shopping habits. 

Based on knowledge gained, e-commerce businesses can venture into newer marketplaces and make them compatible with various platforms, offering products according to customers’ shopping habits. A robust order management system (OMS) can manage vast data generated from multiple platforms, enabling online businesses to do upselling and cross-selling across various online marketplaces.

6. Automating operational processes

Online businesses can better control their inventory flow across all sales channels by automating their order management and inventory data collection process. Automating the e-commerce order management system, online companies can better manage and track their orders when it first comes in, right through to picking, packing, and finally to shipment. It will allow them to manage orders in their warehouse locations and stores and across other third-party logistics (3PL) service providers. The use of online order management software in 2023 is set to increase manifold. 

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

Using automated order management software, online businesses can collect and send relevant information to concerned departments and partners to ensure the order is executed quickly and out-of-stock situations are prevented. Order management system trends indicate that automation will be increasingly used to handle order returns in 2023. As distributors are updated in real-time, automating will help them smoothly manage peak season order processing and avoid disruptions like product out-of-stock due to the sheer volume of orders. Automating processes will help them track orders being placed across various channels and platforms that draw the most sales and smoothly control order flow and its completion.

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

Related Read:

• UniShip – Advanced Logistics Tracking Platform
• UniReco – Automated Reconciliation of Orders, Returns and Payments
• Key Challenges & Benefits of Marketplace Payment Reconciliation
• Benefits of Shipping Notifications
• Why is an Order Management System Important for Your E-commerce Business?
• Top Challenges of Order Management Systems in E-commerce
• Top Key Benefits of an E-commerce Order Management System
• 9 Best Inventory Management Techniques To Scale Your Business
• What is Inventory Management System?
• What is Warehouse Management System?
• Why Should You Deploy A Warehouse Management System
• The Challenges of Multichannel Inventory Management and How Can D2C Brands Overcome Them

The post Top Multichannel Order Management System Trends For E-commerce Businesses appeared first on unicommerce.com.

The e-commerce industry in the Philippines is no exception, as its rapid growth demands efficient and effective inventory management solutions. While business owners in the Philippines are well aware of the benefits of automation, budget constraints can sometimes hold them back from making the switch. However, failing to address these inventory management challenges can limit a company’s ability to stay competitive in a rapidly growing industry

So, let’s unveil some of the most common inventory management challenges faced by companies in the e-commerce industry in the Philippines and solutions to overcome them.

Top Inventory Management Challenges in the Philippines

• Inconsistent Tracking
• Inefficient Warehouse Management
• Data Inaccuracy
• Limited Inventory Process Visibility
• Manual Documentation
• Overstocking and Understocking Issues
• Insufficient Order Management
• Expanding Product Portfolios
• Inventory Loss

Though every company can have its set of holdbacks, here are a few challenges that might be the common ones among all:

Challenge #1: Inconsistent Tracking

When you have tons of inventory to manage, it’s quite natural that the tracking can become tough, and there’s a huge room for errors in tracking products in the warehouse. Talking about the holdbacks, there are high chances of late and wrong product deliveries due to inconsistent inventory tracking, which can be responsible for depleting the brand value and gaining low ratings on social media as well, ultimately resulting in tarnished brand value. 

Challenge #2: Inefficient Warehouse Management

As said earlier, inventory management isn’t ever a piece of cake; thus, managing warehouses to accommodate new stocks can be a cumbersome process. In case you’re operating on a manual process, there can be a few steps, including scratching a plan, allocating spaces, and then heading to management. The process will take generous time and resources, which can increase your budget. Without an automated inventory system, it’s nearly impossible to have efficient warehouse management.

Challenge #3: Data Inaccuracy

Managing large amounts of data associated with a vast inventory can be extremely challenging without automation. Manual data management becomes even more complex and prone to errors. Having a system to back up your process and incorporating the right tracking to have the data in sync can be done only through an e-commerce solution. This can later avoid data inaccuracy and keeps stuff ready to use for further purposes.

Challenge #4: Limited Inventory Process Visibility

Customers have come to expect transparency and accuracy in their e-commerce experiences, including real-time tracking information. Inadequate inventory tracking can result in delayed deliveries, which can lead to customer frustration and a switch to competitor products. Inaccurate inventory management can severely impact customer satisfaction and loyalty. 

Challenge #5: Manual Documentation

Manual inventory management can be a difficult task, especially when it comes to tracking inventory, managing reports, processing purchase orders, and handling invoices. Inaccurate documentation can result in incorrect order allocation, causing missed or delayed deliveries that can have a significant impact on operations and customer satisfaction. 

Challenge #6: Overstocking and Understocking Issues

Overstocking and understocking are two significant issues that businesses face when managing their inventory. In a general supply chain process, new stocks are ordered once the old/existing ones go bleak or maybe about to finish. In the case of inefficient inventory management, there are huge changes in overstocking or understocking materials, which can cut your profit margins, while manual management can lead to inaccurate records, missing items, and higher budget allocation for re-ordering.

Challenge #7: Insufficient Order Management

With tons of orders pouring in, you must have a strong order management system to help you fight the insufficiency of products. For instance, if the customer has ordered five pieces of a particular order and post-purchase you find lesser pieces available, ordering more will take time, and thus your order delivery duration will extend, leading to insufficient order management. Additionally, incorrect SKU mapping can also cause problems with order management. An incorrect SKU mapped to a product can result in inaccurate inventory tracking and fulfillment errors, leading to delays and, ultimately, unsatisfied customers.

Challenge #8: Expanding Product Portfolios

Expanding a product line or setting up a new warehouse requires strong and effective management of inventory stocks. Having it done manually can surely lead to mismanagement; why so? This is because the inventory managers are required to have order tracking, maintain shipping details, and have an eye on the currently available stocks to allocate the same for rising customer demands. Having an automated system can be the right way to expand product portfolios.

Challenge #9: Inventory Loss

Wastage in inventory is often overlooked until it shows up as losses on the balance sheet. Poor inventory management can result in damage or defects during the product life cycle. Inefficient tracking can lead to missing inventory, causing further losses if not noticed. These inefficiencies can significantly impact the bottom line.

Read how brands like Ellana and Edamama solved their inventory management challenges in the Philippines.

As a business owner, you require robust software to manage complex logistics and seamlessly integrate with your existing business processes. However, choosing the right inventory management solution from the hundreds available can be challenging, particularly with the need to master a range of features that require training and ongoing support.

But what should be kept in mind while finding the right solutions to overcome the above-listed challenges? Here’s what you need to know!

Choosing the Right Inventory Management Solutions in the Philippines

• Integrations
• Multi-location Sync
• Extensive Dashboard for Reporting
• Product Barcoding
• Product Bundling

A comprehensive inventory management system is crucial for any business. The right solution can provide valuable insights into your stock, enabling effective management and identification of any potential obstacles to success. This can help ensure timely deliveries and maintain customer satisfaction.

When choosing an inventory management solution, it’s important to consider the following essential features:

Integrations

Having an inventory management system in place is not enough for a successful business. It’s important to ensure that all necessary integrations are in place, including an ERP solution, a comprehensive point-of-sale system, accounting software, and strong logistics.

This should also include integration with leading marketplaces, websites, and carts such as Lazada, Shopee, Shopify, and Magento, and with logistics providers such as J&T and Ninjavan, and with ERP systems like SAP, Infor, and Microsoft.

Multi-location Sync

Having your presence on a single channel isn’t enough to grab the eyeballs; make sure you have omnichannel visibility with a marketplace sync. This includes a strong presence on both digital and offline channels.

An inventory management system can facilitate efficient omnichannel operations, such as centralizing inventory across online and offline channels, optimizing inventory allocation for a higher return on investment, and improving inventory turnover while reducing working capital. The system can also allow for effective order routing based on inventory availability.

Extensive Dashboard for Reporting

An all-encompassing report dashboard is crucial for monitoring and analyzing business performance, including metrics such as growth, profitability, loss, holdbacks, customer feedback, data usage, and more. These dashboards also provide real-time data synchronization and inventory updates on marketplaces.

Not only do these updates help you avoid loss of sales and delays in delivery, but they also lead to improved customer satisfaction. Ensure that you have access to a comprehensive dashboard that presents all of this information in a single, easily-readable view.

Product Barcoding

Barcoding software is an essential tool for reducing data entry errors, automating internal processes, and ensuring accuracy and efficiency in inventory management. The use of barcode software often integrates with digital documentation and reporting features, allowing for a more streamlined and efficient workflow.

Integrating a mobile barcoding device can significantly enhance inventory accuracy and speed up back-end processes, reducing manual labor and shifting towards a more paperless documentation process.

Explore our platforms:

• Integrated logistics management system
• Automated payment reconciliation system

Recommended read:

• Inventory Management challenges & solutions
• What is Warehouse Management System
• Logistics Vs Supply Chain Management
• What is Order Management

The post Maximizing Efficiency in Manual Inventory Management in Philippines: Challenges and Their Solutions appeared first on unicommerce.com.

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Tracking the status of orders received via marketplaces and (D2C) websites is crucial for any business. The inability to easily track order status can lead to confusion, delays, and unhappy customers. Don’t let this happen to your e-commerce business.

In this guide, we’ll dive deep into the world of order management and processing and provide you with a step-by-step guide that covers everything from tracking orders to handling returns. So let’s get started!

E-commerce Order Management: A Brief Overview

Order management refers to the process of tracking, managing, and fulfilling customer orders, from the time they are placed until they are delivered. This includes tracking inventory, processing payments, shipping, tracking orders, handling returns and refunds, and providing customer service.

A robust e-commerce order management system (OMS) is essential for any e-commerce business. It ensures that orders are processed efficiently, inventory levels are accurately maintained, and customers are kept informed about every step of their order journey. By streamlining order processing, e-commerce businesses can improve customer satisfaction, reduce costs and improve overall efficiency, leading to a better bottom line.

Order Management Process Flow: Key Steps

• Step 1: Order Received on Marketplace or D2C Website
• Step 2: Order Details Received via APIs Sent to WMS
• Step 3: Creating the Picklist
• Step 4: Order Picking and Packing
• Step 5: Shipping the Order
• Step 6: The Post-Sales Follow-Up Process

The order management process starts with receiving an order and ends with ensuring the customer is happy with their purchase. Here are the key steps in this process:

Step 1: Order Received on Marketplace or D2C Website

The “Order Received” step marks the start of the order management process when a customer places an order on a marketplace or D2C website. At this point, it’s important to verify that all the necessary information is captured correctly, like customer details, item details, quantity, etc., and that the payment mode should be confirmed. This helps ensure that the order can be efficiently and effectively processed at the warehouse.

Read: How Honasa Consumer, the parent company of Mamaearth, attained a 99.99%+ Order Fulfillment rate for its D2C operations?

Step 2: Order Details Received via APIs Sent to WMS

Using APIs in order management helps businesses automate processes, improve accuracy, and streamline operations. For example, when an order is placed on a D2C website, the order details, such as customer information, item details, and shipping details, are sent via API to the warehouse.

This allows for real-time updates on inventory and order status and enables warehouse staff to quickly and efficiently pick, pack and ship the order.

Step 3: Creating the Picklist

Now that the order details are received, they can be passed on to warehouse staff through an automated process known as a picklist. This step typically takes place in the warehouse after an order has been received and the inventory has been updated in the warehouse management system (WMS).

The picklist is a document that includes all the information required to pick, pack and ship the order, such as product codes, quantities, and the precise location of the products in the warehouse, such as shelf details and batch numbers. Once this picklist is created, warehouse staff can use it to go to the relevant locations and physically pick the items required to fulfill the order.

Step 4: Order Picking and Packing

It’s time for warehouse staff to physically locate the items on the picklist and retrieve them from their storage location. Using a handheld scanner or a mobile device to scan each item’s barcode to ensure that the right products are picked and to update the WMS system.

Once the items have been picked, they are moved to the packing area, where they are inspected, packaged, and labeled for shipping. This process involves wrapping and packing the items securely in a box or a shipping envelope, adding any necessary padding or packaging materials, and attaching any required shipping labels or documentation.

Step 5: Shipping the Order

The order is picked and packed; it’s time to ship the order. There are typically three primary stages to the order shipment process:

• Stage 1: Order to Be Picked By Delivery Agent
• Stage 2: Order Picked and On the Way
• Stage 3: Order Delivered

Order to Be Picked By Delivery Agent: In this stage, the order is prepared for shipment, and the delivery agent is notified to pick up the package from the warehouse or fulfillment center.

Order Picked and On the Way: Now, the order has been picked up by the delivery agent and is on its way to the customer. The delivery agent tracks and monitors the order, and updates are sent to the OMS and the customer.

Order Delivered: The last phase of order fulfillment is the actual delivery of the package to the customer and updating the OMS with delivery details.

Read: How XYXX, One of the Leading Men’s Innerwear D2C brand Streamlined its Inventory and Order Management across 17+ marketplaces?

Step 6: The Post-Sales Follow-Up Process

The post-sales process is the final step in order management and is crucial in building and maintaining customer loyalty. This typically includes thanking the customer for their order and ensuring they are satisfied with the product.

In case of a return, several steps are taken to ensure the return process goes smoothly:

• Step 1: Return Initiated
• Step 2: Return Picked
• Step3: Return Received
• Step4: Return Processed

Return Initiated: The customer initiates the return process by contacting the customer service team, either through the marketplace or D2C website or by phone, to request a return. The customer has to provide the order number and a reason for the return.

Return Picked: Once the customer service team authorizes the return, a return pick-up is scheduled, and a delivery agent is dispatched to collect the returned item from the customer.

Return Received: When the order is picked up, it is received and inspected by the warehouse to ensure that it is in the same condition as when it was shipped. The return information is also updated in the warehouse management system (WMS).

Return Processed: After the item is received and checked, it is processed, and a refund, replacement, or credit note is issued to the customer based on the return policy and the condition of the item.
By having a well-defined and efficient post-sales follow-up process in place for returns, e-commerce businesses can ensure that customers can easily initiate and process returns.

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

Wrapping Up!

Optimizing order management process flow is important for every e-commerce business. Only a fully integrated OMS can automate processes and provide real-time updates on inventory and order status.

When choosing your order management system, it’s essential to check if it provides ready integrations with your shipping providers and marketplaces, as this will help you focus on growing your business rather than worrying about order processing and fulfillment.

Choose wisely and use technology to keep your e-commerce business moving forward!

Explore our platforms:

1. Integrated logistics management system
2. Automated payment reconciliation system

Related read:

• Top 6 Multichannel Order Management System Trends
• How to Pick the Best Order Management System (OMS) for Your E-commerce Business?
• Why is an Order Management System Important For Your E-commerce Business?
• Top 10 Key Benefits of an E-commerce Order Management System
• Top 7 Challenges of Order Management System in E-commerce

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Brick & Mortar retail gives customers the touch and feel of products & brands while E-commerce offers them the flexibility of choice &  greater convenience. With each of them having their own set of benefits still fails to enhance the customer experience. Physical retail doesn’t offer choice to select a particular product from a variety of range while digital retail takes the customers through the hassles of after shopping effects like returns, size mismatches, and wrong product deliveries.

So, in this era of hyper-connected consumers, a retail mechanism needs to be enhanced to a level which delivers greater customer experience, seamless and an unmatchable shopping experience across all the platforms where the customer is or may be available.

Source: Ipsos OTX/Google 2012 Holiday Shopping Intentions Survey, 1500 respondents

“I want us to stop talking about digital and physical retail as if they’re two separate things. The customer doesn’t think of it that way, and we can’t either”– Doug McMillon, CEO Walmart. 

The above quote from Doug McMillon clearly indicates the requirement for the merger of Physical and Digital Retail which is nothing but what Omnichannel commerce is all about. In present market scenario, this merger will be benefitting for consumers, to feel like King by completely sorted and smooth shopping experience and at the same time for both online and offline retailers to increase their demand and presence in the market.

With the drift of product driven market to a consumer-driven market, retailers are now focusing on getting their business operations more advanced to be in line with the current market changes. Managing offline orders at physical stores would no longer be just a point of sale and processing multichannel online orders would no longer be just sale with deep discounts after the implementation of the Omnichannel mechanism. Reforming traditional business mechanism to Omnichannel mechanism comes with its own set of challenges for the retailers.

For retailers, along with revenue growth and ROI, factors like increased customer satisfaction, net promoter scores, loyalty, and brand insight are required to attract new prospects and maintain a large customer base. Selecting right processes and technology are essential for enabling complete Omnichannel experience.

In case of Omnichannel solutions, technology majorly needs to provide following features:

In order to experience complete benefits of Omnichannel, retailers must consider their capabilities and the challenges to seamlessly integrate systems such as CRM, POS, Order management software (OMS), Warehouse Management (WMS), stores and E-commerce platforms.

And the solution to all such challenges…

E-commerce supply chain management solutions provided by Unicommerce are focused on changing the face of retail in present market scenario.

Unicommerce is a SaaS-based product which exhibits its Order and Warehouse Management solutions to automate client’s supply chain operations for online and offline businesses (Both B2B and B2C). Unicommerce comes pre-integrated with 40+ online Marketplaces and 30+ Logistic partners, with support for offline channels as well to manage the needs of Wholesalers, Distributors, Retail Chains, Individual Store owners and E-commerce sellers to increase revenue and save operations cost.

Unicommerce’s Omnichannel feature ensures the same level of customer experience irrespective of where the customer decides to purchase from (online marketplace or offline store). It enables central management of orders and inventory of online & offline stores. It also helps e-tailers in the routing of an online order to nearest store, thus providing a uniform experience to the customers and also lead to minimize logistics cost.

A detailed description of Key Modules of Unicommerce’s Omnichannel feature:

1. Dynamic Order Allocation

Robust dynamic allocation for online orders to ensure that the online orders get routed to nearest offline store to minimize logistic cost. The order routing is flexible, and can be done based on the pincode, city location, state location etc. We provide a scalable solution to manage 1000+ stores.

2. Online/Offline Stores Integration

Unicommerce Omnichannel solution provides a seamless integration of online and offline stores including websites & pre integrated 40+ marketplaces. Integrating Multichannel, websites and offline stores to Uniware will help e-tailers to centrally manage the E-commerce and offline business, thus providing uniform customer experience which is the key to success in Omni channel retailing.

3. Centralized Order Management

Unicommerce Omnichannel solution comes with pre-integrated world’s leading marketplaces and cart integration solutions, Amazon, Flipkart, Snapdeal, Magento, Shopify, etc., so along with managing your Offline store orders, dispatch your online orders faster by printing invoices, labels and manifests in a few clicks.

4. Centralized Inventory Management

Unicommerce inventory management software lets you centralize the inventory for both online and offline businesses and auto sync the inventory across 40+ Marketplaces. It lets you automate the inventory, define criteria and set priorities so that you never oversell. Using Unicommerce’s omnichannel solution ensures entire offline inventory gets online helping better inventory turnover, and reducing the cost of working capital, in addition to increasing sales

5. Logistics Integration

Purchasing Shipments is the backbone of E-commerce/retail industry. We understand this and that’s why Unicommerce comes pre-integrated with 30+ Logistics partners and self-managed logistics which helps you deal with any Geographical Restrictions and pushes you to sell anywhere.

6. ERP Integration

Unicommerce allows you to seamlessly integrate information of your online business (orders, inventory etc.) across 40+ marketplaces with any ERP Integration (SAP, Oracle, Navision etc.) to centralize your website, marketplaces and offline inventory.

Selecting right processes and technology is essential for enabling complete Omnichannel experience. As it will help to digitize the retail stores and connect them to the world of E-commerce.

Unicommerce’s Warehouse & Omnichannel solutions are already being used by 5000+ brands like,

& many more… who are fruitfully experiencing the enlisted benefits:

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