Many ecommerce stores use multiple platforms to sell products. Amazon, Etsy, Wayfair, eBay, and Walmart are a few platforms that connect sellers with millions of customers. And that’s aside from any standalone site an ecommerce retailer may run using platforms like Shopify or Wix.
With so many channels to sell through, it’s no wonder that many ecommerce brands struggle to keep operations in line. Order management, inventory tracking, and shipping can quickly grow unwieldy without a streamlined order fulfillment software platform.
Order fulfillment software addresses the needs of ecommerce retailers. It offers the ability to track orders across platforms, monitor inventory counts, and optimize shipping. Let’s explore how retailers can simplify their multi-channel operations.
- Why multi-channel retail is so complex
- How order fulfillment software streamlines operations for multi-channel retailers
- Essential order fulfillment software features
- A solution for growing multi-channel retailers
- Benefits of implementing order fulfillment software
- Take control of inventory management across sales channels
- FAQs on order fulfillment software
Why multi-channel retail is so complex
What is multi-channel retail? Essentially, it involves selling products across multiple channels, including physical stores, branded websites, social media, and big-name ecommerce platforms such as Amazon and Walmart. Companies engage in multi-channel retail because it helps them reach a much larger audience than a single storefront can offer.
However, selling through so many different channels may strain operational resources. Some key challenges retailers face include:
- Inventory tracking: Multi-channel retailers have inventory in multiple places. Poor inventory management may lead to overstocks with some channels and stockouts on others.
- Order errors: Manually tracking orders from different sources can result in mistakes that impact the customer experience.
- Shipment delays: Retailers may see a decline in customer satisfaction caused by shipping delays and a lack of real-time insights.
Order fulfillment software eliminates the complexities of multi-channel retail fulfillment and provides an edge in the hyper-competitive ecommerce market.
How order fulfillment software streamlines operations for multi-channel retailers
Managing fulfillment operations across multiple platforms is a logistics nightmare without the right software solution. Let’s take an example.
Say you’re a retailer of bath and body products. You have a physical storefront in New York City and a branded website hosted through Shopify. Customers can also buy your products through Wayfair and Amazon, and they ship from seven different fulfillment centers strategically located throughout the US.
Here’s the problem: without single-point software to manage inventory, orders, and shipping, your supply chain points don’t “talk” to one another. Your team handles all the communications — logging into various platforms to check inventory counts, transferring orders from one fulfillment center to another, and so on. That’s a tremendous time drain, and it poses a risk of costly mistakes that harm your brand’s reputation.
A multi-channel order management system removes the communication barriers. It eliminates tedious manual processes in favor of a lean, mean operational strategy. No matter how many retail channels you sell on, order fulfillment software keeps things organized. It centralizes all your order data in one place, so there’s no need to manually transfer it between channels.
Another key benefit of order fulfillment software is real-time inventory updates. Tracking product inventory across fulfillment centers and physical stores is a headache for multi-channel retailers using manual processes. With the right software, you can set up automatic alerts that notify you when inventory levels reach a specific level. That gives you time to order replenishments and avoid stockouts.
Essential order fulfillment software features
Best-in-class order fulfillment software includes several key features to streamline a retailer’s order, inventory, and shipment processes.
Multi-channel integration
Many retailers have multiple storefronts, from physical stores to placement on big-box ecommerce platforms. Look for a software solution that integrates with every channel, including Shopify, Amazon, Walmart, Etsy, WooCommerce, and others. Integrations make unifying all your operations in one place possible.
Automated order routing
One common struggle among multi-channel retailers is optimizing order fulfillment. When an order comes in, it’s up to staff to select the optimal fulfillment provider and shipping route. Not surprisingly, that can result in delays, excess shipment times, and costs.
With order fulfillment software, it’s possible to put order routing on autopilot. The software automatically selects a preferred warehouse and shipping partner. It factors in available inventory, outstanding orders, shipment costs, and delivery times before selecting an optimal route.
Inventory visibility
Retailers may sell hundreds or even thousands of different products. And in a multi-channel environment, those products may be scattered across physical stores and several warehouses. Add in a stream of continuous orders flowing from several online platforms, and tracking inventory becomes a convoluted process.
Warehouse management software for retailers eliminates cumbersome processes and gives you real-time insights into every product’s available inventory. You can view products by location and item type without relying on a warehouse’s manual cycle checks.
Returns processing
Sometimes, customers order a product and later decide to return it. If your returns process takes too long, it may hold up a customer’s refund. It can also delay restocking. You can alleviate common returns processing delays with order fulfillment software. Look for a solution with rock-solid returns management that automates return routing to a preferred facility and integrates with payment processors.
Performance analytics
AI and data analytics are shaping the future of inventory management. Behind every booming retail business are metrics that tell its story. Order fulfillment software combines all operations metrics in one place. Expect dashboards that include key performance indicators (KPIs) such as order cycle time, picking accuracy, on-time shipping, and inventory turnover.
Scalability
Order fulfillment software makes it incredibly easy to scale. You can quickly add new SKUs, ramp up for seasonal fluctuations, and introduce new sales channels. Solutions like Logiwa IO offer AI-powered rules to optimize all these features. It’s designed for fast and accurate fulfillment that multi-channel retailers depend on.
A solution for growing multi-channel retailers
Logiwa’s cloud-native warehouse management system (WMS) is purpose-built to support high-volume fulfillment. It seamlessly connects with popular ecommerce platforms such as WooCommerce and Shopify. It also supports integration across warehouses and logistics providers so retailers can manage orders, track inventory, and monitor shipping in one place.
Logiwa WMS features an Open API to integrate with business intelligence systems, enterprise resource planning (ERP) tools, vendors, and more. Its AI-powered automation optimizes the pick-pack-ship processes so customers receive accurate and fast orders.
Benefits of implementing order fulfillment software
Order fulfillment software is a must-have for any multi-channel retailer. Here’s what you can look forward to with the right software solution:
- Shortened order cycles: Automated order routing eliminates manual data transfers between multiple channels. Customers benefit from a faster order turnaround and delivery.
- Fewer errors: Fulfillment centers receive orders directly through the software without any manual intervention required. The result is fewer inventory mismatches and picking mistakes.
- Improved customer satisfaction: A customer’s order isn’t just about the product — it’s about the entire experience. By providing accurate and timely order delivery, retailers fulfill expectations and see higher customer retention rates.
- Enhanced operational agility: Order fulfillment software lets retailers launch new sales channels without a hitch. That makes scaling the business effortless.
- Accurate data-driven insights: With order fulfillment software, retailers gain access to critical metrics to guide future fulfillment and inventory strategies.
Take control of inventory management across sales channels
Multi-channel retailers all face similar operational challenges. Inventory tracking, order management, and shipping delays are a few examples. Automated order fulfillment solutions turn these complexities into a competitive advantage.
To learn more about Logiwa IO, book a demo with our team or explore our resources.
