An efficient supply chain for your ecommerce business can mean the difference between continuous development and collapse.
It’s critical to the life of your company to stay on top of streamlining logistics as you continue to develop better methods to meet consumer demands.
However, just recognizing this isn’t enough. It must be implemented into your business model, becoming second nature to constantly evolve and survive in this ever-growing industry.
This method can be challenging to manage alone, which is why it’s best to partner with an experienced third-party logistics provider or 3PL, to outsource this responsibility.
Whether you’re already an established brand or just beginning your ecommerce business, it’s good to know your options when considering supply chain efficiency.
This blog will review strategies to accomplish this task, allowing you as a business owner to learn best practices along the way. But first, let’s review what supply chain efficiency is.
WHAT IS SUPPLY CHAIN EFFICIENCY?
Supply chain efficiency is the logistical performance of a business as it relates to its ability to use expertise and software to reduce operational costs and increase a company’s bottom line. Essentially it’s used to meet consumer demands by maximizing operational standards.
Efficient supply chain strategies improve every stage of the process, including order management and fulfillment, warehousing, shipping and delivery, while relying on tracking technology for ideal results. Entrusting this aspect of your business with a savvy partner that combines resources and expertise can transform your supply chain, making you a competitor in your industry.
Below are a few steps to get you started on your journey to ecommerce supply chain efficiency.
Continuous improvement
Implementing supply chain strategies for efficiency is not a one-time fix. As a business owner, you’ve got to optimize it frequently to sustain effective performance. As part of this practice, you will be adapting regularly to changes in the marketplace and continuously identifying areas where further efficiency can be implemented to ensure top-notch management is achieved.
Supply chain efficiency is perhaps the best investment you can make when it comes to improving your business and offering the best customer experience.
The most efficient way to expand supply chain visibility is to incorporate strategies surrounding the management of product inventory. Doing this enables your team to track merchandise levels through the process, from receiving to warehousing and ultimately delivery to customers.
Develop solid supplier relationships
Supplier communication is critical when it comes to efficient supply chain management because it allows you to plan accordingly, avoiding any product delays or shortages ahead of time. Doing this ensures the quality and timeliness of products sold so you can focus on selling.
Remember, you’re looking for suppliers that have your end goal in mind-customer satisfaction. Find ones that are accountable and flexible to your needs with open and honest conversation.
Educate your team
Once you’ve implemented supply chain efficiency strategies, it’s important to educate your team on the changes. Afterall, it will only be as effective as those you’ve entrusted to manage operations, so be sure employees are trained accordingly on the new standard operating procedures. With everyone on the same page, you’ve got accuracy, consistency and efficiency on your side.
Supply chain automation
Before choosing a 3PL partner, ensure they have the capability to do this for your business ecommerce automation through pre-built integrations to ensure you spend time on selling products, not filling out paperwork or dealing with complicated configurations.
Automation also creates efficiency by reducing human error and moving things along faster, making you more money over time. This is especially important for time-consuming tasks such as order processing and the picking, packing and shipping process, increasing productivity.
Specifically, warehouse automation reduced the amount of time and effort associated with supply chain logistics by employing the use of software.
Supply chain software
The importance of supply chain software is to use it in a way that enables your team to be as efficient as possible so you can invest more in things that sell your product, such as ads and marketing as well as product development.
Consider partnering with a 3PL that already has the technology necessary to optimize supply chain efficiency, such as OMS and WMS cloud software that can provide real-time analytics and data reporting and other order management tools.
Having access to this data allows you to make well-intentioned choices when it comes to business improvement and benefits your supply chain at the highest level. In addition, the use of a warehouse management system enables you to appropriately and effectively handle inventory storage and track it in real time, which increases productivity in order fulfillment.
Supply chain efficiency with Fulex
Fulex offers the order fulfillment logistics your business needs for continuous improvement. As an experienced 3PL that works with small to medium-sized businesses to maximize profits and alleviate the stress associated with ecommerce logistics, we optimize the supply chain.
Fulex is a proven leader in the fulfillment industry and has the expertise to create a model that improves business efficiency by saving clients time and money using its streamlined processes so you can focus on growing your business.
To request a fulfillment quote from Fulex, click here.