Accelerating Your eCommerce Business with Automated Processing
When you really think about it, the beauty of the ecommerce business is that everyone gets what they want more quickly. From the employer, to the worker and the buyer, each sees a benefit to automated processing.
Automation is a time saver, financial savior and customer satisfaction generator. Ultimately, it optimizes the supply chain.
Don’t get caught with your head in the sand. Ecommerce is a fast-moving, competitive industry that’s constantly changing. In order to stay ahead of the curve within this saturated market you must embrace automation.
Automation plays an effective and fundamental role in order processing. It speeds up delivery times, greatly reduces the potential for human error, and from picking to packing makes the entire order management process more efficient.
Amidst an unprecedented surge in online retail demand created by the coronavirus pandemic, these factors and others are defining the success of virtual marketplace performance.
So why wouldn’t you use automated processing to help accelerate your ecommerce business and increase your bottom line?
Below we outline what automated processing is, the benefits and how it works.
WHAT IS AUTOMATED ORDER PROCESSING?
A software system put in place in order to speed up business operations by eliminating manual work is the purpose of automated order processing.
This technology allows for the reduction of human error by eliminating the need for manual input, improves operational efficiencies and ultimately improves the fulfillment and shipping process.
As business demands increase, data entry and processing become harder to manage and time consuming.
An automated order processing system that integrates with an online store or through multiple sales channels to routinely process and verify online orders as they’re placed. Since it’s updated in real-time, customers are notified via text or email that the order is being processed. Thus, the order fulfillment process begins!
AUTOMATED ORDER PROCESSING SOFTWARE BENEFITS
Automatically captures order/consumer data
After receiving and verifying an order, the automated order processing system enters the customer into a business’ order processing system. The personal information is stored in the computer history for future purchases. This seemingly trivial data can later be used for demand forecasting for business decisions.
Details such as order history, frequented delivery locations, contact information is collected, which can help businesses improve the customer experience as well.
Decreased overhead
Having an automated order processing system that’s fully integrated can help you save on overhead. The cost of fulfillment can be pricey but choosing automation decreases the need for manual labor during the order process.
Error reduction
To err is human and it’s more often the case when a person is in charge of manually inputting data. The inaccuracies caused by unintended mistakes can cost a business unnecessary money upfront and cause issues later in the order management process. Automated processing software improves order accuracy by eliminating the need for a person in the first place.
Faster shipping times and streamlined order tracking
Who doesn’t want their order processed faster? Just ask the consumer. Automation can include tasks such as order verification, printing and shipping label creation. The bigger your ecommerce business, the more efficient automation will be.
In addition, all orders can be tracked from one place, which makes it all the more easier to track inventory, check order status and updates, all in one place.
Increased customer satisfaction
In the spirit of instant gratification, automated processing allows businesses to notify their customers immediately when their order is being processed. The system also gives the option updates on when an order is received, being prepared and is on its way! Providing consumers with the status of their order keeps them in the loop along their buyer’s journey at each stage, from processing to shipping.
Remote order processing
You don’t need to be at the office. You don’t even need to be home. All you need is a mobile device with access to WiFi. With automation, an order can be processed from anywhere in the world and tracked in real-time within the system. No matter where a customer is when they place an order it’s automatically verified and processed. In addition, any related order data is automatically sent to an inventory storage location such as the fulfillment center location closest to the order’s destination.
3PLs AND AUTOMATED ORDER PROCESSING
While automated order processing is typically used by larger ecommerce businesses, a third-party logistics (3PL) provider like Fulex Contact Us can help with automation. Our pre-built integrations ensure you spend your time on selling your products, not filling out paperwork or messing with configurations.
Once orders are placed with online merchants they’re automatically sent to one of our fulfillment center locations, where inventory is stored. Then our fulfillment experts pick, pack, and ship orders, with tracking information shared with your customers.
Simply put, using automated order processing for your ecommerce business reduces overhead, speeds up the fulfillment and shipping process, increases customer satisfaction, and creates more efficiency. So, what are you waiting for?