eCommerce Reporting – The Fulex Way
We know that being able to access and report on your data is an essential part of fulfillment. We have the right tools in place for ecommerce businesses without making the process tedious or time-consuming. We know that our customers often need a unique set of reporting data to run their businesses. We provide data that is readily available for you to utilize in your strategic decisions which includes everything from reporting to customized input and API Integration.
Reporting
Our system’s reporting capabilities allow our ecommerce clients to easily access critical information. You can access on an “as-needed” basis, or automatically scheduled reports to land in your inbox. Our reports are easy to understand and actionable. Your management team will rejoice with the reporting options that will allow them to make important decisions quickly.
Flexibility
With the vast range of products out there, every ecommerce business operates differently. Therefore, we offer strong and flexible ecommerce reporting capabilities. You can choose the content that you want to see on your report.
Customizable reporting can allow you to:
- Choose specifically what information to include – Incorporate the data your customers are looking for in their reports. Whether they need an overview of products shipped or a breakdown of territories to which packages are being sent, should be able to customize what information is included in reports.
- Have control over how data elements are arranged – Reports should include different options for organizing your data, so information can be displayed as simply and meaningfully as possible.
- Make updates easily on the fly – Updating reports should be a fast and simple process so you changes can be made as needed.
Flexible Reporting & Customized Forms
Additionally, there may be a need to summarize data. For example, as the ecommerce business owner, you may want to analyze the effectiveness of a marketing campaign. The campaign is aimed at driving customer purchases from a certain location, such as a store. Data can be filtered by location, so the customer can easily compare the number of orders from the marketing campaign to other States, Cities, or Zip Codes to determine the success of the campaign. This type of reporting requires gathering large data sets and summarizing them in an easily digestible format, such as pivot tables.
Accountability
Accurate and timely eCommerce reporting provides peace of mind for all our customers. Detailed records keep everybody accountable by showing the who, what, where, when and why of every single transaction. In the rare case that something goes wrong, a good system will lead users to a prompt and detailed explanation.
Report Delivery
Once the report setup is complete, your system should allow you to select a delivery option. While one customer may want a self-service approach, another may prefer reports to be sent to them via email. Report data may also need to be shared with third-parties to support integration.
Self-Service
A self-service approach is ideal for customers who need 24/7 access to business information. This feature should allow customers to view and export reports at any time they choose. As customers become more and more accustomed to receiving information instantly online at any time of day – from banking information to up-to-the-minute news, they expect the same access to their business information. Your system should allow you to define who receives access to each report through report permissions. Permission settings not only ensure that team members who need information have access to it, but they can also be used to limit access to sensitive information, such as payment details.
Automatic Delivery via Email
To keep customers regularly updated, your system should allow reports to be scheduled to auto-generate and send to a pre-defined distribution list at specified intervals – daily, weekly, monthly, etc. The reports should get delivered to a recipient’s inbox with a file attachment. Many customers appreciate this approach, as it allows them to access reports without logging into the system, and can act as a reminder to regularly check in on their progress.
Automatic Delivery via File
Similar to delivery via email, delivery via file should automatically generate and send a report at specified intervals. However, in this case, the file can get written to a file server or a shared directory. This method is typically used in cases where a third-party system needs access to information within the fulfillment system. For example, a third-party shopping cart may need access to inventory counts in order to inform customers of limited quantities, or for backorder management. The report data containing inventory quantities can be regularly sent to the third-party shopping cart, creating a simple integration.
Delivery via API
If your ecommerce platform allows for API integration, this can provide another method for creating a flow of information between the system and third-party provider. Unlike automatic delivery via file, API integration can establish a steady connection between the fulfillment and third-party system, allowing data to flow between them in both directions, and in real time. Once API setup is complete, your fulfillment system should then be able to synchronize information like inventory balances and incoming orders, and shipping details can be seamlessly and automatically sent to the customer.
Customized Output for eCommerce reporting
In addition to reports, there are other outputs that need to be considered when it comes to customizing layout and including specific information. Data fields on customized output forms should be linked to your databases so information can easily get filtered into your output forms. Oftentimes, supporting documents, such as packing slips or letters, are included in a package to adhere to strict branding and layout guidelines.
Customization allows you to include personalized logos and imagery to maintain branding consistency across multiple warehouse locations. Additionally, you should be able to meet customer guidelines surrounding the information they would like to include on their forms. For example, a pick slip should allow you to easily include order number, order description, etc. to the documentation as needed. While custom programming can be costly, a self-service platform will allow you make these changes without additional fees.
If you’re interested in learning more about which key performance indicators your ecommerce reports should measure, check out this video: The 7 KPIs to Measure Your Shopify E-Commerce Store
What can the right fulfillment center do for you?
Your fulfillment system must provide flexible data access to support your reporting, customization and integration needs. With a proper fulfillment system in place, time can be saved on reporting, giving you hours back each month. Furthermore, customizations and integrations should be available with a solid fulfillment software system. Fulex supports these approaches to fulfillment, providing fulfillment service providers with the tools and flexibility needed to successfully run, and grow, their business. From advanced reporting capabilities to third-party integration and beyond, Fulex provides a complete approach to fulfillment.
Contact Fulex today to learn more, or to schedule a demo.
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