An effective eCommerce operation allows for easy product packing and affordable distribution methods. There are many solutions for warehouse management, be it a human-controlled secure system or Al tools. In this article, we’ll look into how to improve warehouse efficiency for your online business.
Optimize your return process
It is very important to optimize your return policy. No matter how well you manage your supply chain, there would be some problems with customer orders once in a while. You have to make sure that you collect the faulty product and send out a return in time. The faster you take action, the more people build trust in your website and brand.
Allow backorders
A backorder option not only increases your sales revenue but also strengthens your credibility and commitment to customers. Allowing backorder means that your customers can purchase out-of-stock products and have them delivered on a specific day in the future. It creates a backorder item. Suppose, a customer wants to place an order for an item that is already sold out. Now, you open a backorder and convert that into a purchase order to your supplier. You will send the purchase order to the vendor and once the item arrives, you will place it with your customers.
Use automation and inventory management system
An inventory management system is indispensable to run a smooth online store. Manual stock management adds a lot of work to your staff every day. The solution is to implement an automation platform that helps customize order details and stock lines. You should be able to add new stock, remove old stock, and if you wish, analyze data using different devices as well. This way, you can find out very easily which product you need to reorder and you can do that easily.
Conduct regular inventory audit
You should conduct an inventory audit every one for two months to keep track of your performance. The audit enables you to identify high and low-demand products as well as your customer’s preferences. This information adds more insights to your future sales strategy. It also helps to create a balance sheet yearly and financial statement and help to calculate business profit at the end of the year.
Use demand forecasting
Based on your previous sales data, you can predict the type of sales you may get for this year. You should be able to use the data to identify the trends affecting your store. Then you’ll be able to keep sufficient stock for high-demand products and get rid of the low-performing ones. This will help you improve your warehouse efficiency without wasting beneficial resources.
Final note
Without an effective warehouse management strategy, you risk losing track of your inventory, which might result in failing your customer expectation. Therefore, improve your warehouse efficiency today to avoid this scenario!