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When your ecommerce business starts to take off, you may find that managing orders online is not as easy as you thought.
If that happens, you will need to adjust and change your strategy. Otherwise, it is only a matter of time before your whole operation stops, and complaints from customers start to come in.
Read the tips below to ensure that your inventory is managed in the most efficient way possible. So that when you apply the tips, there will be fewer problems to worry about.
Tip #1 – Keep an Eye on Inventory
If you are dealing with a lot of products simultaneously, you may experience problems with inventory. Even having a lot of staff members does not guarantee efficiency.
Someone has to be in charge and have the focus on inventory.
If you are in charge but have other duties like marketing, get someone else, or consider automating everything with inventory management software.
A lot of operations can also be automated using barcode scanning and do not forget to analyze the data and practice regular auditing.
It is worth mentioning that some ecommerce brands leave inventory management to suppliers.
For instance, if you are running a print on demand business, there is no need to take care of everything yourself. Printify is a Print on Demand & Drop Shipping Platform | 250+ Products, 24/7 customer support, and over 90 printing facilities in the world solidify it as one of the best in the industry.
Having a reliable supplier who does most of the heavy lifting will definitely help with running the business more efficiently.
Tip #2 – Prioritize Older Orders
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You may find that you are receiving more orders than you can manage to carry out. When that happens, older orders should still take priority.
Every day that the customer has to wait will cost you reputation. And in some instances, you may even forget about an older order, and that will cause a lot of problems.
Tip #3 – Use Filters
A filter system on a website should be more than enough to figure out which orders take priority.
You should have a system that manages shipping and processing. And when you are running this system, add some filters like an expected day of delivery, priority, payment status, or order date.
Sorting the information will become easier, and you can carry out your tasks in a more effective manner.
Tip #4 – Attach a Tracking Number
It may seem like a trivial thing, but a tracking number is a must for every order.
Once the package leaves your warehouse, you are no longer in control. The only thing you can do is to keep track of the order.
The same thing applies to the customer who can find out where their package is by entering the tracking number in the system.
Tip #5 – Develop a Smartphone App
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Most people have smartphones, and when you have a business that ships a lot of products, developing an application is a smart investment.
First of all, you will have access to the information whenever you go.
For instance, if someone makes an inquiry about their order and you are not in the warehouse, you can open the app and find out the information.
Customers can also track their orders using an application. There should be a website with the available information for orders, but a smartphone app is more convenient and innovative.
Tip #6 – Create a List of Priorities
When you are dealing with a lot of different products and orders, there should be a list of priorities that you need to follow.
Expanding a brand on multiple fronts at the same time can be too difficult. But if you have a step-by-step plan and follow it, working towards that expansion is easier.
The same thinking applies to order management. When you are implementing new features, know which ones should be implemented first.
Tip #7 – Ensure Delivery is on Time
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Timely delivery will score you customer satisfaction points. As will different delivery options.
At the same time, if deliveries are late, you stand to receive negative feedback and damage your reputation.
Customer satisfaction is an important part of creating and managing a successful business.
Keep in mind that word of mouth travels fast, and a negative review here and there will be detrimental to the longevity of your brand.
Tip #8 – Add Personal Touches
Personal touches like email or text message confirmations will do great in establishing a stronger relationship between you and the customers.
You may also want to try adding some freebies in the orders, like branded pens or notebooks.
Seldomly, sending exclusive offers or discount offers is another marketing method that will keep customers coming back to your store.
