Part of the reason why manual ordering is such a big pain is because wholesale is a tough business where efficiency is the name of the game. At one point losing valuable time and resources on manual order processing was just the price of doing business; wholesalers had to accept a certain slowness in their operations and spent lots of time dealing with errors and dissatisfied customers.
Today, though, things are different. And below we’ll provide a guide on various aspects of transitioning from manual to automated order processing, enhancing your efficiency and accuracy in the process.
Invest in an Order Management System (OMS)
An Order Management System (OMS) is a digital tool that automates and streamlines order processing. It allows you to track orders from placement to delivery, manage inventory in real-time, and integrate with other systems like your Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software. An OMS can significantly reduce the time spent on order processing and increase accuracy by eliminating manual data entry. OrderCast enables you to do all that and is fully integrated to your favorite ERP and solutions. Book a demo to learn more.
Integrate with Your Customers' Systems
If your customers use electronic data interchange (EDI) or other e-commerce platforms, integrating your systems can automate the order receiving process. This means orders from your customers can automatically populate in your OMS, eliminating the need for manual data entry.
Automate Your Inventory Management
An automated inventory management system can update your stock levels in real-time as orders are processed. This not only ensures accurate inventory tracking but also enables automatic reordering of stock when levels get low, preventing stockouts and overstocking.
Use Barcode Scanning
Barcode scanning can automate the picking and packing process. Workers can quickly scan items as they're packed, and the system will automatically update to reflect that the order has been fulfilled. This reduces the risk of shipping errors and speeds up the order fulfillment process.
Automate Your Invoicing
Automated invoicing systems can generate invoices as soon as an order is processed, reducing the time spent on billing and accounts receivable management. These systems can also send automated reminders for unpaid invoices, helping to improve your cash flow.
Provide Self-Service Options
Offering a self-service portal where customers can place orders, track their order status, and manage their account can reduce the workload on your sales and customer service teams. This not only improves efficiency but also enhances the customer experience by giving them more control and transparency.
For years, this kind of e-commerce felt like an impossible dream for many wholesalers. Agencies charged too much for bespoke websites, and solutions made for large operations were too expensive and too bulky for the many SMBs populating the wholesale industry.
That mismatch between supply and demand sits at the heart of OrderCast, where the goal is to provide:
- A solution that is up and running quickly, without the need for months of development;
- A solution that is priced properly, ensuring that costs are in line with usage and benefits;
- A solution that delivers for both customers and wholesalers, saving time and money for all parties involved in a wholesale purchase.
Still, we know that seeing is believing: that’s why we’ve made it very easy to experience a working demo of your new wholesale e-shop, complete with your catalog and branding. Get in touch today and we’ll be happy to show you how OrderCast can automate your ordering process.
Conclusion
Transitioning from manual to automated order processing may seem daunting, but the benefits in terms of efficiency, accuracy, and customer satisfaction are well worth the investment. By investing in an Order Management System, integrating with your customers' systems, automating your inventory management, using barcode scanning, automating your invoicing, and providing self-service options, you can transform your order processing and take your wholesale business to the next level.
Remember, the key to successful automation is choosing the right systems for your specific needs and ensuring your team is adequately trained to use them. With the right approach, you can say goodbye to manual order processing and hello to a more efficient and effective operation.
