If your company has entered a high-growth phase or is planning to expand, it’s recommended that focus should be shifted to logistics and how delivery can be perfected. To understand and meet the customer demands, an eCommerce seller (you) certainly needs an adaptable and flexible logistical plan.
If you do not possess an ability to focus more on logistics, there are chances that your team might stand at a very complicated stage; wastage of essential resources keeping time into account.
Here are some basic tips that can help you to make your entire eCommerce logistics walk towards betterment…
#1 Be quick on selecting your logistics partner
Deciding on which 3PL company can be the best for your online business would be a tough nut to crack, but once done, it can save a lot of time and crucial resources.
3PL services are expensive comparatively. So plan to opt for it only if you are very much confident about your online business. But this can definitely be a business-effective call as there are tons of benefits in outsourcing, but the only thing is, it should always remain in your control.
- Talking about the team that can focus on other core competencies rather than logistics, let them do what they are best at. This is one of the most important reasons that your logistics should be outsourced, to the experts, as quickly as possible.
#2 Make sure you maintain order accuracy and quality
Before you start, understand that you do not rush into anything, rather start slow, strong. Quality is the most basic thing that you can cater to, before taking any big leap. Take care of the quality, and you will never have disappointed customers.
The process to maintain the order accuracy always flows in a FIFO (First In First Out) format unless the order is with the highest priority or paid express delivery. Value-added services are really difficult to handle, but not when there is an expert shipping agency to assist.
#3 Are your value-added services worth it?
Your products are always to be perfectly packaged, and this is the only thing that doesn’t require a lot of effort to be put in to gain more and more satisfied customers.
But to check out what factors can become a resistance when it comes to all the value-added services that you provide, below is the list of questions that you can ask your 3PL lead…
- What kind of experience do you have when it comes to bundling and kitting?
- Will you be able to handle all sorts of customized packaging?
- Can you also provide gift packaging?
- Can you provide custom messages as well?
- Can you personalize or customize the package as per the seller’s/customer’s demands?
Certain value-added services also add a cherry on the top to the complexities that can be involved in your entire operational and order fulfillment process. This can drive your business towards unnecessary spendings, with no promising returns.
#4 Keep an eagle-eye on the inventory synchronization
Inventory synchronization is directly interlinked with the process of order management. You always need to pay attention to the process of restocking and try to make sure that there are no chances wherein your inventory is in excess.
The above being said, as a seller, you would always try that your product reaches out to as many customers possible, and hence multi-channel selling. It’s obvious that although your product is listed on multiple marketplaces, there always will be a single inventory where your products will be stocked. So, try to opt for an inventory management tool that helps you synchronize the orders from all the marketplaces.
The right inventory, in the right amount, at the right place, at the right time, is what makes a retailing business successful. The more complicated the inventory synchronization is, it will certainly throw an impact on the logistics part.
#5 Verify that your warehouses are perfectly connected
Although your warehouses are distant, and you have kept your stock separately for different categories, you still need to bring it all on the same page. You need not put in a specific set of your manpower to cater to this issue, rather integrate all your warehouses with an inventory warehouse software.
To ensure perfect and timely delivery, you need to track which product is where and in which warehouse. To serve all the international customers from a single warehouse is pretty difficult. If you are a retailer who is ready to spend a bit getting more warehouses at different geographies, go for it. This will only widen up your ways to bring in more potential customers and cater to them with ease.
But will more than one warehouse hamper your quality and involve lack in verification measures? Well, to avoid such things from happening, investing in an effective warehouse management system can work wonders.
#6 Turn last-mile delivery’ problems into opportunities
Last-mile delivery – the final stage of your entire shipping process (the journey of the consignment from the final distribution center to the customer’s doorstep).
The ‘last-mile delivery’ problem, believe it or not, starts taking shape from the very beginning of the shipping process. There are a number of things involved that can affect the last-mile delivery – lacking facilities, distance, time, traffic, etc.
- Insufficient facilities
All good logistic agencies have more distribution centers or facilities compared to normal ones, which increases the proximity to the customer. Better and reputed logistics partners, no matter costly, can provide you with access to all small districts, improving the connectivity and lesser “awaiting customers”.
- Facilities to the customer
There are chances when a customer might not be present at the mentioned delivery address, and the entire delivery process either gets delayed or a return is initiated. In such cases, most of the 3PL agencies have introduced a new facility wherein the customer him/herself can collect the consignment from the distribution center. This can also make it easier for the customer to receive the order before the promised time.
- Infrastructure & Delivery Vehicles
All the developing countries are very much behind when it comes to a proper distribution center (DC) infrastructure. Assistance with proper vehicles to commute to the given addresses can help with efficient delivery, save a lot of time, tackling all the bad routes, with ease.
To wrap it up…
Logistics can always be improved, methodically, with some sprinkled luck. A disciplined process can always bring you a better customer experience, thus bettering your business, turning into good profits. If you have more related logistical issues to be showcased, share them in the comments.