Six tips for streamlining your ecommerce operations

Ecommerce ramps up the velocity and adds complications to any business operation. As a result, without effective systems and the ability to stay organized, it can quickly get chaotic and unmanageable. At which point, product selection, packaging, and deliveries can start to go awry.
eCommerce IndiaTo avoid this outcome, here are 6 tips that may assist you in streamlining your ecommerce business.

#1 Get Your Inventory Digitized

* Organizing your inventory comes in two parts:

* Keeping it digitally organized to add efficiencies as the inventory grows.

#2 Maintaining effective warehousing systems

Using a product like InventoryLab for Amazon sellers allows you to manage inventory, control expenses related to it, and provide detailed reporting on SKUs and other metrics. Barcode scanning that integrates with the software is useful too.

On the physical side, matching good digital management with a system that allows staff to find everything in the warehouse without needing to hunt for it solves many problems in one. Time invested here pays dividends every day.

#3 Plan for Seasonality

Whilst you don’t want to overstock, it’s also important not to have too little stock onhand during busier sales seasons.

Look at seasonality and popular SKUs during different seasons to get the stock levels right. Avoid investing too much and having capital in inventory that isn’t moving because of the season. Plan to avoid over-ordering or running short and having to scramble to replenish stock to avoid turning away orders.

#4 Improve the Checkout

Up to two-thirds of people reach the checkout page but then abandon the cart without completing the purchase. Take two approaches to this problem:

Simplify the Checkout: Reduce what’s visible on the screen (including navigation and other distractions). Follow how other successful ecommerce companies do their checkout.

Follow Up with Visitors: By taking the email address earlier, it’s possible to followup with people who supplied their contact information but failed to complete a purchase. Ask if they had a difficulty that you can solve and/or supply a discount coupon to secure the first sale.

#5 Speed Up the Dispatch Process

Look for every tiny improvement that’s possible with dispatch. Considering that the process is repeated many times a day, the time and cost savings accumulate.

For instance, pre-printing labels containing the company information and instructions on how to return products avoids customers being left guessing. Not needing to wait for a custom printout to support an individual dispatch reducing waiting time too.

#6 Search for the Bottlenecks

Almost every operation has bottlenecks. While the managers may not immediately be aware of them, especially if they’re new on the job, the staff certainly are.

Discuss what is causing difficulties in their work. They will likely share what gets in their way or makes their job harder. These may seem minor, but every obstacle slows them down. Also, when the job is harder, it tires staff earlier and can cause slowdowns in the ecommerce operation from mental fatigue.

Embrace Automation

While some staff will resist it, automate areas that cut out time or allow them to focus on more critical tasks.

Automation doesn’t need to necessarily be a packaging machine system in the warehouse. It can just as easily be the automation of transactional emails or offering promotional discounts to encourage a second follow-up order from a new customer.

Following dated instructions based on previous interactions – like an email being triggered a certain number of days after an initial order is dispatched – is something computers do better than humans. Take advantage of this reality.

Every new efficiency or improvement found has the potential to reduce costs or save time, both vital elements of a smooth-running ecommerce operation.

Baburajan Kizhakedath

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