In this article Scurri’s eCommerce experts take you through what’s needed to achieve large scale order fulfilment. To streamline your delivery management, get in touch with us today!
eCommerce sales in the UK remain strong, with an expected annual growth rate of 5.8% to be achieved by the end of 2023. And with the UK eCommerce market now accounting for 30% of total retail, UK eCommerce retailers are uniquely positioned to capitalise on an exciting growth market.
However, successfully fulfiling orders at scale requires a smooth fulfilment process that can weather the storms of peak seasons and fast growth spurts. Here are some practical tips and strategies for eCommerce retailers seeking to optimise the order fulfilment process.
How to master large-scale order fulfilment
1. Automate processes where possible
Automating much of the order fulfilment process can remove the extra work and ensure nothing slips through the gaps. There are tools you can use to automate your inventory management, warehouse picking and packing, and shipping, right through to replenishment processes and order routing to speed up delivery times. For example, Scurri Connect has a powerful rules engine that lets you automate the delivery process for each individual order based on a defining set of factors.
2. Build a distributed fulfilment network
3. Implement smart order routing
Distributed fulfilment networks allow you to ship orders to warehouse centres close to the customer. These “micro-fulfilment centres” can process, label, and ship products from a localised destination to speed up delivery times and reduce the number of orders you’re processing in one warehouse. This lowers shipping costs and helps you meet the growing demands of today’s customers.
Did you know that Scurri has a 98% CSAT Score? Reach out to our delivery management specialists for a quote!
4. Offer various shipping options
Letting customers choose which shipping option works best for them goes a long way in ensuring you stay competitive regardless of how many orders you’re getting. As well as fast-track deliveries, consider offering in-store collection or cheaper shipping to a designated pick-up point. This will spread your deliveries out across multiple carriers to tackle any bottlenecks while giving customers the chance to personalise the delivery experience.
With Scurri Connect, you can select multiple carriers and delivery options to ship items to customers quickly and cost-effectively.
5. Communicate with customers
Keep customers up-to-date on their orders with regular communication. Let them know when their order has been picked, packed, and dispatched, as well as when it’s due to be delivered. This manages shopper expectations and builds loyalty at the same time—especially if you’re facing delays due to a high number of orders.
Scurri Track Plus makes it easy to set up a post-purchase sequence where customers can track their orders and get their questions answered. This reduces the number of WISMO enquiries (which, if you’re fulfiling a lot of orders, can be particularly high if you’re not staying in touch with shoppers).
6. Invest in a delivery management system
A delivery management system brings the entire process into one place so you can manage inventory, processing, picking, packing, and shipping all together. If you’re running an omnichannel operation, it’s even more important to streamline each stage to make sure all orders are accounted for and delivered on time.
Scurri Connect lets you take full control of the order delivery process by integrating seamlessly with international carriers and automating shipping selection based on your pre-set criteria.
7. Improve your processes
It’s important to regularly monitor and analyse your fulfilment process to identify any future friction points. Take the time to track each stage to identify any bottlenecks or areas for improvement and then make adjustments to keep things moving smoothly.
Become a master of large-scale ecommerce orders
A slick order fulfilment process involves optimising the entire process from start to finish to reduce costs, improve shipping times, and keep customers satisfied. Using software can help reduce the number of errors and speed up the process so it becomes easier to manage a growing number of orders.
When you’re juggling so many orders, it’s important to choose a provider that’s reliable.
Ready to scale your operations? Book a demo with one of our delivery management specialists below.