Why Your Retail Supply Chain Needs a Digital Transformation

Nearly 60% consumers are now willing to switch to a competitor with quicker and cheaper shipping. 

Consumers are comparing their shipping options ahead of purchasing. They’re asking, “Can I find a better deal somewhere else?” 

And it’s not enough to just win the sale at check out— you also have to deliver as promised. A negative shipping experience can have irreparable damage. 83% of consumers are less likely to re-purchase from a retailer after a negative delivery or shipping experience. And, about a third of consumers will leave a bad review or post on social media about it.

But, a lot of sellers still struggle  to meet consumer delivery expectations. 95% of companies have experienced delays or bottlenecks in their order fulfillment operations in the last year [2019]. 45% faced issues with order picking and processing, while 37% struggled with inventory management.

What is Distributed Order Management (DOM) and Why Does It Matter for Retailers?

(This article was last published on April 21, 2017. We’ve updated it for accuracy and completeness.)

Today’s consumers want to interact and buy from your brand across different offline and online channels. No matter where they buy, they want that experience to be friction-less and intuitive. Consumers will even pick a favorable experience over shopping for the lowest price or top-quality product. 

This puts a lot of pressure on merchants to create a seamless experience. You have to be strategic and thoughtful to ensure your systems and processes support customer expectations. 

When it comes to order management and delivery, many retailers are turning to distributed order management (DOM) to achieve just that. The challenge? Distributed order management is a dynamic change from traditional order management. It can be difficult for merchants to make the necessary changes to support. 

But, those who do it right can gain a competitive advantage and better serve their customers. 

Best Shipping Software for eCommerce Sellers

As your order volume grows, shipping becomes both time-consuming and costly for online sellers. But, fast and accurate delivery is crucial to your customer experience. If you don’t offer fast and affordable rates, potential customers will decide to buy from someone else. 

Needing an easier way to process online orders, many sellers turn to shipping software solutions to help with daily tasks like coordinating carriers, printing labels, and managing their returns process. 

How to Implement Same-day Shipping for eCommerce

Can your customers rely on your shipping processes? How often do you miss a date or ship the wrong item?

A negative shipping experience can have an irreparable impact on your relationship with customers. 84% of consumers say that they won’t return to a brand after just one poor delivery experience. It’s evident that a good shipping experience is vital for customer retention.

If you haven’t already, consider improving your online fulfillment processes. You can start by learning from EasyCare Inc and how they instituted same-day shipping for their equine business.

eCommerce: How to Ship Your Products

As brick-and-mortar stores close due to the COVID-19 pandemic, consumers are turning to online shopping and thus putting pressure on merchant’s fulfillment processes. During this time, you could be opening a digital storefront and shipping for the first time. You could be dealing with closed warehouses and shipping suspensions by Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) causing you to diversify your supply chain. Some merchants might be experiencing an influx of online orders and trying to handle it the best way they can.

No matter what your situation is, we hope to cover your top options when it comes to successfully shipping online orders.