Making same-day fulfillment work for your eCommerce store
The number of customers shopping online continues to grow, but at the same time, there are a number of caveats associated with eCommerce. Consumers can't see or hold products before they buy them, nor can they engage individual associates and ask them questions face-to-face. But perhaps the biggest issue is shipping – people don't get their products immediately after hitting the buy button. For eCommerce businesses, this can lead to lost sales to brick-and-mortar competitors.
In response to this, many merchants are considering the use of same-day fulfillment, a strategy that promises to get customers the items they purchase the day they buy them. Shop.org's Think Tank recently broke down same-day fulfillment and the various ways it can work.
Syncing multiple shopping channels
Same-day fulfillment starts by creating a cohesive omnichannel shopping experience.
If customers want to purchase an item and receive it that same day, merchants need to ensure they are giving prospects up-to-date information about availability. If retailers offer same-day delivery or in-store pickup and their channels are pulling data from the same sources, they may accidentally end up misleading customers. There is nothing worse than putting in an order, only to receive a call later that day suggesting the item isn't in stock and is unavailable for in-store pickup.
In the case of same-day delivery, merchants need to streamline processes between their fulfillment centers and their own order management functions. If products are to be shipped to customers the same day they buy them, then there can be no hiccups in communication between the two sources. ECommerce software such as SalesWarp can help improve transparency between both parties, allowing fulfillment centers to take action on their end.
With same-day delivery, the shipping process grows even more complex. Some retailers even opt to use third-party courier service to enhance the process. Again, the more complex shipping is, the more important it is to manage the flow of information. Without transparency and open communication, the work won't get done to meet tight deadlines. Not only do all the various shopping platforms need to be in-sync, but the retailer and fulfillment centers as well.
Same-day in-store fulfillment is a bit less stressful as merchants rely more on internal functions. That being said, it's still crucial that they have the right systems and eCommerce software in place to make in-store fulfillment possible.
When customers order online, businesses need to keep the desired product from a warehouse into the store. Some merchants utilize dedicated staff members and technology to help execute these campaigns. Although this is all handled internally, communication and transparency remain key. Employees must know when products are ordered, when and where the items are to be picked up, and the time customers will come to the store. Deadlines are crucial, and eCommerce technology can help streamline related delivery processes to help employees hit those deadlines.