The e-commerce market is growing at a dizzying pace. The number of online shoppers is increasing every year. Along with this number, consumer expectations are also growing. Customers expect the purchasing process in your company to be fast, simple, secure and error-free. While previously each order was entered manually, today the focus is on automating this process. In this article, we will look at why introducing such automation in your company brings a number of benefits.
Automation of orders and distribution – optimisation of sales processes
In the past, the order fulfilment process involved multiple stages. Orders were taken manually, documents were prepared, parcels were packed and their dispatch was organised. Each of these stages generated the risk of delays and errors.
This is where automation can eliminate errors that humans might make. Thanks to the use of specialised tools and ERP systems, the process from the moment the customer places an order to the moment the parcel is delivered becomes almost completely maintenance-free. What does this mean in practice for sellers?
- Reduction in service costs, because more automation = less manual labour.
- Faster order fulfilment.
- Reducing the number of errors made by people.
- Better organisation of warehouse and sales processes.
From the customer's perspective, this means shorter waiting times for deliveries, accurate order picking and shipping, and up-to-date information on order status. As you can see, automation is definitely a win-win situation. The seller saves time and money, and the customer receives high-quality service.
The online sales process does not end with clicking the "buy now" button. This is only the beginning of a long and tedious chain of logistical activities. The order is accepted, the availability of goods is checked, products are complemented, and sales documents are prepared. Then the parcel is packed and sent for delivery, where, after travelling the route, it reaches the customer. .
Each of these stages can be automated. Let's take a look at how this works in practice. Imagine that a new order appears in your online shop. The system immediately sends the data to the warehouse system, where the products are reserved.
The system then tells your employees in what order to complete orders, saving them time and reducing the number of mistakes. Invoices, shipping labels, and transport documents are generated automatically. Everything is done without employee involvement. The customer receives notifications about the status of their order at every stage.
Automating distribution processes not only speeds up order fulfilment, but also optimises operating costs. Less manual work means fewer errors and increased efficiency. A single employee will be able to handle several times more orders than in a traditional model.
Automating order acceptance – how to reduce purchase processing times?
Many online shops still use semi-automated solutions. Some stages of order fulfilment may still require manual verification. This may take place at the level of payment acceptance, product availability verification or customer data checking.
Automating order acceptance will eliminate the need to check this manually. In practice, online payments are immediately verified by systems that integrate the shop with the bank or payment operator.
Stock levels can be updated in real time. This helps you avoid situations where a customer pays for a product that is simply out of stock. Finally, customer data is verified for accuracy. The system ensures that the address has been entered correctly and that numbers such as mobile phone and postcode are not too short.
All this means that the time between payment and transfer of the order to the warehouse is reduced to a few minutes. Thanks to automation, your shop can efficiently handle orders even when you are at the peak of the busy shopping season, such as during the festive season or Black Friday.
Even if you are not yet considering automating order fulfilment in your company, you will soon have to address this issue. According to data from the report "E-commerce in Poland 2024" prepared by Gemius in cooperation with Polskie Badania Internetu (Polish Internet Research) and IAB Polska, as many as 78% of Polish internet users made at least one online purchase last year.
Another source, Internetica, reports that as many as 4 out of 5 Polish internet users shop online. The value of the e-commerce market is growing at a dizzying pace year on year, reaching PLN 131 billion in 2023. By 2028, this figure is expected to reach PLN 192 billion. As you can see, it is already worth strengthening your market position and competitiveness by using order fulfilment automation.
Examples of tools supporting order automation in e-commerce – InPost Fulfillment service
By automating orders in your shop, you do not need to create such systems from scratch. There are many ready-made solutions on the market that allow you to easily integrate with professional logistics operators.
One of the most comprehensive examples in Poland is InPost Fulfillment. This service takes over the entire order fulfilment process from you. This includes receiving the goods, storing them, picking, packing and shipping. Returns are also handled.
Using InPost Fulfillment brings a number of benefits. First of all, products are stored in InPost logistics centres. You do not need to invest in your own warehouse facilities or worry about their maintenance.
Order picking and packing are automated. Warehouse systems minimise the risk of errors and ensure high-quality service. If your customer places an order by 8 p.m., it will be processed on the same day.
The icing on the cake is the returns service. InPost Fulfillment also handles returns, which will significantly simplify your after-sales process. With this service, you, as the owner, can focus on sales and marketing, while all order logistics remain in the hands of professionals.
Is it worth introducing order automation in your business?
Order automation is not only intended for large online shops. Smaller and medium-sized businesses can also benefit from it, saving not only time and money.
This is no longer just a trend, but a real need resulting from the growing number of e-commerce transactions. Customer expectations are also growing. The benefits of implementing automation cannot be overestimated. Faster order fulfilment, reduced operating costs, minimised errors and improved customer satisfaction.
By choosing solutions such as InPost Fulfillment, you will see that order automation and distribution are not reserved exclusively for the largest players on the market. By using this service, you will increase your competitiveness and offer your customers the highest level of service. The result? Satisfied consumers will want to come back to you more often.
Although this may initially involve a considerable investment, it will pay for itself fairly quickly. You will gain customer loyalty, increase sales, and use the time and money you save in the right way. You will be able to focus on further developing your business and ideas on how to reach a wider range of customers.
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