In the past decade, the e-commerce industry has experienced a huge boom. Sellers now aim to meet the growing customer demands and their expectations, especially when it comes to the shipping times and order fulfilment. This has brought to life order management systems, commonly abbreviated as OMS. OMS refers to software used to automate the whole process of managing orders. For e-commerce business owners, it allows them to further manage their inventory, sales, and the actual fulfilment to the clients. Here is why it is an integral element in the success of an e-commerce business.
Understanding OMS: Beyond the Basics
As mentioned above, an order management system is a software solution that centralises and automates orders on all the sales channels you may have. In this case, if you are running an e-commerce store and have mobile applications and online marketplaces, the system will be the central hub that manages all orders from the beginning to the end. This makes it easier for you as a business owner as you do not need to manually check your inventory or know what orders are pending. It takes care of everything from the ordering to the fulfilment and shipping.
The best thing about the OMS is that it can be integrated with various systems, including inventory management and customer relationship management (CRM). With the integration, you can see how your orders are progressing in real-time. Even better, you have access to customer data thus allowing you efficiently run your business and serve the clients better. It is your chance to optimise your operations and achieve maximum efficiency.
The Anatomy of an Effective OMS: Features that Matter
To achieve maximum efficiency and all the benefits of the OMS software, you must choose right as there are many in the market. Here are a few features to be on the lookout for when selecting the ideal OMS software.
- Software Integration: Your selected OMS should offer seamless integration with all your existing systems. This minimises the breakdown in the flow of data as this can disrupt the most important parts of your business.
- Returns Management: A good OMS should streamline the return processes and automate the requests while still managing refunds. It makes the returns as simple as possible as this implicates the customer experience.
- Real-Time Syncing: Information syncing is a critical part of OMS software. This ensures that the same data is available on all the endpoints in the integrated systems. The OMS software automatically ensures consistency and accuracy.
- Security: Security is a non-negotiable element in any software. You must ensure that your OMS software is secure for both your business and the clients. It would be unfortunate to deal with security breaches and access by unauthorised third parties.
- Customisation: The OMS you choose for your e-commerce business should allow for customisation for specific workflows and operations. Make sure it meets your exact needs even with a growing business.
OMS and Customer Satisfaction: A Direct Correlation
Using OMS is one of the most effective ways to improve customer experience. This is because most e-commerce sites experience a hard time when it comes to order management. They struggle with outdated order management practices that may not only be expensive but also cause disagreements with the customers.
By using the modern OMS software, you get real-time insights regarding the availability of products and all stats on the clients’ shopping journey. Its effectiveness makes it easier for customers to place their orders and quickly check out. In case a product’s price changes, the system quickly adjusts it and this improves transparency between you and the customers. This minimises the friction between you and the customers thus enhancing their satisfaction. Remember that happy and satisfied customers are your biggest ambassadors out there.
The Technical Side of OMS: Integration, Automation, and Scalability
As mentioned above, OMS software seamlessly integrates with the existing systems in your e-Commerce business. You can integrate it with more than 150 platforms including ERP, POS, BI, eCommerce marketplaces, and even CRM. All this ensures your business enjoys uninterrupted communication.
Since it is automated, you will receive all the insights regarding your inventory and customer preferences. With this information, the system automatically adjusts any issues so that the customer gets a smooth and positive shopping experience. Even better, it automatically routes orders from the beginning to the fulfilment stage.
Every business hopes to scale to the next level and increase its client base over time. However, that is not always the case and you may need to scale down. The right OMS has the ability to grow with your company depending on the circumstances. Since it has no limits on users and integrations, you can adjust or expand based on your demands.
Conclusion: Why OMS is Non-Negotiable in E-Commerce Excellence
The value and benefits of OMS go beyond improving operational efficiency. Having the right order management system will help your business grow and succeed through enhancing inventory management, client experience, order processing, and ultimately omnichannel abilities. With the business operations optimised and clients well served, you have the best chance of thriving in the competitive e-commerce environment.
