ERPs help manufacturers fulfil orders faster – Here’s how

Customer expectations are higher than ever, and manufacturers must, therefore, offer a seamless order fulfilment experience to attract repeat business.

An ERP can help manufacturers deliver this superior experience, giving them a huge competitive advantage.

• Contact SYSPRO to learn more about its ERP solutions for manufacturers.

The ERP will help these manufacturers facilitate a smooth flow of information between their eCommerce platform, and core business functions like inventory, finance, product, shipping, and logistics.

Here’s what you need to know.

Order fulfilment

Once a manufacturer receives an order, it must process it efficiently and deliver the correct product to the customer.

While this might sound simple on the surface, the manufacturer must navigate many different touchpoints to ensure the customer has a great experience.

The order fulfilment process must also integrate elements like inventory management, production planning, and communications to ensure that the eCommerce process aligns with the rest of the manufacturing business’s processes.

Here are the steps a manufacturer must follow to fulfil its orders:

• Order placement – The customer places an order on an online storefront, over the phone, or through other sales channels.
• Order processing – The order is entered into the system for processing. IT is verified, product availability is checked, and payment is confirmed.
• Picking – Warehouse staff or automated systems must pick the items from the manufacturer’s inventory based on the order details. If the order requires production or assembly, the instruction for this must be given.
• Packing – Once the items are picked or produced, they are packed into shipping containers or packages.
• Shipping and delivery – The product must be shipped and delivered to the customer. This can involve the use of third-party delivery specialists, and depending on the shipping method, customers may receive tracking information to monitor the delivery status.
• Order confirmation – Once the order is delivered, the system must generate an order confirmation or delivery notification.
• Post-delivery follow-up – Some businesses will execute customer feedback requests, and must also have systems in place to provide customer support and allow for returns.

Use an ERP

ERP systems, like those offered by SYSPRO, are the best way for manufacturers to handle the complex order fulfilment process.

A good ERP seamlessly integrates into your existing eCommerce platforms, and will pull the necessary data to facilitate efficient order fulfilment.

ERPs offer the following benefits:

• No manual data entry – Your ERP will pull and store details about all your products, inventory levels, customer data, shipping information, and more.
• Unrivalled visibility – An ERP gives you a single, centralised view of the entire fulfilment chain, allowing for proactive decision-making and faster response times.
• Forecasting – Your ERP will use your sales data to generate demand forecasts. These will help you manage your inventory levels and minimise stockouts.
• Ease of lot and serial tracking – Serialised and perishable items can easily be tracked throughout the fulfilment process to ensure quality control and regulatory compliance.
• Fewer shipping errors – The combination of automation and visibility ensures fewer shipping errors occur.
• Breaking down silos – Your ERP connects your various departments together, ensuring you are not hindered by silos.

Contact SYSPRO to learn more about its ERP solutions for manufacturers.