Broomfield, CO, Sept. 2, 2020 — Holiday season is set to break online shopping records as credit card transactions continue to accelerate due to the global coronavirus pandemic, with overall ecommerce sales in the U.S. expected to see 18% growth in 2020, according to eMarketer.
On the flip side, U.S. retail sales will decline 10.5% this year, including a 14% decrease in brick-and-mortar stores, eMarketer found. Therefore, the spotlight will be on warehouses to meet consumer expectations and get packages out on time and accurately, said SnapFulfil CEO Don White.
And with the added pressure of social distancing within warehouse operations, easily accessible information data is paramount to improving efficiencies warehouse-wide, as well as having the ability to self-configure the software program, creating a more agile and cost-effective solution.
“Pressure on warehouse operations is going to be heightened this holiday season for sure, driven by a massive uplift in ecommerce demand, while maintaining a safe and healthy working environment for employees,” White said. “Therefore, businesses need to have the flexibility to modify their processes seamlessly and quickly to meet the challenges, without incurring additional costs.”
“This is where a best-of-breed, cloud-based WMS allows them to simply and quickly track progress and reconfigure changes to achieve the best results and most efficient fulfillment operations. Apart from optimizing layout and facilitating much more educated decisions, it also allows for the time and flexibility to rationalize procedures.”
But although the holidays is the season for giving, then January is increasingly the time for returns, typically costing U.S. retailers upwards of $260 billion, so be sure to not forget reverse logistics. Revamping warehouse processes to drive faster fulfillment is a must, but an efficient returns process is just as important in driving a better customer experience.
Automating the operation with an advanced cloud-based WMS, featuring return management functionality, allows tracking and material flow processes, which can optimize the complete returns route from the dock to final dispositioning. Such software can seamlessly drive the transition from manual to digital returns tracking, enabling a more accurate and automated way of tracing returned products through the warehouse.
By providing insight into what was returned, why it was returned and whether it can be resold, the WMS enables a more streamlined returns process while helping evaluate the best options for returned inventory. Implementing a clear flow for returned goods also helps the operations team avoid inaccuracy, inefficiency and ultimately lost profits because of unclear procedures.
“Capturing the maximum value from goods sold this holiday season by implementing a cost-effective and efficient full service operation, has never been more important and, quite simply, should be a strategic priority,” White said. “The technology is readily available, and the net result will be a significant increase in customer satisfaction leading to a much healthier bottom line this peak season and beyond.”