Ecommerce sales in the US are expected to grow from an estimated $504.6 billion in 2018, to more than $735 billion by 2023, according to figures published by Statista. With such a staggering growth outlook, managing products entering and exiting the warehouse has become a challenging task. Efficiently managing products that leave your warehouse can result in huge cost savings. So, here are some tips to improve the process.
DEFINE YOUR DISPATCH PROCESS
A well-defined dispatch process can help avoid a lot of confusion and reporting errors that can arise. Make sure everyone in the warehouse properly understands and follows the process. You should also provide adequate training to the staff to ensure that they are on the same page. Keep in mind, the workflow should be documented to spot any inconsistencies.
USE COURIER SOFTWARE
Back in the day, courier managers would follow up on deliveries on a white board, a process that was highly inefficient and time consuming. Nowadays, courier dispatch software has made everything streamlined. Such software provides customizable, real-time dashboards for complete visibility on all vehicles and their drivers. This ensures smooth operations, improved management, and on-time deliveries, says an article by Key Software Systems, a company reputed for its courier software solutions.
HAVE AN EFFICIENT PROCESS
Here’s how you can make the dispatch process more efficient:
1. KEEP PICKING LISTS READY
The picking lists should be ready and printed every day before the arrival of the picking team. This ensures that they can get to work as soon as they reach the warehouse and prevent unnecessary delays.
2. HAVE A PRACTICAL INVENTORY LAYOUT
A practical warehouse layout can save the staff a huge amount of time each day. There’s not a best way of laying out your inventory – the approach will vary from one retailer to another. However, a good practice in any warehouse layout plan is to store the hot selling products in areas that are easily accessible and near the packaging area. Another idea, would be to stock the items that are frequently purchases together in close proximity to one another.
3. USE HANDHELD BARCODE SCANNERS
Handheld scanners can significantly reduce human error that tends to come in with repetitive tasks. For instance, when a product of the wrong style or color has been placed in a bin, there are high chances of the wrong item being shipped too. This error can be prevented if a barcode scanner is used.
Warehousing and managing products on the go are two critical parts of a company’s cost structure. Performing these in a cost efficient way can improve the overall financial competitiveness of the company, says a report by Research Gate.