Some may be strictly eCommerce but may have partners for omnichannel eCommerce to go along with their own online shopping cart… such as Amazon or drop-ship channels from major retail chains such as Walmart or Nordstrom. Some combine eCommerce with wholesale channels that may include small chain or single-store boutique retailers along with larger EDI-routed retail customers such as Target, Sephora, Ulta, and Costco. Some may have all of these channels open along with their brick-and-mortar retail locations.
For brands to effectively sell through a variety of channels, inventory availability can become a challenge as multiple buyers may be simultaneously vying for ATS (available to sell) inventory. Omnichannel fulfillment isn’t simple, but it is simply a selling strategy where businesses choose to market their products through multiple sales channels while inventory information is centralized and managed to accommodate all of these channels.
For those that choose to outsource warehousing operations, your fulfillment center must also have expertise in how to fulfill orders to all of your buyers across the various channels, whether it’s your shopping cart, a drop-ship eTailer, a boutique store, or a major EDI retailer with complex routing requirements.
For eCommerce, you may be looking for a consistent and branded unboxing experience for your customers; while certain channels have strict requirements on processing times or packing configurations; and others have complex routing requirements that involve specific carton markings, shipping services, and delivery windows.
Together we work through how to manage order prioritizations when demand exceeds supply for inventory items. We work through how to manage inventory that may have the same UPC yet it is packaged differently for certain sales channels. And we decide whether inventory should be physically split within the warehouse for operational efficiencies by sales channel or stored in a single location by SKU (stockkeeping unit).
We know from experience that omnichannel order management comes with its share of challenges. Supply chain logistics, demand planning, product packaging, new SKU introductions, kitting and bundling, new retailers opening up, 3rd party shipping accounts… all of this combined with specific routing compliance demands from retail buyers and unforeseen sales spikes that blow out forecasts. Let’s just say that it’s not as simple as some folks describe it in blogs or on their corporate websites!
Omnichannel fulfillment must be well thought out and properly managed, and as your Partner in Operations, AMS engages with brands, integrates fully with a brand’s ERP software (e.g. NetSuite, SAP, Microsoft Dynamics…etc.), and strategizes from both an operational and technical standpoint to ensure we are operating together with a single source of truth with your inventory.
Our in-house Technology Team along with Client Services Back Office Support play key roles in strategizing omnichannel solutions with clients, ensuring that data flows effectively between our clients, their customers, and AMS Fulfillment.
If you are an omnichannel seller today or plan to be as your brand evolves and grows, AMS Fulfillment can serve as your expert Partner to help navigate the complexities and challenges associated with omnichannel fulfillment!
Fill out the form and a member of our team will reach out.
