E-commerce Archives - AGOL Worldwide Inc

Pick And Pack: Mistakes To Avoid, Improvements To Implement

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Your inventory and shipments are always up to date, your customers are happy to receive just what they ordered with impeccable speed, and errors are conspicuous by their absence. That can happen in the ideal world, but in the real world there is more than one thing to consider when it comes to efficiency and avoiding mistakes that, no matter how small they may seem, trigger a series of extra costs for your store’s operation. The pick and pack is one of the backbone of your sales process, without it your product will practically never reach your customers. If you’re just starting to pick and pack or if you’ve been doing it for a while but want to fine tune your processes, this article will show you the most common mistakes, confirm your basics and give you a couple of tips to improve. WHAT IS PICK AND PACK? This is the name given to an inventory management process that consists of 3 steps within a supply chain. Literally as it sounds – Pick – Pack, not forgetting the first step which is receiving the order into your system. 1.- You receive the order: With an inventory management system you control your warehouse with your store, so your inventory “is alive” and connected with your store. So, when a customer places an order, the inventory system in the warehouse is notified and generates a list for picking. 2.- Picking: Picking the order. A person from your team in your warehouse takes the list with the order and looks for the items in the inventory. 3.- Packing. Packing the order. The collected items are taken to the packing station in the warehouse. There a good practice is to confirm that the items are correct and then proceed with the packing and once completed, have the package ready for the carriers who will deliver the package. Remember that your warehouse and process often depends on how much you sell and the stock you have, but this process is key in any store. HOW DOES PICK AND PACK WORK? It depends a lot on the distribution of your inventory, if it’s high volume, if it’s in your own physical store, etc. Pick and pack can be different but there are two strategic ways to choose which one suits you best. Picking by piece: if you are growing, this is the option for you because of its strategic function. In this process you select the order and pick the necessary items from the inventory. The key is to select one order at a time. Block picking: Maybe it’s already a headache to do it one by one. If so, it’s time to use this strategy. Items from more than one order are picked together, either because of their location in the warehouse or because they need to be packed in a certain way. The ideal is to use it when you already have a high volume of orders and the best way to use this way of picking is to have a software to help you or a logistics partner. Key advantage of block picking: You optimize the picking times of each order and take advantage of your inventory buffer, plus your team will have a better sense of where to go and what to pick with an orderly picking list. Already having these basic notions, you are probably wondering which option is the best for your store and for your current process, but to be able to decide, let’s understand the main mistakes that can happen to you. Picking Errors It is not only the economic cost, it is the prestige of your store that is at stake, so we list those that can affect your operations and of course your sales. Cost of sales: Instead of holding back and potentially adding another product, you’ll have to work harder to get sales. Warehouse costs: Your team has already invested hours in the process and you will have to invest it again in the inventory count to correct the error. Returns: You must document and return every order and this reverse logistics process involves costs. Additional shipping costs: again, the waybill to return the order with the carrier implies a cost for your store. Customer service: not only will they have a hard time in your customer service team, the time spent is costing you Lost sales: As if it wasn’t enough that they abandon the cart, with these experiences, they are sure to look for another brand. It hurts to read it and if it’s happened to you you know how complicated it is to deal with this situation, especially when they are things that surely could have been avoided. So, the question here is: What was it that led your pick and pack team to make these mistakes? In these cases, the human factor is latent and is not something that does not stop happening, but there are other factors that complement and explain the error, for example: 1.- Not prioritizing and planning the picking session. 2.- Having too many people and locations (losing efficiency) 3.- Pick an element with a different identifier/code. 4.- Selecting the wrong product in the right location (Disorder in the warehouse). 5.- Omit details of the order. 6.- Finish the picking session leaving incomplete orders. Don’t be overwhelmed if you’ve seen a couple that have happened in your store, even to the best ones it happens. The important thing here is to take action on the matter and that in your day to day you take advantage of every order to make it a super experience for your customers. Remember that the first purchase is just the beginning of a long relationship between your buyers and your brand. Improvements to be implemented You can implement these tips and improve your processes as well as the shopping experience: Use an inventory management system that allows you to keep your inventory always in sync. Add locks to confirm the

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E-Commerce Shipping: Here Is What You Need To Know All About It

E-commerce, Supply Chain / admin

eCommerce business around the world is growing faster than ever before. Due to the recent pandemic when the whole world was forced into a social lockdown, these eCommerce companies have kept the life running. Emerging from local to international now eCommerce businesses have the capacity of shipping worldwide and even to the most remote location in the world. This article will give you a brief understanding of eCommerce shipping. We will help you comprehend how you can do it better and how it can help grow your business. Running an eCommerce business is all about keeping your customers happy. Be it your products or be it the customer support you need to put in your 100% to increase your clientele. Among many aspects that are crucial for the success of your business, eCommerce shipping is something that must be on the top of your priority list. According to AGOL Worldwide, if we look at a recent survey more than 77% of the buyers abandon their shopping carts just because of unsatisfactory shipping options. Either the package is arriving too late, or the cost of shipping is too much. Free shipping on the other hand attracts many buyers and it is a positive thing to have in your eCommerce store. Choosing the right shipping solution for your eCommerce store should be your top priority. Ecommerce Shipping: What Options Do We Have? Before setting up your eCommerce store you should consider getting this part of your business sorted. It doesn’t matter if your product is very lucrative you need the best shipping options to get the most out of your business. Overnight Shipping Overnight shipping was once considered the least priority option for eCommerce stores but in recent years this has become the most preferred option. Major retailers like Amazon are also using the same option. 2 days delivery was the norm and retailers offering overnight shipping were among the top and preferred sellers. Same Day Delivery Same-day delivery is even more preferred when it comes to online buying. This is how Amazon has taken the eCommerce business to the next level. Small scale eCommerce stores may not be able to do the same as it requires a substantial amount of extra effort at the end of the retailer. If you can pull this highly coordinated effort you can for sure take your business to the next level. In a survey, 61% of the buyers are willing to pay extra if you are offering same-day delivery. Furthermore, online shoppers between the ages of 18 and 34 expect to see this option when shopping Two Day Shipping A standard shipping option that is being used by 70% of the eCommerce industry. It’s economical and falls in the mid-range of the delivery period. Back in the time when Amazon started 2 days shipping it was considered the fasted shipping option because at that time others were offering 4 to 5 days shipping. If you are planning to start your eCommerce business, your standard shipping option should be 2-day shipping. We have explained the term “Expedited Shipping” thoroughly. This option is only valid when you are shipping your goods across international borders. Shipping your goods to a different country takes a highly coordinated effort and it must fall under the budget. Retailers offering expedited shipping are more likely to get more sales from their international buyers. Expedited Shipping Growing your business to facilitate international customers is a good way to take your eCommerce business to the next level. However, shipping your goods internationally poses a bigger challenge than local shipping. You will have to handle much more than just packing and moving. International logistics is the hardest part and if you are not experienced enough to pull this, you might end up losing money and customers. International Shipping To get this done efficiently, you should have a reliable logistics partner who has experience in handling shipments in that particular country. This will reduce your efforts and you will be able to offer international shipping at an affordable price. Freight Delivery Freight shipping is the slowest form of shipping, and it is used when your package weighs more than 150 LB and it is larger than 30 x 30 x 30 inches in size. Using freight delivery, you have the option to deliver your goods both by sea and by air. eCommerce Shipping: Get your pricing right As of now, we have described all the shipping options in detail. Now it is up to you how to get the right mix of strategies to get your pricing right. The shipping cost should not be on the higher side or your customer will leave the cart, it should not be too low and it will cost you money. It should be just right enough to balance both ends. Factors that go into the calculation of shipping costs are as under: Package weight Value of goods Destination Dimensions Shipping speed Carrier Here we will discuss the 3 most common ways to do the costing of your shipping. Flat Rate Using this model you will have to charge the same shipping price for a certain category of items. You can further divide the categories by weight, dimension, and destination. This is a simple model where some of your buyers will pay a little more than the actual cost while others might pay a little less. Actual Carrier Rate Simple yet very attractive and helpful this model will depict the actual shipping cost on your website. Using this model buyer will always cover the total shipping cost and this option also help the buyer choose among other options available. Free Shipping According to a survey, the holy grill of eCommerce shipping and according to a survey, 88% of the buyers like to see this option while shopping online. On one hand, it is facilitating the buyer but on the other hand, it is very difficult for the retailers. You must be doing the costing right to accommodate the shipping

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Global Trend Shift in Warehousing and Distribution Sector

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Global trade is shifting towards a digital age and tech companies across the globe want to get their tech around the world as fast as possible. That is when an importer of the record comes in handy who takes the full responsibility of moving, clearing, and delivering the goods. So, what is an importer of record? Who needs an importer of record and why an importer of record is handy for tech companies. Here we will go through each aspect in detail to bring awareness about this service and how AGOL IOR is making a difference.IOR or Importer of the record is a company or individual responsible for fulfilling all the legal and paperwork during an importation process. Along with importing the goods on its name, the importer of record is also responsible for paying all the duties and taxes applicable to the goods. Further to this IOR also make sure the goods are correctly recorded and accepted in the record of local customs authorities. An importer of record is a significantly important aspect of the logistic operation of a company. Through IOR, companies can import goods in countries where they do not have a legal or import entity. Companies with limited global access often let down a business opportunity just because they do not have a legal import entity in that country. That is where an importer of the record comes into play and empowers your business by extending your global reach. Why do you need an importer of Record? Every country has its own rules and tax regulations when it comes to imports. That is why expanding business on a global scale is a bit of a risky endeavor. Some countries have banned a specific range of IT and telecom equipment. While others ask you to import them with special permits and approvals from government authorities. Similarly in some countries, the import process is so much longer for a foreign importer that they give up the idea of expanding the business beyond borders. For IT and Telecom companies, the global distribution of their goods can become an overwhelming experience. As their core competency is to manufacture the products they find it hard to get it delivered to their customers sitting on the other side of the world. All these aspects lead to acquiring the services of a global Importer of record who is capable of delivering your goods to every corner of the world. Let us review what services you can get from an importer of record? Legal Import entity An importer of record is an organization with a legal import license to import goods in their name. An IOR will provide you with the name of a local importer entity for you to consign your shipping documents. Special Permits and requirements An IOR company will also help prepare any permits that are needed to get your goods imported into that country. The IOR will complete all the permits requirements to get the import requirements fulfilled. The IOR service provider makes sure that all the imports are as per the legal regulations and must not violate any local import rule. Handling Paperwork The IOR provider makes sure that the import of your goods is done in accordance with the local customs rules. That is why they take full responsibility for handling all the paperwork as well as the customs procedures. An IOR provider also makes sure that all the documents are reflecting the correct information of the goods that are being imported. Doorstep Delivery Companies who sell their goods globally look forward to a solution where they don’t need to worry about any step of their logistic operation. The IOR company will also get your goods delivered to the doorstep. Specifically, Tech and IT companies acquire IOR services to get their goods delivered to remote data centers and data warehouses. Real-Time Tracking and 24/7 customer service An IOR provider also makes sure that you get to know about your shipment at every single step of the import process. In a competitive market, good customer service defines the best IOR provider. In addition to managing the import process, the IOR provider also keeps you updated with every single step of the process. When choosing an Importer of record a good customer service is what makes it distinguished from its competitors. Why choose AGOL as your global IOR Provider? At AGOL we strive to provide you with the best and most competitive service. We have a global reputation for managing high-tech IT and telecom shipments in more than 60 countries. We have a partner network that expands up to 100 countries where we take full responsibility for doing doorstep deliveries. With our 10 years of exclusive experience in the IOR sector, we are well aware of the global trade compliance for the tech industry.

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