/ By Karan Mudliar / Blog • Uncategorized/ • • / 0 Comments

Why Warehousing, Distribution and Packaging Impacts Customer Satisfaction Levels?

At present, there isn’t a lot of empirical research going on regarding customer satisfaction and how it impacts the share-of-wallet. Moreover, some basic study modules have revealed that customer satisfaction is actually relatable to word of mouth, market share and even the repurchase intention. That said, enterprises that thrive on product sales are known to have warehouses and logistical considerations to look at. Needless to say, the deployed warehouse management techniques reveal a lot about the concerned organization an how it fares in  terms of customer service and satisfaction.

The Basics of Warehouse Management

There are a host of metrics that determine whether the company is looking to establish long-term relationships with the buyers or just trying to initiate moderate levels of purchases. However, amplified levels of productivity rates and efficient strategies can certainly drive in a lot of credibility for the companies. One aspect that simplifies things for the entrepreneurs is warehouse management that actually takes certain logistical considerations into the mix. Basically, if the existing warehouse is beefed up with products and showcases higher productivity levels, the confidence will surely rub on to the consumers— facilitating enhanced levels of customer satisfaction.

The likes of processing errors, shipping delays and other pitfalls are directly proportional to an incompetent warehouse which in turn sends a wrong message to the existing customer base. Therefore, it is important to make use of management software for minimizing manual interventions and improving overall retention rates and associated services.

The software module is probably the first step towards efficient warehousing— helping organizations with better visibility and customer service considerations. In this digital sphere, most users prefer quicker deliveries and hassle free returns. This is where having a well-managed warehouse sends out the right message.

Measuring Customer Satisfaction: The Handy Determinants

Having warehouse management software at the helm can easily measure certain automated considerations behind the convoluted world of customer service and satisfaction. Be it assessing the reduced customer churn, enhanced lifetime value or existing points of customer differentiation— it is important that organizations are well-versed with these determinants in order to leverage the warehouse management essentials in the best possible manner.

Moreover, customer satisfaction or the absence of it can determine whether the repurchases will be made and how loyal the existing consumer base is. Therefore, it is important to pair up warehouse management techniques with customer service modules, in order to understand the best practices and even the associated inadequacies.

The Concept of Warehousing

In basics terms, a warehouse or rather the storehouse is an area that shelters materials depending upon the distribution, production, packaging and even the maintenance requirements. As demands for products and goods grow, warehouses provide the needed strength to an organization— especially when it comes to making something available on a wider scale.

Be it a single-storied warehouse or a building with multiple stories— the storehouse deign can essentially determine the types of products stored within the establishment.  In simpler terms, the underlining design addresses the nooks and crannies associated with a warehouse management plan which in turn determines how satisfied or dissatisfied the existing customers are.

Warehouse management works in cohesion with storehouse maintenance and inventory control. It is obvious that customers wouldn’t like a product that’s old or expired and therefore maintaining the storehouse becomes exceedingly important. Not just that, the associated inventory or the collection of goods and products should be updated periodically, which then leads us towards inventory control.

Why Stocktaking is Important?

Product segregation is strictly customer-specific and depends on the purchase patterns. Therefore, companies with dedicated storehouses should look to strike the perfect balance between demand and supply. Stocktaking is one such concept that determines the balance between the stored items. This also involves physical checks and timely investigations for minimizing stock discrepancies. For those who are looking to delve deeper into the concept, stocktaking is further segregated into spot-checking, periodic and continuous stocktaking.

How important is Safety?

Warehouse safety, Warehouse management

A customer might not physically visit a warehouse but he or she gets a fair idea upon seeing the condition of the product in hand. This is where safety and security considerations come in handy while discussing warehouse management. While the store management security keeps the products and stocks away from miscreants— there are private security standards courtesy the inclusion of 3PL systems and other e-fulfillment options. Having storehouse security standards in place can readily amplify the stock value by improving upon the operational roles synonymous to an organization. Last but not the least, proper safety measures also keep the production values intact.

Bottom-Line

Warehouse management is a holistic process that involves a wide array of metrics to work with. Be it inventory control or the associated safety measures pertaining to a storehouse, warehousing is a concept that directly or indirectly influences customer satisfaction levels. In addition to the aspects which are already covered, warehouse management also involves packaging, preservation and keeping stock records. These facets work in cohesion with the inventory control and safety considerations; thereby offering an enviable user experience— both in terms of sales and services.

/ By Karan Mudliar / Blog • Uncategorized/ / 0 Comments

Six Reasons Why Warehouse Inventory Management is the New Logistical Fad

Are you struggling to keep up with the evolving customer demands?

Are you finding it hard to get out of the vicious cycle involving distribution centers and supply chain management?

If these questions are continuing to bother you as an entrepreneur, it’s high time to look closely at the concerned warehouse— the connecting link between supply chain and customer demands. Needless to say, logistics optimization is an inseparable part of any entrepreneurial crusade. Therefore, warehouse management is one strategy that can help organizations improve upon the existing logistical framework sans major enhancements. Once the warehouse inventory management is out of the way, it gets easier for the businesses to maintain better product flow and higher levels of customer satisfaction.

Warehouse Management: Associated Metrics

I have always been quite skeptical regarding my warehousing objectives. Based on experience, I would suggest companies to involve inventory management strategies as an integral part of the optimization technique. The major objectives behind Warehouse Management must involve improved order fulfillment, enhanced productivity, minimized error rates, amplified operational efficiency and extremely low inventory holding rates.

Categorizing the Inventory: Basic Models

Inventory management forms the crux of a warehousing model regardless of its size and structure. When it comes to restructuring an inventory, enterprises need to inculcate aspects regarding categorization, definition and even forecasting. Last but not the least inventory management involves efficient usage of analytics, helping companies with layout reconfiguration and a host of other functional additions.

Moreover, when an inventory keeps the order picking loopholes at bay, it becomes extremely easy for the enterprises to enhance the turnover ratio, plan locations for quicker remittance and even improve upon wave picking and cross-docking techniques.

Warehouse Management Ideas: How it actually Works?

At the end, it all comes down to how a warehouse is managed, in order to strike the perfect balance between demand and supply. However, the underlining concepts still include assessments and implementation— albeit on a larger scale.

  1. Organizing the Warehouse

The storage locations have to be marked depending upon the type of product. In simpler words, fast-moving entities should be kept at accessible locations. When it comes to strategizing the organization of a warehouse, enterprises should prioritize pick & pack, order fulfillment and even ease of distribution.

  1. Performing Cycle Counts

There are companies which rely on year-end head counts for their products. For efficient warehouse management, the approach should commence in cycles with counts performed on a regular basis. Periodic intervals might also be selected depending upon the entrepreneurial preferences.

  1. Implementing Barcoding Tech

Tracking inventory details using pen and paper is obsolete and demanding at the same time. Instead, proper warehouse management must make use of barcoding technology that not only improves overall efficiency but also minimizes the paper-centric costs. Moreover, any manual approach is prone to imperfections and therefore it is advisable to add a hint of technology into the scheme of things.

  1. Tracking Inventory Cycles

Basically, every marketing move— including sales and logistics— involves data monitoring and inventory tracking. There has to be a software module that takes care of the minute warehouse details— starting from storage to inventory. This approach also assists enterprises when it comes to tracking the inventory levels and minimizing human errors.

  1. Creating Cordial Relationships with Suppliers

There has to be a cordial and harmonious relationship between suppliers and the concerned enterprise. There have been instances when mutual respect and amicability led to reduced inventory costs and credit-based supplies. Moreover, companies with e-fulfillment centers should always look to be in the good books of suppliers— precisely for getting hold of quick orders, decent distribution schemas and anything that simplifies warehouse management.

  1. Training Workers

Last but not the least, companies with logistical headaches must skillfully train their employees— especially in warehouse management practices. Apart from that, enterprises must impart knowledge regarding the inventory management policies and practices which are bound to change, intermittently. With expertise on-board, the warehouse management system is expected to flourish further.

Warehouse management is all about the accuracy and keeping a track of the concerned inventory. If done right, an efficient management system can readily improve the organizational cash flow followed by reduced costs, improved customer satisfaction and even enhanced efficiency— all at the same time.