9 Steps to Perfect Stock Control

9 STEPS TO

PERFECT

STOCK

CONTROL

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Step 1:Assign barcodes


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Step 1: Assign barcodes

Ensure every product in your database has a unique barcode recorded against it.


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Ask your suppliers for their barcodes - they should be able to provide them on a CSV file that you can import.





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You may need to create a custom ‘barcode’ field in your eCommerce platform to enter barcode data into.





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Step 2:Dynamic locations





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Step 2: Dynamic locations

Fixed product locations are great for retail stores because it helps customers find what they’re after.





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Your warehouse is a different beast. Flexibility with locations will enable you to optimise your space and hold off moving elsewhere.






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If you’re finding products by storing them in SKU order, consider creating a separate location identifier and assigning products to locations.






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Step 3:Check in and online





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When goods are delivered, get them checked in and available for sale the same day to avoid missed sales opportunities.


Step 3: Check in and online




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A simple barcode scan to capture the inventory quantities delivered can improve productivity by up to 3X.


Step 3: Check in and online




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Step 4:Sat Nav your pickers





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Map the fastest route through your warehouse locations and store the pick sequence number against each location.


Step 4: Sat Nav your pickers




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Sort your pick lists in sequence number order to help your pickers fly through the warehouse.






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Sequenced pickers can pick over 100 items per hour.

Want proof? Check out our case studies.



VIEW CASE STUDIES




http://www.peoplevox.co.uk/case-studies/

http://www.peoplevox.co.uk/case-studies/

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Step 5:No human error





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Even the best pickers, those with the sharpest eye and double-triple-checkers, will make a mistake once in a while.


Step 5: No human error




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Fortunately, barcode scanners don’t suffer from the same affliction and can guarantee you exceptional picking accuracy.






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How exceptional is exceptional, you ask?

We’d put it at around 99.99% accurate. And that’s pretty darn accurate!






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Step 6:Live inventory





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There’s nothing worse than having to email a customer to tell them that you can’t fulfil their order because you don’t have the inventory.


Step 6: Live inventory




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Connect your website to your warehouse software so that the inventory level your customers see is the same one you see in the warehouse.


Step 6: Live inventory




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Step 7:Lose the paper





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1,500 orders = 1,500 sheets of A4 paper.

Plus an integrated label per order.


Step 7: Lose the paper




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This totals about 10p per order or £150 for your full 1,500 orders.






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Thermal printed despatch notes like the ones Amazon use cost around 1p.

That makes a saving of £145 per 1,500 orders.






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Step 8:Integrate your shipping





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Passing customer and order information to your carriers is essential for shipping.

If you’re doing this manually, however, it’s time to stop wasting hours.


Step 8: Integrate your shipping




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Automating this process is easier than it sounds. There are plenty of plugins you can use for specific carriers such as Temando, MetaPack, and NetDespatch.


Step 8: Integrate your shipping




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Step 9:Update your customers





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Keeping your customers in the know reduces customer service calls and improves satisfaction.

Have your eCommerce platform trigger emails to customers when their order status changes.


Step 9: Update your customers




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Third-party applications like Cloud Conversion can help if you don’t have the development resources to implement this tactic.






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We’ve seen some companies, like Corset Story, reduce customer service calls by 50% by proactively managing customer expectations.



VIEW THE CASE STUDY




http://www.peoplevox.co.uk/case-studies/corset-story/

http://www.peoplevox.co.uk/case-studies/corset-story/

With traditional warehousing systems being unsuitable, many eCommerce companies battle with order fulfilment. They struggle to scale at peak and to track warehouse inventory.

Peoplevox provides the only warehouse management software for eCommerce. Our clients’ customers view live to-the-second inventory and receive 100% order accuracy.

To learn about getting the ultimate eCommerce warehouse,download our ebook today.

ABOUT PEOPLEVOX

AQUICKGUIDE TO

THE ULTIMATEECOMMERCE WAREHOUSE

EBOOK DOWNLOAD OFFER

DOWNLOAD NOW

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http://go.peoplevox.co.uk/a-quick-guide-to-the-ultimate-ecommerce-warehouse-2

http://go.peoplevox.co.uk/a-quick-guide-to-the-ultimate-ecommerce-warehouse-2




‘Peoplevox has shown that they were the one company who unequivocally delivered on their promises. The ongoing cost savings are one thing but this should also be factored alongside the savings of a successful project delivered on schedule and to the specification initially provided. If you’re an omnichannel seller in

today’s market and not using Peoplevox then I believe you are missing out on WMS performance.’

- Stu Conroy, Owner


To learn how Peoplevox helped Corset Story improve their eCommerce operations and ship more orders internationally, read the full case study.

READ THE CASE STUDY

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http://www.peoplevox.co.uk/case-studies/activ8/

http://www.peoplevox.co.uk/case-studies/activ8/

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9 Steps to Perfect Stock Control