Tips for Buying the Best Fulfillment Software

The modern fulfillment center is a bustling hub of activity.

With inbound logistics moving around thousands of tons of new products daily through supply chains, there is a lot of moving parts to keep in constant motion. Keeping track of inventory, customer orders and other daily functions are a lot to handle and most supply chain operators make use of logistics software to help them keep things streamlined.

In fact, fulfillment centers and distribution hubs are always on the lookout for solutions that not only improve workflow but are dependable, easy to access and handle complete fulfillment procedures. And considering that one of the largest areas of any supply chain is order fulfillment, fulfillment software platforms are some of the most in high-demand.

Fulfillment software platforms are robust order management and processing systems used by distribution centers to handle a number of tasks. Inventory levels, processing customer orders and managing daily activities can all be handled with a fully-featured fulfillment software solution.

If you manage or work within a distribution center, then this blog post is for you. Today, we will be going over a few tips that may help you find the right fulfillment software that meets your needs.

Make Sure It’s Designed to Save Time

No matter what software platform you ultimately decide to implement, the very first thing to consider is whether or not it actually saves you any time.

One of the biggest appeals of employing software to help with any task is to expedite that task. If the software did nothing more than produce the same results in the same amount of time as handling it all manually, why would you bother?

When it comes to fulfillment software, consider your goals for it first.

Are you trying to speed up order processing? Cut down on picking or packaging delays? Maybe you just need to have quick access to your inventory data?

Regardless of the primary function(s) you need it to serve, does it speed up the process?

Verify the Cost Saving Attributes

Aside from saving you a ton of time and decreasing order delays, your fulfillment software should also help you discover ways to cut various costs.

Equipped with a fully-featured fulfillment software, you should be able to search for the best carriers, find deals for shipping materials, and more accurately retain inventory levels. All in an effort to save both you and your customer money.

Distribution centers rely on numerous materials to package and ship out products. Saving a few cents here or there may not seem like much, at first. But when compounded over multiple orders, it adds up quickly.

Customized for your Business

Not all businesses are the same. Software that may work tremendously well for one company may not work out the same way for another. Even if they operate in the same industry.

Most modern fulfillment software solutions are incredibly well-designed. Better yet, most of them take a somewhat "one-size-fits-all" approach. Most are made to be scalable to fit the needs of any growing business.

However, this is not always the case. You still need to do your due diligence and ensure that you have some leeway with the platform. You need to be able to customize, adjust and upgrade as needed.

If your fulfillment center focuses mainly on B2C, make sure you have the tools to improve customer communication. If you’re more of a B2B operation, the platform should be configured to improve the flexibility of shipping solutions to business consumers.

Make Sure to Power the 3PL Software with Relevant Insights

Integrating a platform with powerful reporting tools and metric monitoring helps review performance, make improvements, and ultimately, better serve customers. Most fulfillment software solutions come equipped with powerful reporting tools. And when it comes time to review KPIs, you want the power of reporting tools on your side!

At the heart of any software upgrade is implementation. Working with an experienced large-scale 3PL like Redwood Logistics ensures successful development, training, and implementation.

If you’re looking for the best software to power your order fulfillment operations, contact Redwood Logistics.