As an ecommerce company, there are many inventory stages for your business. In the beginning, you may be storing things in your living room, garage, storage locker, or your parent’s house. But, as your business grows, are you taking the necessary steps to ensure that your inventory management can grow with it?
A warehouse space, third-party logistics (3PL) provider, or something similar will be critical for the health of your business’s long-term goals. We’re here to help you know exactly how to get started with your next step in the journey.
Ecommerce stores are in a predicament because they don’t have a storefront. Everything is sold online, so warehousing becomes a large part of your business. Ecommerce warehouses are a bit different from traditional ones in that they need to accommodate for:
You must consider these three factors to help ensure that your business can run smoothly and keep from having any problems or backups. Ultimately the thing that’s going to be the most difficult is keeping your warehouse moving with inventory going in and out. And that’s where warehouse management comes in.
Whether you run your ecommerce “warehouse” from an extra bedroom in your home or something much larger than that, it’s critical that you have an inventory management system in place. Through the use of cloud servers, a good inventory and warehouse management system is easy to expand, grow, and use throughout the life of your business.
Ecommerce warehouse management is the key to success for any ecommerce business. If you’re not using an inventory management system, now is the time to invest in one. It’s going to save you a lot of headaches down the road!
There are simply no downsides to getting more organized and tracking your company’s inventory. But, there are many benefits, and you’ll quickly realize how this tool can help boost your profitability and grow your company over time.
These are just a few of the many benefits that your business will experience when you get your warehouse and inventory management system up and running.
When you’re ready to start looking for an inventory management system, there are some specific criteria you’ll want the system to meet and good parameters you can set to aid your search.
Your budget will make a huge impact on the software system that you choose for your business. A smaller operation shouldn’t spend thousands of dollars on software that does so much more than you need.
Set your budget before you start looking so that you’re not caught trying to make something work that doesn’t need to or spending more money than you originally set out to.
The type of business you have and the products you sell can also help determine the software you choose. For example, the inventory management software that Home Depot uses is much different from Amazon because their service is different. Scale it back to a business or company closer to your size, and you can see how that will make a difference.
How big you want your business to be and whether or not the platform can grow with you is another important factor. Some platforms will force you to restart your work with them when changing plans. Stay away from these if you’re hoping to grow your business over time.
It’s also critical that the ecommerce inventory management system you choose will be able to integrate into other software as your needs change and expand. Extensiv Warehouse Manager, for example, offers a plethora of integrations that will help make the process of running your business much more smooth and more straightforward
For those with a bit more stock to sell, it might be time to consider getting a warehouse. This will cut down on your shipping times as well as give you more space to work with when stocking items. There’s nothing wrong with running a business out of your home. But, there comes a time when you’ll be losing money because you won’t be able to expand.
There are several benefits to having a warehouse space for your ecommerce business.
With all of these benefits, it’s hard to make a case for not moving into a warehouse. But of course, listen to your budget so that your business grows at a sustainable pace.
A third-party logistics (3PL) company may be exactly what you need to help take the stress off of you and your home when it comes to warehousing. Fulfillment centers that regularly operate as 3PLs will be able to pick, pack, and ship your orders for you. All you have to do is provide a positive customer shopping experience online and market your product.
Benefits of working with a 3PL:
At Extensiv Warehouse Manager, we provide inventory management solutions for all different types of warehouse businesses. Whether it’s ecommerce, retail, or a combination, we can provide a custom solution that fits your needs and budget.
To learn more about how Extensiv Warehouse Manager, our premiere product, can help you, schedule a free demo today! We’d love to work with you. Our team doesn’t just sell you a great product. We provide 24/7 support to ensure you’re well taken care of from start to finish!