The era of online sales be it for B2B or B2C has completely changed the way business is done. What earlier took place in one single location, mostly a shop or an establishment, now takes place simultaneously over multiple channels right from mobile phones and PCs, shops, malls, and even factory outlets. Central to everything in this set-up is the order. It’s from the order that the rest of the activities flow, be it production, procurements, finance, out-bound logistics and so on. In fact, it’s from the cursory look at orders on the order processing software that one can easily know if the business is doing well or not.
Naturally, when orders and their processing become so important, one cannot do without the presence of the best order management software alternatively also called an order processing software. It thus makes sense to know how does the order management system work!
– It’s objective
The best order management software tool has at its heart the objective of easing out the process of recording every order received irrespective of its origins. Be it thru attached e-commerce sites like Amazon or direct sales thru one’s own website or from shops and establishments, everything gets recorded in detail at one place such that further processing for production/ procurement, packing, storage, transport + issues concerning finances etc become very easy.
– It’s USP
Any order processing software’s biggest USP is the ease it provides a producer/ supplier- especially where the number of products and/ or the number of origins and logistics en-route remains very complicated. A good order-processing software brings disparate elements on one platform and makes production & supply very easy.
It’s, in fact, the backbone of the entire B2B & B2C industry whose form shall in times to come also include verbal orders and those received from voice-activated products like Alexa and Siri!
– Where it starts
In the present situation, the best Order Management Software starts to function the moment the “enter” key is struck on the buyer’s keyboard, be it on a PC, a smartphone or a tablet! That’s order-management for you…right at the origin. With buying patterns going thru the roof and so to the modes of getting information, in days to come, one may just need to blink one’s eyes while an ad is going on in a particular sequence to register a sale! And that precisely is the reason why an order management software has to be very sensitive and fast, which in most cases it is!
– What happens after order details are entered
Once the order is registered, the next step is the beginning of a long chain leading to manufacturing or procurement. Let’s take the example of an Amazon-like website where people are either sellers or supply Amazon with products the former sells. With the order being registered, it is segregated down to its last detail to facilitate it supply, which could include assigning it to particular suppliers/ production units/ warehouses, arranging for packaging, pick-up and drop. Mind you, every product has its own peculiarities with these constituting a broad outline of the way in which orders are processed.
– How is logistics handled
The best Order Management Software handles every action right from order receipt to final delivery with reference being given to the original order keyed in. With the order given, logistics to move the cargo/ raw materials to make the final product goes into action which takes care of delivering the needed substance to the next step which could itself result in final delivery or delivery to a warehouse for further movement. In short, in the case of an order-management software, everything is about the order from start to finish and any system that takes care of the same is a necessity.
– Finance
Finance in an order-management software are well documented and clearly defined to mean monies received from buyers for services/ products purchased. With most selling be it in the B2B or B2C taking place against advance payments or PODs, the order-management software has to be very precisely linked so as to register every receipt and cross the same against particular orders while at the same time showing productivity and profitability.
– Customer service
If there’s one aspect in which the best Order Management Software is head & shoulder above the others, it’s in the area of customer service. As is rather obvious, in the area of B2B and B2C, if there’s one aspect which stands out resolutely it’s about the best customer service experience. Imagine an Amazon or a Flipkart without its legendary customer service, be it online or offline! It’s couldn’t possibly exist without it given that the B2B or B2C arena would be quite meaningless and tactless without it. Aiding customers in getting the best experience every time is the best order-management software that money can buy.
– Returns and refunds
Part of a great customer experience especially when it is so cut-off as those experienced in B2B or B2C transactions is in the ability of the system to handle returns and refunds. To make it complete, smooth and unencumbered at any stage one has to have the complete and undivided attention of the best and most advanced of order management software!