[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” width=”auto” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text ul_item_indent=”30px” _builder_version=”4.22.2″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” custom_css_main_element=”||h3 {|| font-size: 18px !important;|| margin-top: 1px!important;|| margin-bottom: 1px!important;||}||||.et_pb_text_0 h2 {|| line-height: 25px!important;||}||||h2 {|| margin-top: 3px!important;|| margin-bottom: 5px!important;||}||||.blog-toc ol, .blog-toc ul {|| list-style-type: decimal!important;||}||.blog-toc ul {|| list-style-type: disc!important;||}||||.blog-toc {||margin: 0!important;||}” sticky_enabled=”0″]Living in a connected world requires a change in how we approach fulfillment operations, especially in the direct-to-consumer (DTC) space. Smarter fulfillment in the industry’s future includes both internal systems and those external to our fulfillment operations, including supply planning, last-mile delivery providers, the suppliers themselves, and the customer.<\/p>\n
“To effectively manage high-volume DTC fulfillment, you need to be connected to what is happening outside the four walls of your warehouses.” (Erhan Musaoglu, Logiwa CEO & Founder)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
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\nContents<\/p>\n
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- The challenges of the ecommerce environment<\/a><\/li>\n
- Smarter fulfillment<\/a><\/li>\n
- Three crucial components of smart fulfillment<\/a><\/li>\n
- The importance of system connectivity<\/a><\/li>\n
- Gaining visibility inside and outside your warehouse<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n
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Today’s Ecommerce Environment<\/h2>\n
The demanding world of DTC fulfillment offers little margin of error for those looking to be competitive. Every challenge becomes amplified, and the bar for success is extremely high.<\/p>\n
With increased order volume in DTC fulfillment<\/a>, automation and robotics<\/a> can save the day. Algorithms are your lifeblood. And a distributed fulfillment approach will deliver strong trust between you, the brands you serve, and the end consumer.<\/p>\n
Traditional warehouses weren’t built for smarter fulfillment in a DTC environment where consumers order things on demand and want something faster. Traditional warehouses were built to move pallets in and out, which worked pretty well.<\/p>\n
In the DTC environment, you must deal with multiple customers and smaller orders for the same profit. Old systems weren’t built for DTC fulfillment either. The people and processes in place to meet the demands of B2B fulfillment<\/a> need to be keeping up with the needs of DTC fulfillment.<\/p>\n
What is Smarter Fulfillment?<\/h2>\n
Imagine you’re shifting your services from business-to-business towards DTC fulfillment, but you’ve kept your warehouse layout<\/a> and systems the same. You come in on Monday morning to see 1000 orders for a funny coffee mug waiting to be processed.<\/p>\n
In a traditional warehouse setting, getting these orders shipped could take days as multiple systems work independently to complete each step in the outbound process.<\/p>\n
In a smarter fulfillment environment, these 1000 orders can be completed in a matter of hours, thanks to embedded technologies.<\/p>\n
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- The warehouse management software<\/a> (WMS) will establish an algorithm to optimize a wave pick<\/a> for the coffee mugs.<\/li>\n
- At the same time, the WMS passes information to the shipping software<\/a>, which determines weight, dimensions, and where each mug is going.<\/li>\n
- The shipping software is also rate shopping with several national carriers and determining if drop shipments and last-mile services<\/a> are required while batch printing your shipping labels<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n