Stakeholders across the shipping and logistics space agree on the critical role software plays in the modern e-commerce and omni-channel fulfillment landscape.
As e-commerce evolves and consumer behavior evolves in turn, online retailers need to adapt to meet shifting demands. Increasingly often, customers are engaging with businesses on multiple fronts, doing their research on one channel and making online purchases on another. Research shows that 66% of customers rely on more than one channel for purchases. What’s more, 90% of consumers want a seamless, omni-channel shopping experience.
To support this kind of e-commerce experience, online retailers and stakeholders across the shipping and logistics landscape need to invest in the kind of software that can streamline omni-channel operations and provide customers with reliable fulfillment. From warehouse management systems (WMS) that deliver end-to-end visibility over inventory to transportation management systems (TMS) that coordinate delivery operations, software now plays a crucial role in e-commerce, omni-channel logistics.
In fact, a recent survey of logistics professionals confirmed the primacy of logistics software. The survey — conducted by Peerless Research Group — polled more than 100 executives with key insight into the shifting nature of the e-commerce landscape. By and large, they confirmed that their operations are turning to WMS, TMS, and other similar technology to provide the foundation for sustainable growth and dependable service in the shipping and logistics sector.
While the results of this survey underscore the importance of logistics software, the way that online retailers leverage it isn’t set in stone. From bringing these tools in-house to partnering with a logistics provider capable of leveraging their own software for your benefit, businesses have a wide range of choices when it comes to making the most of this technology.
What the Survey Shows
The PRG survey demonstrates the critical role that software is taking in the ongoing development of the e-commerce marketplace. According to their respondents, 67% of companies are relying on WMS, 33% are turning to supply chain management and planning platforms, and 26% have recently implemented TMS. Additionally, 60% of companies say that their overall use of materials handling software has increased over the past two years, an increase of 11% from last year.
Of the companies investing in a wide range of supply chain management software, 65% said that their primary goal is improving inventory visibility, demand planning, and procurement. Beyond that, 48% are looking to streamline order management and 32% specifically cited boosting their e-commerce fulfillment operations.
How E-Commerce and Omni-Channel Retailers Can Adapt
The results of this survey depict an industry in transition. As consumers drive growth across the e-commerce market and as they do business across an increasingly wide range of channels, online retailers and other logistics stakeholders are investing in the software necessary to coordinate a fulfillment process that has become more and more fast-paced, complicated, and high-stakes.
Accordingly, retailers need to consider how they can leverage these tools to their benefit. For instance, WMS can provide greater visibility over inventory, ensuring that businesses can meet the changing nature of e-commerce demand without backorders and delays. TMS can help streamline the last leg of the fulfillment process, providing customers with the kind of updates that they’ve come to expect from other e-commerce operations. And, finally, order management systems (OMS) can coordinate purchases placed across a diverse array of channels, ensuring that customer requests don’t fall through the cracks.
Finding the Right Logistics Partner
While large retailers may have the resources to bring these tools in-house, it may be financially challenging for small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs) to do the same. However, that doesn’t mean that SMBs should forego the benefits that logistics software has to offer. By working with a third-party logistics partner (3PL) or integrated logistics service provider (ISP), it’s possible to reap the benefits of these tools without having to make the capital expenditures necessary to purchase and operate it on your own.
With a proven track record of excellence in the e-commerce, omni-channel logistics sector, Primary Logistics has the software that online retailers need to grow their business. Our 3PL Central WMS platform can handle orders promptly, optimizes the picking, packing, and shipping process, and coordinates tracking information with customers — all of which is essential for the kind of e-commerce, omni-channel operations shaping the logistics space.
Whether you’re looking for a targeted e-commerce solution or a comprehensive partnership that can help you handle every step of the fulfillment process, the team at Primary Logistics is strategically situated. With ready-made infrastructure and advanced logistics software, we’re standing by to help you streamline operations and grow your business.
If you’d like to learn more about how award-winning shipping and logistics services from Primary Logistics and Primary Freight, contact us today at (800)-635-0013.