# Digital investment: The secret to keeping up with E-commerce demand? Author: Pal Sinha, Barnali Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali Published: 2021-08-25 Category: FINANCE Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/finance Meta Title: Maximise Order Fulfilment Success with 3PL and OMS Solutions Meta Description: Discover how retailers are adapting to peak season demands, customer expectations, and supply chain issues in the E-commerce industry. URL: https://financedigest.com/digital-investment-the-secret-to-keeping-up-with-e-commerce-demandhtml ![undefined](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/happy-asian-woman-shopping-online-at-home-with-her-credit-card-sbi-300858220-1736837977403-compressed.jpg) _By_ [**_Ben Kaye_**](https://www.mintsoft.co.uk/ben-kaye-profile/) **_,_** _E-commerce and OMS expert at_ [_Mintsoft_](https://www.mintsoft.co.uk/) With the levels of online shopping continuing to increase, retailers are continuing to feel the effect of the rising demand of order fulfilment. Peak season is just around the corner for online retailers and warehouses, and this year it comes with more pressure than previous years. Challenges such as increased consumer demand and supply chain issues due to the pandemic and Brexit mean that order fulfilment will be more difficult this year, and preparation is key. Another thing that has [impacted the E-commerce industry recently is an increase in customer](https://www.financedigest.com/the-fca-is-taking-immediate-action-on-customer-vulnerability-but-how-does-this-impact-advisers.html "The FCA is taking immediate action on customer vulnerability; but how does this impact advisers?") expectations. Online shoppers now expect some sort of [value at every touch point – easy payment](https://www.financedigest.com/2021-predictions-realising-the-value-of-payments-transformation.html "2021 Predictions: Realising the Value of Payments Transformation") options, cheap and convenient shipping and returns, and a seamless shopping experience, which is only adding to the growing pressures for online retailers. As the sector re-opens its physical door, all retailers have one thing in common; they must adapt to the [demand shown in online shopping and revisit their approaches; from their supply chain through to the customer experience offered, or risk being left behind](https://www.financedigest.com/oil-falls-on-demand-worry-as-fed-make-or-break-moment-approaches.html "Oil falls on demand worry as Fed ‘make or break moment’ approaches"). Many online retailers are changing their [strategies to be able to meet](https://www.financedigest.com/new-zealand-pm-meets-biden-to-discuss-u-s-indo-pacific-strategy.html "New Zealand PM meets Biden to discuss U.S. Indo-Pacific strategy") their customers where they are shopping as the ability to shop 24/7 is part of E-commerce’s growth. Outsourcing logistics to a third-party logistics (3PL) provider is a popular [solution amongst online retailers](https://www.financedigest.com/42-of-retailers-say-payment-over-time-solutions-are-very-important-to-ensuring-future-digital-innovation.html "42% of retailers say payment-over-time solutions are ‘very important’ to ensuring future digital innovation") as it helps to keep orders moving. Partnering with a 3PL has many benefits – the process of outsourcing logistic processes helps with order fulfillment by eliminating the strain for [online retailers](https://www.financedigest.com/online-reputation-and-customer-centricity-will-lead-the-way-for-retail-banking-in-this-new-era-of-approachability.html "ONLINE REPUTATION AND CUSTOMER CENTRICITY WILL LEAD THE WAY FOR RETAIL BANKING  IN THIS NEW ERA OF APPROACHABILITY:"). A 3PL partner will take care of tedious processes and nowadays, many 3PL [businesses have evolved](https://www.financedigest.com/the-evolving-role-of-the-cfo-from-scorekeeper-to-business-partner.html "The Evolving Role of the CFO: From Scorekeeper to Business Partner") their offerings by transitioning into tech first entities. Using a 3PL which has [invested in technology allows online retailers to deliver a more responsive and consistent service](https://www.financedigest.com/hermes-bolsters-sme-service-with-significant-investment.html "HERMES BOLSTERS SME SERVICE WITH SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT"). Online shoppers now choose convenience over brand loyalty, meaning how orders are picked and packaged, [delivery costs](https://www.financedigest.com/amazon-offers-shoppers-10-to-pick-up-purchases-as-it-targets-delivery-costs.html "Amazon offers shoppers to pick up purchases as it targets delivery costs") and timings, and ease of returns all matter. In fact, according to Retail Insight Network, 78% of consumers say they [value convenience more today than they did before the pandemic.](https://www.retail-insight-network.com/features/how-retailers-can-win-loyalty-from-convenience-driven-consumers/) Of course, there are also [options for online retailers](https://www.financedigest.com/analysis-u-s-retail-traders-pile-back-into-options-as-meme-stock-mania-flares.html "Analysis-U.S. retail traders pile back into options as meme-stock mania flares") and E-commerce businesses to innovate and scale up without outsourcing logistics. [E-commerce software](https://www.mintsoft.co.uk/ecommerce-management-software/) is on the rise, and another popular solution for online retailers as it allows them to deliver great customer experiences by automating the processes such as fulfilling orders and keeping all online shops and marketplaces updated at all times. If you sell on multiple platforms and marketplaces, inventory [management can often be time consuming and increases the risk](https://www.financedigest.com/aon-launches-new-catastrophe-model-to-manage-the-risk-of-icelands-most-disastrous-peril-earthquake.html "Aon launches new catastrophe model to manage the risk of Iceland’s most disastrous peril: Earthquake") of inaccurate orders and overselling stock. An Order Management System (OMS) supports you in managing your online shops across multiple E-commerce channels from a single [platform and offers real-time stock](https://www.financedigest.com/stock-trading-platforms-for-beginners.html "Stock Trading Platforms for Beginners") sync. If inventory isn’t synced, it is likely order capability will be exceeded, and retailers [won’t be able](https://www.financedigest.com/death-and-taxes-why-you-wont-be-able-to-escape-one-in-the-metaverse.html "Death and taxes—why you won’t be able to escape one in the metaverse") to deliver. Anticipating peaks, [becoming aware of lead times from suppliers](https://www.financedigest.com/volkswagen-to-invest-in-mines-in-bid-to-become-global-battery-supplier.html "Volkswagen to invest in mines in bid to become global battery supplier") and getting a handle on the data behind inventory saves time later down the line and is something digitisation can help out with. A big part of customer experience and meeting their expectations also [comes in the delivery of their orders and investing](https://www.financedigest.com/buyers-shun-city-centres-for-country-villas-when-it-comes-to-lifestyle-investment-in-iberia.html "BUYERS SHUN CITY CENTRES FOR COUNTRY VILLAS WHEN IT COMES TO LIFESTYLE INVESTMENT IN IBERIA") in technology will allow online retailers to automate many processes. This not only [saves time](https://www.financedigest.com/sun-realm-switches-complicated-spreadsheet-reporting-for-ground-breaking-insight-solution-generating-time-savings-of-over-30.html "Sun Realm switches complicated spreadsheet reporting for ground breaking Insight solution generating time savings of over 30%"), but also improves the speed and accuracy of orders. Customer experience continues to be the main differentiator for the [top E-commerce brands](https://www.financedigest.com/top-expensive-car-brands.html "Top Expensive Car Brands"), and where delivery is concerned, this means choice and transparency. Having a multi-courier strategy is pivotal to providing multiple shipping options to meet your customers’ needs (time, price etc.) and this is made easy with an order management system, as you’re able to integrate with [multiple couriers](https://www.mintsoft.co.uk/integrations/) from one centralised platform. This makes it easier to select the best courier for the job as you’re not limited by courier choice. You’ll also have the option to send customers automated, [real-time updates](https://www.financedigest.com/myfirmsapp-makes-real-time-autumn-budget-updates-available-digitally-on-easily-downloadable-app.html "MyFirmsApp makes real-time Autumn Budget updates available digitally on Easily Downloadable App") on their orders. Both fulfilment and shipping play a significant role in the customer journey, especially when you [consider that the point](https://www.financedigest.com/three-points-to-consider-when-getting-engaged.html "Three Points To Consider When Getting Engaged") of delivery can often be the only face-to-face interaction customers will have with your brand. Automating your processes is a great investment as it will ensure accurate and timely deliveries – something [consumers are demanding](https://www.financedigest.com/lights-maker-signify-cuts-annual-outlook-on-lower-consumer-demand-china-woes.html "Lights maker Signify cuts annual outlook on lower consumer demand, China woes"). As many online retailers adapt to be able to overcome new challenges by investing in technology and digitising their processes, those that don’t are at risk of being [left behind](https://www.financedigest.com/click-and-collect-or-get-left-behind.html "Click and Collect or get left behind"). Order Management Systems are the perfect solution for [online retailers who are struggling to fulfil](https://www.financedigest.com/tesco-to-charge-online-booker-suppliers-new-fulfilment-charge.html "Tesco to charge online, Booker suppliers new fulfilment charge") orders and meet delivery demand, or are looking to scale up. By having access to your inventory, marketplaces, couriers, and accounting systems from one centralised platform, you are in complete control of your [E-commerce business](https://www.financedigest.com/what-b2b-businesses-can-learn-from-b2c-e-commerce.html "What B2B businesses can learn from B2C e-commerce"). --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. ---