Order Management System - Ink Cartridge Wholesaler

Introduction

This case study examines an ink cartridge wholesaler operating from a 15,000 sq ft warehouse in Peterborough, which had an existing e-commerce system but fulfilment and dispatch was an entirely manual process. They faced challenges with tracking orders and returns and wanted to reduce their postage costs.

Initial Challenge

The ink cartridge wholesaler needed a solution to automate their order management processes and improve efficiency. The challenges with their existing system included manual processes, difficulty tracking orders and returns, and high postage costs. The wholesaler was looking for a custom software solution that could streamline their processes, automate order fulfilment and dispatch, and reduce postage costs.

Process

To address these challenges, we developed a custom software solution that streamlined the wholesaler's order management processes. The solution automatically downloaded completed orders from their website every 15 minutes and tracked each order through to final dispatch. The system produced delivery notes, printed package labels, and was linked to electronic weigh scales, which advised which postal service to use based on package weight. The solution also handled product returns, part orders, refunds, and managed back-orders for out-of-stock goods. Customer service personnel could see the status of any order at any time and could advise clients accordingly. The system managed stock control and pricing and would automatically send billing and inventory data to their Sage finance system. Our team worked closely with the wholesaler to understand their workflow processes and design a solution that met their specific needs. The solution was developed using modern software development methodologies and technologies, ensuring that it was reliable, scalable, and easy to maintain.

Impact and Result

The custom software solution developed by our team had a significant impact on the wholesaler's operations. The automation of their order management processes greatly reduced manual processes, improved tracking of orders and returns, and reduced postage costs. By automating fulfilment and dispatch, the wholesaler was able to improve their customer service and reduce the time and resources required to manage these processes. Overall, the custom software solution developed by our team had a significant impact on the wholesaler's operations, improving efficiency, accuracy, and customer service. Our solution provided a scalable, reliable, and easy-to-maintain platform for the wholesaler to manage their order management processes, ensuring that they can continue to provide high-quality ink cartridge products to their clients.