Effective Order Splitting: Streamlining E-commerce Fulfillment
Within the world of e-commerce, customer expectations are far from slowing down. In fact, customers expect their orders faster than ever, putting increasing pressure on businesses to optimize their fulfillment processes.
One strategy to help streamline operations and meet customer demands more effectively is order splitting. In this article, we will explore what order splitting is, why it is used, the challenges, and how businesses can implement it successfully.
What is Order Splitting?
Ever had an order arrive in 2 separate boxes? Or only had half of your order arrive to have the other half delivered the following day?
That’s order splitting.
Order splitting (split shipping) is the process of dividing a customer's order into multiple shipments. Instead of sending all items in one package, items are shipped from different locations or at different times, depending on their availability and the logistics involved. This can mean splitting an order between multiple warehouses or even sending part of the order immediately while waiting for other items to become available.
Why is Order Splitting Used?
Faster Delivery Times
One of the primary reasons for order splitting is to reduce delivery times. If a customer orders multiple items, and one of them is out of stock at the nearest warehouse, the entire order might be delayed if shipped together. By splitting the order, available items can be shipped immediately, ensuring faster delivery for part of the order. However, to avoid customer frustration, be sure to communicate this so customers are not left wondering if the other part of their order has been lost or forgotten.
Inventory Optimization
Order splitting allows businesses to optimize their inventory management. By shipping items from multiple locations, companies can balance stock levels across warehouses, reducing the risk of overstocking or stockouts in any single location. This leads to more efficient use of inventory and storage space.
Cost Efficiency
Shipping costs can be a significant expense for e-commerce businesses. Order splitting can help reduce these costs by allowing items to be shipped from the closest warehouse, minimizing shipping distances and costs. Additionally, it can help avoid expedited shipping fees that might be necessary if waiting for all items to be available at a single location.
Use the VESYL USPS Zone Map for a clear breakdown of shipping zones and costs.
Improved Customer Satisfaction
By splitting orders and shipping available items immediately, businesses can improve customer satisfaction. This demonstrates a commitment from the brand to deliver orders to their customers as quickly as possible and when communicated well, can foster further trust and brand loyalty. This partial fulfillment can be especially beneficial during peak shopping seasons when delays are more common.
Challenges of Order Splitting in E-commerce
Increased Complexity
Order splitting can add a layer of complexity to the fulfillment process. Businesses must have systems in place to manage multiple shipments, track inventory across various locations, and ensure accurate order processing. This can require robust order management software and efficient coordination between warehouses.
In VESYL, you can view these split orders in the Orders tab. They will show the same order number but will show different tracking numbers and shipping information.
Higher Shipping Costs
While order splitting can reduce shipping costs in some cases, it can also lead to higher costs if not managed properly. Multiple shipments mean multiple shipping fees, which can add up if not carefully monitored. Businesses need to analyze zones and shipping costs and determine the most cost-effective way to split orders.
Customer Communication
Effective communication with customers is crucial when splitting orders. Customers need to be informed about the multiple shipments, expected delivery times, and any additional tracking information. Failure to communicate clearly can lead to confusion, dissatisfaction and reduced brand loyalty.
Inventory Management
Order splitting requires precise inventory management to ensure that items are shipped from the correct locations. Inaccurate inventory data can result in delays, stockouts, or shipping errors which can make or break a customer relationship. By leveraging inventory management software and ensuring it is up to date, brands can mitigate these risks.
Simplified Order Splitting with VESYL
With VESYL, it’s simple to split orders and view shipping information in one place. Simply navigate to orders, select edit and split. From here, shippers are able to move items between the order split and can ship the split orders using different rates and carriers. This is particularly useful for stores who have one item of the order out of stock, or if one item is particularly large or heavy and it is cost effective to use a different carrier to the rest of the order.
For a step-by-step guide to order splitting on VESYL, head on over to our Help Desk. For a complete demo of order splitting with VESYL, schedule a call and we’ll show you the ropes. For any questions, feel free to email us at hello@vesyl.com.
Conclusion
By enabling faster delivery times, optimizing inventory management, and potentially reducing shipping costs, order splitting offers significant advantages. However, businesses must also carefully navigate the challenges.
With the right systems and strategies in place, order splitting can become an effective tool in e-commerce operations, helping businesses stay competitive in an incredibly fast-paced environment.
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Starting July 1st, 2024, USPS is implementing new shipping rates for various services and packages. Here’s a detailed look at what’s changing:
USPS Shipping Changes: What You Need to Know
Ground Advantage
- Price Increases for Packages Over 1 Pound: Rates will rise by up to $2.11, particularly affecting packages in the 1-5 pound range.
- Price Increases for Packages Under 1 Pound: Rates will increase by up to 33 cents for zones 6-8.
- Cubic Pricing: Ground Advantage Cubic rates are increasing by up to $1.67.
Priority Mail
- Weight-Based Rates: Prices will increase by up to $3.10.
- Cubic Rates: Expect an increase of up to $2.97.
- Flat Rate Prices: These will go up by as much as $1.18.
Discount Adjustments
- The maximum discounts available for USPS compared to Retail Pricing will drop from 89% to 88%.
Additional Changes Effective July 14th
- Media Mail Rates: These will increase by up to 56 cents.
- Signature Confirmation: The cost is going up by 20 cents, bringing the total to $3.70.
These changes are universal across all platforms where you can buy postage online.
Best-In-Class Rates with VESYL
Despite these increases, VESYL continues to offer the best-in-class shipping rates through its partnership with USPS and other carriers. Our goal is to streamline your shipping operations, providing discounted rates for a silky smooth fulfillment process.
Navigating the Changes
By staying ahead, you can make the best informed decisions for your shipping needs. Utilize VESYL’s simple rate shopping feature to compare rates and make informed decisions on the best options for your shipping needs, whether you're shipping 1 or 1000's of packages a day.
Want to learn more about VESYL's smooth shipping software? Book a demo with us or read more.
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In the fast-paced world of e-commerce, efficiency is a necessity for brands of all types and sizes. From streamlining the shopping experience to optimizing logistics, every aspect of e-commerce hinges on the ability to do more with less.
Enter QR codes.
The unassuming squares of black and white pixels that are quietly transforming the landscape of online shopping.
What are QR Codes?
QR codes, short for Quick Response codes, have been around for decades. However, their potential in e-commerce has only recently been fully realized. These two-dimensional barcodes encode information that can be quickly and easily scanned and processed by smartphones.
How Are QR Codes Revolutionizing E-commerce Efficiency?
Providing Seamless Shopping Experiences
One of the most significant ways QR codes are improving e-commerce efficiency is by streamlining the shopping experience for customers. Traditionally, online shoppers faced long checkout processes, especially when it came to entering shipping and payment details manually, resulting in a high number of abandoned carts. However, with QR codes, these steps can be simplified significantly. By scanning a QR code at checkout, customers can instantly access their account information, eliminating the need for tedious data entry and reducing the risk of errors.
Moreover, QR codes are being integrated into product packaging to provide shoppers with instant access to additional information. Whether it's product specifications, user reviews, or instructional videos, scanning a QR code allows customers to make more informed purchasing decisions without having to search for information manually. This allows costumers to have all of the information at their fingertips to make a fully informed decision. This also fosters customer trust, especially in industries where counterfeit products are an issue.
Optimizing Logistics
Beyond improving the shopping experience, QR codes are also revolutionizing the logistics of e-commerce. For inventory management, QR codes have become an invaluable tool for quick and simple real-time inventory information such as stock levels, restocking requirements and warehouse locations. This reduces the risk of both over and under stocking allowing brands to better prepare for customer demands.
Another area where they are making a significant impact is in shipping and delivery processes. Traditionally, shipping labels had to be printed and affixed to packages manually, consuming time and resources. However, with QR codes, this task becomes as simple as a scan.
Many e-commerce platforms now offer QR code-based shipping labels, allowing merchants to generate labels digitally and attach them to packages with ease. This not only saves time and reduces costs but also minimizes the risk of errors associated with manual data entry. With this, customers can now track their orders at every step of the way allowing shoppers to know exactly when to expect their package, as opposed to the 5 hour delivery windows often given.
QR Codes are also proving their value when it comes to returns. Instead of having to ask customers to print labels and deal with printers, brands can send return labels directly to customers via QR codes. Removing the need for printers, customers can then take the package to the local drop off where the QR code is scanned on their phone, and the label is correctly printed and attached by the carrier.
VESYL provides the option for shippers to print their labels or download them as QR codes. This is not only a great option for streamlining returns, but also eliminates the time associated with printing and attaching labels to packages. Learn more about our shipping software or book a quick demo with us.
Enhanced Marketing Opportunities
In addition to their operational benefits, QR codes also present exciting marketing opportunities for e-commerce businesses. By incorporating QR codes into materials, such as advertisements, flyers, or product packaging, brands can engage customers in interactive experiences.
For example, scanning a QR code might lead customers to exclusive discounts, promotional offers, or interactive content, fostering brand loyalty and driving conversions. Moreover, QR codes can be used to gather valuable data about customer behavior and preferences, enabling brands to tailor their marketing strategies more effectively.
Once customers have received their order, QR codes are an effective way to encourage customers to share their feedback and product reviews.
Looking Ahead
From simplifying checkout processes to optimizing logistics and enhancing marketing efforts, QR codes offer a vast range of benefits for both stores and customers alike. By embracing this technology, e-commerce businesses can stay ahead of demands and deliver exceptional shopping experiences in an increasingly competitive landscape.
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As businesses grow and order volumes increase, the need for streamlined shipping processes becomes critical. Not to mention, with e-commerce behemoths like Amazon shifting consumers’ expectations, brands can no longer afford to overlook their fulfillment operations.
Introducing VESYL’s Batch Ship feature, a shipping game-changer designed to help businesses save time and enhance productivity by allowing the printing of multiple shipping labels at once, all while enjoying the most competitive shipping rates. Here’s how Batch Ship can revolutionize your shipping operations.
The Challenge of Standard Shipping Processes
Standard shipping processes often involve manually printing shipping labels one by one, which is not only time-consuming, but also prone to errors. This method is not sustainable for businesses handling large volumes of orders, especially during peak seasons. The repetitive nature of this task can lead to significant time wastage and operational inefficiencies.
Introducing Batch Ship on VESYL
VESYL’s Batch Ship feature addresses these challenges head-on. By enabling users to print multiple shipping labels simultaneously, Batch Ship significantly reduces the time and effort required in the shipping process. This feature is designed with the shipper in mind, offering a seamless and intuitive experience.
Key Benefits of Batch Ship
- Time Savings: Batch Ship allows you to print hundreds of labels in a fraction of the time it would take to print them individually. This is particularly beneficial for businesses with high order volumes.
- Increased Efficiency: With Batch Ship, the entire shipping process becomes more streamlined. Orders can be processed faster, leading to quicker turnaround times and improved customer satisfaction.
- Error Reduction: Automating the label printing process minimizes the risk of errors that can occur with manual entry. This ensures that each package is accurately labeled, reducing the chances of mis-shipments.
- Cost-Effective: By saving time and reducing errors, Batch Ship helps lower operational costs. Employees can focus on more critical tasks instead of spending hours on label printing. Not to mention, Batch Ship still allows you to shop the best-in-class shipping rates, further reducing shipping costs.
How Batch Ship Works
Implementing Batch Ship on VESYL’s Shipping Software is straightforward. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to get started:
- Upload Orders: Start by uploading your order list to the VESYL’s platform. This can be done via integration with your e-commerce platform or by importing a CSV file.
- Select Orders: Choose the orders you wish to buy labels for. VESYL allows for easy selection, whether you’re printing labels for all orders or a specific subset. Once you’ve selected the orders, above the orders list, click “Buy xxx Labels”. Immediately after, an alert screen will appear with the shipping and cost information and a “Purchase” button. Once you have verified the information, click “Purchase”.
- Generate Labels: You will then see the batch page showing how many labels were purchased, the status, along with tracking numbers for each order. On the right hand side you will see a dollar sign ($) allowing you to refund the label and an eye button allowing you to view the shipment. At the top right you will see a Print Labels button allowing you to print the shipments.
- Print Labels: Print all the generated labels at once using a compatible printer. VESYL supports various printer types and label formats, ensuring compatibility with your existing setup.
- Ship Orders: Once labels are printed, affix them to the respective packages and proceed with shipping. The streamlined process ensures that your orders are ready for dispatch in no time with the best-in-class rates.
Click here for our complete step by step guide to Batch Ship.
Real-World Impact
Businesses using VESYLs Shipping Software’s Batch Ship feature have reported significant improvements in their shipping operations. For instance, an online retailer handling hundreds of orders daily reduced their label printing time drastically, allowing their staff to focus on other critical areas such as customer service and inventory management.
Conclusion
In the increasingly demanding world of e-commerce, efficiency can make or break a business. VESYLs Shipping Software’s Batch Ship feature offers a practical solution to the challenges of traditional shipping processes. By enabling the printing of multiple shipping labels at once, Batch Ship saves time, increases efficiency, reduces errors, and ultimately enhances overall productivity.
For more information on how VESYLs Shipping Software can help streamline your business and cut shipping costs, visit our website or contact our support team.
Let us help you to level-up your shipping game. Get a free evaluation on us, or book a demo with us today!