Category: Morse Data News and Events

InOrder ERP Saves Time and Reduces Errors With Efficient Access to Functions

Many software programs provide right-click menus to access functions between windows. With InOrder ERP, this feature allows users to be more efficient, rather than having them open and close various windows to do the same tasks.

You would typically see right-click menu options when they’re convenient to use for related functions. For example, InOrder provides a right-click menu for related functions when entering orders. This makes it efficient for Customer Service Representatives to perform additional tasks while they’re assisting customers with order entry. The options on the right-click menu can allow orders to be shipped, cancelled, changed, or other order-related functions can be completed.

CustomerServiceRightClickMenu

While looking up orders for a customer, the right-click menu can also be used to fill an order, repeat it, edit it, or return it, among several other time-saving options, such as sending an invoice or an Email. You can even use this as an opportunity to customize right-click options to fit your business procedures.

InOrderERPOrderLookupRightClickMenu

Right-click menu options are time-savers and can minimize human errors. Be sure to include them in your on-going training for your ERP system.

Contact us for more information about InOrder.

 

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5 eCommerce Practices to Avoid on Your eCommerce Web Store

eCommerceGoingShoppingOnlineBusinesses are making it easier and more pleasant for shoppers to buy from them, so you know that exceptional service, top quality items, and competitive prices are critical. They can determine whether you get sales, good references, and future customers.

Here are five reasons eCommerce shoppers avoid online stores, and insights on making your business more attractive to them.

  • Offer Only Common Products and Limited Choices – According to a study in 2016 by UPS, shoppers prefer to begin searching on marketplaces for product selection and availability. While large selection is important (and the reason many shoppers begin searching at a marketplace), unique products are also important and shoppers will seek them out, rather than settling for common and easy to find items.
  • Don’t Provide Reviews – Reviews can increase sales by steering and bolstering confidence as shoppers are considering their purchases. Additionally, it is important to know what your customers think of your products because then you know how you can improve your offerings, and where you should consider raising or lowering prices. If your ERP system provides the capability, you can enable live crowd sourcing so your customers can provide feedback for products. You can even provide online forums or Q&A sections.  After each purchase, ask for a review of both the shopping experience and the product. This lets the customer know that you still care even after the sale. And when your customers take the time to send their valuable opinions, make sure to review and display them as soon as possible.
  • Charge High Pricing – Pricing is one of the most important considerations for today’s shopper. Even mobile device users compare prices and search for retail coupons. These shoppers enroll in membership/loyalty programs, and check promotions on social media, following retailers for deals, coupons, and holiday specials.
  • Charge High Shipping Costs – Free shipping is very appealing to shoppers, and many will abandon their carts if shipping costs are too high. One successful approach is to offer shipping subscriptions. With this option, customers are much more likely to place frequent orders instead of waiting to buy because they want to make shipping worthwhile.
  • Devise Complicated Return policies – As can be expected with online purchases, returns may be higher. But don’t make your return procedures so complicated that shoppers won’t buy from you. Shoppers are willing to drop off their returns at carrier locations or take their returns to a physical store. In-store return options provide opportunities for retailers to make these experiences easy for shoppers, who might make additional purchases while making their returns. If you have a physical store and customers are willing to visit, use this as an opportunity to build better relationships with them.

From simple return policies, to unique items and competitive prices, today’s shoppers expect the best, and if you don’t provide what they expect, they’ll find another eCommerce site that will.

Contact us for a demo to get your eCommerce InOrder.

 

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What do eCommerce Shoppers Want?

Knowing how your customers shop can mean the difference between finding your products or your competitors’ products. The study by UPS “Pulse of the Online Shopper” explores shopping habits of customers, including where they shop, how they shop, research, delivery preferences, and returns. Volume 4 explores shoppers’ product preferences, pricing importance, as well as the importance of membership/loyalty programs, free shipping, and social media. Here are several helpful insights to what is important to eCommerce shoppers.

  • While large selection is important (and the reason many shoppers begin searching at a marketplace), unique products are so important that shoppers will seek them out, working harder to find them, rather than settling for common and easy to find items.
  • Pricing is one of the most important considerations for today’s shopper. Even mobile device users compare prices and search for retail coupons. These shoppers enroll in membership/loyalty programs, and check promotions on social media, following retailers for deals, coupons, and holiday specials.
  • According to the study, enrollment in membership/loyalty programs is at its highest level in 3 years. Top benefits of these programs include free shipping, special discounts, free returns, and loyalty points/dollars to use on a future purchase.
  • Of all membership/loyalty program benefits listed, free shipping was the most appealing to members. While the importance of free shipping has declined over the past couple of years, many shoppers abandon their carts because of shipping costs.

This link provides a download request for Volume 1. Use this valuable information to help make decisions for winning these shoppers. And, in doing so, grow your business.

Contact us for a demo of how InOrder can help you implement the features so many shoppers demand.

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Helpful Articles for Your Business

Advice for Catalog Marketing from a 40-year catalog marketing veteran.

Many retailers didn’t offer a better mobile shopping experience, despite Cyber Monday’s mobile sales. Which gender dominates the sport of shopping? Check out these Retail Predictions for 2018.

Read this article for a full list of marketing channels all marketers should know how to use, including some “old school” channels that have been proven successful over and over.

This interesting article discusses three customer service trends for 2018.

When your customers visit your website, do they know it’s secure? This article from Google explains how Chrome will display secure https sites as secure, vs. “unsecure” http sites beginning July 2018. InOrder customers can check InOvation (the publication for InOrder customers) for easy steps to implement this sooner.

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Plan Your Inventory SKUs to Minimize Confusion

Rnadom Characters PictureWhen a co-worker’s PC needed repair, the vendor provided amazing service by promptly sending a technician who quickly replaced a part. After the part was replaced, a serial number had to be registered, and when it was completed, the new part did not work. Again, the vendor provided amazing service. A new part was immediately sent, the technician coordinated his arrival with delivery of the part, installed it the next day, and the serial number was registered. Again, the part did not work. This was repeated once more before it was finally realized that the culprit might be the serial number, which contained ambiguous characters. Not only that, but the font used made upper-case and lower-case of some letters look so similar that it was difficult to tell them apart. If the serial number had not been so problematic, the vendor might have saved significant expense in parts, shipping, and labor.

This also holds true when designing item numbers and SKUs for your inventory. Knowledge and planning means you’re using your preferred numbering design without causing problems for yourself (and possibly your customers). Here are some guidelines to consider when designing your inventory numbering system:

  • Special Characters – While using special characters might be a good practice for passwords, it’s not the case for inventory numbers. Some characters can be mistaken for programming functions and might not be interpreted correctly, and others can cause problems with searches. Examples include /, &, <, >, *, etc.
  • Vendor Numbers – Don’t use the same numbers that your vendors use. Using this as a standard inventory numbering system risks high inventory item turnover, loss of item performance history, and an inconsistent numbering system when you change vendors or if you have multiple vendors for one part.
  • Length – Make sure the length is not too long or too short. Stay within the length restrictions of your ERP system, but don’t make the numbers so short that the might be mistaken for a quantity. Using a mix of letters and numbers increases your item numbers while maintaining reasonable length and helping to identify them as item numbers.
  • Empty Spaces –10+ spaces may cause problems with search results.
  • Ambiguous Characters – Avoid characters that can be confused with each other. These include characters such as capital eye, lower-case L, zero, and capital oh. Depending on fonts, add Cc, Kk, Pp, Ss, t+, Ww, t+, Uu, Vv, Xx, Zz, and number one to the list of characters to mistrust.

Simply omitting certain characters from your numbering scheme can prevent frustration for you, your employees, and your customers. In some cases, it can even save you money.

Contact us for more information about getting your inventory InOrder.

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Easy Return Policies Could Attract More eCommerce Customers

Most (if not all) eCommerce websites include a section with their return policies, which include details about returning items with or without receipts, which products can be returned and when, which products cannot be returned, and more. When I shop online, two options I find particularly appealing are the ability to return an item to the store, and free return shipping.

Free Return Shipping

Free Return Shipping could make a difference in where your customers shop. Customers want this. Free return shipping doesn’t mean customers will return everything they buy, but they’re trusting that your products are worth buying without seeing them or touching them first-hand. It assures them that you stand by your products and care enough to provide top-notch service. Shoppers prefer to shop at stores that offer free returns, so it could be a small price to attract more customers. If you offer this, be sure to promote it clearly so shoppers don’t miss it.

Return to Store

ShoppingBagsCoupleThis option is attractive to shoppers who actually prefer to take their returns to a physical store. It involves no shipping expense, it’s faster in some cases, it’s convenient, it provides immediate credit, and shoppers don’t have to walk out empty-handed if they want an exchange. This provides golden opportunities for retailers to make these experiences easy for shoppers, who might make additional purchases while making their returns. It can also create a positive experience and lead to future shopping.

If you offer either of these return options, be sure to promote them on your website – it might make a difference in where shoppers spend their money.

Contact us for more information about eCommerce solutions with InOrder.

 

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Offer These Services to Attract More eCommerce Shoppers

Businesses are making it easier and easier for shoppers to buy from them. One service that has grown in popularity and value for both businesses and shoppers is the ability to buy online and pick up orders from the store. This has become a common option, with a focus on convenience and speed. When shoppers pick up their orders, they may not have time to continue shopping. Instead, they want the pickup process to be easy, efficient, and fast. Some businesses simply have the orders ready at a common checkout counter, while others may provide a dedicated pickup area. Another option is to reserve an item online and then check it out or try it on in the store. If you’re considering theses services for your customers, be sure to include all of the following qualities:

  • Easy – Identify items that are available for this service so customers can find them in search results. When it’s time for  pickup, make sure it’s easy to find your pickup counter, even if it’s in the back of the store. If shoppers must search for a pickup counter, they may very well get frustrated enough to avoid it in the future.
  • Efficient – If customers wanted to go through the in-store shopping experience, they probably wouldn’t spend the time shopping online first. Don’t make them endure a lengthy process or long lines that include in-store shoppers. Instead, give them their orders quickly. If possible, designate a separate area to pick up online orders, where it will be easy to access and check out.
  • Fast – If customers are in a hurry, they need to get their orders and go. When convenience is important and you meet that need, chances are they’ll be back.

eCommerceGoingShoppingOnlineAnother option that is gaining popularity is outside pickup service, which allows customers to remain in their cars while you bring their orders to them. This service may include filling shopping lists, packing items, and loading cars. It is especially valuable to people in a hurry, parents with a carload of kids, people for whom it is difficult to shop, emergency purchases, and last-minute gifts. People taking advantage of these services could even shop online more often, so be sure your customers know about these options if you make them available.

You can also make an app available for mobile shopping and pickup arrangements. Restaurants and grocers have offered these services for years, providing same-day delivery and having orders ready at a drive-through.  Retailers are recognizing the value of these services for both themselves and their customers, and customers are embracing them.

Contact us for more information about eCommerce solutions with InOrder.

 

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Helpful Articles for Your Business

PieChartIn its 2017 Pulse of the Online Shopper Study, UPS provides insights for attracting shoppers. As we’ve mentioned, access to customer service during checkout, searching, and browsing is important. Now you can see statistics. The results of this study are provided in a series of five volumes, including:

  • Volume 1 – Digital Evolution
  • Volume 2 – A Mobile Mindset
  • Volume 3 – Channel Dynamics
  • Volume 4 – Savvy Shoppers
  • Volume 5 – Retail Fundamentals

This link provides a download request for Volume 1. Use this valuable information to help you make decisions for winning these shoppers. And, in doing so, grow your business.

If your business is concerned about PCI-DSS Compliance, read this article from the PCI Security Standards Council. It explains SSL/early TLS, its risks, and what to do to protect against its vulnerabilities.

Is it hard to find people willing to work in a warehouse? This article discusses using robots as a possible solution.

Love your product, listen to your customers, and care about their needs. This article provides these 3 tips for success in direct sales. All 3 also apply to eCommerce, wholesale, and so many other service-related activities.

 

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Customer Service Options for eCommerce

InOrderDemoeCommercePicYou know that exceptional Customer Service is critical. It can determine whether you get sales, good references, and future customers. You can use a variety of services to attract and keep your eCommerce customers, each with its own benefits. Here is a list of options and how they can be useful.

  • Email – Some people prefer to use Email, so be sure you can be reached this way as well as all of the others. Just as it’s important for customers to contact you, it’s also important for you to contact your customers. You can use Email to acknowledge orders, notify customers about shipments, approve returns, reset passwords, send digital products, promotions, and other targeted marketing efforts. Make sure to keep your mailing lists current, and allow shoppers to choose which messages they receive to increase their effectiveness. Use your ERP system to log messages that are sent, providing customer service reps more opportunity to enhance the service experience when customers call.
  • FAQs/Q&A – As people get more comfortable shopping with their devices, they need less personal contact less and less. This makes it more important for you to anticipate all the information they will need, such as answers to the most common questions  you receive. Providing this information with each item or service gives your customers the information they need make purchase decisions.
  • Phone – Too often, online businesses use Email as the only means of contact, or a phone number is not easy to find. If shoppers have a question about your business or products, or a problem navigating your site, make sure you can help without making them wait. Customer Service should always be at your customers’ fingertips. Make sure your customers can reach you immediately with any questions. Display your phone number where it can be easily and quickly seen. If shoppers have questions or problems navigating your site, make sure you can help without making them wait.
  • Social Media – Word of mouth can be the best form of reference. It can also be the worst. Whether someone is asking neighbors if they know a good plumber or roofer or telling neighbors about their plumber or roofer, personal experiences spread fast with social media. If your customers are on social media (or if you want to attract customers who are on social media), your business must be there too.
  • Community / Customer ParticipationReviews can increase sales by steering and bolstering confidence as shoppers are considering their purchases. If your ERP system provides the capability, you can enable live crowd sourcing so your customers can provide feedback for products. You can even create your own form of social media, providing online forums or Q&A sections that allow customers to contribute.

Clear communication and availability is critical in providing exceptional customer service to your eCommerce customers. Sometimes, something may happen to make a customer unhappy. Build your reputation as the business that responds appropriately and professionally.

 

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5 Ways InOrder ERP is Perfect for Managing your Inventory

Your products, your services, your location, your tools, and of course, your employees. All of these help your business succeed. If they’re not working together efficiently, it will impact your customer satisfaction and your bottom line. Here are five ways your ERP system can help.

Inventory Item Dimensions

If your company sells multiple variations of single items (style, color, size, etc.), then InOrder is for you. InOrder’s inventory management system allows you to define up to eight variations (dimensions) for a product, with unlimited values for each dimension.

When placing an order for an item with dimensions, simply enter the item number, and InOrder shows all available options in an easy to use grid.

InOrder ERP Inventory Dimensions

Alternatively, you can specify the dimensional SKU or UPC code.

Reserving Inventory

What happens when a wholesale customer unexpectedly orders the last of your inventory for a particular product? How long do your retail customers have to wait for the backorder? And how many customers will you lose because they don’t want to wait?

With a good ERP system, you can prevent this from causing you to lose revenue from non-wholesale orders. Simply reserve a specific quantity of each item for your retail customers. When an order is placed by a wholesale customer, that reserved quantity isn’t even available.

Inventory Labels

Inventory barcodes are a necessity. Placing labels with barcodes on your products helps quickly identify them and can help prevent mistakes during picking, Point of Sale (POS), and physical inventory.

InOrder ERP Inventory Label SamplesKits and Kits on the Fly

The InOrder Kit Definitions feature allows you to assemble multiple items for sale as a single item. With this functionality, you can track the inventory, component assembly and disassembly, sales, and costs of the assembled kit and its component items.

When an out-of-stock inventory item is ordered, you can substitute either a single in-stock inventory item for another brand of the same item, or you can substitute a group of inventory items (Kit-on-the-Fly). This feature works best when you have many items that are typically ordered together, but you need the ability to ship what is in stock.

RF Communication

InOrder ERP RF Use an RF communication system from top quality ERP software to efficiently handle inventory through real-time inventory tasks, improving productivity and control for major warehouse functions. After rolling out an RF system, a warehouse can significantly decrease paper processing and increase its inventory receipt processing from an average of 20 line items per hour to 55 line items per hour, per person. InOrder RF also supports inventory dimensions.

For more information about Inventory Management with InOrder, contact sales@morsedata.com.

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