saving time and money in warehouse operations

Saving Time and Money in Warehouse OperationsKaren DeWolfe| interlinkONE, Inc. Copyright 2012

Saving Time and Money in Warehouse OperationsKaren DeWolfe

WebinarMay 24th, 2012


Intro: Karen DeWolfe

► interlinkONE – Software (SaaS)► Enterprise Marketing Management Software► Online Ordering, Inventory Management, Fulfillment

► Grow Socially, Inc. – Support Services► Online Marketing/Social Media► Plan, Manage, Execute and Measure


Today’s Overview

► Challenges in the Supply Chain

► Finding Success with:► Online Ordering Portals► Inventory Management► Automation & Customer Service

► Questions and Answers


CHALLENGES IN THE SUPPLY CHAIN


Supply Chain Data

• Report published by the CMO Council

• “A Straight Line to the Front Line”


Why Will We Show You These Charts?

• Because if you can provide solutions to these problems in YOUR warehouse operations and services, you can earn more business!


Inventory and Warehouse Space Waste


Marketing Content: It’s Value to Sales


Improving the Process


Why The Supply Chain Must Be Optimized

How Important Are These Materials to Sales Process?


How You Can Succeed: Starts with the WMS!

Areas Where Improvement Can Often Be Found:

– Online Ordering Portals

– Inventory Management

– Automation & Customer Service


Best Practices for:Online Ordering Portals


Why have an Online Ordering Portal?

• People are comfortable ordering online.

• It can reduce data-transfer time.

• Integrating it with your Warehouse Management System is key! Streamline Order process.


People Like the Amazon.com Model: Make it Easy!


Be Ready for the Mobile Audience


Utilize Print-On-Demand


POD & Variable Data: Increasing Need for Users

Name Interest Status $$ Spent Yearly

John Smith Food Silver 5K

Michelle Jones Card Games Gold 20K

Frank Stafford Shows Platinum 50K


Before the Launch of an Online Ordering Portal

• Test online ordering portal in multiple browsers– Help poll sales reps to find out

what they use

• Keep the mobile audience in mind– Mobile-optimized portal might not

be needed just yet, but watch the growth in numbers!


After the Launch of an Online Ordering Portal

• Provide access to Training videos inside of the ordering portal

• Make it easy for people to ask for help

• Train CSRs how to debug common issues:– Can’t login– Don’t know my password– How do I find a specific item?


Best Practices for:Inventory Management &

Print on Demand


What is Print-on-Demand

The definition:

“ A printing technology and business process in which new copies of a book or some other document are not printed until an order has been received”

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Print_on_demand


Benefits of Print On Demand

• Reduce Costs: Storage, Handling, and Inventory Accounting

• Supports Growing Demand for Shorter Runs

• There is little or no waste from unsold products.


Inventory Management: Automate Cycle Count


Handling Reorder Points: Options

• Static Reorder Point at Product Level

OR…

• Automatic Replenishment Calculations


Option: Automatic Reorder Point Notification

• Fluctuating Reorder Point based on usage over time, amount needed to satisfy orders in months to come.

• Helps to forecast increased demand at different points in the year as well.


Benefits of Automatic Replenishment Options

• It puts your data to use!

• Monitors spikes or dips in activity, order history, inventory amounts, etc.

• Keeps in mind unusual seasons and events: Trade Shows, Yearly Meetings, etc.


Constantly Analyze Your Pick-Ticket Process!

• Is the most popular inventory easily accessible?

• Are the Pick Tickets properly sending your staff in the right path?

• Invest in training and quality circles

• Reward useful feedback from the “pickers”!


Wireless-Enabled Barcode Scanners

• Inventory Receiving

• Checking & Adjusting Inventory Levels

• And more!


Smartphone Access to Key Warehouse Reports

• With a mobile-optimized solution, key warehouse personnel could easily check on inventory levels, order status, backorders, and more from their smartphones.


Best Practices for:Automation & Customer Service


Built-In Help Request Forms


Live Chat Option


Track “Open Carts”

• Eliminate the calls and complaints related to users that were unable to complete their orders the first time through

• Make it possible for them to track what they’ve ordered

• Also, be able to see why items with stock “on hand” are unavailable


Review All Customer Touch-Points

• Pick Tickets• Packing Slips• Order Confirmation Emails• Shipping Notification Emails

Do those items increase your manual work-load or do they help to streamline it?


Saving Time and Money is easy.Where you will see immediate

results


Saving Time and Money

• Ordering Portals that will allow you to:– Get orders in faster and more conveniently– An opportunity to cross sell– Open New Revenue Stream– Save sales time in order and quote taking

• Print On Demand will allow you to:– Use less physical space and resources– Less waste– Faster to market content



• Reorder Automation that will allow you to:– Move beyond ordering a set amount and into predictable

usage– System driven to save CSRs and Product Manger time– Less wasted material in overage

• Electronic Fulfillment will allow you to:– Use less physical space and resources– Less waste– Faster to market content– Less time and material cost



• Efficient Automation and Customer Service will allow you to:– Have users self service– Have answers to questions quickly– Spend less time on support– Save money in resource allocation


Final Thoughts

• Saving Time in Warehouse Operations often involves streamlining processes from end-to-end --- from order entry to the shipment of the order.

• Be committed to measuring and analyzing all areas of your operation consistently!


See you at the MFSA Annual Conference!

CHANGING PERSPECTIVES to Create a Brighter Future


Contact Karen DeWolfe

• Email: [email protected]

• Phone: 978-694-9992

mailto:[email protected]


Request a Demo of our Software

• Would you like to see our Order and Warehouse Management software in action?

Register for a free demo today!http://ilnk.me/fc67

http://ilnk.me/fc67

http://ilnk.me/fc67

http://ilnk.me/fc67


The Book

Strategies, Plans, Case Studies Campaign Ideas, and More.

A guide to help you grow your mailing and fulfillment business!

NewPathToProfit.com


Thank you!

Any questions?


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THANK YOU!

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