The prevalence of fulfillment errors in warehouse operations ultimately leads to high costs and customer dissatisfaction. Customers expect near-instant delivery while retail partners require pinpoint precision. Warehouses that fail to meet both these requirements suffer from monetary and reputational losses.
What’s the solution then? An advanced warehouse management system (WMS), comprising AI-driven optimization and real-time data visibility, can eliminate costly errors. It also automates processes to minimize the risk of human error. Let’s learn more about reducing fulfillment errors with WMS.
- Key takeaways
- The cost of fulfillment errors
- Core features of advanced WMS that reduce errors
- Logiwa IO: Beyond traditional WMS
- Additional benefits of advanced WMS
- Boost operations and scale consistently with the right WMS
- FAQs on reducing fulfillment errors with advanced warehouse management systems
Key takeaways
- Fulfillment errors can lead to revenue losses due to delayed shipments, poor inventory management, and low customer satisfaction.
- Advanced WMS solutions like Logiwa IO offer real-time inventory tracking and intelligent order routing to minimize fulfillment errors.
- Barcode and RFID technologies can improve order fulfillment accuracy by minimizing human mistakes during picking and shipping.
- Scalable WMS systems support business growth while keeping order fulfillment accurate and efficient.
The cost of fulfillment errors
Fulfillment errors become costly setbacks for warehouses over time. Every error carries a financial toll, often leading to return processing fees and lost inventory value. It also leads to customer dissatisfaction as 32% of consumers abandon their orders due to long shipping times.
Beyond the numbers, errors clog warehouse workflows. Workers have to spend extra time correcting mistakes and rechecking orders. When fulfillment isn’t running smoothly, it pulls attention away from scaling the business to simply putting out fires.
However, perhaps the most lasting damage is to customer trust. Around two-thirds of modern customers want to receive their orders within 24 hours. If they receive the wrong item or experience a delay, they’re more likely to share negative reviews or take their business elsewhere. In a survey, 45% of consumers reported telling their friends and family about a negative brand experience. That’s double the damage since businesses lose current and prospective customers. So, a single poor experience can undo months of marketing and brand building.
Unlock a personalized tour of Logiwa IO
Core features of advanced WMS that reduce errors
An advanced warehouse management system is built with a host of features to tackle the most common and costly mistakes in inventory handling and order fulfillment.
Real-time inventory tracking
A common cause of fulfillment errors is outdated or inaccurate inventory data. In the absence of real-time tracking, businesses risk overselling items they no longer have in stock or understocking fast-moving products.
A WMS with real-time inventory tracking eliminates this guesswork by providing constant visibility into stock levels across all locations. Businesses can also synchronize inventory data across sales channels to prevent inventory mismanagement.
For example, Logiwa IO provides real-time inventory tracking in warehouses for multi-location businesses. Management teams can then manage stock accurately and make data-driven decisions about replenishment. Such transparency allows proactive restocking and tighter inventory control.
Automation of manual processes
Manual processes are inherently error-prone. When fulfillment teams rely on spreadsheets, paper pick lists, or manual data entry, even minor oversights can result in mistakes. Automated order processing systems remove much of this human error by standardizing and streamlining fulfillment tasks.
A robust WMS lets businesses automate almost all stages of order processing, such as capturing customer order details, initiating picking, packing, and shipping. Logiwa does this splendidly with its automated order processing features, which reduce the need for manual intervention.
The automation also helps businesses minimize returns and process more orders. It ultimately minimizes strain on warehouse teams during peak seasons while maintaining consistent service levels.
Barcode integration
Barcode scanning helps pick, pack, and ship the right products every time—eliminating the need to rely on visual inspection or paper checklists, subject to human oversight. When warehouse managers integrate barcodes with WMS, every item is scanned and verified during fulfillment. It confirms the handling of correct items and provides a digital audit trail for each transaction.
An upgrade as simple as implementing barcode scanning in warehouse operations can greatly reduce picking errors. Such precision helps businesses scale without compromising on service quality.
Intelligent order routing
Getting the right product to the right customer at the right time depends on how orders are routed through the system. Intelligent order routing uses real-time data to determine the most efficient fulfillment path based on factors like order destination, product availability, warehouse location, and shipping method.
The strategic routing of orders minimizes delays and improves shipping times. More importantly, it cuts down on fulfillment errors caused by inefficient warehouse utilization or manual decision-making.
Logiwa’s WMS analyzes inventory availability and order location to intelligently route orders to the optimal fulfillment center. As a result, products are shipped from the warehouse, which is best positioned to deliver quickly.
Logiwa IO: Beyond traditional WMS
Companies adopting Logiwa IO are often drawn by Logiwa’s seamless ecommerce integrations and streamlined API capabilities. These features enable 3PLs and high-volume brands to manage inventory more efficiently and meet strict delivery timelines.
Integrating Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) with Logiwa’s system helps eliminate human errors and improve order accuracy. Within the first year, one 3PL saw a 215% increase in shipped orders, a 505% rise in completed picking tasks, and a 265x improvement in packing performance.
The partnership allowed 3PL to grow its client base and add four new warehouses. It also built a strong foundation for scalable, error-free fulfillment.
Additional benefits of advanced WMS
As we’ve covered, there are many benefits of warehouse automation and optimization through advanced WMS. Enhanced reporting included. Warehouse managers get access to real-time data and analytics to make informed decisions.
Plus, WMS optimizes labor efficiency by intelligently assigning tasks based on workload, location, and employee availability. It can help improve warehouse employee retention by providing a more organized environment.
As operations scale, an advanced warehouse management system also maintains shipping accuracy across multiple sites and high order volumes. Its flexible architecture supports growing stock-keeping units (SKUs), expanded warehouse footprints, and increased fulfillment demands without the risk of process breakdowns.
Boost operations and scale consistently with the right WMS
Advanced WMS features like real-time inventory tracking, automation, barcode scanning, and intelligent order routing reduce fulfillment errors and enhance accuracy. Warehouse managers who want to use an order fulfillment software for improved accuracy can benefit from Logiwa’s features, like AI-driven optimization and order management.
With such an intuitive system, businesses can meet customer expectations and stay ahead of their competitors while scaling operations error-free. Request a demo to experience the efficiencies of an advanced warehouse management system.
