Most start-ups and small businesses can get along with QuickBooks and manual processes at first. However, if you are like most, your goal is to be successful and grow your business. When that happens, to be competitive, you are going to need something more. You are so busy running your company, you might not realize it’s time to make a move. However, there are some signs that let you know you can’t keep growing without order management software.
What is Order Management Software?
An order management system (OMS) streamlines workflows, and makes the order and delivery process more efficient. One of the key ways it does this is through automating much of the data entry. An order system that integrates with your existing QuickBooks means that you can get the benefits of order management software without having to start over from scratch. This saves time and money, and makes implementing an OMS quick and easy. Good order software will allow your customers and sales reps the ability to create and check the status of orders. Inventory is tracked and managed. Orders and order fulfillment is done quickly and without error. Pricing and customer information is kept up-to-date, and it can be customized for each customer. Customer inquiries are answered quickly and accurately.
How Do You Know You Need Order Management Software?
- You are expanding order and sales channels. As you grow, you might offer more options than a brick and mortar shop. You might have orders coming from phone, fax, and online. You may expand the number of sales reps and the regions they cover. You may have customers and suppliers from all over the globe. All of this means you have a lot more data coming in from many places. Without a central system to manage inventory, track orders, and provide customer service, mistakes are bound to happen. Since an order management system provides that centralization, you may need an OMS when you decide to expand.
- Data errors are increasing. As the saying goes, “To err is human.” For a small business, manual entry may be fine. As you grow, the data requirements grow as well. With manual data entry, especially when it is entered repeatedly, mistakes are not a matter of “if”, but “when.” Mistakes in inventory management can be costly. Mistakes in orders can be ruinous to your reputation and bottom line. Since an OMS integrates with QuickBooks, information is entered and pulled from QuickBooks automatically, removing many of the human required steps and always keeping orders and inventory in sync.
- Staff needs are increasing rapidly. To meet the increased demand of customer service and data entry, your staff workload is to the point that overtime or additional staff is needed. Because order management software allows your customers and sales reps to create and manage orders and answer questions themselves, the back-office burden is lightened – without sacrificing customer service. Customers and sales reps are automatically alerted to information changes, which again, reduces back-office workload.
The final undeniable proof that you need this software designed for your B2B company is that Your Customers Are Unhappy. Order software cuts down on mistakes. It provides detailed reports that can help you understand customer order patterns and trends. It makes the process from order creation to delivery faster and more efficient. An OMS, by improving customer service and providing a good customer experience, gives your customers more confidence in your abilities. You can’t succeed without customers, and happy customers become loyal customers.
