Transitioning to an online ordering system could be a vital step for your wholesale business to thrive and grow. Back office operations involve essential functions such as accounting, finance, inventory management, and shipping — all of which are crucial for keeping your business running smoothly. Customers are primarily concerned with the outcomes of these processes; they want fast and accurate order management. While back office processes themselves do not generate profit, inefficiencies in these areas can lead to unnecessary costs that impact the front office. Implementing an online ordering system enhances efficiency and helps streamline these operations.
The advantages
There are several significant benefits to an online system. First, all the information needed by employees and customers is stored in a central database that can be accessed anywhere. When placing orders, tracking pending orders, or reviewing their pricing and order history, customers are not limited by office hours. Allowing customers to log in to an online ordering system to place and track their orders provides them with greater flexibility to meet their needs. Additionally, viewing pending transactions and order history quickly instills confidence in customers that the process is functioning as it should. This confidence and satisfaction contribute to increased customer loyalty and repeat orders.
When your online order system integrates with QuickBooks and automates much of the order processing, there are fewer opportunities for mistakes in data entry—mistakes that can cost you customers. Changes to pricing, inventory, or policies for customers are automatically updated without the need for manual entry. This leads to quicker order processing and allows customers 24/7 access to find answers to their questions and check on their orders. As a result, employees and sales representatives are freed from fielding phone calls and handling customer inquiries, which eliminates time-consuming manual paperwork. Payroll costs are kept down, enabling employees and representatives to focus on the more productive aspects of their jobs.
Online order systems are scalable. You can easily add new customer accounts to your portal as you acquire new customers. This flexibility supports your growth without necessitating the hiring of additional employees to meet increased customer demands, which further helps to keep payroll costs down.
An automated online order system simplifies inventory management. You won’t disappoint customers with outdated inventory information or out-of-stock issues. With an online system, you can accurately view inventory status without needing to access multiple programs or spreadsheets. There’s no need to gather information from different departments within your company; everything is accessible online in your order system software. This eliminates inventory errors and data entry mistakes, allowing your customers to plan their own inventory order schedules better, knowing that your information is accurate and up-to-date.
Protecting your business
Your back office may not be in the public’s eye, but your reputation is. Inefficient, poorly handled back office processes can destroy your ability to maintain old customers and attract new ones. Using an online order system can solve many back-office issues. It can keep your back office humming, sales reps selling, and your customers happy and ordering.
