Building The Perfect Shipping Process Workflow

For eCommerce brands, a reliable shipping process workflow is the backbone of your operations. An efficient workflow will help you get orders to customers more quickly and reduce costly errors. 

There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to shipping processes. You’ll need to optimize your workflow based on your business’s needs. Here’s a look at what a shipping process is and how to build a workflow that suits your business needs.

What is a Shipping Process?

A shipping process is a set of steps your business takes to get orders to customers. Most shipping processes have three phases: placement, processing, and fulfillment. 

In the placement stage, your team acknowledges and approves incoming customer orders. The order then moves to processing. In this step, your team checks to ensure that the order is correct and that you have the appropriate inventory in stock to process it. You’ll also need to communicate the order status to the customer and backorder any products you don’t already have. 

The fulfillment stage involves assembling and shipping the order. This includes picking and packing your products and sending them out via your shipping provider. 

Your exact shipping process workflow may vary, depending on the type of product you’re working with and your unique customer base.

How to Build an Effective Shipping Process Workflow

Your shipping process workflow is your team’s roadmap to success. With a solid workflow in place, your team members know exactly what to do when an order comes in, helping you complete shipments more quickly. 

Here’s how to optimize your shipping process workflow for operational efficiency.

Configure Your Warehouse

Your warehouse should be configured to minimize back-and-forth for your team members when packing orders. Ideally, your layout should flow naturally from your order receiving station to your inventory to your packing station. 

You can still create a streamlined layout even if you have a small warehouse space. Focus on minimizing clutter and making it easy for your team to transition from station to station. Depending on the size of your team, you may also be able to set up an assembly line to speed up the process even further.

Automate Your Processes

Many steps in the shipping process can be automated with the help of modern technology. Look for as many opportunities as possible to implement automation and save your team time. 

For example, you can use a digital eCommerce platform and inventory management system to process orders when they come in. The system verifies the customer’s address and shipping preferences and checks to ensure you have the correct product in stock.

Implement Quality Checks

Adding quality checks to your shipping process can help you prevent packing and shipping errors and minimize the number of returns you get. 

Create a checklist for your team to follow as they process orders, and post it throughout the warehouse. Managers should quickly check each order for accuracy and quality before it leaves the warehouse.

Invest in Quality Supplies

Durable packing supplies make the fulfillment process so much easier, and they also add to the customer experience. Instead of opting for the cheapest supplies on the market, look for products with a balance of durability and affordability. 

Looking for a warehouse space where you can build your shipping workflow? ReadySpaces offers flexible workspaces in cities throughout the US and Canada. Get in touch today to find a location and schedule a tour.