BY VICTORIA KICKHAM, SENIOR EDITOR
ORDER FULFILLMENT TECHNOLOGY
In the face of an increasingly complex supply chain, experts point to data,
automation, and flexibility as building blocks of a successful fulfillment strategy.
REFINING YOUR ORDER-FULFILLMENT STRATEGY
is an ongoing process for most organizations, especially in
light of the increasingly complex supply chains that companies find themselves in today. Satisfying demand for a
wider range of products and ever-faster delivery is enough
to keep most shippers busy evaluating new technology and
equipment, and considering process changes that can help
them whisk orders through the pipeline to the end-con-sumer. And although technology plays a larger role than
ever in that process, experts caution that companies looking
to make improvements should take a fundamentals-based
approach to evaluating their fulfillment strategies in order
to make the right moves.
Adrian Kumar, global head of operations science and
analytics for third-party logistics service provider (3PL)
DHL Supply Chain, explains that there are an infinite
number of “solution sets” available to companies seeking
to improve the fulfillment process, and he says it takes
patience and a detailed approach to analyzing a company’s
needs and goals in order to chart the best course.
“We all hear what the industry leaders are doing,” he
says, pointing to the highly automated fulfillment centers
of Amazon.com and other large e-commerce players that
have made big investments in warehouse robotics. “[But
for] someone whose warehouse has 30 or 40 people, that
type of automation wouldn’t pay off. [We say] ‘Where are
you on that spectrum and let’s figure out what options are
available to you.’”
Kumar and other supply chain experts offer three tips
for evaluating your order-fulfillment strategy in 2020: Start
with data, be honest about your automation requirements,
and embrace the flexibility of the technology solutions on
the market today.
1. DRILL DOWN TO THE BEST DATA
The first step in evaluating your order-fulfillment strategy is
to create a company profile. This can be done internally or as
you are working with a 3PL or consultant. Essentially, man-
How to revamp your
order-fulfillment strategy
