We are approaching the busiest time of the year in ecommerce, writes Carrie Tallett, Senior Product Manager at Forterro’s Orderwise.
Even for those in B2B, the run-up to Christmas is the time when many make the biggest volume of sales.
This is good, but it also brings additional pressure, especially on the warehouse. This is where ERP systems are critical. Modern ERP connects the dots between ecommerce storefronts, the warehouse, supply chains, and customer service, helping deliver the frictionless journeys that customers demand.
In short, it can supercharge ecommerce. This is how.
Automating the customer journey
Ecommerce platforms can provide product recommendations and one-click checkout, but those capabilities are only as strong as the data behind them. ERP ensures that pricing, stock levels, and promotions are accurate across channels. So when a customer clicks ‘buy now’, they don’t later get an email saying the item is out of stock.
By linking ecommerce with ERP, a seller can automate previously manual touchpoints – order confirmations, shipping updates, back-in-stock notifications – without the need for staff to intervene.
Keeping the platform secure and compliant
Technology underpins the entire ecommerce experience, and maintaining the platform is non-negotiable. This matters even more around Black Friday and Cyber Monday and the run-up to Christmas, when ecommerce volumes spike and so do cyber threats.
Peak sales periods are also peak spam and fraud periods, so having ERP integrated with a secure, compliant ecommerce system is essential.
Data-driven decision making
ERP doesn’t just keep systems compliant; it also provides the data sellers need to make smart trading decisions. Historical sales data, stock movement, and customer behaviour can all be analysed to shape promotions and prevent costly overstocking or understocking.
For example, if ERP shows that a certain product line consistently sells out within hours during promotions, retailers can allocate more inventory ahead of peak periods. Likewise, if a product only shifts when heavily discounted, they can adjust margins accordingly.
Future-proofing ecommerce
Whether you’re selling to businesses or consumers, efficiency and speed are now baseline requirements. ERP is the foundation that allows sellers to keep pace.
This is all amplified during peak season. In the coming months there needs to be even more focus on ensuring stock levels are absolutely on point, that fulfilment is quick and the warehouse efficient.
ERP helps retailers do more than just survive peak season. It helps them supercharge their ecommerce strategy all year round.
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