How to Choose the Right Order Management System

Built for retailers, an order management system (OMS) is a technology that helps track orders across commerce channels. An eCommerce order management system helps with order processing and order fulfillment. It also allows companies to streamline the fulfillment process to better manage inventory, improve warehouse management, and bolster customer comms.

Some order management systems track orders for brick-and-mortar retailers across stores. Other order management software tracks orders from an online store and in the retailer’s app. Others still, like “omnichannel” order management systems, help companies organize, streamline and fulfill orders across channels.

How Does eCommerce Order Management Work?

In short, an eCommerce order management acts much like the foreman on a construction site, with centralized visibility on orders at its control. The eCommerce order management system houses the “blueprints” of the retailer’s operations, including each order touchpoint across online and in-store, and all fulfillment centers, including distribution centers and warehouses. The order management system has a complex understanding of each step that needs to happen for each order to be managed effectively, not just individually, but on the whole: the orchestration of inventory management, the selection of the best fulfillment center for each order, the providing of insights to help retailers keep fulfillment costs down, and the delivery of the best possible CX.

What’s more, a good eCommerce OMS doesn’t just organize orders; it also optimizes orders against business rules. An effective eCommerce order management system can calculate the best order routing, predict how much inventory is needed at specific fulfillment centers, and help retailers determine if setting up a new fulfillment option such as curbside pickup would be valuable.

Order management systems integrate with other technologies in order to keep the entire retail system unified. They pull in inventory information, order data from POS systems in-store and from eCommerce systems, and push information out to logistics services, delivery services, and customer communication technologies like email and content management systems.

The more modern and open the retail order management software, the better it can integrate with these systems. And the better it can offer flexibility for the retailer to customize their order management solution to fit their business.

Benefits of an Order Management System

Today’s retail environment is omnichannel, which means that a single customer is purchasing from the same retailer on several channels. These customers have become used to fast and reliable order fulfillment, customer service, and delivery turnarounds. Companies like Amazon have raised the bar of what customers expect from a retailer, making efficient eCommerce order management a non-negotiable.

Retailers are dealing with increasingly complex logistics, a broadening and deepening of customer data, and new fulfillment demands such as curbside pickup.

eCommerce order management helps with both customer demands and omnichannel logistics, maximizing the customer experience and business operations and ROI in turn.

For example, the order management system can offer real-time inventory visibility that helps store associates locate an item for a customer, and helps an online customer purchase the “last item left” online, with accuracy. The OMS can handle seamless order routing, even for a multi-country retailer with a variety of distribution centers. Better yet, a leading OMS helps retailers eliminate redundancies, understand buying patterns, and support a wide variety of fulfillment types.

How to Choose the Order Management System for You

Some eCommerce OMS systems are hyper-expansive, and include many features that an online-only retailer wouldn’t necessarily need. For example, some “OMS” technologies are really warehouse management systems (WMS) that were built for the world’s very largest retailers. They require long lead times to implement, frequent configuration, and large development resources.

Other eCommerce OMS systems are very lightweight, meant for a small online store with simple fulfillment options. In between are options built for omnichannel retailers, with varying levels of flexibility and usability.

It’s important to remember that an order management system is an integrated part of the retailer’s tech stack. Therefore, finding a composable eCommerce OMS that can easily integrate with the technology a retailer already has is important. Look for modern headless software that has open APIs that can allow data to flow easily, and allow for custom workflows between UIs. The best eCommerce OMS is microservices-based, which allows retailers to select the functionality they need now, without cumbersome extras. This kind of design also sets retailers up for growth in the future.

And, a good eCommerce OMS should be designed to handle big changes in volume. The last thing a retailer needs is for their site to crash on Black Friday!

Not only does the eCommerce OMS have to fit in with existing tech, it has to fit in with its users. A good eCommerce OMS has sophisticated capabilities that are easy to use, even by non-technical retailer and marketer staff. Setting up workflows, opening new fulfillment options, and changing promotions and pricing should be intuitive.

Frequently Asked Questions About eCommerce OMS

Does an OMS enhance the commerce experience?

The eCommerce OMS is a logistics powerhouse. A modern solution helps companies streamline and route orders, keep track of inventory, and meet customer fulfillment expectations. These things go hand in hand with the product information, pricing, checkout, and post-sales experience driven by an eCommerce platform. A great OMS fits seamlessly with the eCommerce system, so that each enhances the customer experience and helps meet business sales goals.

Is it important that I invest in a distributed order management system?

Some people may ask, “Why now?” The fact is that millions more online transactions occur now than even one year ago. What’s more, people expect fast and intuitive service, wherever they live. They expect accurate product availability and delivery information. Companies are competing with powerhouse retailers like Amazon, and need technology that streamlines orders effectively to continue to be competitive. Now is the right time to implement a Distributed OMS that can to grow with a retailer as they evolve, either by offering new options like click-and-collect, or by expanding their online operations across sales channels or new markets.

How does OMS affect the customer experience?

The OMS is a backend technology that surely affects the customer experience. Some companies purchase an OMS thinking only about backend logistics, rather than the effect that it has on customer service. But it’s important to understand what the customer experience is like: when customers are searching for a product or estimated delivery time, or when they are trying Buy Online, Pickup Instore (BOPIS) or curbside pickup for the first time.

Remember that a good eCommerce order management system helps with customer service and ROI.

Brief Introduction to Kibo Order Management System

In brief, Kibo future-proofs your business with speedy time-to-value, agile operations, and low-tech overhead. It’s a modern, headless OMS that works with your business now, and grows with it as needed.

Kibo unifies omnichannel order management in an easy-to-use platform that is microservices-based, so you get exactly what you need. No clunky extras needed.  With so much uncertainty in retail, Kibo is the OMS you can count on.

Our clients like that we offer:

Modern Headless Technology

With enterprise-level flexibility, you can easily integrate Kibo into current tech. With open APIs and data inflow and outflow, Kibo works with your technology now and later.

Microservices-Based Architecture

Get what you need, and adapt workflows to streamline your current business processes.

Smart Order Routing

With intelligent order routing, you can transform stores into fulfillment centers. Automate routing decisions to optimize for cost and service and make changes with just a few clicks.

Real-Time Inventory Visibility

Real-time inventory visibility is vital to the success of distribution strategies like omnichannel fulfillment and business goals such as reducing inventory holding costs.

Dedicated UIs and In-Store Tools

Get easy-to-use interfaces that help your employees fulfill orders easily and complete sales from anywhere. Quickly add and onramp new users and customize accordingly, without needing technology support.

Would you like to speak with a digital commerce expert to see how Kibo’s eCommerce order management platform could help your business? Request a demo.