New or updated technology throughout the entirety of the supply chain management system is key to giving a better online shopping experience. Customers expect their shipments to arrive on time and with everything they have ordered. Updating these technologies to improve speed and accuracy allows e-commerce companies the ability to deliver the experience they want to every online customer. Implementing three new technologies — an ERP accounting system, a warehouse management system, and a pick to light system — can increase the supply chain efficiency, give online customers their desired shopping experience and can even lead to a stronger bottom line for online retailers.
For instance, Amazon.com, Inc. uses robots in its fulfillment centers to assist associates in performing operations and drive faster shipping times. With the majority of online purchasing sales coming from the urban area, and consumers increasingly demanding product delivery in the shortest possible turnaround time, the location of a fulfillment center is of strategic importance to e-commerce companies. Having centers near major cities that not only house products, but also perform other fulfillment services like sorting, bundling, labeling, and shipping helps players deliver products in a shorter turnaround time and win customers’ confidence.