What Strategies Can Improve Order Fulfillment Rates in a Warehouse? 

In today’s consumer-driven landscape, taking steps to improve order fulfillment rates and efficiency can directly impact growth and customer loyalty. Here are five common strategies that can help you do just that. 

1. Implement an efficient order-picking process.

When your order-picking process is streamlined and efficient, you can reduce the time it takes to pick and pack orders, in turn improving fulfillment rates. Many warehouses boost efficiency through order-picking technologies, such as voice-picking systems, assisted picking cobots or pick-to-light systems, and by optimizing the warehouse layout to minimize the distance traveled by pickers (human or robot). 

2. Use a real-time inventory management system.

By providing always-up-to-date information on the availability of products, real-time inventory management systems can help ensure that orders are fulfilled as quickly as possible.

With real-time visibility and dynamic inventory orchestration, warehouses can reduce the stock shortages that cause order cancellations or holds. 

3. Streamline the packing process.

Packing can be one of the more time-consuming steps in the fulfillment process. Many warehouses decide to streamline packing processes by deploying automated packing systems or optimizing the layout of the packing area to minimize travel distances. Through process efficiencies and automation, warehouses can reduce the time it takes to pack and ship orders, ultimately improving fulfillment rates.  

4. Invest in automation.

By eliminating manual tasks and streamlining processes, automation can help warehouses speed up fulfillment, cut costs and increase accuracy. For example, using robots to pick and pack orders can shorten the time it takes to complete these tasks, which then improves fulfillment rates. 

5. Improve forecasting and demand planning.

Accurate forecasting and demand planning can help ensure that there is enough stock available to meet customer demand. Through data analytics and a consolidated view, warehouses can accurately predict demand, immediately respond to peaks and avoid stock shortages that can cause delays in fulfillment.