By Claire Muir of e-fulfilment services provider Amethyst Group

E-fulfilment is everything that happens between the customer hitting the ‘buy’ button and the moment they get their hands on the goods.

E-fulfilment is the customer experience. Of course it’s important for the website to function well and take the money, but often an etailer’s time can get sucked into the front end. The physical customer experience is at the back end.

The behind the scenes back end operations are warehousing and distribution. Receiving and storing stock, receiving orders, picking, packing, delivery and returns. 

Every etailer needs to ensure accuracy in receipt to know what their stock levels are and inform the website. They need to know where each item is. Then they must retrieve (pick) the right items in the right size and colour for each order and pack the goods.

Don’t forget reverse logistics, when a customer returns an item, a refund must be generated and the stock inspected to decide if it’s suitable for resale.

Etailers need a fulfilment strategy to create a seamless shopping experience from the webstore to delivery.

Amethyst Group is an e-fulfilment, logistics and warehousing provider specialising in fashion and beauty. To discuss your e-fulfilment solution contact Claire Muir on 01580 895 857 or visit http://www.amethystgroup-uk.com/fashionandbeauty