By Claire Muir of e-fulfilment services provider Amethyst Group
Essentially, there are 5 core warehousing tasks, receipt, putaway, storage, pick & pack, and returns. Understand the level of service quality you would like to achieve in each area.
Create a clear procedure for each task. Usually a one page document for each task is sufficient. Together these act as a manual which can be updated.
Whenever you have a new or temporary person in the warehouse they’ll see exactly what they need to do and your service will stay consistent.
As an example, for a returns procedure, you might specify what checks to make to determine whether you can put the garment back into stock; photos can often be used for this.
You may also decide on a service level of 100% of your returns to be processed within 24 hours, in order to generate the refund to the customer’s card.
Ensure your procedures help you comply with the distance selling regulations and there is good and frequent communication with all team members.
Plan regular reviews to examine performance, make improvements and plan for the future.
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
