How to Choose Ecommerce Order Management Software

Now that you've got an idea of your budget, what you need from your OMS, and how these needs may change in the future, it’s time to look at the most important functions of an ecommerce order management system.

1: Order tracking

It goes without saying that order tracking is the most important basic function of an order management system, so this should be the first factor you consider when weighing up your options.

When the warehouse picks, packs, and ships products, your OMS should also send an order status update to the customer. It should also be able to tell them when to expect their purchase based on their shipping address, and order information. Both you and the customer can then track the package as it travels to its destination.

2: Shipping management

Using multiple couriers to keep costs low or offer a range of shipping options provides a great service for customers but can be hard to manage once your business starts receiving a lot of orders.

Your OMS should allow you to integrate as many different shipping services as you need to provide the best experience for your customers. With an automated system, you can set rules based on product weight, price and delivery region, and the platform will automatically select the best courier choice using this information.

3: Inventory management

Many retail order management systems can predict how much stock you’ll need to avoid over-ordering or over-selling. This can be especially important during peak times for your industry.

An OMS that connects to your inventory gives you more visibility and complete control over managing your stock levels. By automatically syncing your stock levels, you can ensure that all of your sales channels remain up to date. This is especially important if you sell across multiple channels, such as on your own website, in retail stores and through a third party like Not On The High Street.

You can learn more about selling on Not On The High Street in our blog post.

4: Integration across multiple systems

An essential function of an ecommerce management system is its ability to integrate across company infrastructure, service providers, and supply chain technology.

Making sure your OMS is able to interface with multiple internal and external systems will make your order management process as seamless and automated as possible. For the best outcome, check that the OMS can integrate with your accounting software, warehousing systems, couriers, shopping carts and more.

5: Multichannel management

Some solutions support multiple marketplaces, such as WooCommerce, Magento and Shopify, all in the same place.

This allows you streamline the fulfilment process and minimise errors by managing all of your sales channels, orders, stock levels and customer data through a single interface. As well as saving time by avoiding the need to log into and out of different platforms, it also gives you the opportunity to sell through more channels with minimal additional admin.

6: Global reach

We live in an increasingly globalised world, with brands of all sizes taking overseas orders on a daily basis. The right OMS can help you to do this smoothly and efficiently, allowing you to reach more customers while providing a great service every step of the way.

If you already ship internationally, or you’re looking to expand into a global market, make sure your retail order management software can facilitate cross-border ecommerce orders and payments from any currency. This will not only expand your brand’s retail footprint but also allows you to learn and grow in new markets.

7: Dropshipping capabilities

The best order management systems have the ability to set up lists of dropship products and their suppliers, automatically splitting out products from orders you don’t fulfil yourself. This means that you can easily see which orders you’re responsible for, and which have been sent to the respective supplier for fulfilment.

If you don’t use dropshipping, you don’t need to worry about this functionality in your chosen software. However, if the hassle of tracking separate orders is something that has put you off dropshipping, it’s nice to know that an OMS can handle this for you.

8: Brand management

One of the most important benefits of an ecommerce order management system is its positive effect on the customer experience.

Look for the ability to create and edit shipping labels and dispatch notes, allowing you to add your own branding and company information so customers know exactly who their delivery is from, and how to contact you should they have any issues. The option to add or remove certain information from delivery notes is also useful. One example is offering the option to remove price information for those purchasing a gift.

9: Cloud-based server

Cloud-based ecommerce order management systems make it possible to manage the whole dispatch process in one place, from anywhere. This also means that customers can check their order status at any time, providing a better user experience.

Cloud-based solutions are easy to scale, highly configurable and offer fewer delays than single-server solutions. This reduces downtime and allows multiple employees to log on from anywhere, which is ideal for businesses where teams and departments may be based in different parts of the world.

10: Value-added services

Your retail order management software should be flexible enough to adapt to your needs, and support your business as it grows.

Ensure that it has the ability to be customised or reconfigured to your specific needs, and ask whether the platform is continually adding new feature functionality. Some vendors offer implementation support, training and ongoing maintenance, all of which are useful extras to help you get the most out of your OMS.

With so many order management and fulfilment systems on the market, it can be tough to find the right one to meet all your needs. Here are some of the red flags to look out for when choosing between ecommerce order management systems.

Poor integration with current systems

Whether you’re replacing existing retail order management software or setting one up for the first time, you’ll need to make sure that any new solutions are able to function alongside your existing systems. For example, if your website is powered by Shopify, choosing an OMS without Shopify integration means you would have to transfer all your products to a different ecommerce platform, which would be very time consuming.

Lack of third-party integration

Order management is just one step of the overall ecommerce process. Make sure your chosen OMS offers third-party integration with invoicing systems, marketplaces and shopping carts so all your ecommerce programs are able to work together smoothly and efficiently. If the ecommerce order management system has API functionality, this will enable you to link more tools and create a flexible solution to suit your needs.

Inability to scale and evolve

Your business is growing and adapting all the time, so you need a retail order management solution that can keep up. Purchase an OMS that isn’t scalable and you may find that you’ve outgrown it in six months or so, leading to more costs and teething problems while you move to another new solution. Look for software that offers a range of upgradable packages, API functionality, and great integration with other ecommerce systems.

Complicated implementation

As well as the up-front cost and any ongoing monthly fees, it’s important to consider the hidden financial cost required for integration, setup, maintenance and staff training. It’s well worth looking for a vendor that offers a demo, training, implementation assistance and ongoing support to ensure the transition from your old system to the new one goes smoothly.

Single-location server

One of the biggest benefits of ecommerce from a consumer’s point of view is that it allows them to shop whenever is convenient. A cloud-based system gives your employees and customers the ability to check on orders at any time without the need to log on to a server that’s only accessible from a single location. This provides a smoother internal process and better user experience, encouraging repeat custom and boosting your brand image.