E-commerce sales grew an incredible 44% in 2020 according to estimates from Digital Commerce. In fact, the percentage of overall sales coming from online commerce channels has been on the rise for years even before brick-and-mortar shutdowns brought on by COVID-19 lockdowns.

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With a growing number of consumers choosing to shop online, e-commerce businesses need to be prepared to handle increasingly large volumes of orders. Not only do ecommerce businesses need to be able to efficiently fill orders, but to stay competitive in today’s market, there is an expectation of businesses optimizing warehouse and fulfillment center operations for faster processing times. This means implementing efficient inventory management systems, improving warehouse layouts, and leveraging automation and warehouse management technology to fill orders.

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With the rise of same-day and next-day delivery expectations, the pressure on warehouses to operate quickly has never been higher. Above all, the demand for accuracy in order fulfillment is paramount, as any errors can result in dissatisfied customers and costly returns. It’s up to warehouses and fulfillment centers to deliver on orders with increased efficiency and accuracy to grow profits and ensure customer satisfaction. Efficient warehouses are necessary for reducing the time it takes to process orders, minimizing shipping costs, and optimizing inventory management. 

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Achieving increased efficiency involves implementing advanced technologies like mobile scanning, which streamlines the entire order fulfillment process. When businesses integrate mobile scanning into their operations, warehouses can further enhance their productivity and accuracy, leading to greater customer satisfaction and long-term profitability. In today's competitive e-commerce landscape, investing in such technologies is essential for staying ahead of the curve and maintaining a competitive edge.

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Despite barcodes being easy to create, only about half of businesses are using mobile scanners in their warehouses and fulfillment centers. For small businesses, it may seem like an aspirational goal and something they should strive for when they have more employees and revenue. But the reality is mobile scanning is easy and inexpensive to adopt. Your organization will benefit from it far earlier than you may expect.

In today's fast-paced e-commerce landscape, where customer expectations are higher than ever, the need for efficient order fulfillment processes cannot be overstated.  Manual order picking and data entry methods, while traditional, are increasingly proving inadequate in the face of rising demand and complexity. Not only are these methods time-consuming, but they are also prone to errors, which can result in delayed shipments and, ultimately, dissatisfied customers. In an era where customer loyalty is paramount to business success, such inefficiencies can have significant repercussions on a company's bottom line and reputation. This is where mobile scanning technology comes into play.

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Mobile scanning technology allows warehouse staff to streamline order fulfillment processes by scanning barcodes directly from handheld devices such as smartphones or tablets. This eliminates the need for manual data entry, reducing the risk of errors and speeding up order processing times significantly. With mobile scanning, warehouse staff can quickly and accurately pick, pack, and ship orders, leading to improved efficiency and customer satisfaction.

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Furthermore, mobile scanning technology is not as complex or expensive to implement as some businesses may think. Many warehouse management systems, including NetSuite, offer mobile scanning capabilities as part of their software solutions. This means that businesses can easily integrate mobile scanning into their existing workflows without the need for extensive training or costly hardware investments.

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By embracing mobile scanning technology, businesses can fill more orders with less labor, resulting in cost savings and increased profitability. The time and resources saved through automation can be reinvested into other areas of the business, such as marketing and product development, further driving growth and success.

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In addition to improving efficiency and reducing labor costs, mobile scanning technology also offers benefits in terms of inventory accuracy and visibility. With real-time updates on inventory levels and locations, businesses can better track their stock and prevent stock outs or overstocks. This ensures that customers receive the products they ordered promptly, enhancing satisfaction and loyalty.

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Mobile scanning technology is a powerful tool that can help e-commerce businesses streamline their order fulfillment processes and improve overall efficiency. By leveraging mobile scanning capabilities, businesses can reduce labor costs, increase accuracy, and enhance customer satisfaction, ultimately driving growth and success in today's competitive ecommerce landscape.

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By adopting mobile scanning technology, businesses can achieve a competitive edge in the e-commerce industry while simultaneously improving customer satisfaction and driving growth. It's a win-win solution that every ecommerce business should consider implementing to stay ahead of the curve.

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In this guide, you will see how NetSuite warehouse and inventory management solutions let you perform all your daily functions from a mobile application, letting you fill orders faster without compromising access to real-time information.