Now that e-commerce has become a fixture in the lives of your consumers, there are certain criteria customers expect your e-store to meet. While much more is possible, these steps represent the minimum requirements in the purchase process from the point of view of the customer, the store and the warehouse.
CUSTOMER E-STORE WAREHOUSE
The customer browses the featured products, reviews specific product information and real-time inventory status, notes special merchandise promotions, and adds items to the shopping cart. - -
From a stored address book, the customer can choose the recipient, order gift prep, write message for a card, choose a shipper, and the system automatically calculates product cost, tax and freight costs. Online order received. Availability is electronically verified.
Credit card is encrypted and credit card validation is obtained from customer’s bank. Order history is established and order information compiled. -
Customer notified that purchase has been accepted and is given an order number. Customer may call Customer Service to add additional items, delete items, change quantities, alter shipping choice, or check on order status. Customer Service Rep has real-time access, anywhere in the world, to customer profile, account information, shipment status and order history. Order is automatically routed to the closest warehouse or store. If necessary new inventory is allocated to any back-ordered items, and one or more delivery requests are created. The warehouse clerk reviews the open delivery list for the afternoon from a web browser.
Customer decides to add items to purchase. Product administration completes editing and tracking of product information, including merchandising, promotions, or catalog placement. System generates bar-coded pick list, warehouse clerk picks and packs goods to be delivered. Electronically, the warehouse clerk processes the delivery. A packing slip is generated, which includes complete order information, shipping labels, and pre-printed return labels. At the end of the day a shipping manifest is created and the carrier notified to pick up the packages. The total order is processed for shipment.
Customer receives a shipment confirmation e-mail with complete order information, shipment tracking number, and a web link to check the order history web page. Complete delivery information is included in final invoice confirmation e-mail, funds at customer’s bank are transferred our general ledger accounts are updated. E-store managers can assess the day's activities via real-time reports -- sales and marketing, order tracking, inventory and financial. The day's shipments are summarized and customer’s package picked up by selected carrier. Inventory is checked against pre-determined levels and the appropriate fulfillment house or purchasing agent is automatically notified via e-mail to restock supplies. Scheduled planning runs generate purchase requisitions to replenish inventory based on inventory stocking requirements, open sales orders, and supplier lead time.
Because of a severe allergy the recipient calls the originating customer to return the gift, gets the order number to return the gift. The original customer’s order history is updated to reflect the merchandise to be returned. The warehouse confirms that the product may be returned to inventory.

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