5 Useful tips to minimise mispicks: boost your retail results

What is a mispick?

A mispick happens when a different item than ordered ends up with the customer. It can occur due to various reasons such as human error, inventory discrepancies or inefficient picking processes. The wrong item might be picked, the wrong quantity might be picked, or the item might not be picked at all. It’s crucial for online retailers to ensure the correct item reaches the customer’s hands.

But why is it so important to prioritise order accuracy?

• Enhances customer satisfaction: Accurately fulfilled orders lead to happy customers who are more likely to return and recommend your store, bolstering loyalty and word-of-mouth referrals.
• Prevents order cancellation: When part of an order can’t be fulfilled, this can lead to full or partial cancellation of the order, which is a direct loss of turnover.
• Saves operational costs: Minimising mispicks reduces returns and reshipments, saving retailers time and money while enhancing operational efficiency.
• Improves efficiency: Streamlining order accuracy processes frees up resources for other business areas, driving operational efficiency and fostering growth.
• Enhances brand reputation: Consistently accurate orders build trust and loyalty, distinguishing your brand and attracting new customers.
• Reduces environmental impact: Fewer mispicks mean less waste and fewer emissions, aligning your business with eco-conscious consumers and strengthening your brand’s reputation.

Practical tips on minimising mispicks

In the dynamic world of retail, ensuring every order is accurate matters for customer satisfaction and brand reputation. Here are some practical strategies to minimise mispicks and improve inventory accuracy:

• Invest in comprehensive training programmes for your team, to underscore the importance of order accuracy and equip them with proper picking techniques.
• Implement rigorous quality control checks to verify the accuracy of picked items before shipping.
• Invest in inventory accuracy, to prevent mispicks caused by inventory discrepancies.
• Leverage technology such as innovative picking solutions, RFID systems and an Order Management System (OMS) to automate and enhance picking operations.
• Prevent overselling: an important cause of mispicks is overselling. Knowing what inventory levels you can safely show across your sales channels is vital to prevent this.

Order Management System (OMS)

What is an Order Management System (OMS)? It is a software solution designed to streamline and automate the order fulfilment process. It serves as a centralised hub where businesses can track, process and fulfil customer orders efficiently. An OMS typically includes features such as order entry, inventory management, order tracking, invoicing and reporting, helping businesses optimise their operations and manage returns and refunds.

Hardis OMS

At Hardis, we’ve worked with numerous retailers and witnessed firsthand how optimising inventory accuracy and order orchestration can transform a business. Our approach, promise what you can deliver and deliver according to promise, is directly relevant when it comes to preventing and dealing with mispicks.

To sum it up, in today’s competitive retail landscape, mastering order accuracy is not just a goal, it’s a necessity. Every mispick carries the potential to damage your brand’s reputation and break customer trust. By investing in an OMS like Hardis OMS, retailers can transform their fulfilment processes and elevate order accuracy to new heights. With real-time visibility into inventory levels, streamlined order orchestration and automated workflows, an OMS is the cornerstone of efficient, error-free operations.

Ready to optimise your order processes and elevate your retail operations? Visit our website today to learn how Hardis OMS can streamline your fulfilment processes and maximise order accuracy.