B104.6a - Product Business - Order Taking |
Below are questions you can use to deep dive into your own order taking process...
Are the orders related to relevant prior quotes?
Are orders entered into an Electronic Order system? If so, how are orders taken?
Are orders documented and processed manually? If so, how are orders taken?
Is inventory an issue? Could inventory dictate order amount? If so, is that checked before order is submitted or after?
Is there an "appropriate" amount of technology being used? Is there "too much" or "too little" being used?
Many times, too much technology is as bad or worse as too little.
Have you ever been to a retail location and bought a single item and watched the cashier have to make more than 5 moves on the cash register to check you out?
Are the orders related to relevant prior quotes?
- Is the quote available and accurate?
- If the quote is digital, can it be converted directly into an order?
- If the quote is not digital, is it on an order form?
- Is your system optimal for your own needs? What is it missing? What would it cost to make better? Is it worth the cost?
Are orders entered into an Electronic Order system? If so, how are orders taken?
- Customer enters it remotely (while not in fulfillment center)
- Customer enters it on location (while at fulfillment center)
- Someone enters for customer - receives order over phone
- Someone enters for customer - receives order in person
- Someone enters for customer - receives order in writing
- Someone enters for customer - receives order verbally in person
- Is your system optimal for your own needs? What is it missing? What would it cost to make better? Is it worth the cost?
Are orders documented and processed manually? If so, how are orders taken?
- Customer fills out form or writes down information
- Customer tells someone in person what they'd like and someone writes down order
- Customer calls in an order and someone writes it down
- Customer emails and order and someone prints order or transcribes it from email
- Is your system optimal for your own needs? What is it missing? What would it cost to make better? Is it worth the cost?
Is inventory an issue? Could inventory dictate order amount? If so, is that checked before order is submitted or after?
Is there an "appropriate" amount of technology being used? Is there "too much" or "too little" being used?
Many times, too much technology is as bad or worse as too little.
Have you ever been to a retail location and bought a single item and watched the cashier have to make more than 5 moves on the cash register to check you out?