When you buy a new car, it’s likely that you do some research before deciding to purchase it. You first consider your needs and then find vehicles that fit them. After that’s figured out, you dive into the features of each car and answer a plethora of questions before making the purchase: Is it safe? Does it have leather or cloth seats? Does it get good gas mileage? The list goes on and on.
Whether you realize it or not, it’s a pretty similar process when searching for OCS software solutions. You need to do the necessary research to ensure the product you buy fits your needs and will deliver the results you’re after.
The difference, however, is that software solutions for OCS businesses are relatively new, particularly online ordering platforms. Trying to decipher one product from another can be intimidating, confusing, and maybe even frustrating. To help you in your search, we’ve put this list together of some core factors to consider when looking for an online ordering tool for your OCS business.
1. Flexibility
As an OCS operator, you know first hand that no two customers are alike. Each one has their own preferences with respect to products and delivery needs. That’s why flexibility is important when choosing an online ordering platform. You need a system that is designed with these differences in mind, and one that allows you to:
- Manage products by warehouse or globally
- Add & manage single and multi-location customers
- Manage discounts by customer or globally
- Create orders onsite and/or deliver pre-picked orders
In short, when adding an online ordering system to your existing OCS tech stack, it needs to work the way your particular operation works, while simultaneously able to quickly adjust to new changes.
2. VMS Integration
If you’re already using vending management software, it would be ideal to have your online ordering platform integrate with it. This prevents you from having to work out of multiple systems to complete the same tasks.
3. User-friendly Interface
The whole point of using online ordering in the first place is to make things easier, not harder. The last thing you want is for you or your customers to get bogged down with the difficulty of navigating your system. Your platform of choice should aim to be:
- Aesthetically pleasing
- Informative
- Easy to navigate
A big indication that a platform might not be the right fit is when it becomes too much trouble to use it.
4. Promotional Features
All successful businesses promote their products and services, regardless of industry. Product promotion and limited time offerings fosters more engagement with customers and can increase sales. When adding online ordering to your OCS software, be sure there’s a clear and simple way to promote different products, whether they’re new or you want to offer them on sale for a short period.
5. Strong Onboarding Process
Onboarding a new software platform is a real challenge. There’s often a lot of project management elements that go into setting up new systems. Some companies might simply hand it off to you and wish you luck. You must avoid this.
Be sure to ask what kind of help you will receive during the onboarding process. At Supply Wizards, we spend the necessary amount of time each client needs to properly set up their online ordering platform.
6. Support Team
We’ve all experienced bad customer support before. It leaves a bad taste for them that lasts quite a while. When it comes to online ordering tools, it’s not just something that you get over once you hang up the phone. It impacts your entire business. Don’t be left in the dark: be sure to ask what the support department is like. Because even if just a small issue arises, you want it handled quickly and professionally.