How can you ensure product availability in e-commerce?

Some ways to get started: 1. Pull last months (or last quarter) sales by sku and compare the same month/quarter from the year previous. Notice the growth/decline rate, what skus were promoted in campaigns, what was the seasonality like? 2. Pull customer subscription MMR and be sure to include that in your demand forecast 3. Install a "notify me when back in stock" widget on your product page so you can gauge demand when the restock occurs.

It's challenging to ensure product availability in eCommerce. However, forecasting can help eliminate 85% of the difficulty. To do this, focus on daily, 3-day, 7-day, last month, and last quarter sales data. The remaining 15% is still tricky, but one tactic is to increase the product price to MRP when the quantity goes below 8 instead of offering a discount. Maintaining a calendar for festive days is also a significant task as sales can be 5 to 6 times higher than normal days.

Predictive Analytics: Harness analytics to understand trends and consumer behavior, aiding in optimal stock planning. Single-Tenant Architecture: A custom-built inventory system ensures each organization's unique needs are addressed, increasing accuracy in stock levels. Machine Learning for Demand Forecasting: Utilize machine learning algorithms for more precise demand predictions. Fail-Safe Mechanisms: Build a resilient system with self-recovery features to reduce downtime in case of failures. Robust Security: Protect your supply chain's integrity with advanced security protocols. Human Oversight: Always have experts validate the analytics and machine learning suggestions.

Ensuring product availability in e-commerce necessitates a comprehensive approach. Employ robust inventory management systems integrating real-time data for accurate stock visibility. Implement demand forecasting algorithms to anticipate fluctuations. Establish seamless communication channels with suppliers to streamline replenishment processes promptly. Leverage data analytics to identify purchasing patterns and optimize stock levels. Regularly audit and update product listings to reflect accurate availability. Employ a responsive logistics network for efficient order fulfillment. Continuous monitoring, strategic partnerships, and technological solutions are paramount in maintaining optimal product availability.

Having alignment with your supplier is essential. Being able to bridge this gap to reduce delivery time, improve your service, and minimize your risks and costs are things that impact the perception of your brand and the value of your products for the end customer.

Sometimes you might end up with the opposite problem where you bought too much inventory of a product not selling enough, and therefore you need to make space for the products that are turning faster. In this case, it might be beneficial to consider promotions for the low-selling products to reduce their inventory and update your systems to reduce MOQs (Minimum order quantities). This will decrease your unhealthy inventory and it will increase inventory turns and free cash flow.

Here are some tips: 1. Sync up your inventory availability & allocation directly between your fulfillment center and you online store. 2. Set Inventory thresholds in case quantities get low to prevent overselling. 3. Ensure standard works are being followed when inventory is returned/refunded.

Would be beneficial to work on product placement too. If you have many FCs, making sure that the right amount of product is placed as close to the customer demand as possible would reduce 1) shipping costs, 2) delivery times, and 3) increase customer satisfaction accordingly.