Order Management System
by OneStock

An Order Management System (OMS) is a software solution that manages, automates and optimizes the entire order lifecycle. It encompasses order creation, stock allocation, order fulfillment, shipping and returns, ensuring orders are processed accurately, efficiently, and in line with customer expectations and business objectives.

When an order is imported into the OMS, it follows a configurable lifecycle through state diagrams. The specific stages of the lifecycle may vary depending on factors such as whether it is a B2B or B2C order, the delivery method (home delivery vs. Click and Collect), and the sales channel (e-commerce vs. marketplace). The OMS handles the order from import to fulfillment, relying on company-wide inventory visibility to effectively orchestrate each order.

Inventory visibility is a company’s ability to have a clear and accurate view of the stock available across its network. It involves consolidating detailed inventory information from each stock location, including warehouses, stores, suppliers and dropshippers, to create a unified view of stock. This visibility gives companies a comprehensive understanding of the stock available to sell for each sales channel and the information needed to optimize order costs and lead times.

Order orchestration is the process of selecting the optimal stock point to handle the sourcing and fulfillment of a customer order in an efficient and cost-effective manner. It analyzes inventory and stock location characteristics to apply configured business rules with the goal of optimizing each order’s processing to meet the customer delivery promise while minimizing its cost.

An OMS gives businesses the inventory visibility, order management and fulfillment capabilities they need to integrate a multitude of digital solutions, including:
● Ship from Store: Also known as Endless Aisle, source and fulfill online orders from stock in stores
● Order in Store: Place customer orders to be fulfilled by other stores or warehouses
● Delivery Promise: Dynamically display accurate, reliable fulfilment times and costs pre-purchase
● Unified Click and Collect: Buy online and pick up in-store (BOPIS)
● Reserve and Collect: Reserve a product online and try it in-store before checking out
● In-store appointments: Book a specific time slot for an in-store personal shopping appointment online
● Mobile POS: Check-out anywhere in store via a mobile or tablet device
● In-Store Returns: Return a product purchased online to a store

While Order Management Systems are widely used in the retail industry, the solutions it enables are also relevant for B2B organizations. For example, an OMS allows businesses to consolidate available stock, connect with 3PLs, provide reliable delivery information, and optimise inventory management and fulfillment processes. OneStock has partnered with various B2B clients to help them transform their logistics operations, and gain a competitive edge through customer-centric solutions driven by market-leading consumer brands.

When implemented effectively, an OMS offers a range of benefits for businesses:
● Accelerated sales growth through improved product availability and fulfillment services
● Increased profitability and rapid ROI due to optimized order processes
● Faster fulfillment with higher accuracy and lower costs
● Enhanced omnichannel services for a competitive customer experience
● Higher employee engagement for improved job satisfaction & retention
● Better sell-through minimizing discounting and residual stock
● Reduced waste and carbon emissions throughout the supply chain

OneStock is used by 80+ retailers, e-commerce brands and B2B organizations in 25 countries. Our advanced Distributed Order Management solution is built on modern and flexible MACH principles (Microservices, API-First, Cloud-Native SaaS, Headless) so you can adapt quickly to changing market dynamics and future-proof your tech stack with best-in-class solutions. Our user-centric interface and no-code approach ensure high adoption rates with low IT input.