1. Determine Your Business Needs
Before you begin, you need to identify the specific needs of your business. Consider the following questions:
- What problems are you trying to solve with an ordering app? E.g Reduce admin or order errors, improve upselling and customer service?
- What features and functionalities are essential for your business? E.g. live chat functions, favourites lists, instant and repeating orders etc.
- What is your budget for implementing an ordering app into your business?
By answering these questions, you can determine what type of ordering app will work best for your business.
2. Research and Evaluate Ordering Apps
Once you have identified your needs, it's time to research and evaluate ordering apps. Look for apps that have the features and functionalities that you need, and that fit within your budget. Consider the following factors:
- Is the user interface easy to use for both your staff and your customers?
- Will it integrate with your existing systems?
- Will it be branded and customisable to your business?
- Will your data and your customer’s data be secure?
- Does the company have a good customer service department and SLA in place if anything goes wrong or you need some help?
3. Choose an Ordering App
After evaluating your options, choose the ordering app that best fits your business needs. Consider the following factors:
- Cost and subscription options - many of our competitors charge commission on orders put through the app. Be sure to factor this into your cost estimates.
- Implementation and onboarding process - how quickly can they get you up and running?
- Training and support options - will you have a dedicated account manager? What is the average response time?
- Contract terms and renewal policies - are you tied into lengthy contracts?
4. Plan for Implementation
Once you have chosen an ordering app, it's time to plan for implementation. Consider the following steps:
- Identify who will be responsible for implementation (usually someone in IT or an external IT firm).
- Develop a timeline for implementation.
- Determine what data needs to be migrated or shared to the new app.
- Communicate the implementation plan to stakeholders (sales, marketing, customers).
5. Train Users
Before the app goes live, it's important to train your staff and customers on how to use it. Consider the following steps:
- Develop training materials and resources (Orderlion provides all the resources you will need to share with your team and your customers).
- Schedule training sessions.
- Provide ongoing support and resources.
6. Launch and Monitor
After training, launch the app and monitor its usage and effectiveness. Consider the following steps:
- Monitor user feedback and usage.
- Continuously evaluate the app's effectiveness and suggest improvements as needed.
By following this checklist, you can successfully implement an ordering app into your wholesale business and reap the benefits of increased efficiency and sales potential.
Want to take the first step in streamlining your ordering process? Contact us today to book in your discovery call.