How Ordering Manufacturing Online Is Redefining The Industry

The Industrial Revolution of the 1800s paved the way for the manufacturing industry that the world knows today. Products progressed from hand-made to machine-manufactured due to technological advancements, pushing the industry toward improvement.  

One example of an industry that’s set for exponential growth is laser cutting. Future Market Insights released a market analysis for the global laser cutting industry, which stated that it’s expected to grow to USD$3.3 million in 2022.  

Laser machine cutting provides accurate and cost-effective solutions to builders, engineers, contractors, and other professionals who are looking for providers of customized products. Because of its various applications, laser cutting became a go-to solution for those requiring high-precision industrial cutting services.  

Many manufacturers have recently relied heavily on the online ordering to connect with customers and offer their products. This change in how consumers and companies interact has brought numerous advantages regarding efficiency, accuracy, and convenience. Both companies and their patrons prefer virtual over face-to-face transactions because of the benefits they provide, and it has now significantly transformed the manufacturing landscape. 

Continue reading this article to learn more about how ordering manufacturing online is redefining the industry.  

• Promoting positive customer experience 

Positive customer experience helps businesses build brand loyalty and improve customer retention. According to Bain and Company, a global management consulting firm, raising customer retention by 5% may lead to a 25% profit increase, a significant figure that many businesses across industries aspire for.  

Online ordering brought customers and companies closer, helping them interact quickly and conveniently. In turn, better interactions help create a positive customer experience that will encourage repeat business for companies.  

Aside from the quality of customer interactions, online ordering made customization possible for many manufacturers, particularly with laser-cutting service providers. Compared with past methods focused on mass production, manufacturers have now become profitable in providing customized laser cutting services because of gaining a broader reach in the online market.  

Finally, online ordering allows customers to have a positive experience with virtual shops by allowing them to explore the websites and control how they view the products and services. Customers can visit the online store anytime and anywhere and select the parts that interest them or give them the information they want.  

Overall, online ordering platforms help manufacturing companies provide a better customer experience, which can help increase their revenues in the long run.  

• Boosting service efficiency 

Manufacturers can boost service efficiency by conducting their business online. Virtual transactions speed up the ordering processes, help improve order accuracy, and allow companies and customers to communicate back and forth without delay or inconvenience.  

In the past, clients have to place orders over the phone, via email, or in person. Customers have to wait for days to receive a price quotation. If they have questions about their response, they’ll usually have to wait longer for the manufacturing companies to get back to them.  

71% of customers state that they want companies that value their time, and 69% believe they’re being put on hold for too long when calling businesses. Based on these numbers, online transactions seem like a welcome change for manufacturers who want to improve their efficiency.  

Meanwhile, companies struggled with longer lead times and inefficient ordering processes before online shops became the norm. For example, when a manufacturer receives an inquiry from a customer, they’ll have to manually draft a response and send it via email or post. Some may contact customers over the phone as well. However, after sending numerous quotations to various customers, companies still aren’t guaranteed to make a sale.  

With online ordering, both parties can send and receive information within seconds, helping them save time, resources, and effort in their transactions.  

• Minimizing waste 

There are various sources of waste in the manufacturing industry, and these contribute to income loss or reduced revenue for businesses. Here are some of the most common causes of waste for manufacturers: 

• Inventory 
• Overproduction 
• Excessive use of energy 
• Errors or defective products 
• Lead times 

With online ordering, companies can save time, energy, effort, and money by avoiding waste in these aspects of their business. Then they can redirect their endeavors toward improving their products and services, leading to further growth for their enterprise.  

• Fostering product and service improvement 

Through online ordering platforms, manufacturing companies gain valuable insight into consumer profiles and buying behavior, which they can use to provide better services and adequately respond to their needs.  

Customers benefit from conducting virtual transactions by being able to provide feedback about the products or services they acquired. By doing so, they can express their concerns, ask questions, or share their opinions about their experiences as customers.  

All in all, companies and customers benefit from online ordering because it supports communication and interaction.  

Conclusion 

Online ordering has had a lasting influence on the manufacturing industry, and it’s expected to remain provided that customers and companies continue to benefit from it. While consumers continue to enjoy the convenience and the positive experience offered by online ordering platforms, businesses can also take advantage of it to boost their growth and development.