Running an e-commerce brand today means selling everywhere your customers are: online stores, marketplaces, social commerce, and physical locations. Each channel promises more revenue, but adding them creates operational headaches. Orders flood in from different sources, inventory counts conflict across platforms, and your team scrambles to prevent overselling while customers wait for shipping updates.
According to McKinsey & Co., retailers using automated order management software save between 20% and 30% in overall operational costs. The answer isn't hiring more staff or adding another spreadsheet. Modern e-commerce brands need an order management system (OMS) that unifies order flow across every sales channel. For a complete overview of OMS capabilities, see our order management system buyer's guide for 2025.
Why multi-channel e-commerce creates operational chaos
Selling on multiple channels without a unified system multiplies operational complexity. Your Shopify store shows 50 units in stock, but Amazon just sold the last 10, and your warehouse team hasn't updated either platform. A customer orders from your website expecting two-day shipping, but the nearest fulfillment center is out of stock.
Common pain points include:
- Inventory visibility gaps: Stock levels sync manually or are delayed, leading to overselling
- Split shipments: Orders pull from multiple warehouses, increasing shipping costs
- Manual order routing: Staff spend hours deciding which warehouse should fulfill each order
- Poor customer experience: Shipping delays and order errors damage brand reputation
Without accurate, real-time inventory data across all channels, brands either oversell and disappoint customers or hold excess safety stock that ties up capital.
How an OMS unifies your order flow
An order management system serves as the central hub for e-commerce operations. When an order comes in from any channel, your OMS captures it, checks real-time inventory across all locations, routes it to the optimal fulfillment center, and coordinates shipping while keeping customers informed.
Core OMS capabilities
- Order orchestration: Automatically routes orders based on inventory location, shipping cost, and delivery speed
- Real-time inventory sync: Updates stock levels across all sales channels whenever inventory moves
- Distributed order management: Splits orders across multiple warehouses when needed to meet delivery promises
- Warehouse coordination: Connects with warehouse management systems to track pick, pack, and ship activities
- Customer visibility: Provides accurate tracking and delivery updates across all channels
TOMS handles distributed order management for brands selling across multiple channels and fulfillment locations. The platform connects your sales channels, inventory systems, and warehouses into one unified workflow. Our guide on omnichannel order management explains how unified systems improve customer experience.
How does automated order routing cut costs and speed delivery?
Manual order routing wastes time and money. An OMS automates this process by evaluating inventory availability, shipping costs, delivery promises, and warehouse capacity for every order.
An order placed in California ships from your Los Angeles warehouse instead of New Jersey, cutting transit time from five days to two and reducing shipping costs significantly.
Inventory pooling benefits
Inventory pooling consolidates stock visibility across all locations into a single view. Your online store displays total available inventory rather than warehouse-by-warehouse counts. When inventory runs low in one location, the OMS automatically routes orders to facilities with stock.
Split order management
Some orders require inventory from multiple locations. The OMS coordinates shipments from different warehouses, generates separate tracking numbers, and keeps customers informed about each package.
For brands operating multiple warehouses, TWMS integrates with TOMS to provide warehouse-level visibility into pick, pack, and ship operations. Our WMS fundamentals guide covers essential warehouse management concepts.
Measurable business impact of unified order management
Companies implementing OMS solutions typically see improvements across key operational metrics.
- Reduced shipping costs come from smarter routing decisions. When your OMS automatically selects the closest fulfillment center with inventory, you cut both transportation time and expense.
- Faster order processing happens when manual steps disappear. Orders flow automatically from capture through fulfillment without staff intervention. Teams that previously spent hours routing orders now focus on handling exceptions and improving customer experience.
- Better inventory turns result from improved visibility. When you see exactly what's selling and where inventory sits, you can adjust purchasing and transfers accordingly. Excess stock decreases while stockout rates drop.
- Improved customer satisfaction stems from accurate inventory, faster shipping, and better communication. Customers receive realistic delivery estimates at checkout, get orders faster, and stay informed throughout fulfillment.
See our guide on
real-time inventory management across multiple channels.
What to evaluate when selecting an OMS
Not all order management systems offer the same capabilities. Consider your specific business needs rather than checking generic feature lists.
- Integration capabilities matter most. Your OMS must connect seamlessly with your existing e-commerce platform, marketplace integrations, warehouse systems, and shipping carriers.
- Scalability determines growth potential. Ask how the platform handles volume spikes during peak seasons, adding new sales channels, and expanding to additional fulfillment locations.
- Deployment options vary. Cloud platforms on Salesforce offer faster implementation and lower upfront costs. Tejas provides Order Management services for enterprise-grade solutions. Our comparison of cloud-based vs on-premise systems explains key differences.
- Support and implementation separate successful deployments from failed projects. Look for vendors with experience in your industry and business model. Implementation typically takes 8 to 16 weeks, depending on complexity and integrations.
For smaller operations starting with order management,
TOMS Lite offers essential capabilities without enterprise complexity.
Steps to implement order management successfully
Step 1: Map your current order flow
Document your existing process from order capture through fulfillment. Identify where manual steps occur, where data lives in separate systems, and where errors typically happen.
Step 2: Define your business requirements
List your actual needs: number of sales channels, fulfillment locations, average order volume, and peak season spikes. Prioritize capabilities that address your biggest pain points.
Step 3: Evaluate integration requirements
Determine which systems your OMS must connect with, including e-commerce platforms, marketplaces, warehouse systems, and shipping carriers.
Step 4: Select an implementation partner
Choose a vendor with experience in your industry and business model. Review order management best practices for 2025 before starting your project.
Unify your order flow with the right OMS.
Multi-channel selling will only grow more complex in 2026. Brands that invest in unified order management now position themselves for faster fulfillment, lower costs, and better customer experiences. Disconnected systems do not scale.
TOMS provides the distributed order management capabilities e-commerce brands need to unify order flow across every channel. Contact Tejas Software to see how TOMS fits your fulfillment strategy.
FAQ's
What's the difference between an OMS and an ERP system?
An ERP manages business processes across finance, HR, and supply chain. An OMS focuses specifically on order capture, inventory management, and fulfillment orchestration.
How long does OMS implementation typically take?
Basic deployments with standard integrations take 8 to 12 weeks. Complex implementations involving multiple warehouses and legacy systems vary depending on the requirements.
Can an OMS work with my existing warehouse management system?
Yes, modern OMS platforms integrate with major WMS solutions through APIs. The OMS sends order information to your WMS, which manages picking and packing operations.
What size business needs an OMS?
Any business selling across multiple channels or managing inventory in multiple locations benefits from an OMS, especially when manual processes create errors or limit scaling ability.
How much does an OMS cost per month?
Monthly costs range from $300 for basic cloud solutions to $1,000+ for enterprise platforms.
What integrations should my OMS include?
Essential integrations include e-commerce platforms, accounting systems, warehouse management, and shipping carriers. Advanced integrations with CRM, marketing automation, and business intelligence systems provide comprehensive customer insights.
