You may have had difficulty finding your favorite products online recently. There have been shortages of many items, including cars, medicines, food, and lumber.

Unfortunately, supply chain disruptions are now a common occurrence this year. They increased by 638% by 2021, which is both surprising and frustrating for some business owners.

You may need to find a way to manage products falling into one of these rare product categories or crafting items that use those materials. Let’s look at some ways that you can manage supply chain shortages and maintain revenue while keeping your customers informed and happy.

1. Evaluate your supply chain

Analyze every aspect of your manufacturing and fulfillment processes. Know where each item and material came from, how much each one cost, when each one arrives, and what the delays and gaps are. Visibility is key to improving the process and overcoming any shortages.

After you have completed this step, start looking for areas that can be improved. Are you able to place more purchase orders so that you have more products and materials on hand? Are you willing to pay more for faster shipping?

You might consider looking for an alternate supplier if you are having difficulty getting products from one supplier. This may not always be possible in situations of global shortages but it might be an option in certain cases. For example, if the problem is with overseas suppliers, a local manufacturer might be more available. Even though they may be more expensive than other providers, they are better than not having any products to sell.

Diversification can be a great strategy in some cases. You can have an extra source of income if you are working with multiple suppliers for the same item.

2. Look for alternative materials

This is a great time to be creative. You can find alternatives if you are having difficulty finding the right material or it has become extremely costly. If you use lumber for your products, then consider using bamboo, hemp, or wood composites. You might also consider silicone if the rubber is difficult to find.

If you are short on shipping or packaging materials, embrace your brand to be unique! You can use yarn to fill your shipping containers if you sell knitting supplies. You can also include some popcorn if you sell snacks.

3. Notify your customers about delays and shortages

It is important to keep your customers informed about any shortages or delays in shipping. Most people will be able to understand if you inform them in advance. However, if they discover this after they have placed an order they may become frustrated. How can you avoid this?

• A notice can be added to every page of your store. A store notice is a great way to communicate important information. It should appear on every page of your website. Customers should be informed about delays in production or shortages of items so they are aware before it is too late.

• You can create new order statuses. Create new order statuses, and send emails to customers based on them. This allows customers to know where their item is at the fulfillment stage. You might create one for “item currently in production” or “order shipped”.

• Add information to the Cart page. Inform customers once more about possible delays so they are aware of what to expect.

• Tracking information should be readily accessible. Allow shoppers to check the status of their order and see where it is at the delivery stage.

4. Keep track of your inventory management

This is where inventory management will be crucial. It is not a good idea for customers to buy items that are out of stock or unavailable.

Start by looking through your fulfillment center or warehouse to get a better understanding of what is in stock and what isn’t. Then update your online inventory as necessary. Consider marking an item out of stock if it is difficult to find or impossible to make.

You might also consider using an inventory control tool – the easiest way to automate this process. This is particularly useful if you sell at additional locations such as a local market, retail store, or online marketplaces like Amazon. It syncs everything perfectly so that all information is up-to-date.

5. You can add a waitlist option for your store

Even if items are out of stock, a waitlist can help you to avoid missed sales opportunities. Loyal customers and excited new shoppers are great! They may even be happy to wait for more products.

Shoppers can sign up to receive email notifications when products are back in stock with the Stock Notifications or Waitlist Extensions.

6. As needed, adjust pricing

Although you may still be capable of finding the products and materials you require, they might be more costly than before. To maintain profit, you may need to raise prices. The prices consumers pay for goods rose 5.4 percent in September 2021 because of higher manufacturing, labor, and material costs.

Take the time to analyze your current costs for materials and products so that you can make informed decisions about how to keep profits up. Once you have the correct number, it’s a good idea to inform your customers so that they don’t get shocked the next time they go to your store.

Email Or reach out to your loyal customers, such as wholesale customers. You can give them more notice than you think is necessary. Inform them of the reason you are increasing prices and offer them an opportunity to ask questions.

7. Reduce waste

Take a look at the fulfillment process and find ways to reduce waste. You can sell more if you have fewer waste products and materials. These are some areas that you can improve upon.

• Packaging. How can you protect your products from damage or loss during shipping? You can add extra padding and invest in better boxes. Also, make sure that your refrigeration equipment is working properly.

• Storage. Storage. Is there a way you can improve your storage?

• Manufacturing. Manufacturing. What can you do to reuse and repurpose items

• Returns. Ways to reduce returns include being clear with product descriptions, accurate photos, and answering all questions before purchasing.

8. Keep an emergency stock of supplies and be prepared to work in the future

Keep an eye out for potential problems as soon as they arise. Do not wait until you run out of material or other items before placing a new order. Instead, place your order in advance.

In case of an unexpected delay or shortage, you might also keep an emergency supply of packaging materials and manufacturing materials. You can keep the business running as normal until you receive the item you need or find an alternate solution.

Keep in touch and stay informed

Although supply chain problems can sometimes be scary and frustrating, there are still ways to keep your store running smoothly. It is all about keeping track of your processes, understanding how you can improve, and staying in touch with your customers as much as possible.

What are your solutions to supply chain shortages and how have they been handled? Please share your thoughts with us in the comments.