An order processor, also known as an order clerk, receives and processes orders for his employer. This usually entails keeping track of the products or services a customer has requested, as well as shipping and billing information, and submitting the information to a database or forwarding it to the next department for fulfillment. An order processor accepts and processes orders received over the phone in many cases. However, this is not always the case, and a person with this title may accept orders in person, by mail, or even over the Internet. Customer complaints may be handled by someone with this title, or they may be forwarded to customer service.
Order processors are in charge of receiving orders from customers who want to purchase a company’s goods or services. This job entails taking the information provided by the customer, such as item quantities, shipping and billing information, and payment method, and entering it into a computer database. He can figure out the total cost of the items or services the customer wants to buy, including taxes and shipping. He can then input this information into the company’s order processing system and issue a receipt to the customer. When processing orders over the phone, he may give a customer verbal confirmation of the amount owed and send an e-mail receipt.
When an order processor finishes processing an order, it usually moves on to the next stage. An order processor may do this by forwarding the order to the next person or department in the order fulfillment chain. Orders may, in some cases, be stored in a database and retrieved and fulfilled according to the company’s specific order processing schedule.
Many order processors accept phone orders. Customers can, however, place orders with some order processors in person. They may even collect orders sent by mail or over the Internet and process them without ever speaking to the customer.
To become an order processor, a person does not need to meet any specific educational requirements. Many employers, on the other hand, prefer candidates with a high school diploma or a general education development (GED) diploma. Candidates for this position should have computer skills, and data entry and customer service experience may give them an edge over other applicants. New hires for this position typically receive on-the-job training.