Whether you own a startup or have been in the industry for decades, it is vital to keep your business growing. Growing your business includes finding the right ecommerce fulfillment company that can help you meet customer expectations by serving them.
The ecommerce fulfillment process can be one of the most effective ways to provide excellent customer service. It also helps you keep existing customers and turn them into repeat buyers with high customer satisfaction levels.
That's because having a steady customer base is vital for any ecommerce business to succeed. More so, if you want to expand to international markets.
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What Is Ecommerce Fulfillment? 🤔
Before we start, let's first define what ecommerce fulfillment is by discussing the role of ecommerce fulfillment companies.
In a nutshell, it is using shipping services to deliver customers' orders on time.
This part of the supply chain involves receiving and storing your inventory, processing orders, picking and packing boxes of inventory, and transporting items to the customer's doorsteps.
You need to team up with ecommerce fulfillment services or manage your inventory levels yourself for this entire process to work.
What's important is that you remain a reliable service by delivering items safely and without hassle. Otherwise, it will add friction to your customer service.
This explains why a lot of large ecommerce businesses partner with ecommerce fulfillment experts. That's because they can coordinate and schedule shipments with carriers such as UPS, USPS, and FedEx.
This will ultimately result in faster shipping as there is more control over shipping.
Most of these providers will also charge you a flat monthly fee for storing your items in their warehouse spaces 📦. This will depend on the number of bins/palettes in their facility.
Now that you know what the ecommerce fulfillment service entails, it is time to learn how the entire fulfillment process can improve your sales.
Get Your Products To Market Faster ⏱
Working with an ecommerce fulfillment provider can help you handle the shipping process and product distribution with ease. Doing so enables your product to reach your consumers a lot faster.
Most ecommerce companies follow a “guided selling” pattern. The store has laid out the categories, and users can browse and do their product shopping themselves.
These days, most ecommerce sellers realize that getting their products to the market is not as easy as they thought. There will be supplier issues, legal obstacles, additional costs, and many problems that they have to face.
But with the help of an order fulfillment company, you have one thing less to worry about. That's because they can help you sort out any technical problems in the supply chain, resulting in an exceptional customer experience.
As a result, you will gain a competitive advantage over your competitors.
Add More Sales Channels 💲
When most companies and brands are starting, they usually have one sales channel. It can be their website or social media channels. But this process is quite limiting, especially if you want to expand your business 👨💼
With an order fulfillment company, you can open up more sales channels. That way, you can adhere to the demands of consumers, especially if you have an ecommerce business.
That's because you have a wider market reach, and you will need to align your business with their needs if you want to boost your sales. Don't forget to promote your products simultaneously, and there are plenty of ways for you to do so.
Decrease In Expenditures 👏🏼
In an attempt to decrease your business expenses, fulfillment centers will let you sell your products more.
There are a lot of overhead costs involved in running a company. But you can reverse it with the help of an order fulfillment company.
That's because you do not have to worry about renting a warehouse and warehouse management to keep your inventory.
A fulfillment company can deal with inventory storage. Thus, you can free up your time and budget and use it in other areas of your business.
Prepare For Fluctuation 📈📉
There are also instances that your company will experience peak demand. Luckily, a fulfillment company can help you prepare for the peak season.
When you can store more products in the warehouse, you can still meet these high demands even as the market fluctuates as a fulfillment company will positively affect the delivery speed of your products.
Without a warehouse, companies will lose a lot of money during peak times because of expensive shipping costs 📉
An ecommerce fulfillment company lets these costs remain the same throughout the year. That way, it will not end up hurting your business.
Grow Your Business 📊
Some businesses are scared to venture into ecommerce order fulfillment because of the amount of work that goes into it. They are also afraid that they might compromise the quality of their products in the long run.
But when you outsource your business with ecommerce fulfillment operations, it allows you to put your business on the map. Fulfillment centers can also help you grow your business by expanding your market and supplier reach 📊
They can execute a fulfillment strategy that includes: shipping and shipping discounts, packaging, labeling, and inventory management.
This opens your business to a plethora of customers to come in, which increases the number of products that you can sell. As a result, you get to boost your revenue.
⭐️ Check out this article on ecommerce cross-selling for more ways to grow your ecommerce sales.
Provide Various Shipping And Carrier Options 🚚
The most successful stores offer various shipping options (1-day vs.3-day shipping) and carriers (UPS or USPS) 🚚
This does not only allow you to provide different delivery options. You are also giving your customers the option to pay extra for expedited service.
Regardless, this idea can come in handy if you want to offer international shipping.
Have Seamless Returns Experience ⏎👏🏼
Establishing a seamless return policy ensures customer satisfaction.
Some stores offer an "interactive customer return process." This allows customers to return items without contacting support, going to customer inquiries, or logging in to their accounts.
Keep in mind that customers do not like a hassle. Hence, a critical element is to have a seamless return policy.
Your process could be as simple as letting your customers input their ID and email address. And then, they can choose an item they want to return, state their reason, and generate a return shipping label.
New Way To Handle Inventory 🤔
An order fulfillment center is also well-equipped with processing inventory. This ensures that the items listed in your online store are up-to-date.
A lot of work goes into it, from ensuring that the item was shipped correctly to removing it from your inventory. Doing so avoids any confusion during the whole fulfillment experience.
There will also be instances where the customer needs to replace or return a product. On a regular business day, a small business has its hands full in cases or situations like these, and it can be challenging to focus on other aspects of its business 👩💼
Luckily, your partner fulfillment center can handle this.
Helps You Access More Global Customers 🌍
It can be challenging to penetrate the international market when you are starting, which explains why only big consumer brands are doing this type of venture.
But nowadays, distance has become a past obstacle. That's because you can team up with an international ecommerce fulfillment company. The key here is to look for a company based on your target foreign market 🌎
Say you, as a business owner, want to cater to people in Singapore. Then consider fulfillment locations and centers within the country. For one, they are knowledgeable about the country-specific regulations when it comes to ecommerce.
Thus, you can take your business to the next level with ecommerce fulfillment partners.
Improve Your Customer Service 🙌🏽
It is more comfortable and more affordable to keep an old customer than to look for a new one. Thus, best customer service practices are essential.
Research reveals that companies lose approximately $62 billion yearly because of poor customer service.
With many brands and businesses competing for customers out there, impeccable customer service is one way small businesses can stand out from the rest of the pack.
Most ecommerce fulfillment centers offer customers 24/7 email and chat support. Customer support availability is fundamental.
They also provide convenient returns and exchanges. Ecommerce fulfillment centers also offer a same-day delivery option, as well as a guaranteed delivery date.
All of these are tactics that ecommerce business owners use to enhance the customer experience 👥
Lower Costs In Shipping 💰
Most ecommerce fulfillment centers provide a network of national and global facilities 🌐. Thus, you'll get discounts for bulk deliveries which help enhance your business.
When you place your products in different fulfillment centers, the fewer zones you'll need to cross. Thus, you get to save more on operation costs.
This lets you pass your savings to your customers or even offer them free shipping. Mind you, more than 50% of US consumers base their purchasing decisions on free shipping.
Provides Customized Packaging 📦
For many ecommerce sellers, the first time customers will experience their product is when a curbside delivery occurs. That's why a battered-looking box that's wrapped in duct tape won't cut it.
Having customized packing options allows you to come up with customized shipping boxes, inserts, and coupons. This delivery method will result in a memorable unboxing experience.
Ecommerce businesses could even create QR codes for their custom packaging or personalized coupons, driving customers online and encouraging retention.
This allows you to upgrade your packaging, making it both fresh and exciting the moment the customer lays their eyes on the product. You can base it on demographics, birthdays, spending behaviors, anniversaries, and more.
Doing so helps build brand loyalty, turning your customers into loyal brand evangelists, as well as helping your brand stand out.
Their Experience Is Beneficial 😍
You're not trying to be an expert in order fulfillment. Instead, you're trying to run a business and make a profit out of it!
When you outsource a part of your ecommerce fulfillment process, you are leveraging their tools, connections, and expertise. Some operations you can outsource to an ecommerce fulfillment provider are the following:
- Inventory management
- Picking and Packing
- Shipping
- Returns
Moreover, they know the ins and outs of the business like the back of their hand.
You can build a seamless process when you partner with an experienced order fulfillment provider.
Free Up Your Space 🧐
Are you working up your basement, attic, garage, or anywhere in your home to store your items?
Over time, these workspaces can quickly become disorganized and filled with bubble wraps, boxes, and packing supplies.
Of course, a DIY warehouse can be an affordable option. But it won't be a sustainable method in the long run if you're planning to expand your business.
Financing and operating a warehouse requires a lot of logistic experience. Outsourcing to a fulfillment provider will take this hassle off your shoulders.
When you work with an ecommerce fulfillment center, you don't worry about that. That's because they can handle your inventory management requirements.
Thus, you'll focus on the more vital aspects of your business, such as keeping your customers happy.
Enhance Your Focus 👀
Many small business owners tend to juggle a lot of things. They're coming up with products, sourcing suppliers, creating marketing campaigns, answering customer queries, and so much more!
So, why do you have to take in packing and ship your products as well?
Outsourcing an order fulfillment provider helps you narrow your focus on what's essential to your business.
Maintain Your Branding ℬ
Many business owners fear that they'll lose their branding if they choose to outsource a part of their ecommerce process.
It might be unclear if another company gets a stamp on your items and packages that get shipped to your customers.
Luckily, you can maintain that continuity the moment you outsource your logistics. The best part is that a reputable third-party provider can offer something seamless to your customers.
Technological Benefits 💻
Outsourcing lets you use existing technologies for more effective delivery.
A fulfillment company has professional management systems, specialized fund management, shipping management, tracking infrastructure, the latest software, and trained staff.
Instead of spending time and money to create your own, it is better to leverage your fulfillment partner's technology. Ideally, you integrate the platform with your fulfillment partner's technology.
Takeaway 💁🏻♂️
Outsourcing your ecommerce fulfillment helps you expand your business and reach new markets.
Sure, having an online store means that you can reach international customers. But that does not mean that you can deliver to them. So, choose your ecommerce fulfillment partner wisely!
Partnering with a reliable ecommerce fulfillment company that can help brands have a successful ecommerce strategy can help you keep your customers. That’s because they can help you provide excellent customer service.
So, if you are thinking of expanding your online business, it is imperative to consider the best ecommerce fulfillment partner.