Companies can over the best services and products on the planet, but if they can’t get it to their customers in a timely manner, it won’t matter. Those customers will choose a competitor who can. This means lost revenue and lost customers. It also means improvements need to be made in the fulfillment component of your business. That’s where order fulfillment services come into play.
In most cases, this means hiring a fulfillment partner, someone who can contribute to the success of your brand by simplifying and improving your fulfillment obligations. It can be daunting to know who to trust. After all, this is your business. If you choose the wrong one and offer customers a terrible shopping experience, they will not come back no matter how good your product or services are. There are hundreds of fulfillment service companies. How do you know which one is the best fit?
Six Considerations When Choosing a Fulfillment Company
There are dozens of things to consider when choosing a fulfillment partner, however the six most important are listed below when thinking about order fulfillment services:
- Shipping Speeds
- Warehouse Locations
- Fulfillment Order Software
- Transparency and Visibility
- Branding Options
- Packaging Options
Shipping Speeds
The days of 7-10 shipping are gone. Since Amazon Prime offers two-day delivery, that has become the norm. Fifty-three percent of customers have reported abandoning an order process due to inadequate delivery speeds. A fulfillment company needs to provide products in a timely fashion.
Warehouse Locations
In order to offer fast deliveries and quick fulfillment services, warehouses need to be strategically placed in order to delivery to your customer base. Obviously, the closer the fulfillment center is to the purchaser, the quicker the delivery. It also lowers shipping costs.
Fulfillment Order Software
It is important that fulfillment order software allows you to track orders and keep track of inventory. You need to stay organized.
Transparency and Visibility
One way to build trust with customers is through transparency. This means allowing users to track their orders either online or through apps.
Branding Options
There are doubtless, dozens of other companies offering the same products and services yours does. So how do you get them to choose you? Branding. Use engaging ads and offer discounts and specials for website visitors.
Packaging Options
It is important for a fulfillment center to provide various packaging options. Each product will have different needs for packing insulation and for the type of box it needs to be shipped in.
Product fulfillment services are important for successful e-commerce businesses. It helps to provide necessary inventory and shipping methods for all products your business provides. If you are in need of product fulfillment services, look no further than OctoChem.