Fulfilment companies play an invaluable role in business, as they provide a service which allows an enterprise to rely on them for all fulfilment processes, from stocking to inventory to packaging, shipping, and delivery. With a fulfilment partner, you don’t have to worry about this aspect of your business operations and you can concentrate on other tasks which are meant to help your business grow. But finding the right fulfilment partner isn’t easy. If you are serious about relying on a fulfilment service, here are the top factors you should look for when selecting a fulfilment partner.
What they do
First, understand what it is that they can actually do for you. A fulfilment partner is basically a third-party or outsourced firm which can deal with your business’ product side. This means that they will give you a service which includes taking products or materials from suppliers, stocking the inventory in their warehouse or facility, and then packaging the products as well as shipping them off when an order is placed and received. Some specialists in fulfilment can also handle post-ordering responsibilities, such as the processing of payments from customers as well as providing customers with ongoing support and processing complaints and returns.
What you need to think about
If you have a small business and your orders are low, it may not make complete sense to rely on a fulfilment service. But if your company has a lot of orders and simply cannot handle the fulfilment side of things, then a fulfilment partner can really be of great service as keeping up with your orders is critical for the upkeep and success of your business.
Top factors to look for
When looking for a fulfilment company, consider the following:
- The fees
When you outsource your fulfilment needs, make sure everything is clear when it comes to the fees. The fees should be clear and straightforward. Pay particular attention to certain fees such as set up fees, fees for the processing of orders, fees for returns, minimum fees, and fees for storage. Make sure all these fees are thoroughly laid out before signing an agreement.
- Savings on packaging materials
If you take care of fulfilment yourself, you would need to buy packaging and shipping materials such as labels, packing paper, boxes and cartons, bubble wrap, tapes, and more. But a fulfilment partner will often acquire these in bulk, along with bulk savings – which they can then pass on to you. Confirm whether they can pass on savings on shipping and packaging materials to you as well.
- Warehouse and facilities
A fulfilment partner should have ample facilities to handle orders and process them, and their facilities should be clean, orderly, and well-maintained. Additionally, ask the fulfilment service about their security protocols as well as the training their staff receives.
