Finding the right fulfillment method is important. Many shouldn’t ask whether fulfillment is a good idea, but rather which kind of fulfillment is good for them, according to an article on Auctiva Corp. If you don’t choose the right fulfillment that is appropriate for you and your circumstances, you are going to be unhappy.
You need to look at two sides of the equation, according to the article, how does your business tick and the different types of fulfillment available. Instead of applying a one-size fits all solution, you can tailor the best fulfillment solution for your business.
According to the article, a great fulfillment company will know the business as well as you and they will anticipate any problems and be prepared should they come up, allowing you to focus on what you do best.
Here are some fulfillment options to take a look at:
Ecommerce fulfillment: You are probably most familiar with ecommerce fulfillment services. When it comes to ecommerce fulfillment, you don’t have to worry about a thing. Every part of the process is looked after, according to the article. You just send your items to the fulfillment company and the fulfillment company will take care of the rest. The fulfillment company will pack your shipment and ship it, and ensure the buyer receives your items in a timely fashion.
A good ecommerce fulfillment company will allow and promote growth and be part of your company accomplishing everything it wants to, according to the article. You will be able to capitalize on its expertise and capability and its wealth of experience getting items to the destination. When a partnership goes well, it will allow for you to concentrate on your core business matters, but when it doesn’t you may feel the frustration because of the lack of control.
When considering an ecommerce fulfillment company make sure you are aware of how much the fulfillment is going to cost and what you are liable for in a host of different circumstances, according to the article. One example, if your company makes a mistake, who is going to pay for that?
Third-party fulfillment: Third-party fulfillment is simply outsourcing the warehousing and distribution of a company’s products as opposed to ecommerce fulfillment, which is just the fulfillment of orders online, according to the article.
The most important thing when it comes to third-party fulfillment is making sure both parties are on the same page. You will also need to make sure the company knows what you require of it.
Literature fulfillment: Everything that is related to printed material falls under literature fulfillment. This will include brochures, catalogs, presentation folders, binders, postcards, sales packets and more. Online sellers use literature fulfillment when they are selling large numbers of these types of products or if they want to send printed material to a lot of buyers.
It is a time consuming process because things are grouped by destination following which postage is applied. Then they are picked up and sent to postal distribution centers by destination, according to the article.
Mail-order fulfillment: Mail-order fulfillment applies to anything sold online. This method of fulfillment is good for a business that doesn’t want to deal with order setup, warehousing, distribution, negotiating rates with carriers, filing claims, processing returns, according to the article. For this to be worth it, you need a high volume of mail going out, otherwise it just wouldn’t make sense.
Deciding what types of fulfillment you should use will be influenced by the business and its type of number you’re working with. For some companies fulfillment makes no sense, but for other it would be the best decision. Do your research to make sure you choose the best fulfillment provider that is best for you, according to the article.