Order fulfillment is critical for any type of business that ships goods from one place to another. It covers everything from receiving an order to safely delivering it on time. This is why you have to be extremely cautious when choosing a fulfillment partner. If they’re not on point, your business might lose out!
What to Look for in a 3PL
Many businesses underestimate the importance of outsourcing order fulfillment until their processes face challenges or become overwhelming. Others may hesitate due to a bad experience with a previous partner. However, the right third-party logistics partner can be a game-changer. Outsourcing order fulfillment to a professional third-party logistics partner helps you with the following benefits:
- Efficiency
- Cost Savings
- Scalability
- Improved Customer Satisfaction
To ensure you’re forming a partnership that maximizes these benefits, make sure to consider the following factors.
1. The Current Position of Your Venture and Where It’s Heading
As a business owner, having a solid grasp of your business ideas and their implementation is key. Take a moment to assess your venture’s current position and the direction you envision for its future. Understanding these aspects enables you to anticipate your monthly production volume, a crucial factor when selecting the right order fulfillment partner.
By partnering with Sherpack, you can free yourself from the hassle of handling and shipping client orders, ensuring timely delivery and happy customers. Whether you have the low order volume of a small business or the midsize volume of a fast-growing company, we have the custom solutions for your needs.
2. Your Business’s Shipping Requirements
E-commerce platforms and other retail marketplaces exist in a realm of challenges, especially shipping complexities. So, whether you have an online retail store, pop-up shop, or B2B, it’s crucial to establish a channel that best serves your business. For instance, you may be operating a business that depends on 15 sales channels. In such a case, prioritize various shipping services to reach your multiple clients.
As your professional order fulfillment partner, Sherpack strives to offer order fulfillment services that reduce a client’s burden to source multiple third-party partners. We also still believe in people talking to people – never forgetting the human element that exists within every interaction. This is why you’ll always be guided by one of our team members for your fulfillment needs. Our Fulfillment Trail Guides are ready to welcome you to the process and walk you through every step of the way. They’re also available to answer any questions or concerns you might have to make the process smoother.
3. Your Budget
Various costs are involved when working with a 3PL. Some of the prices include:
- Quantity of shipped orders
- Quantity of items picked
- Pallet storage
- Packing
It’s important to have a 3PL that not only offers the solutions you need but aligns with your budget. To be conscious of this, Sherpack determines pricing based on the type of services, products, and delivery model you’re looking for.
4. Warehouse Locations
Picking a 3PL with the right warehouse locations can place your goods in shipping zones with lower costs, offering benefits like timely delivery, two-day shipping, and cost-free shipping for your clients. It also ensures easy access to your target market.
When deciding on a 3PL, consider the areas you want to serve promptly. Strategic warehouse locations not only meet customer demands efficiently but also prepare you for shipping goods to regions with increased demand. Sherpack has a convenient Midwest location perfectly positioned for quick shipping to the east, west, and beyond.
5. The Data
If you’re planning on expanding your channels by outsourcing to an order fulfillment logistics partner, it’s worth having insights into the fundamental processes of warehousing. You’ll want to:
- Master your product’s SKU setup
- Tie barcodes and UPCs to every product
- Keep a careful track of inventory costs for CoGS to enhance your profitability records.
Keeping inventory track of costs is a vital aspect of maintaining data. You’ll want to be able to implement a system that can reconcile data from order fulfillment logistics partners with existing sales channels, producers, and warehouses in the supply network. In such cases, Sherpack offers an array of opportunities to create a smooth delivery system to meet specific client needs. We believe in customer satisfaction, and this is why we always find a way to meet your requirements and guide you to a successful fulfillment process.
The best way to win the loyalty of your clients is by providing fast, efficient, and affordable shipping options. Failure to embrace appropriate order fulfillment systems will make it challenging for your venture to have a breakthrough in the world of e-commerce. Sherpack is here to make sure your business is on the right path with a fully optimized fulfillment process. We offer cosmetics fulfillment, supplement fulfillment, kitting, subscription box fulfillment, and so much more! Reach out today for a quote.
