Choosing an order fulfillment company to partner with is a big decision. Shipping and order fulfillment play a critical role in customer satisfaction. It can impact whether or not customers purchase again and it can either have a positive or negative impact on your review.
For startups and small business owners, it’s tough to know exactly what to look for in an order fulfillment company.
So let’s dive in and explore some of the key things to look for when choosing an order fulfillment company.
Shipping Speeds and Accuracy
What matters most to customers is whether their order arrived quickly and whether or not what they ordered is actually in the box. We all know that Amazon has created an expectation for free two-day shipping but obviously not every business can or does offer this.
That’s why it’s especially important for businesses not offering free, two-day shipping to be as quick or accurate as possible. It’s true that once a package leaves the warehouse it’s up to the mail carrier to get the package there safely and on time. That’s why shipping speed is so important.
When you’re researching order fulfillment companies ask them what their shipping times and accuracy rates are. Here at Ship Central, for example, we guarantee that all orders get mailed within 24 hours of receiving them. Also, our accuracy rate is above 99 percent.
Warehouse Location
Some order fulfillment companies have multiple warehouses across the country while others only have one location. It’s important to know where these warehouses are located so that you can get an understanding of how long packages will take to arrive to customers after they leave the warehouse.
Multiple warehouses can be great but it also creates more work as far as inventory management is concerned. It also means shipping large amounts of product to multiple locations instead of one.
Make sure that you find out where their warehouses are located. Choosing a fulfillment center that is near a shipping hub will help your packages get where they’re going faster.
Services Offered
Another important factor to consider when doing your research is what services an order fulfillment company offers. This is crucial whether your company is growing now or for when you’re ready to scale down the road.
Some common services that you should expect to see are…
- Kitting
- Logistics
- Cross docking
- Inventory management
- International shipping
Order Fulfillment Software
Managing your business across multiple platforms is hard enough; You need an order fulfillment software that makes your life easier. There are several different order fulfillment software on the market. Some fulfillment companies even have their own proprietary software.
What’s essential is making sure that the software they’re using integrates with a wide range of marketplaces and ecommerce platforms. You shouldn’t have to limit where you sell your products based on what your order fulfillment company can support.
For example at Ship Central our order management system offers over 100 integrations. This includes all the major marketplaces like Amazon, eBay and Walmart as well as the major ecommerce platforms like BigCommerce, Shopify and WooCommerce.
Shipping Partners
Another major factor to consider when selecting an order fulfillment partner is their shipping partners. Any shipping company worth their salt will work with all of the major shipping companies, including: USPS, FedEx, UPS and DHL.
This will give you a wide variety of options to choose from when deciding how you want to ship your products. This can affect pricing and where you’re able to ship your products. At Ship Central we’re partnered with all of these companies.
Customer Service
Don’t underestimate the power of customer service! If you choose a large order fulfillment company, you become just a number. This can be especially harmful for small businesses and startups. Issues become hard to resolve because you’re just one of many, many companies they work with.
A smaller order fulfillment company could be a better choice for small businesses and startups because it’s much easier to get issues resolved.
At Ship Central you’ll always get a real person on the phone who can help you resolve any issues. On top of that, we’re happy to review your shipping and logistics to help you save money and grow your business.
Pricing
Last but certainly not least, pricing is important! It is critical that you get a clear understanding of the pricing structure and expenses that an order fulfillment company will charge for its services.
Have you ever gone apartment hunting? They draw you in with a reasonable sounding rent and then pile on all the extra charges for things like using the clubhouse, the pool, snow removal, etc. You think you’re getting one price but at the end of the day you’ve been nickeled and dimed to death!
When it comes to researching order fulfillment companies, find out the cost and pricing structure for things like:
- Storage
- Receiving
- Picking and packing
- Returns processing
- Packing materials
- Boxes
And of course you’ll want to find out the cost of shipping the orders. Using an order fulfillment company has the potential to save you a lot of money, just make sure you know what you’re paying for and how much.
The Takeaway
Choosing the right order fulfillment company for you and your business is critical. That’s why it’s so important to do your research before making a decision. Whether this is your first time using an order fulfillment company or you’re ready to make a switch these factors can help you stay on the right track.
At Ship Central we specialize in helping small businesses and startups. We’re here to grow with you and give you the individualized attention and help that you need to succeed.