Packing and shipping products is one of the biggest challenges faced by an eCommerce fulfillment company, but e-commerce fulfillment services can make things much easier for businesses.
Ecommerce businesses have multiple options for fulfillment and they each have their pros and cons. Some like to handle their packing and shipping because it’s flexible and it’s a better option for businesses that have unique shipping needs. However, managing the logistics of fulfillment is a lot to take on and it can be expensive if dealt with incorrectly.
What Are an eCommerce Fulfillment Company Services?
A fulfillment service is a third-party company that packs and ships your orders for you from a warehouse known as a fulfillment center. They are perfect for eCommerce businesses that do not have the manpower, the resources, or the knowledge to manage their shipping process. Many companies also turn to fulfillment companies as they expand and outgrow their current fulfillment capabilities. Alternatively, you could use an eCommerce fulfillment company to deal with all of your shipping and packing needs.
All of your products will be stored in a warehouse owned by a third-party company. They will then pick products, pack them, and ship orders on your behalf from this centralized location.
How does an eCommerce fulfillment company work?
If you manage your fulfillment, the process looks quite complicated on your end. You have to manage staff, dealing with the logistical side, and providing customer support. But when you use an eCommerce fulfillment service, the only thing you need to do is make sure that they have enough stock and they will handle everything else.
When an order comes in, you pass this on to an eCommerce fulfillment company with all of the details. In some cases, systems can be set up so the orders go straight through to them. They will then pick the product, package it for you, and send it out to the customer. You will be notified once delivery is completed.
This means that you can focus on running your website and marketing your products to boost sales instead of putting valuable time into packing and shipping products.
What About Returns?
Many businesses are concerned about how returns will be handled when working with an eCommerce fulfillment service. Returns are a sensitive issue and need to be handled correctly to ensure the customer is happy. The good news is, an eCommerce fulfillment company can deal with returns on your behalf as well. If a customer has an issue with a product, they can send it directly back to the fulfillment center and they will either issue a refund or send out a replacement product. This is the most efficient way to manage returns so the customer gets a satisfactory resolution as quickly as possible.
Ecommerce fulfillment services are the perfect solution for online businesses that do not have the time or resources to deal with their packing and shipping. Outsourcing it to a third party means that you can focus on the more important, revenue-generating areas of the business instead.
