It doesn't matter whether you have been running an online store for a long time or you have recently decided to start this kind of trade. You have surely thought through well the moment you need to find a suitable warehouse for your goods. Timely delivery to your customers is of utmost importance and for this, it is imperative that you consider your order fulfillment strategy. For this, let's take a detailed look at what fulfillment is and how it can help you with business optimization.
What is fulfillment?
The word is derived from English. It includes all stages from order acceptance, through processing, storage and packaging, to shipment to the end user. In other words, it means the entire process involved in servicing an e-commerce site.What are the main activities that are included in the Fulfillment service?
Now that we have explained what fulfillment is, we will now look at the activities it performs. Whether you use a fulfillment center for your business or do everything in-house, the steps your products go through are pretty much the same. They include:
Sourcing products – these can be supplied by a manufacturer or wholesaler;
Storage – It is extremely important that the place you keep your goods is well organized. This will ensure you have peace of mind and quick action when packing and shipping;
Order processing – this includes the customer order and the steps to complete it;
Order picking – the process by which an order is picked from the warehouse and prepared for delivery;
Packing – products are collected and packed to be ready for dispatch;
Delivery – once you have completed the above points, it is time for the shipment to leave the warehouse and head to the customer. There are several ways of transportation and they include courier, transport company, own transport and more;
Returned Shipments – Just because a shipment has reached the customer does not mean that the delivery has been completed. There is an option where the customer can return the shipment.
Why should you choose fulfillment services for your business?
Seasonal flexibility - research in recent years has shown that the highest number of shipments is sent at the end of the year. To be more specific, 20% of all online store shipments are made between 01 November and 31 December. This is an extremely high volume of work and even the most experienced retailers are aware that the likelihood of hiring temporary workers at this time of year is very real and imperative.
If you choose to work with a fulfillment center, it will allow retailers to avoid the expense of seasonal workers, training interns, or purchasing new machinery. The only thing the merchant will need to ensure is that the warehouse will have product availability and that everything will be shipped on time.
Reaching new markets - it doesn't matter if you are a small or large online store. Using a fulfillment service, you can expand your business to new markets. This can e done without having to invest in hiring new employees or buying machinery. The Fulfilled by Sendica service will enable you to sell your product in many new countries too!
Conclusion
Now that we know what a fullfillment is, we can end with an interesting study to conclude. Statistics show that in recent years, online sales across the globe equate to 14.1% of all sales. This is equal to a turnover of over 3 trillion dollars, and it is expected that by 2023 the percentage will rise to 22%.
In the times we live in now, more and more merchants are using online commerce. What they need to ensure is a quality product, adequate positioning in the market, reaching the right customers, and making the sale. Last, but not least, the preparation of the shipment and send it to the customer - what Sendica does best.
For more information, you can always contact us at 0877 33 58 44, by emailing office@sendica.bg, or by filling in our contact form.
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