How to Determine the Right Warehousing Facility
In product fulfillment, your warehousing facilities can be as valuable to your success as the products themselves. However, the warehouse itself is no longer enough to use your facilities effectively. Here are the other factors you need to consider to determine which warehousing facilities and features will best suit your business. Rentals When researching warehousing and storage, keep in mind that the facility you use likely won’t be yours, but rather another business outsourcing it to you. (more…)
The Advantages of Choosing the Right Warehouse Management System
A warehouse management system (WMS) is, at its core, a tool of optimization, automation, and integration. Although, historically, WMS have been the domain of large and complex distribution networks, this is rapidly changing. Nowadays it is easy for small and medium-sized businesses to harness the advantages of warehouse management systems to better compete in the highly competitive e-commerce marketplace. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to choosing a warehouse management system since every business will have different needs based on products, computer systems, and so on. Regardless of the type of WMS you use, however, the advantages it can bring will...
How to Reduce Shipping Costs for Improved e-Commerce Profits
Shipping can be a complex and costly part of e-commerce businesses. Not surprisingly, this is why shipping is often looked at when it comes time to find ways to improve savings and profitability. Fortunately, there are ways to reduce shipping costs that any e-commerce enterprise can take advantage of. Follow just some of these tips for reducing shipping costs, and you'll begin to enjoy a more efficient and profitable business. (more…)The Disadvantages of Public Warehousing
When looking for third-party warehousing solutions, your options will come in one of two types: contract or public warehousing. On the surface, the two can appear interchangeable and it can be hard to tell what public warehousing is when compared to contract options. Each is run by a third-party operation that offers storage space, better shipping rates, seasonable scalability, value added services, and so on. The main differences arise when looking at where each warehouse type places the most focus and how this shapes its relationship with clients. Public warehouses are ostensibly meant for short-term rentals even though they can...
11 Ways to Make Fulfillment Easier
You’re likely more than busy enough running your fulfillment company; after all, today’s fulfillment companies are large, multi-channel enterprises. It’s not just about taking orders and shipping them out; it’s also about delivering quality goods to loyal customers and, above all else, sustaining a high reputation. As such, it can be difficult to keep things running smoothly. However, there are ways to make operating a fulfillment business easier. Check them out: 1. Use Dynamic Pricing Dynamic pricing is when businesses base their prices on current demand, changing when necessary. Companies do this to help deplete excessive stock and remain competitive. If...
Multi-Location Order Fulfillment—Pros and Cons
What Is Multi-Location Fulfillment? Many e-commerce businesses look to order fulfillment as an area in which they can possibly excel over their competition. Having the ability to ship to a consumer faster and for cheaper rates makes a real difference in determining customer retention and loyalty. One option that becomes attractive to businesses as they grow is multi-location order fulfillment. What this involves is building additional distributions centers in closer proximity to the customer base so shipping becomes more efficient. Like any other business decision, there are advantages and disadvantages of multi-purpose order fulfillment centers. We discuss some of the...
How to Have a Safer Warehouse
Your warehouse is a key part of your business. It forms the heart of your distribution center as products flow in from suppliers and out to customers. Warehouses are highly busy environments filled with heavy equipment, large boxes, heights, and forklifts. With all of these factors at play, maintaining a safe workplace is essential. Fortunately there are a number of steps that can be taken to further improve warehouse safety. With these tips, you will be able to take pride in knowing that your warehousing solutions are able to provide a secure and safe work environment. 9 Key Guidelines To...
How Logistical Efficiency Supports Brand Marketing
Your shipping logistics processes intersect with many different elements of your business to the point where the efficiency and effectiveness of your logistics can have a very real and tangible impact on how well you market yourself. "Market" in this context, relates more to matters of public perception than direct advertising efforts—but those can be involved, too. Simply put, logistical efficiency is important for marketing because the enhancements that it brings will often directly or indirectly impact the consumer experience. Improving the former will naturally lead to gains in the latter, thus strengthening your brand. (more…)
What are the Benefits of Try Before You Buy Fulfillment?
As e-commerce sites continue to spur the online shopping trend, more and more consumers are becoming increasingly comfortable shopping without ever visiting a physical store. One of the remaining obstacles that has kept customers attached to brick-and-mortar locations is the fact they get to interact with a product before ever making a decision on whether to purchase. Although this is most common among fashion brands, many e-commerce retailers recognize this as a limitation. However, with the growth of try-before-you-buy online shopping, the opportunity to allow customers to interact with the product before purchase has finally become a reality. (more…)
What to Expect From Your Fulfillment Service Provider
What should you expect from your fulfillment service provider? The short answer is, it depends on what you are asking your fulfilment service provider to get done. Nowadays, fulfillment services are sophisticated enough to do much more than simply store, pick and pack products. But if that is all you require them to do—then your expectations should be quantified. However, if you are planning to use your fulfillment services as a trusted part of your operation, one that is essential to customer service and contributes to your bottom line—then you can and should expect a lot more. What Exactly Does...
