Should You Use More Than One Fulfillment Center?
Whether you manage your fulfillment operations on your own or if you make use of a 3rd party fulfillment center, there will come a time when you will question whether setting up an additional center is a good idea. Making this sort of decision is not easy since getting additional fulfillment centers can start making more or less sense depending on numerous factors, market niches, or other forces. Take the following considerations into account when weighing the situation in order to get a better sense of the best direction to take. (more…)
Product Fulfillment Services for Toys and Games
Product fulfillment services overall is a difficult industry, but the toy and game industry is an especially tough market. Several factors are against its success; the most prominent of which being the declining world birth rate, and the shift from children playing with physical toys to now being in the digital space. Despite these challenges, the toy and game industry continues to grow and experts believe the industry will keep growing up until at least 2018. The key for toys and games fulfillment is an experienced logistics company who can manage the nuances of shipping to both B2B and B2C...
How to Find an Omnichannel Fulfillment Partner
"Omnichannel fulfillment" refers to any order fulfillment operations that service both business-to-business (B2B) and direct-to-consumer shipping (D2C). In today's rising e-commerce environment, omnichannel fulfillment is usually seen when a business is shipping products out to retail locations as well as to any customers who order online. Being able to manage omnichannel fulfillment successfully can be a great boon for your business, as it allows you to sell products through multiple streams of business and have better access to consumers. Omnichannel fulfillment does come with challenges, however, but these can be made easier by finding the correct fulfillment services partner to...
What Do the USPS Shipping Rate Changes Mean for E-Commerce?
About the 2016 Postal Rate Increase If you’re already in the e-commerce retail business, you have realized by now that there has been an increase in shipment costs. That’s because the USPS was given the go-ahead to alter its prices, which overwhelmingly meant increasing shipping rates across the board. For businesses just getting into shipping this year, this cost obviously hasn’t changed. But those who have been shipping packages for a while would have had to adjust to the 2016 postage rate increase. (more…)
How Do You Know the Best Time to Hire Order Fulfillment Services?
No two businesses are the same and, consequently, the best time to hire an order fulfillment company for your e-commerce fulfillment services is going to be different for each one. However, there are some common markers that come up whenever the ideal period for transition arrives. By keeping an eye on the state of your business, you can recognize the best time to hire a fulfillment company and subsequently keep all your operations running smoothly and effectively. (more…)
E-commerce Order Fulfillment in an Omni-Channel Environment
What is Omni-Channel Fulfillment? Omni-channel fulfillment is essentially when a company uses a single inventory source to fulfill orders through all channels. That includes e-commerce, wholesale, in-store, in-store pickup, and in-store delivery. The trend of omni-channel order fulfillment is based on having one system handle all logistics, which means all products can be selected simultaneously regardless of the channel. (more…)
Why Flexible Order Fulfillment Services Are Important for Any Business
The most anxious stage of the online shopping experience for a consumer probably comes after they order the product. Consumers know what they ordered, but aren’t always sure what will arrive in that package, or when that package will make its way to their doorstep. Flexible fulfillment services look to end that anxiety by being properly prepared in terms of inventory and logistics management. (more…)Why Accuracy in Product Fulfillment Services is Important
What is Accuracy in Product Fulfillment? When dealing with product fulfillment services, "accuracy" is a term with multiple meanings. Aside from the obvious—getting the correct order to the correct customer—accuracy also means being able to fulfill the order within the promised time frame and delivering the product in good condition. In short, accuracy is how well your product fulfillment service can uphold your business' most basic promise to the customer: that they will receive the item they ordered in the time frame that was promised and in proper condition. (more…)
E-commerce Shipping: Pros and Cons of Free Order Shipping
Whether or not your business decides to offer free e-commerce shipping is a big decision. You are faced with customer demand and increased competition from other e-commerce businesses already offering free shipping, but you also need to worry about your bottom line. Free shipping can be a great way to increase online sales, but it’s up to you to figure out at what cost. And for every business, deciding on free shipping will come down to factors specific to their company. But there are some pros and cons that should be weighed out before any final decision is reached. This...
How to Choose an e-Fulfillment Service Provider for Pharmaceuticals
If you’ve chosen to enter into the pharmaceuticals industry, know that you have chosen to simultaneously enter into one of the most lucrative industries as well as one of the most complex. Pharmaceuticals have become a normal part of life for the majority of Americans. Already, 60% of Americans take some kind of prescription drug, while 80% take an over-the-counter medication. This results in the pharma industry currently sitting at $425 billion and projected to be at $574 billion by 2019. (more…)
