APS Fulfillment, Inc., South Florida’s Leading Fulfillment Company, Announces its Top Industry Trends and Predictions for 2014

APS Fulfillment, Inc. (www.APSFulfillment.com), one of the nation’s leading cost-effective fulfillment and integrated direct mail marketing companies, is announcing its top industry trends and predictions for 2014. As the leading fulfillment company in south Florida, APS Fulfillment, Inc. has a unique vantage point when it comes to fulfillment services and uncovering the latest trends.

“Thanks to the Internet and the increased proliferation of devices such as smartphones and tablets, mobile usage has become a way of life in the United States. In fact, according to the latest data, 91% of American adults have a cell phone and 56% have a smartphone,” says Charles Aultman, president of APS Fulfillment, Inc. “On top of that, two-thirds use their phones to surf the Web and check e-mail. That number is double the amount from 2009, and is only going to continue to increase in 2014.” (Source: Duggan, M. and Smith, A., “Cell Internet Use 2013,” Pew Internet & American Life Project web site, September 16, 2013; http://pewinternet.org/Reports/2013/Cell-Internet/Main-Findings/Cell-Internet.aspx.)

In 2014, the always-connected, on-the-go consumer expects to not just order a product or service whenever they want, but also to know when they’ll receive it and if it’s going to arrive on time. In 2014, Aultman says, brands will need to work harder than ever to get their products in their customers’ hands faster.

Aultman goes on to note that in 2014, retailers will double the rate of industry supply chain investment versus 2013’s numbers. Over the next two years, it is estimated that 50% of national retailers will invest in distributed order management and enterprise inventory visibility to ensure same-day fulfillment. (Source: “IDC Retail Insights Releases Top 10 Predictions for 2014,” IDC web site, December 10, 2013; www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=prUS24512213.)

In 2014, brands will need to find ways to both streamline and speed up order fulfillment. That’s because while customers want to know they’re getting a good deal, after they make their purchase, they’re more concerned about getting what they ordered when it was promised. This was made abundantly clear this past holiday season, when both UPS and FedEx were overwhelmed by angry customers after they missed their promised December 24 delivery deadline. With Christmas on the line, one U.S. senator even called upon UPS to refund customers whose packages were delayed. (Source: “Senator urges UPS to refund customers whose Christmas packages were late,” FOX News.com, December 26, 2013; http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/12/26/senator-urges-ups-to-refund-customers-whose-christmas-packages-were-late/.)

“It’s one thing for a business to take an order; it’s another to ensure it’s filled accurately and shipped on time. That’s why the 2013 holiday season should be a wake-up call for businesses,” Aultman concludes. “Because when it comes right down to it, fast and accurate fulfillment is vital for brands seeking loyal and repeat customers, so to succeed in 2014, businesses will need to work with a company that provides a seamless fulfillment experience.”

APS Fulfillment, Inc. is one of the United States’ leading cost-effective fulfillment and integrated direct mail marketing companies, offering affordable and real-time fulfillment services to small, medium, and large companies. The company’s state-of-the-art technology provides turnkey solutions for high-volume perfect-match mailings, personalized direct mail, snap-pak mailers, postcards, and triple-tabbed booklets. More information on APS Fulfillment, Inc. is available by visiting the firm’s web site at www.APSFulfillment.com or by calling 954-582-7450.