If you do not intend to deal with shipping or have grown above your existing warehouse to an extent you cannot ship items manually any longer, you should consider using a fulfillment company. You need a suitable fulfillment company to ensure any change in your processes will be dealt with appropriately. Below are things to put to mind when picking a fulfillment company.
You should put customer service and customer support into consideration. This is a very crucial factor to consider because complications will come up. An indication of a fulfillment company standing out is not seen in its lack of errors but how it deals with complications when they occur. It is good to have an impressive partnership with the fulfillment company you choose. You need to have a discussion with account managers in order to figure out how long you will be kept waiting before your inquiries can get responded to. Also, ask who you need to contact in case of problems.
Be keen on the technology. Technology is crucial in each aspect of the business world today. Technology plays an important role since the beginning of all sales until the end. Things that include tracking shipments, online catalogs, inventory management, and customer service use technology. This shows how imperative it is for you to check technology when in search of a fulfillment company. A fulfillment company with a strong IT system is going to make your shipping processes and orders simpler. In addition, an advanced IT system limits returns, reduces errors and increases customer satisfaction.
Evaluate a fulfillment company’s expertise in your market. Even though ecommerce retailers are treated as a single unit, there is a lot of diversity in the kind of products sold through the internet as well as fulfillment needs. It is vital to hire a fulfillment company with experience in your industry. You should ask the fulfillment company you have listed which for which industry verticals they pick, pack, and ship. If you require customized fulfillment services, search for companies serving customers similar to you. This assures their employees are professionals in handling and packaging products in an effective manner.
You should check flexibility and personalization levels. This is crucial especially for growing businesses as their business models evolve over time. You need to ask the extent to which accommodations can be provided as your business transforms and your fulfillment requirements change. Not each fulfillment company possesses the capacity to accommodate changing requirements on short notices, a very crucial need for expanding businesses. Choose a fulfillment company with streamlined operations and sufficient resources to better handle stressful situations to help your growing business to succeed.