Whether you are opening a new online store or scaling your e-commerce business, choosing the right service for order fulfillment is the most vital step in your career. Not only can it help you stand out among your competitors, but it can also let you grow a big customer base and build trust between you and your clients.
There are countless postal and courier services in the United States to choose from. For example, you can do everything manually or go straight to https://us.meest.com/services/service/business-solutions-us for fast and reliable order fulfillment. In this guide, we will unpack what you need to consider when choosing a service for your e-commerce company.
Define Your Goals and Needs
The internet boasts a never-ending list of providers, but you shouldn’t contact them right away. First, you should understand what your business needs and goals are. Assess how many orders you are expected to ship every month, and if you will send them across the border. Then, take a look at your goods and evaluate if they are heavy, fragile, or need specific temperature conditions during delivery.
The volume of your services, complexity of the order fulfillment, product types, and shipping locations will allow you to understand which kinds of providers will be suitable in the long run.
Evaluate Location
Imagine you have found a perfect service that can accommodate your business, but its closest warehouse is on the other side of the country, away from your main customer base. Even if the delivery service is fast, your customers won’t receive their goods as quickly as expected. So, the fulfillment center’s locations should be optimal — somewhere nearby your primary buyers. For instance, if most of your clients are on the East Coast, the service should operate from New Jersey or Pennsylvania.
Compare Pricing Models
Prices for e-commerce order fulfillment can vary depending on the size of your business and the number of operations a month. They often include:
- receiving fees;
- storage costs;
- pick and pack fees;
- shipping costs;
- packaging materials fees;
- returns fees.
While some services add everything and offer flat-rate pricing, others might change the quote based on the volume of your parcels. Always ask for a detailed explanation of the quote and compare different options.
Check Integration Capabilities
You are looking for a service to make your job easier, not harder. So, check if the provider you are interested in can seamlessly integrate with your e-commerce platform, be it Shopify, WooCommerce, or any other. The orders should automatically be transferred to the fulfillment center. Otherwise, you will spend more time manually inputting everything than is needed. For instance, Meest-America offers free integration with 150+ marketplaces — you can be sure that everything will work perfectly.
Consider Additional Services
Order fulfillment is more than just delivering goods to customers. Now, many providers enhance operations with additional services. As an example, some of them can create custom packaging or inserts to upgrade your brand. Others offer international shipping options, dedicated account management, and fast order processing. Not only do these features create a better customer experience, but they also make your operations easier.
High-Quality Fulfillment Services Are the Key
E-commerce is no longer just taking orders and shipping boxes to customers. You have to make your brand stand out and provide outstanding services, including fast delivery. A good order fulfillment provider can do just that. Before you pick one, assess your goals and needs, compare different options online, and ask for a detailed quote. The right choice will help you focus on what matters without getting distracted.