The holidays are a peak season for the eCommerce industry. A lot of people like to shop in online stores during the holidays. Most stores are sold out of the most popular items, and the best route to go is eCommerce. Holiday fulfillment is, therefore, very stressful for most online businesses. For this reason, most online companies employ the services of fulfillment centers or services. In this post, we look at factors to consider when looking for a fulfillment company to work.
What to look for when looking for a fulfillment company
The fulfillment industry is currently worth more than a billion dollars. This means that there are several companies offering fulfillment services. When choosing the best company, it would help if you considered the following factors:
1.Cost of services
Naturally, one of the most important factors to consider is the cost of the services. One of the primary reasons why online businesses choose to outsource fulfillment services is because they are looking to save some money. You can always ask for a price estimate from the companies.
It is always a wise decision to consider recurrent monthly or annual fees. It would help if you analyzed how the costs of outsourcing will affect your general profits. It would also be wise if you paid keen attention to the hidden fees to make the best decision possible.
2.Location
The location of the fulfillment center is also a significant factor to consider. It would be best if you chose a center located in the same area or near your clients. This will hinder issues like late deliveries of order fulfillment.
Therefore, the first thing you need to consider when it comes to a fulfillment center’s location is the proximity to your clients. If your business caters to international clients, then the best thing to do would be to either choose a world-class fulfillment center or choose a company with more than one location.
3.Available services
Note that not all fulfillment companies offer the same kinds of services. For instance, some will package, label your products, and handle the deliveries, and some do not provide labeling services. Therefore, when shopping around for a company, you need to inquire about the company’s services.
Compare more than two companies so that you can make the best decision. It would also help if you compared the price against the services provided to make an informed decision.
4.Storage requirements
This is an essential factor to consider, especially for a company that deals with products like foodstuffs and other perishable, hazardous, or flammable products. It is paramount that you make sure that the fulfillment center offers ideal storage for your products. You may also have to consider the environment in which the storage facility is located.
Conclusion
Other factors that you need to consider include the availability of a skilled workforce to correctly handle your products. The internet is the best place to search for the best fulfillment centers. However, please do not believe everything you read on their websites. You need to visit the facilities and ask questions before giving your money and products to the company.
