Logistics for an online store: how to start using order fulfillment

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Each online store has its own signature peculiarities, but they all share one basis for success – striving for an impeccable level of customer service. In particular, it means fast and high-quality delivery. When you expand your business or enter foreign markets, it becomes more difficult to control it yourself. Order fulfillment providers will help you reduce time and financial costs.

How to choose a reliable partner and arrange cooperation correctly? Let us take a look at the example of Dropex, a reliable ecommerce fulfillment center successfully operating on the European market.

What exactly does an order fulfillment provider do?

Acts as an intermediary between the online store and the customer. In other words, it is responsible for everything that happens from the moment the order is placed until it is received. Dropex 3PL operator will pick up the products from you or the supplier, transport them to specially equipped warehouses, pack them correctly and then give them to the courier who will deliver the package as fast as possible.

What to look for when choosing an order fulfillment operator:

• Variety of services. The more options (ecommerce fulfillment services) the provider offers, the easier it will be to scale the business.

The usual list of additional services includes tax consulting, branding, website creation and development, contract manufacturing. It all depends on the capabilities of a particular fulfillment center.

• Condition and geographical location of warehouses. They must be equipped with reliable security and fire protection systems. If you are planning to enter foreign markets, please check with the fulfillment ecommerce center if it has storage facilities in the EU and to which countries it can quickly arrange delivery.
• Some providers set a single tariff for all clients, others – for each individual operation, and still others take a percentage of the client’s turnover. To understand the cost of services, tell the manager about your business – so he can choose the most profitable option for cooperation for you.
• Availability schedule. It is important that the fulfillment provider also cooperates with delivery services that can deliver orders on weekends or holidays. Operator managers should always be in touch in case of unforeseen problems.
• Partner delivery services. Another advantage lies its own delivery service or cooperation with several reliable delivery partners. This gives the operator more control and therefore guarantees that products will be transferred responsibly and quickly. Order fulfillment centers with stable order flow have more favorable rates, so it is better to avoid too young companies.
• Courier support service. You can yourself check the promptness of the answer and the reaction to “stupid” questions or complaints. It is your reputation that will suffer from the lack of professional support.
• Customer reviews. They will help you get an overall impression of the service level, but not all of the comments can be trusted. The main thing is to look for opinions of other customers on trusted sources and to be critical about information.