Customer satisfaction — it’s why people buy your products and what keeps your company going strong. If you can meet your consumers’ demands and keep them happy, you’re bound to be successful. After all, a happy customer who enjoys their order experience and loves your products is more likely to buy from you again and again.
Effective and timely order fulfillment will help ensure customers choose you in this fiercely competitive economy. From the instant a customer places an order to the moment they receive that item, your goal is to provide a seamless fulfillment experience that ensures their complete satisfaction with the process. To do that, you need the right partner.
Crown LSP Group is a third-party logistics (3PL) and fulfillment company specializing in logistics solutions and warehouse operations. If you want to keep your customers happy, we’re here to help. Our fast, accurate order fulfillment and supply chain services let you focus on what you do best — manufacturing outstanding products.
Understanding the 5 Key Stages of Order Fulfillment
No matter how long you’ve been manufacturing goods, landing a sale is always exciting. However, your job isn’t done until that order is in the hands of the purchaser. That’s where we come in. Order fulfillment is the steps we take to get your products ready and on their way to the buyer. The goal is simple — get your goods into the hands of consumers as quickly, reliably and inexpensively as possible.
At Crown LSP Group, we provide order fulfillment services that ensure a complete, fully satisfactory customer purchase experience across each phase of the order fulfillment life cycle.
1. Inventory Storage
Some goods are immediately dispatched to customers, while others require a more complex storage solution. Warehousing is where we store your products for future sales.
At Crown LSP Group, we have ample warehousing space to store your stock so it’s ready to go the moment a customer places an order. We also offer inventory management solutions. We can track and organize your goods to ensure orderly distribution. If items get low, we’ll let you know when it’s time to restock so you always have a steady stream ready for fulfillment.
2. Order Processing
Once an order comes in, we go to work to review and verify every detail. We confirm the product’s availability and update your inventory records so you always know what’s in stock.
3. Picking and Packing
When it’s time to prepare for shipping, our team pulls the items from our warehouse and packs them up to ensure safe transport. We confirm that the order includes everything it needs before it leaves our doors, including an accurate packing slip and the necessary shipping information.
4. Shipping
Moving your products from warehouses or distribution centers to your customers’ front doors requires a well-organized transportation network. We can manage every aspect of your shipping demands, providing a simplified, convenient transportation solution.
5. Returns and Exchanges
While many 3PLs can handle products going out the door, the process becomes more complicated in reverse. If a customer returns a product, we will manage the return on your behalf and ensure the inventory is properly collected, evaluated and stored. We can even process the refund or exchange for you.
The Connection Between Fulfillment Efficiency and Happy Customers
Purchasing products has never been easier, but that increased ease raises the stakes for manufacturers such as yourself. Customers have high expectations. They want their items fast, in perfect condition and exactly as described.
Delays, damage or incorrect shipments lead to frustrated customers, bad reviews and lost business.
Outstanding order fulfillment is a golden opportunity to set yourself apart. When your business prioritizes this multiphase process, customers are left with a great impression. That means repeat purchases, a glowing reputation around your brand and loyal customers who are more likely to spread good reviews about your company.
Overcoming Common Order Fulfillment Challenges
Order fulfillment is a complex process that requires precise coordination, logistical know-how and comprehensive inventorying. Without the in-house infrastructure to receive multiple orders, process them and ship them quickly and efficiently, your business may be robbing itself of time and money.
Handling your own order fulfillment operations comes with many challenges inherent to the process:
Shipping delays
Inventory discrepancies
Maintaining product quality
Excess or insufficient inventory
Returns management
Limited scalability
An order fulfillment company like Crown LSP Group already has a working system to manage these issues, allowing you to use this partnership to minimize your risk and manage each obstacle that affects your supply chain.
Achieve Efficient Order Fulfillment With Crown LSP Group
When you partner with Crown LSP Group, we take on every aspect of your supply chain fulfillment so that you can focus on the fundamental aspects of your business.
Here’s how we can help you achieve order fulfillment efficiency:
Streamlined warehouse operations: We offer flexible and scalable warehousing arrangements to ensure a solution that precisely meets your storage needs. Our specialized warehouse management tools keep accurate track of your inventory for fewer mistakes and faster output.
Inventory tracking and forecasting: At any given moment, you need to know what’s in stock and also how much you’ll need to produce to meet the growing demands of your customers. Our inventory tracking system ensures you have an accurate record of the goods you have on hand, while our demand forecasting tools help you adapt to an ever-changing market.
Advanced logistics solutions: Our team has one goal — to optimize every aspect of your supply chain. We bring experience, resources and a preexisting infrastructure optimized for smoother and more efficient fulfillment operations. This includes integrated logistics systems that allow you to track your products and communicate with our team about any aspect of the fulfillment cycle, from inventory warehousing to shipment tracking.
The Role of Technology in Order Fulfillment
If you’re searching for an order fulfillment partner, they must pair experience in warehousing and distribution with the newest technologies to empower order fulfillment and advanced capabilities. Technology drives efficiency, which, in turn, improves your customers’ overall experience.
The following are a few of the tools we use to pare down fulfillment costs and ensure a seamless experience from beginning to end.
Automation Technology
From advanced conveyance systems to computer systems, automated fulfillment technology helps us perform repetitive and time-consuming tasks with ease, including sorting, packing and shipping products. Each advancement we implement allows us to speed up order processing and handle larger volumes of orders — while reducing the risk of errors.
Barcode Scanning and Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID)
Accuracy is critical when it comes to storing, stocking and shipping your products. That’s why we use electronic tags or labels to identify and track each item, speed up fulfillment and simplify the whole process.
With barcode scanning, optical scanners read product codes so you know everything that’s coming in, shipping out or remaining on the shelf. Similarly, radio-frequency identification (RFID) uses radio waves to communicate with inventory tags, letting you know where your products are in the order fulfillment life cycle.
Warehouse Management System (WMS)
This software provides real-time visibility into your inventory and our warehouse operations. From locating products in storage to staying apprised of replenishment needs, our WMS makes us more organized and efficient, leading to faster order fulfillment.
Transportation Management System (TMS)
Our TMS helps us coordinate every aspect of your shipping strategy and improves total visibility. We can track the shipment’s location, minimize delays and ensure orders reach your customers promptly and in pristine condition.
Trust Your Order Fulfillment to Crown LSP Group
Based in North Carolina and able to serve the entire United States, Crown LSP Group has provided outstanding 3PL services since 1987. While many companies can handle logistics, store products and fulfill orders, we strive for more than a transactional relationship. As an extension of your business, we treat your products with the same care and respect you would show them at each phase of the order fulfillment process.
When you choose our team, you can rely on:
Dedicated service: We are committed to offering a consistent system with dependable results, from storage to shipping. You can run your business while we expertly manage your fulfillment needs.
Cost savings: Our all-inclusive 3PL services allow you to enjoy a fully realized fulfillment cycle at a fraction of the cost of performing the same tasks independently.
Flexibility and scalability: Whatever the size or scope of your business, we can handle it. We’re here to accommodate your unique requirements, even if you need more specialized services like nighttime shipping or demand reductions.
Customized solutions: In our book, there’s no such thing as cookie-cutter order fulfillment. Let us learn the ins and outs of your business so we can design a 3PL solution that serves you.
Contact Crown LSP Group to Optimize Your Order Fulfillment Efficiency
If you want happy consumers who can’t get enough of your products, you need an efficient order fulfillment process. With the experienced workforce of Crown LSP Group on your side, we supply the resources, tools and space you need to grow your business and improve the customer experience.
Ready to learn more? Contact Crown LSP Group today to speak with a friendly member of our team about your order fulfillment needs.
A third-party logistics (3PL) provider is a partner you outsource your shipping and fulfillment processes to. For retail startups, 3PL providers will pick, pack and ship your products to deliver to buyers or to brick-and-mortar stores. Shipping and logistics have become increasingly important processes in all businesses, including retail. As more people expect convenient product deliveries, your startup will need to meet consumer demand.
The Role of 3PL in Retail Startups
Retail startups have two core responsibilities: creating products to sell and delivering them to consumers. However, in the startup atmosphere, creating products is priority number one, making 3PL providers ideal partners in keeping startup retailers afloat.
As new retailers build their audiences, new products help to establish the brand and keep buyers interested. The process behind product development is intensive. Startups need to design products, source materials, find manufacturers for the products and grow stock to sell. With a 3PL, outsourced providers handle all of the steps that go into shipping, freeing up the resources to focus on production.
For many startups — retail or otherwise — teams are often very small, and each person has to juggle multiple responsibilities. While every employee could have a role in product development, there are also other processes to consider, like marketing and bookkeeping, that help the business grow. Adding logistics responsibilities to this long list can overstretch a small team and ultimately limit mobility.
Working with a 3PL gives your retail startup the space to scale and grow. Allow a partner, like Crown LSP Group, to handle fulfillment while your team focuses on the processes that bring in new buyers.
Calculate Your Retail Warehouse Space Needs
Use our warehouse space calculator to find out how much storage you need.
Choosing a 3PL partner offers plenty of advantages to your retail startup.
Cost-Effectiveness
In-house supply chain management is no easy feat, even for large businesses with plenty of resources. Retail startups that are still finding their footing often lack the financial resources to add a single supply chain expert to their team, let alone a whole department. Internal supply chain processes require warehousing resources as well.
While outsourcing might feel like an extra expense, it’s still a much more effective use of your startup’s funds. Plus, a focused supply chain organization can reduce challenges in inventory management and prevent time-consuming customer service needs that your team might not have the time for.
Streamlined Processes
With so many processes to pay attention to at a retail startup, your shipping tasks are prone to being disorganized. Add this to a lack of resources, and your fulfillment procedures become inefficient. A 3PL focuses on shipping and logistics alone. These companies have the experience to manage fulfillment with ease and efficiency, so you can meet every order request.
Today, online shopping is the main way people shop, and many of them will expect orders on their doorstep within a week. If you’re a retail startup with an online store or a store that exists solely online, you need to meet these modern demands. A 3PL has the focused processes to help you achieve that.
Adaptability and Scalability
A 3PL provider is prepared to adapt to your needs and scale with your business. These providers offer extensive resources in the world of fulfillment and logistics, giving them the ability to adjust their services for your startup as you need them. While this is valuable for your retail startup as it grows quickly, it’s also helpful for slower periods when you may need less support based on consumer behaviors.
This adaptability means your team can rely on the same provider throughout the life of your business. You don’t have to abandon your partnership when your needs shift because a 3PL is ready to respond to these changes.
Specialized Knowledge
In the world of shipping and logistics, there are various concepts you need to understand to effectively manage the flow of orders and meet fulfillment requirements. Between planning and coordinating shipments, organizing a warehouse and tracking goods through labeling, fulfillment can be challenging to manage.
With a 3PL, you’re partnered with a team of experts who understand what it takes to handle all of these processes. Rather than having to learn these concepts yourself, you can count on specialists with years of experience in the field. This expertise also means your 3PL partner can handle these processes efficiently.
Network Access
A 3PL company typically has multiple warehouses and may even have a nationwide network your startup can rely on. This network access greatly benefits your growing business because it allows you to reach more buyers in less time.
With modern buyers expecting fast shipping times, this network access allows you to meet consumer demand. A wider reach also allows you to capture a larger audience in the early stages of your startup.
Advanced Technology
Technology is a major player in logistics and fulfillment as well. If you choose to handle fulfillment internally, these technologies might not be available to you. A 3PL expertly leverages shipping technologies to improve efficiency and accuracy in the fulfillment process. Possible technologies used by 3PLs include:
Warehouse management system (WMS).
Automated fulfillment technologies, like barcode scanners and conveyors.
Inventory management system (IMS).
E-commerce integrations.
These technologies pair with a 3PL’s specialized knowledge to create a well-oiled machine. Your 3PL partner will seamlessly receive an order, retrieve the item from the warehouse and ship it out.
Selecting a 3PL Provider
With all the benefits of outsourcing logistics to a 3PL provider, your next step is to find one. Since these providers are essential partners in the success of your business, you need to choose one wisely. Consider the following factors when selecting a 3PL.
Customization
An ideal 3PL is able to customize all of your shipping items to reflect your brand. If you have specific packaging, labels and packing slips, your 3PL should use all of these custom items in your fulfillment processes. This customization is how a 3PL becomes a true extension of your team, not a removed third party.
When you’re searching for a 3PL provider, questions about customization should be at the forefront of your exploration. It’s in your best interest to work with a provider that tailors services to your unique needs, making your 3PL an excellent invisible extension of your retail startup.
Customer Service
To build a trustworthy relationship with your 3PL, you need a provider that’s committed to excellent customer service with your startup. Customer service is valuable for building trust with any outsourced provider. In the case of a 3PL, you need confirmation that your provider is invested in excellence and quality, as it will reflect back on your growing business.
In logistics and fulfillment, customer service is also important for keeping you informed. Details about elements like estimated delivery times and cost optimization can streamline logistics and give you confidence that processes are running smoothly.
Responsiveness
Logistics needs can change in an instant. Between canceled orders, recalls, returns and supply chain disruptions, you need a 3PL that’s ready to act in the face of these unexpected changes. When looking into a 3PL, you can ask about their processes regarding supply chain issues and sudden changes in order volume or destination.
For example, at Crown LSP Group, our team uses a series of technologies to maintain transparency in the shipping process. While this transparency is valuable for communication with your brand, it also allows us to see potential bottlenecks in the process and respond to them immediately.
Flexibility
A 3PL that can grow with you is one of the major benefits of outsourcing fulfillment. When selecting a 3PL provider, make sure they have the resources and flexible services to adapt to your changing requirements. It’s helpful to look out for value-add services. These solutions can be introduced to standard warehousing and logistics processes based on what your company needs.
Crown LSP Group offers a range of value-add services, including:
Reverse logistics
Cross docking
Transloading
E-commerce fulfillment
Inventory management
Kitting and assembly
Services like these illustrate a 3PL’s capabilities and their ability to adapt to your retail startup as the business grows.
Reputation
When a 3PL has a good reputation, you can feel certain they deliver on their promises. Choose a provider that is well-established and may even come highly recommended by other businesses. Looking into customer reviews online can give you a good idea of a provider’s reputation before you work with them.
Another way to tell if a business is well-established is by looking at its list of services. A highly experienced 3PL will have a wide range of solutions and will often highlight a turnkey approach in the process.
Explore 3PL Solutions From Crown LSP Group
Retail startups need a trustworthy logistics partner to keep their consumers satisfied and align with modern expectations. While you can attempt to manage these processes in-house, you can gain more from a focused expert. As a startup, growth is a top priority, and an experienced logistics team can help you achieve that growth.
Crown LSP Group is a distribution solutions company that can help your retail startup thrive. Get started with us today and request a quote.
Partnering with an experienced third-party logistics (3PL) provider offers modern businesses many benefits, such as helping manage supply chain risks more effectively while enabling more efficiency. This strategy also helps support future growth by improving customer service and satisfaction.
E-commerce skyrocketed during the pandemic, when shoppers didn’t have access to traditional marketplaces. In 2021, the industry generated over $5 billion in sales. The trend shows no signs of slowing as consumers continue to enjoy online shopping’s convenience. Economists predict the market will grow 56% by 2026 and generate over $8 billion in revenue.
This increase drives demand for e-commerce order fulfillment services and more efficient logistics. A 3PL partner can carry out tasks like last-mile delivery so that customer products arrive on time and in good condition, regardless of where they are. Plus, these providers can help with reverse logistics and returns processing to maintain great customer service.
Online retailers also rely heavily on their 3PL providers for inventory management solutions. The insights a 3PL firm provides into product stock let e-commerce pros know the status of the goods at a glance. As a result, companies get the data they need to place supply orders and schedule production to avoid stockouts, keeping their customers happier.
Goods manufacturers and distributors face many pain points in the supply chain. Manual processes and in-house storage and shipping operations can be expensive, and inefficient transportation further increases operating costs. Effective raw material movement is vital to promoting continuous production and preventing downtime that may result in unsatisfied customers.
An experienced 3PL provider like Crown LSP Group is an ideal solution, serving as a strategic business partner that offers solutions such as:
Warehouse storage: We can accommodate your long- and short-term storage needs to help you gain the redundancy just-in-time manufacturing requires.
Transportation services: Crown LSP Group is an expert in freight brokerage and specialized shipping to help you cost-effectively ensure accurate and timely raw material deliveries.
Order fulfillment services: We streamline last-mile distribution with fast delivery that improves customer satisfaction and prevents you from having to hire and manage ground-level fleets countrywide.
We also offer end-to-end inventory management services that help you optimize your stock. Our technology includes automated solutions that end manual processes, boosting accuracy, visibility and time savings. Crown LSP Group has a demand forecasting system for better planning, as well.
Health Care and Pharmaceutical
The health care and pharmaceutical markets represent two of the most common types of companies that use third-party logistics to solve their unique challenges.
Health care and medical supply companies frequently serve worldwide markets where patient lives and clinical outcomes depend on timely deliveries. A delayed shipment can leave an organization without the necessary supplies to deliver care. Further, these products often need specialized shipping to protect them against potential damage during transport.
Experienced 3PL providers play a critical role in health care and medical logistics by helping solve these complex issues. Warehousing services keep products strategically located for faster order fulfillment, and transportation services like less-than-truckload shipping ensure quick delivery for smaller orders. Additional solutions, such as drayage shipping, keep intermodal journeys on schedule.
Pharmaceutical companies face similar challenges when storing and shipping essential medications and treatments. They frequently need controlled atmospheres to preserve product safety and integrity and cold chain solutions to maintain those conditions throughout shipping. Those who do business with the European Union must also follow the Good Distribution Practice (GDP) framework, which contains the minimum guidelines for the industry’s supply chain.
Food and beverage companies have numerous regulations applying to their supply chain management. For example, the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) requires product traceability to help contain food-borne illness outbreaks. These businesses also need ways to manage stock rotation to ensure that products arrive fresh and safe for consumption.
Inventory management services from a 3PL provider solve these issues and support compliance. The right partner will have the technology to track goods at every step, like Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) and bar code systems. With real-time visibility, 3PL companies can also support just-in-time deliveries of perishable goods to cut waste and meet specific customer needs.
Food producers and distributors must focus on preserving their goods’ flavors and maintaining availability for out-of-season items, as well. This requirement often necessitates a well-controlled storage and shipping environment.
Full-service food and beverage logistics providers have solutions for these challenges, too. Temperature-controlled warehousing and specialized cold-chain shipping expertise help companies supply their customers with fast product delivery at the peak of freshness and taste while conforming to food safety laws.
Automotive and Transportation
Automotive and transportation professionals are among those who use 3PL services to drive organizational value. Thanks to the nature of their business, these companies serve multiple customers, from individual consumers to dealer partnerships.
The supply and distribution challenges of these companies include storing and shipping large, expensive items, smaller replacement components, and care or repair kits. The latter results in a greater need for inventory control to minimize waste, maximize efficiency and meet customer expectations for fast delivery.
An agile 3PL partner like Crown LSP Group has the expertise and resources to help with automotive logistics, with services like:
Short- and long-term warehousing: We’re close to the eastern North Carolina ports and can scale with your changing business needs.
Vehicle shipping: With our freight brokerage services, we leverage our relationships with a deep network of transportation partners to find you competitive rates for large deliveries.
Asset-based transportation: We can use our contacts for asset-based transportation services that provide the peace of mind of owner-operated equipment.
Kitting and assembly services: Our team adds extra value to the process with kitting and assembly services that improve the consumer experience.
Other value-added services: Crown LSP Group is also an expert in inventory management and rapid order fulfillment.
Calculate Your Warehouse Space Needs
Use our warehouse space calculator to find out how much storage you need.
Firms providing 3PL services customize their services to streamline storage and distribution operations for various other crucial economic sectors, including technology, energy, construction and fashion.
Construction and Engineering
A successful construction project requires numerous materials that often arrive from different suppliers at various locations. Seasoned 3PL providers can combine these deliveries to help ensure all materials come on-site together and are ready to use, which allows you to please clients with jobs that move forward on time.
Technology and Electronics
Modern technology is highly sensitive to damage during storage and transport. A 3PL provider understands what’s involved in protecting these delicate and often expensive goods. They take the extra steps to develop specialized storage and shipping strategies to safeguard the products.
Energy and Utilities
Oil, gas and other energy companies have multilayered, complex supply chains with many moving parts to coordinate. Partnering with a 3PL firm lets them outsource the variables to a knowledgeable business that provides access to the latest technology and support services, such as intermodal transportation expertise.
Fashion and Apparel
The fashion and apparel industry is a high-SKU, high-turnover environment. As a result, businesses in this field have frequently changing storage needs. A 3PL company offers flexible storage, fulfillment and inventory management based on individual needs, and these customized approaches allow businesses to use their resources more effectively.
Trust Crown LSP Group as Your 3PL Partner
Companies in many industries regularly turn to Crown LSP Group for tailored supply chain management solutions. From automotive and consumer packaged goods to life sciences and food, we help companies optimize efficiency and allow them to focus on their core operations.
Third-party logistics (3PL) solutions are a value-added service for companies, including manufacturers, retailers and other businesses. Organizations often turn to us at Crown LSP Group to outsource warehousing and transportation services so they can focus on what they do best. Explore what you need to know about 3PL warehouse costs so you can get the most value for your budget.
Order Fulfillment Fees Explained
Understanding 3PL warehousing costs starts with considering the fees you might face when outsourcing the packing, picking, shipping and receiving of goods sent to fulfillment centers. These can include fees for warehousing and account setup in addition to the costs you’re paying for labor, storage space, services and more.
Warehousing fees are usually charged in one of the following ways:
Monthly flat fee: A 3PL might estimate your service costs based on your inventory and the services you may need and charge you the same fee every month. Flat fees make it easy to budget. This model is best if your order fulfillment needs change very little month over month.
Variable pricing: This pricing model is usually based on the cubic or square feet you use in storage, plus any service fees.
Rate card pricing: In this type of pricing model, you pay based on the weight of your inventory and where it is shipped. While this type of cost is associated in some warehousing fees, it is much more common in less-than-truckload shipping.
If you’re unsure about 3PL pricing and need to work with real numbers based on your current needs, Crown LSP Group can help. Our transparent and cost-effective solutions are flexible, so we can often find a great option for you that fits your budget. Contact us to talk about how much you may be able to save.
Calculate Your Warehouse Space Needs
Use our warehouse space calculator to find out how much storage you need.
Total 3PL costs can go beyond the price of storing, packing and shipping your products. The following fees are common, though what you pay will depend on your needs:
Transportation fees: These fees cover the cost of transportation for your inventory, from origin to destination. The fee is usually based on the weight or cubic feet of the products. If you’re forwarding products from one destination to another, additional fees may apply for unpacking, inspections, sorting and labeling.
Warehouse receiving fees: You will be responsible for fees charged by distribution centers or warehouses when they receive shipments from 3PLs.
Fulfillment center storage fees: Also known as an inventory storage fee, this is what you pay to store your products in a fulfillment center. The cost is usually based on the pallet space, cubic feet of storage space or bin space.
Pick and pack fees: These fees cover the cost of getting items from inventory and packaging them for shipment. Fees usually apply per item, and you can expect to pay extra for heavy or large items. If you have a large inventory, you may be able to seek a lower per-item rate.
Fulfillment fees: This is the shipping fee, which is often based on weight and volume. Sending inventory over long distances can also impact your rates.
Return fees: Also known as reverse logistics, these fees cover the costs incurred when a customer returns one of your products.
Inventory audit costs: You may pay this cost for an audit to make sure your records match your actual inventory. This additional fee is usually optional and can be helpful to ensure no mistakes have been made in shipping your products.
Kitting fees: These costs may apply if your shipments include a need for your 3PL to group or ship products together. For example, if you have a subscription box service, your 3PL team may build boxes every month by combining different products in one package. This assembly will cost an extra fee, which will depend on the number of products assembled as well as your order volume.
Setup fees: When you first start working with a 3PL provider, there may be a fee to open your account. The cost can vary depending on the services you need, the provider you’re working with and the size of your company. These one-time fees cover the admin and other costs associated with starting a new account.
Account management fees: These costs are ongoing and usually charged per month. The cost may vary depending on the 3PL service provider, your business needs and the services you are receiving. Account management fees cover the miscellaneous expenses not covered by other fees. For example, they can cover reporting, shipping labels, document storage and related costs.
Fees can vary widely, which is why you want to choose a 3PL service solution carefully. When you partner with Crown LSP Group, we provide bespoke solutions that meet your needs — so you don’t pay for services you don’t require. We’re also transparent about pricing, so you can budget accurately and understand any fees that apply.
Factors That Impact 3PL Costs
To keep 3PL costs low, it’s important to understand what could affect the price you pay:
Your 3PL provider: Every 3PL solution charges fees. Crown LSP Group is committed to saving you money and finding custom solutions that meet your service and budget needs. We’re your partner in offering value and exceptional services.
Special requirements: Unique needs, like eco-friendly packaging or special services for very heavy, large or fragile items, can affect your costs. Products that need special temperature control will also cost extra because of the added utility costs and special warehousing requirements. In general, the simpler your needs, the less you can expect to pay.
Distance: If your items need to travel far, prices may be higher — especially if your items need to pass through multiple hands or across international borders.
Services: The services you need beyond warehousing, such as assembly services, will affect your costs. Should you need fewer services, you can expect to pay less.
Volume and weight: Heavy and oversized inventory takes more space and is more difficult to move, so it typically incurs additional costs. The amount of inventory you have will also have a big impact on 3PL costs because volume determines how much storage or warehouse space you need.
Shipment volume and size: The number of shipments and orders will impact labor costs — and your fees. The average order size can impact your costs, too.
Hazardous materials: Hazardous materials need to be stored and shipped with extra caution and in special environments, which can add to your costs.
Special shipping considerations: Specialized transportation equipment incurs additional costs. If your inventory requires temperature-controlled trucks, for example, a fee may apply.
Inventory values and insurance needs: The value of your inventory can impact insurance costs and result in additional fees.
Stock rotation: If your inventory needs to be rotated, the extra work adds to labor costs and the amount you pay.
Cross-dock shipments: Cross-docking saves you time by allowing your inventory to move directly from one truck to another in the transportation process, reducing the amount of time your products spend sitting idle. This process is often an extra service with its own fees.
Other special considerations: Labor shortages, weather and other unpredictable events can all have an impact on costs and your shipments.
When considering 3PL costs, don’t forget to factor in what you’re saving by outsourcing. The costs of building warehouse space yourself or trying to maintain raw materials or finished products on your premises can add up.
Storing materials and products on-site can also increase your insurance costs and can harm your bottom line if anything gets damaged or goes missing. If you don’t have enough product to start manufacturing or shipping, the costs of keeping production lines idle can be significant — and unhappy customers who don’t get their items on time can slow your business growth. Keep in mind that you can save on these costs when you outsource 3PL solutions to a trusted provider.
Control Costs and Enjoy Quality 3PL Solutions With Crown LSP Group
Costs for 3PL service can vary widely depending on your service needs. At Crown LSP Group, we understand order fulfillment fees affect your bottom line. We offer custom solutions so we can bring you competitive pricing for the services you need.
Crown LSP Group is your partner in warehousing and transportation services. Contact us today to request a quote.
Modern business relies on fulfillment activities to deliver goods and services to customers, whether in business-to-consumer (B2C) transactions or as a business-to-business (B2B) organization.
What Is B2B Fulfillment?
B2B fulfillment services concentrate on satisfying orders between one business and another instead of a business to an individual. This process can take many forms and often involves high-volume or bulk orders.
How Does B2B Fulfillment Work?
For example, a B2B-focused organization may deliver large quantities of goods to a wholesale company. In turn, the receiving company stores, sells and ships the products to retailers who make the final sale to consumers. Another common application is a corporate office with many branches that buys necessary operational supplies in bulk to take advantage of quantity discounts. The company can then allocate these resources to their satellite offices from their stockpile as needed.
Consistent delivery of goods and services is frequently essential to a business’s core purpose or operations. B2B fulfillment practices must be reliable, swift and efficient to prevent costly delays and support an effective supply chain.
The Difference Between B2B and B2C Fulfillment
While both B2B shipping and B2C fulfillment focus on order delivery, their characteristics can vary widely.
Shipping Differences
B2C e-commerce fulfillment generally involves higher numbers of smaller and lighter-weight packages. Parcel delivery services can easily transport and deliver these smaller packages affordably, leading many companies to offer B2C perks like free shipping.
In contrast, B2B orders are less frequent since they’re larger. Because of the volumes involved and the fulfillment speed necessary, shipping costs are generally higher.
B2B order fulfillment can be complex since customer demands may vary. Larger companies may require electronic documentation or value-added services like drayage and barcoding for better inventory management.
Similarly, a recipient may restrict deliveries by specifying certain days or times of the day for receiving. Narrow delivery windows can add to the shipping costs, and delays can result in penalties or denied deliveries.
Conversely, B2C orders generally carry no limitations. Parcel companies can deliver at any time of day or day of the week, usually with no documentation necessary.
Calculate Your B2B Warehouse Space Needs
Use our warehouse space calculator to find out how much storage you need.
B2B fulfillment services are ideal for companies that have commercial customers or want to attract them. These specialized services can help you ship swiftly, efficiently and cost-effectively to meet your customers’ needs. Plus, effective B2B order fulfillment can create repeat long-term customers, reducing your cost-per-acquisition numbers.
How to Choose the Right B2B Fulfillment Provider
Consider several factors when identifying the best B2B partner for your company.
Flexibility
The B2B fulfillment process may follow similar steps for each company, but you need more than a cookie-cutter approach. A knowledgeable and experienced 3PL fulfillment provider works with you as a consultant to understand your unique business challenges and designs a solution to answer them head-on.
Scalability
Whether you have hundreds of B2B customers or you’re seeing your first sales, you need an agile partner. Carefully assess the 3PL company to ensure they’ll be able to handle increased order processing demands and support continued growth.
Capability
Your 3PL B2B fulfillment provider should offer an extensive range of capabilities for your success.
Consider whether your prospective 3PL partner can handle extras like labeling and barcoding, which may be essential for inventory management. Offering advantages such as goods palletization and robust quality programs can ensure your products’ integrity on arrival. Other value-added services — like order picking and packing, transloading and cross-docking — can also help you take your business to the next level.
Service
Your ideal 3PL fulfillment partner should demonstrate a shared focus on your success through exceptional customer service. You should see your B2B fulfillment provider responding to issues and rapidly engaging to resolve them.
Plus, an experienced B2B fulfillment services company can help you proactively identify opportunities. As a result, your business gains additional efficiencies and cost savings while improving customer satisfaction.
Choose Crown LSP Group for Your B2B Fulfillment Needs
Crown LSP Group is a full-service distribution solutions provider in eastern North Carolina with extensive B2B fulfillment experience. Our team believes your organization has unique needs and deserves a one-of-a-kind fulfillment answer. That’s why we create custom strategies for our customers. When you work with us, you also benefit from scalability, flexibility and a commitment to partnership. Find out how we can help with a tailored solution for all your fulfillment needs, from warehousing to transportation.
Fulfilling orders placed by your customers involves multiple processes associated with both receiving and shipping customer orders. Picking and packing is one of the earliest and most essential processes in order fulfillment. If you own a small business or an e-commerce company, you may be wondering how outsourcing the warehouse pick and pack process can benefit your operations.
Logistics companies can promise speed and efficiency because of the pick and pack process. But before you outsource this crucial process, you should understand pick and pack fulfillment, learn some picking and packing best practices and know the benefits of e-commerce pick and pack fulfillment.
Continue reading to learn more about pick and pack fulfillment with Crown LSP Group.
What Is Pick and Pack Fulfillment?
The pick and pack process is a part of the supply chain — the process that moves goods from the supplier or retailer to the customer. Picking and packing in a warehouse is the process that takes place after orders are placed at a store online. The fulfillment center finds products from shipments and re-packages them for distribution.
Picking: Warehouse picking means using a picking list for identifying and retrieving the right quantities of every product from the facility.
Packing: Packing means placing items in the correct box and choosing the appropriate documentation and packing materials. The package is then ready for labeling and shipping.
Pick and pack fulfillment is popular among internet or e-commerce businesses with customers across the nation or even around the world.
Calculate Your Warehouse Space Needs
Use our warehouse space calculator to find out how much storage you need.
As your company grows, you may need to adopt other strategies for picking and packing your orders. A warehouse that offers pick and pack services should use best practices and strategies that reduce errors and returns and save you money. These strategies include piece picking, zone picking, batch picking and wave picking.
Piece Picking
This picking and packing method is pretty straightforward — warehouse workers pick each item for an order by hand as they are received. The worker will take the order’s packing slip and move around the warehouse to pick the order’s items off the shelves. After the worker finds every item for the order, they will take the items to the packing station. There, the order will be packed for shipping.
For small businesses that receive just a few orders each day, piece picking may be the easiest strategy to use for picking and packing.
Zone Picking
For the zone picking method, areas of the warehouse are divided into zones. Workers assigned to these zones pick items from the assigned areas. If the order calls for items from multiple zones, workers pass items from one zone to another. Once an order moves through every zone where the items on the packing slip are, the order will go to the packing station.
This method is best for larger fulfillment centers. Since complex coordination is required for this method, you’ll need warehouse management software.
Batch Picking
The batch picking method refers to picking orders in batches rather than individually. This strategy is most efficient if you have a large number of orders. Every batch is comprised of items located within the same zone of the warehouse. Warehouses utilize the batch picking method so pickers have the most efficient path possible through the facility. This saves time that would otherwise be spent walking back and forth, so orders will be packed and shipped faster.
Batch picking can be an effective picking and packing strategy for businesses of all sizes. All of the orders can be picked at one time every day, so this method will be more efficient than the piece picking method, which involves picking the items for each order as you receive them.
Wave Picking
Wave picking combines the zone picking and batch picking methods. For this strategy, employees stay in a designated area but pick orders in batches in those zones rather than picking items for a single order at a time. The batch is then passed to the next area in the warehouse for picking.
Benefits of Pick and Pack Fulfillment
Should your business implement pick and pack fulfillment into your operations? To help you make your decision, consider the benefits of pick and pack fulfillment:
Cost-effectiveness: Pick and pack fulfillment can handle any order, so you can avoid minimum order charges. Additionally, items don’t need to be gathered from various storage facilities. This practice reduces time and costs associated with labor, streamlining the process and making it more cost-effective.
Quicker turnaround: Another benefit of pick and pack fulfillment is the increased packing and shipping speed. Orders will arrive to customers sooner with pick and pack methods that utilize organized and well-managed handling strategies. Warehouse employees will be trained to work efficiently and will know what goods to search for to fulfill orders and how to pack these items properly to prevent damage.
Organization: Any successful pick and pack system relies on an organized warehouse. Groups of items will be clearly labeled to make workers’ jobs easier and every worker will know where to find the items they need, avoiding wasted time.
Customer satisfaction: When performed correctly, pick and pack fulfillment ensures orders are filled properly and reach customers on time and without damage. When you work with a pick and pack company, you won’t have to worry about the wrong items being sent to your customers. Properly trained workers and an organized warehouse will ensure orders are accurate and your customers are satisfied with their experience.
Efficiency: A proper process for picking and packing streamlines order fulfillment by removing the middleman needed when items are collected from various storage facilities before being sent to another location for packing and labeling. This makes the entire process more efficient.
Pick and pack fulfillment can help your business manage order fulfillment and increase profitability. To enjoy these benefits, you should work with a company that provides pick and pack services.
Choose Crown LSP for Pick and Pack Service
At Crown LSP Group, we provide distribution and supply chain solutions, regardless of whether we’re warehousing raw materials or finished goods. In the current environment, many companies realize they need more safety stock beyond what they were previously keeping on hand, which is where our services come in. Additionally, our transportation department can provide shuttle service from the customer’s facility to Crown LSP Group and vice versa.
We are a proud, family-owned third-party logistics provider that is happy to offer flexible and scalable solutions to our customers. If you are interested in outsourcing picking and packing services, request a quote from Crown LSP Group today.
Value-added services in logistics allow businesses to provide more comprehensive benefits, which has become an essential tool in increasing customer satisfaction. Using these services is especially vital in operations based on customer trust. Supply chain and logistics are some of the most competitive sectors and adding value can give your organization an edge.
What is a Value-Added Service (VAS)?
The term value-added services refer to the additional distribution and warehousing services offered by third-party logistics providers to business looking to outsource their supply chain operations.
Whenever logistics providers add value the right way, it affects the level of customer satisfaction, while indirectly increasing their bottom line. Service providers know the ins and outs of the business and they can assist companies in responding to customers’ needs. Companies partnering with value-added logistics providers can focus on their core business and work on being more competent in the market. Value-adding is not a one-time task — it requires continuous maintenance and 3PLs are working toward providing value-added services in conjunction with their more traditional offerings.
Adding value to your packaging and transportation process can give your company an edge in the market and enable you to stand out from the competition. Service providers offer a range of contributions that add value to your brand, but how do they do that? And is it advantageous? Let’s look at some offerings and how they can benefit your organization.
Calculate Your Value-Added Warehouse Space Needs
Use our warehouse space calculator to find out how much storage you need.
How Do Value-Added Services Help Improve the Supply Chain?
Forward-thinking companies use their supply chain to gain market share and get ahead of their competitors. Spending time and resources to keep this supply chain smooth has become a notable trend in the logistics industry. Forward-thinking entrepreneurs work toward maintaining supply chain excellence, and it has become a widely accepted business strategy in today’s market. Value-added logistics services are not only for customers but also for management. Consider these reasons behind the importance of common supply chain value-added services.
1. Increased Price Pressures and Competition
Previously, brand recognition and product features were more than enough to set companies apart but things have shifted. After commoditizing several products in the market, organizations need better methods to stand apart.
Brand equity and product innovation are no longer the only tools that can allow a business to set a higher selling price. Staying in the competition and emerging on top will require a redesign of supply chains and traditional methods.
Companies are using two methods to adapt to this trend. First, they assess cost-reduction strategies and create new techniques to build a more efficient value chain. These changes will allow them to retain a competitive edge. Second, companies are searching for strategies to provide value-added services that will enable them to meet savvy customers’ demands.
2. Outsourcing
As the market evolves, many companies are taking a step back to evaluate their core competency and some organizations realize that outsourcing part of the supply chain can be beneficial.
The marketplace continues to revolve around three pillars:
Cost and quality of global manufacturing and distribution
Information mediums and systems
Product design capabilities
By outsourcing their supply chain and logistics operations, companies can breathe new life into their business. Still, without the correct systems, processes or organization management, the risk can rise to unmanageable levels. When their business model relies too heavily on outsourcing, companies must implement solutions to make up for off-site supply chain capabilities. The need for details becomes the foremost priority in an outsourced logistics environment.
3. More Complex and Shortened Product Lifecycles
Companies are under significant pressure to develop cutting-edge products and launch them to market quickly, without maximizing or compromising the integrity of their high-demand existing products. To meet this ever-growing need, companies require streamlined product lifecycle management processes, which emphasize new product launches, product discontinuation and design.
The primary benefit of product lifecycle management technology and processes is that it helps companies design products that can share components, operations or materials — reducing the risk of obsolescence write-offs, ensuring optimal use of all infrastructure investments and limiting increased costs when buying essential materials. In addition to all these benefits, it will also shorten the time to market. Companies can focus on product lifecycle management efforts in all these areas and buffer themselves against the risk of any unexpected cost increases, spontaneous obsolescence write-offs and underwhelming product launches. These practices will also enhance customer perception of your company and establish yourself as an innovative reformer.
Top Benefits of Using Value-Added Services for Your Business
You can find several positive reasons to consider a 3PL provider for value-added logistics services. Here are a few notable benefits of value-added services that can readily translate to a competitive advantage for your business.
1. Flexibility
The most significant benefit of using a 3PL provider is flexibility. Partnering with them will allow you more flexibility in labor, space and equipment. They can offer all these components to enable you to meet your customers’ requirements more effectively. Some 3PL providers also offer extra physical space for a specific time as a value-added service, which could be a warehouse for storing rush inventory or a meeting space for discussing on-the-fly software updates. Labor resources are also available as part of value-added services. If any of your product campaigns require a more hands-on approach to attract your audience’s attention, a 3PL can quickly shift their staff to your project and keep your labor cost to a bare minimum.
2. Quality
A 3PL’s added-value services department is primarily a team of specifically trained staff who can assist you in executing specialized projects. With the assistance of a dedicated professional team working or overseeing any customization, you can focus on quality and work efficiency. The value-adding team provided by a trusted 3PL provider might collaborate with customers. They can outline the project, ensure accuracy and precision and take the necessary steps to complete the project on time.
3. Ease of Integration
Partnering with a 3PL provider’s value-added services enables the seller or company to work with one partner for all their logistics needs. A reliable 3PL can assist you in managing warehousing, transportation and all the value-added services you need. This help can make the process more seamless to integrate any updates or changes along the way. Keeping the product in a single fulfillment center can also minimize the cost of moving products and transportation.
Types of Value-Added Supply Chain Services
In warehousing and distribution, value-added services go further than normal operations and can set you apart from your competition. Among these types of activities are cross-docking, transloading, palletizing, kitting, and return processing.
Here are some value-added service examples that decrease your costs and impact your business operations.
Cross-Docking
A cross-docking system allows companies to move products directly from the receiving dock to the shipping dock. This streamlined method saves space and eases manual handling in the distribution center. Cross-docking requires close synchronization of all outbound and inbound shipping movements and reduces the cost by decreasing stockpiling. Cross-docking also involves re-packing, inspection and labeling.
Transloading
The process of transloading requires more than one transport mode. Businesses primarily use this solution when one mode of transport, like land, air or sea, is insufficient to deliver the goods from the origin point to the destination. International shipments, which require multiple modes of transportation, are the best example of transloading. The international shipment process usually begins by air or sea, followed by a truck.
Transloading lets you arrange and sort the shipments before delivering them to the distribution center or warehouse. This streamlined process removes any expensive or unnecessary land transportation. All shipments get grouped upon arrival, eliminating the need for any distribution center.
Transloading also enables your business to save money by removing any less-than-truckload costs. In addition to benefiting the companies, the process is also speedier, thus bringing your customers more satisfaction. You can reach different areas with transloading by using various local and international shipment methods, increasing business possibilities and growth.
Palletizing
In palletizing, you place items or goods on pallets. Depending on the business and product, you may use manual, semi-automated or fully automated methods to put the shipments on pallets. Moving palletized products is more efficient, with a quicker delivery turnaround. With palletizing, you can move perishable goods faster and decrease the risk of spoilage. The palletizing process also reduces labor requirements.
With standard pallet sizes, you can optimize warehouse workflow and operations. Palletizing significantly reduces the risk of worker injury. Since the pallets are more durable than other shipping containers, they can allow you to carry more products at a single time.
Order Fulfillment Services
Order fulfillment services provide the highest customer satisfaction among all the value-added services, and it is one of the top value-added services in logistics. These services can simplify your supply chain and allow you to move your products faster. The order fulfillment services can help you delight your customers with a streamlined process and faster deliveries. This service includes in-house packaging with the latest technology tools. Order fulfillment services perfectly handle labeling and new product launches. When you employ a trusted partner’s help, you can increase your efficiency in handling operations and save a substantial amount of money on purchasing and maintaining expensive equipment.
Return Processing
Returns can cause financial and logistics problems, but they are an unavoidable part of doing business. Returns can require substantial effort and time and sometimes companies can get themselves in trouble trying to handle them. With value-added services, you can outsource your return processing. These service providers have dedicated warehouses and ample personnel to process and manage the returns as required. When a return arrives, workers scan it into the system to determine whether it’s possible to resell. Quick action can keep your business reputation intact and monitor the return patterns for insights.
Pick and Pack
Pick and pack is part of the order fulfillment process, but sometimes you need to pay some extra attention to ensure uniform packing and delivery of all products. A pick-and-pack service can streamline all your packages and deliver them before the expected date. Value-added service providers have the latest technology that assists them in finding the best route and double-checking the delivery address to reduce any chances of mistakes.
Kitting
The kitting process includes combining multiple products into a simple and easy-to-pick package. The process works in many ways, whether it’s banding two similar items or creating an integrated solution by pairing two commonly purchased products. This solution can significantly reduce transportation costs and delivery time. It can also slash your company’s combined costs.
What Are Customized Value-Added Service Solutions?
Value-added services can transform your supply chain, but it is not a one-size-fits-all solution. Service providers must understand a supply chain’s business model and weak spots. With an effective solution, you can optimize your supply chain’s operations.
Besides solving logistical challenges, an expert service provider can also provide other long-term benefits. Customized value-added services can build delivery models that will improve inventory and transportation costs, enhancing your operations and saving time and money.
Value-added service solutions can work on distribution channels to address your company’s trucking capacity and assist you with time-sensitive deliveries. Service providers can offer consultations and innovative solutions to address your trade landscape and warehousing requirements.
A significant benefit of customizing value-added services is an improvement of the supply chain by finding discrepancies in the process and taking corrective measures to improve them, so you can focus on customer satisfaction by providing optimum services.
Choose Crown LSP for Managing Your Supply Chain
When you go toe-to-toe with your competition, it’s essential to partner with service providers who take care of your fundamental requirements while offering insights on distribution best practices to help you stand out from the competition. Being able to offer value-added services has become the latest norm in the constantly evolving market. Partnering with a reliable logistics service provider is paramount in optimizing your supply chain and distribution channel. Your partner should understand your business’s unique needs and deliver on them to achieve quantifiable results.
At Crown LSP Group, we can assist you with our value-added offerings and establish your business in the market. Take a look at the wide range of solutions we provide and get in touch with us for a customized value-added solution.
To rake in consistent sales for your ecommerce business and remain profitable, you need more than a stunning website. You need a rock-solid and efficient ecommerce fulfillment strategy. By 2024 ecommerce will account for 21.8% of total retail sales worldwide. As more customers move online and ecommerce becomes very competitive, customers’ satisfaction will shift from product availability to speed and accuracy of order delivery. One poor experience and they may never return to your store.
According to a study by Retail TouchPoints, 88% of customers say they’ll pay more for same-day delivery. And Amazon set the standard for ecommerce fulfillment with their addition of the next-day delivery option. What does this mean for online businesses and the consumer goods supply chain?
To satisfy your customers, stay competitive and profitable, you need a reliable and effective order fulfillment plan. Discover what you need to know about ecommerce fulfillment below. Find out how to select a fulfillment strategy that suits your unique business needs and how ecommerce fulfillment services can satisfy your warehousing, transportation and distribution needs.
What Is Ecommerce Fulfillment?
Ecommerce fulfillment — also called order fulfillment — refers to the process involved in delivering online orders to customers. The entire process consists of several stages that include receiving and storing inventory, order processing, picking and packing items, delivering products to the final consumer, and handling returns.
There are various strategies for fulfillment and the method you adopt for your business depends on the following factors:
The size of your business
The volume of orders you process
The nature of your products
The size of your products
The location of your customers
From receiving the order to handing off the product to your customer, the ecommerce fulfillment process has many moving parts, no matter the strategy you choose.
Increased significance of ecommerce fulfillment: As more customers prefer buying online and getting their orders delivered to their doorsteps, the efficiency and speed of order delivery will become a major ecommerce success factor.
Rise in automation and robotics in fulfillment: As the demand for fast order picking, packing and delivery increases, robots and automation are helping to meet this demand.
Increased adoption of augmented reality: More augmented reality (AR) in ecommerce order fulfillment is helping warehouse operators navigate products, pick orders and fulfill orders easily and making the landscape more competitive.
Better decision-making with data: Customer and market data is helping retailers and 3PL companies make better inventory forecasting decisions. And businesses that gather and make use of data will win.
At Crown LSP Group, we provide the resources to help ecommerce businesses stay flexible and responsive to trends and changes in their customer and market needs.
Whether you partner with a 3PL ecommerce fulfillment company, work with a dropshipper or fulfill your orders by yourself, the process follows the same pattern.
The online fulfillment process starts from when a customer places an order on your ecommerce site to when you deliver the accurate order to the customer. Typically, it includes the following steps:
1. Receiving and warehousing inventory
This stage of the fulfillment process ensures you have the space to house your inventory to fulfill customers’ orders later on.
Inventory warehousing involves moving your products to an ecommerce fulfillment warehouse or a self-run warehouse — a process called inbound logistics — and storing the products awaiting your customers’ orders. For small businesses, this could be a garage or a small store for storing products and accessing them to fulfill orders. But for a big and growing ecommerce brand that processes hundreds of orders daily, you need dedicated warehousing space or to partner with an ecommerce fulfillment center.
Effective inventory warehousing ensures the safety of your products. You can also consider your warehouse’s proximity to your customers for speedy and cost-effective order fulfillment.
2. Storing and managing inventory
This stage of the fulfillment process ensures you always have products on the shelf. Inventory management involves monitoring, forecasting and restocking inventory. The goal is to maintain an optimal level of product in the warehouse.
Inventory management is essential because too much inventory leads to poor cash flow, more payment for storage and the selling of outdated products. On the other hand, too little inventory leads to backorders and unsatisfied customers.
3. Tracking and managing orders
Order management covers everything about receiving and tracking orders from your customers. Proper order management involves integrating your sales channels — whether Shopify, Amazon, eBay or other merchants — with your warehouse management system to ensure real-time notification and processing of orders.
4. Picking, packing and shipping orders
The steps in the order fulfillment process involve picking, packing and shipping the right product to your customers. This stage in the ecommerce fulfillment process kicks in immediately once a customer places an order. Once the order is received, the correct product is picked from the warehouse, packaged and handed off to logistics for delivery. Proper fulfillment of online orders ensures picking and promptly delivering the accurate product.
5. Delivering products to consumers
Order fulfillment is the most important part of the ecommerce process because it puts you in direct contact with your customers. According to a study, 54% of customers would not place an order because of high delivery charges and 25% of customers won’t place an order if the delivery will take too long.
Efficient and satisfactory last-mile delivery leads to happy customers and positive word of mouth. Those benefits translate to more customers and revenue for your online business.
Small businesses can easily pull this off with self-fulfillment or partnering with a dropshipper. But big ecommerce brands who want a predictable and accurate order fulfillment process can guarantee this with a third-party ecommerce fulfillment company.
6. Returning orders
Also known as return management, reverse logistics involves processing returned products, redelivering the product, refunding your customers and returning the product to the store for reselling.
Thirty percent of everything sold online is returned, either because of damage or wrong product delivery. How you handle reverse logistics influences customers’ satisfaction and their desire to keep buying from your store.
For example, 92% of customers say they would buy more from a store with a satisfactory return procedure. And 79% of customers say they appreciate free shipping for return products.
Ecommerce stores receive the most returns because customers often do not have physical contact with the product before buying. But a laid-out return policy can mitigate product returns for your business.
Return logistics can become complicated. While small ecommerce businesses can easily process returns in-house, big ecommerce brands would need to dedicate plenty of time and resources to effectively handling return products. One advantage of outsourcing the fulfillment process is that it frees you from this burden and creates more time for you to grow your business.
Considerations for Choosing a Fulfillment Strategy
The order fulfillment process you choose will depend on several factors. Each strategy will have its unique advantages depending on the following.
1. The size of your business
Smaller businesses or start-ups may not need a comprehensive order fulfillment strategy. They likely don’t have the order base to support the cost of outsourcing fulfillment.
However, if your business is scaling rapidly and you find order fulfillment challenging, dropshipping or partnering with a third-party logistics (3PL) company like Crown LSP Group can provide you with a cost-effective way to save time and money.
2. The type of products you sell
The size and style of your products will directly affect your order fulfillment needs, especially when it comes to storage and shipping.
For example, products with hazardous materials have transportation limitations. Perishable items will have particular storage demands. The larger your items are, the more storage space you need and the more shipping may cost.
When choosing a fulfillment strategy, consider your product sizes and storage and shipping needs to fulfill them.
3. Your ability to keep track of your inventory
Inventory management includes tracking, storing, restocking and ordering new stock.
Selling out-of-stock merchandise could cost you a potential customer. However, ordering too many products could lead to unnecessary storage fees or a lack of storage space. If your items are perishable, this could lead to significant financial losses.
Dropshipping provides little to no control over inventory management, while a 3PL provider can take over inventory management so you can focus on marketing your business.
4. If you have warehouse space
Your choice of ecommerce fulfillment strategy might boil down to how and where you will store your products. Do you have the storage space for a reasonable stock level?
Small- to medium-sized businesses with smaller stock items may be able to store them in their basement or garage. Other times, the items may be too large or have specific temperature control needs. In those instances, outsourcing may make more sense.
Likewise, medium- to large-sized businesses with large order bases may benefit from partnering with a 3PL company as the cost of a bare-bones independent warehouse may not be financially lucrative.
5. How you will handle returns
As an ecommerce business owner, you will likely experience a high volume of returns, since customers cannot see the product before they buy. Customers love a solid return policy, so how you will handle returns is an important consideration. Processing returns includes providing a way for customers to send back damaged or unwanted items easily and for you to track the returns for stock planning.
If you manage returns in-house, you have control over the entire process, though it could be time-consuming, depending on the product type and the number of returns you receive. However, dropshipping affords the seller little to no control over the returns process and whether it will satisfy customers.
6. The cost of fulfilling orders
Your cost per order includes all costs associated with fulfilling an order, including fixed and variable costs, like the price you paid for the product, storage and shipping.
In some cases, outsourcing order fulfillment by dropshipping may make more sense if you want to keep the cost per order low as you won’t need to worry about the additional storage or shipping costs. You will only pay for the products you sell.
When you want more control over your products, in-house order fulfillment or partnering with a third-party logistics provider may make more sense.
Types of Order Fulfillment Strategies
The fulfillment strategy you adopt depends on your unique business needs. For big and growing ecommerce companies, there are several options including in-house fulfillment, dropshipping or choosing to partner with a third-party logistics company.
In-House Strategy
With in-house fulfillment, you do everything by yourself — warehousing, inventory and order management, order fulfillment and return management. You own your warehouse, purchase the needed insurance, software and equipment and hire and manage the staff needed. This process works well for small businesses but presents challenges for big and growing ecommerce brands.
Here are some things to keep in mind with an in-house strategy for your ecommerce business:
Operating a fulfillment warehouse is expensive: For an ecommerce business processing lots of orders daily, you’d need significant warehouse space, warehouse staff, equipment and tools to operate an effective and smooth in-house ecommerce fulfillment strategy. You’d also need to purchase workers’ compensation, fire insurance, auto, professional insurance and other insurances to protect your workers and inventory in the event of an accident or incident. Those necessary extras require financial and managerial resources that can otherwise be used in expanding your business.
Running a fulfillment warehouse demands time: Receiving inventory, storing, managing stock, packing and delivering orders accurately in-house demands excess time that can otherwise be used for marketing, working on your product or hiring the best talents for your business.
Scaling in-house fulfillment is expensive and slow: Scaling an in-house fulfillment warehouse to meet your customer orders demands funds and takes time. To meet increasing customer orders even with a dedicated warehouse, you’d need to build or lease a larger warehouse, hire more staff and purchase the needed equipment. This process can take time and may not be fast enough to meet your growing customer orders. If sales drop, you’d end up paying for warehouse space and tools that you may never use.
Dropshipping
Most ecommerce businesses go for dropshipping as an alternative to a self-fulfillment strategy. With dropshipping, you don’t buy or store inventory. Instead, you simply put the product up for sale on your site. When you receive an order, you channel it to the dropshipper that operates a fulfillment center and delivers the product to your customer.
Dropshipping is a very fast ecommerce fulfillment method for small businesses, but it poses various challenges for large and growing businesses. With dropshipping, you have zero control over:
Product quality: You do not control the quality of products delivered to your customers or the quality of services your customers receive. In cases of poor customer experience, you, not the fulfillment centers, bear the heat.
Customization and branding: Since another company handles the fulfillment operations, fulfillment warehousing and order fulfillment, most times you do not control the customization and branding of the product.
Inventory: You do not control your dropshipper’s stock level. If the dropshipper does not have the inventory needed to fulfill your customers’ orders, you may leave a lot of money on the table and grow a pile of disappointed customers.
Third-Party Logistics (3PL)
With a third-party fulfillment strategy, a 3PL provider handles all aspects of the order fulfillment process. This includes storing and managing your inventory, receiving and fulfilling customer orders and handling return logistics.
Partnering with a third-party fulfillment company ensures your inventory is properly stored and managed. You get up-to-date information on your inventory to ensure you have the right amount to meet your present and future customer demands.
Some of the common considerations when choosing a 3PL fulfillment strategy include:
Cost-effectiveness: With a 3PL company, you only pay for the space you use and for orders processed. All other expenses are covered by the 3PL order fulfillment center and factored into your fees.
Easy to scale: As your sales and inventory volume increase, you can easily pay for more space and staff. If sales decline, you can easily cut down on your expense. At every point, you pay as you use.
Versatile warehouse space: You can easily move from one fulfillment warehouse to another to get closer to your customers, deliver faster and operate more cost-effectively.
Access to skilled professionals: A 3PL company hires and manages warehouse and order fulfillment professionals so that you do not have to.
Time to run your business: Outsourcing your order fulfillment carves out more time for you to focus on marketing, stocking the best quality product and growing your business.
Signs That You Should Outsource Fulfillment
Are you wondering if your ecommerce business could benefit from outsourcing order fulfillment? You may only need to outsource one or a few aspects. Our ecommerce fulfillment guide offers a few considerations to keep in mind.
1. Unpredictable sales cycles and seasonality
Frequent unused storage space, excess products with no room or unpredictable sales cycles can wreak havoc on your ecommerce business. Plus, an unfulfilled order could negatively impact customer retention. If it’s challenging to keep up with stock management, it may be time to consider outsourcing fulfillment with a 3PL provider.
A third-party logistics company will manage stock and track order trends to accurately predict the type and amount of stock you will need. Additionally, data insights from a 3PL provider can help you forecast sales dips so you don’t end up splurging on products you may not sell at certain times of the year.
2. Expansion of your target customer base
Nationwide and international shipping expenses can quickly add up, especially if you have a large, spread-out customer base. If you plan to expand your ecommerce business and ship across the U.S. or internationally, outsourcing fulfillment with a third-party logistics company may be the right order fulfillment solution.
A 3PL provider like Crown LSP Group can quickly and efficiently open a warehousing center nearer to your target customer base. We reduce shipping costs and ensure you have the stock available to support growth.
3. Costs that are challenging to predict or control
Most retail businesses have slower sales seasons, including ecommerce businesses. Depending on the products you sell, predicting or controlling costs associated with inventory and order fulfillment may be difficult.
For example, during slower months, you may not need as much storage space for your inventory. Unfortunately, unused warehouse space is lost money. Conversely, you may have an unexpected surge in sales without the stock, storage space or warehousing personnel you need to fulfill orders efficiently.
A third-party logistics provider can cost-effectively accommodate any unexpected dips or surges in order, storage and personnel demands.
4. Overstocking or understocking your inventory
Assuring you have the necessary kind and amount of stock at the right time is paramount to long-term business success. Overstocking could lead to increased storage costs while understocking could lead to a dissatisfied customer base if it happens too frequently.
It may be time to outsource order fulfillment if you’ve found it challenging to predict the amount of stock you need at specific points in the year. A 3PL company can monitor your inventory, track your orders and predict the amount and kind of stock you need and when.
5. Returns are becoming too hard to handle
Returns are inevitable for ecommerce businesses. There are many reasons your customers might return their products. The item could be damaged or different than they expected. Either way, if the seller is handling returns in-house, they are responsible for customer support, processing the return and restocking or updating inventory data.
Handling returns can quickly become time-consuming and unmanageable, especially if your company processes hundreds of orders or is scaling rapidly. A third-party logistics company can provide customer support, the process returns and manages inventory updates to dedicate your time to other aspects of your ecommerce business.
6. Not enough resources to handle the demand
When you can’t fulfill orders or meet customer demands, your business might suffer. Suppose you’ve found your company doesn’t have or can’t reasonably afford the warehousing facilities, technology or the number of personnel necessary to support a rapid influx of sales. In that case, it is time to outsource your ecommerce order fulfillment.
Whether you’ve experienced an unexpected surge or decline in sales, a third-party logistics provider will help you meet fluctuating storage needs, manage stock and have the staff to fulfill your orders and returns. You will only pay for the resources you need at any given time with the help of a 3PL provider.
7. You can’t focus on running your business
You must focus on the key responsibilities of successfully running an ecommerce business. Outsourcing will free up time, money and resources you can funnel into critical elements like marketing and customer relationship management. You can also maintain superior customer service.
Work With a Trusted 3PL Provider Today!
As a leader among third-party logistics providers, Crown LSP Group is your true distribution solution company. We provide customized supply chain services like warehousing, transportation and logistics, value-added services and on-site warehouse operations for your unique business needs. Our North Carolina location ensures cost-effective inbound logistics and speedy delivery to your customers anywhere in the United States.
We have been providing the best warehousing and last-mile delivery services for retailers like you for over 30 years. We provide all the inventory management and order fulfillment resources you need to run a successful ecommerce business. Our goal is to become your long-term logistics partner.
We know your business needs are unique. We’ll work with you to provide a customer ecommerce fulfillment strategy that benefits you and your customers in the long and short term.
