• Kramer Knudsen posted an update 2 years ago

    A growing trend for US based ecommerce entrepreneurs is to outsource work such as the packaging, labeling, and order fulfillment. This is because of the time restraints associated with running a storefront. It takes a lot more time to conduct in depth research on products, compare pricing, and create an overall cost effective packaging strategy for a product than it does to simply order some boxes and labels. In addition, it can be difficult to locate a skilled label printer. This is where fulfillment centers come in.

    Us ecommerce entrepreneurs can eliminate many of these challenges by using a third-party fulfillment center to handle the manual picking, packing, and shipping of products. Fulfillment centers provide a variety of services to meet the needs of all of the business owner’s customer base. They offer heavy duty, double layer, padded mailing boxes, heavy item pads, order pick up and delivery, pick and pack solutions, and much more. The services also include packing materials, pallet wraps, bubble wraps, and even shipping supplies and specialty items. In short, if you want this type of service, you don’t have to know how to do it yourself.

    If you have not heard of an automated order fulfillment company, you need to review the benefits they offer. First of all, they will take care of all of the tasks associated with order fulfillment, including: tracking orders, analyzing data, and developing an accurate forecast of how much inventory will be in-stock and available for shipment. Next, they will actually physically fill the orders from your website and label them when they are received. Finally, they will deliver the packages to your customers in a timely fashion.

    There are several major players in the US based ecommerce fulfillment industry. The two most popular companies are: CompUSA and Cienta. Many other companies have popped up over the past few years, offering an array of services to their customers, but it is important to understand that these companies operate pretty differently from one another. The CompUSA company, for example, operates on a national level, while Cienta operates more locally.

    The way that companies like these operate is by buying goods in bulk, loading them into their own shipping trucks, and then transporting them to their customers. This means that many times the fulfillment companies do not even have a location of their own, although they frequently ship products to clients from their head offices. Instead, they simply rent warehouse space and warehouse products. Another difference is that traditional warehouses often have a long line of vehicles that bring products to and from the location. This means that goods can sit in one location for days or weeks before being delivered. When you use automated order fulfillment companies, you eliminate the line of trucks and eliminate the need for warehousing.

    Many small businesses that are interested in working with order fulfillment companies are worried about the costs associated with these types of businesses. The good news is that most of these companies operate on the same levels as traditional warehouses, but they tend to operate at a lower cost. The companies do not own their own trucks and loading and unloading equipment. In most cases, they will partner with one of the larger nationwide companies to provide you with their trucks, equipment, and warehouse space. This means that you can save thousands of dollars by avoiding the out-of-pocket costs associated with purchasing your own trucks and buying your own forklifts.

    Another reason to choose a B2B operation is because the companies tend to have a more diverse mix of services and products. For instance, you may find that some of the smaller companies only sell online. If this is the case, you should make sure that you are able to work with that company. If the B2B operation you are looking at does not offer an online presence, you should be able to find a local company that will provide you with a virtual storefront. This is a very important feature and can significantly increase your revenue.

    You also want to make sure that the company you partner with has a solid reputation. There are many companies that are only interested in taking your money and never developing a true business model for you. The best way to avoid these companies is to do your homework and research the company. Contact the Better Business Bureau to see if there have been any complaints filed against the company. If there are, you can be sure that you will not be dealing with any shady companies.