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.

How to start using fulfillment

When you choose your order fulfillment provider, you will then have to go through several steps.

Signing a contract

Discussion of all the nuances, signing a contract and drawing up an action plan to start cooperation.

Make sure that the contract contains the following clauses:

• format and deadline for submitting applications for order processing;
• time allotted to the provider to complete the assigned tasks;
• price or the exact formula for calculating each service;
• possible problems and methods of solving them;
• technical nuances of integration.

Registration in the system

At this stage, the online store’s accounting system is integrated into the order fulfillment provider’s CRM system. It usually takes 2–5 business days. At this time, it is undesirable to conduct promotions or send parcels to customers.

The capabilities of various providers differ. For example, after registering in the Dropex CRM system, you will be able to view reports on the current status of all your orders, turnover and financial issues.

Acceptance of products to the warehouse

Acceptance of products to the order fulfillment center. Both the provider and the employees of the online store can bring them there.

Each unit of the accepted product is marked, registered in the CRM system and sent to storage in proper conditions.

When choosing an order fulfillment provider, focus on the best

Dropex is an ecommerce fulfillment provider in Europe. The company has local storage facilities in 7 European countries (Hungary, Romania, Poland, Italy, Spain, Portugal and Greece).

Dropexs mission is to help its clients’ businesses develop quickly and successfully. In addition to the standard order fulfillment services, Dropex offers useful additional ones: COD payments, production of goods under the client’s brand, assistance in legalizing products in EU countries, tax consulting and much more.

You can find out more about the conditions and cost of cooperation on the Dropex website.