Order fulfillment services for small businesses recognize that getting customers their orders is critical yet challenging. These third-party logistics (3PL) providers will have a physical location—a fulfillment center—where they store your product and take care of the packing and shipping.
There are many fulfillment centers for small businesses. To find the right one for your needs, you will want to make sure you see a breakdown of the entire cost. Keep in mind that each fulfillment company will price its services differently.
Image Source: Google
It can also help to partner with a 3PL that has similar industry experience. With so many options available, finding a partner with similar existing clients and know-how in your industry can lead to a more efficient partnership.
We use the word partnership consciously. Your logistics provider is going to be an extension of your business. You want to work with someone who will prioritize customer service and help you give your online shoppers a consistently great experience.
You might also ask what logistics technology the provider is using. There could be very useful integrations between their systems and yours to facilitate greater supply chain transparency. Getting access to inventory data and analytics from the 3PL can help your business identify sales trends, avoid stockouts, improve inefficiencies, and better allocate resources.