How to Outsource Your eCommerce Order Fulfilment
Has your current fulfilment operation hit full capacity? You’re not alone.
When your business hits new heights, it’s difficult to juggle product development, marketing, customer service, and growth.
As your business scales, your warehouse needs and operations must step up before the process becomes overwhelming and starts to impact your relationship with your customers.
The answer to your problems? Outsourcing to a 3PL company. When you outsource to a successful fulfilment company, you reap many benefits. And this could be a game-changer.
What is eCommerce Fulfilment Outsourcing?
It’s where your eCommerce business partners with a 3PL provider. They handle the entire fulfilment process, which includes warehouse space, inventory management, staff, shipping logistics, returns, picking and packing, and order processing.
Interestingly, 60% of online retailers outsource services to fulfilment providers, with 20% of those outsourcing the entire process, according to CapitalOne Shopping.
Outsourcing order fulfilment as an eCommerce business is now the industry standard. And with the significant annual growth of the industry, it comes as no surprise.
Add to this the cost savings and potential scalability, and it becomes crystal clear. Are you planning to take advantage of a professional 3PL service?
Why Outsource Your eCommerce Order Fulfilment?
When you outsource your fulfilment process to a 3PL, the short and long-term benefits present a real growth opportunity for your business and a competitive advantage over others.
- Reduce costs: You eliminate overheads as a 3PL handles all costs
- Win back time: Spend the time you win back on marketing and growth
- Scalability: A flexible option where you scale up or down to meet demand
- Technology: Reduces errors and the process duration to create an efficient system
- Improved service: Faster delivery options raise standards and brand reputation
- Locations: Multiple locations mean shorter delivery times and international expansion
Partnering with a 3PL company revolutionises your fulfilment process, saves you money, and gives you back time to focus on scaling your eCommerce business.
How to Successfully Outsource Your eCommerce Fulfilment
We’re here to give you a quick step-by-step guide to find a successful fulfilment partner, so you can start the rewarding process with actionable steps.
Step One: Assess Your Current Operations
How much does your current system cost? What is your order volume? Do your products need a special delivery method? Where do you currently ship your products? How do you handle returns?
Once you calculate costs, you can easily compare potential 3PL partners that will help you cut your daily operation costs.
Step Two: What Are Your Needs?
Begin by listing your needs and expectations, such as desired storage capacity, eCommerce platform compatibility, packaging requirements, shipping options, and additional services.
When you understand the specific needs of your product and customer, the perfect fulfilment partner becomes clear. Can the 3PLs on your list meet your needs?
If not, cross them off the list.
Step Three: Research
As eCommerce and fulfilment are growing industries, there are many 3PL companies. And to cut through the white noise, you need to research like a pro.
Consider the company’s experience, warehouse space and locations, technology integration, and review its case studies and reviews.
Most importantly, flexibility will help you thrive. A professional 3PL will integrate with any eCommerce platform to help your fulfilment process flow smoothly.
Step Four: Understand the Price Models
A fulfilment centre may consider several factors for pricing:
- Storage fees
- Receiving and inbound fees
- Pick and pack fees
- Shipping costs
- Returns
However, the most important factor is transparent pricing. Many 3PLs add additional hidden fees to monthly invoices.
Professional, efficient fulfilment companies use transparent pricing so you can forecast overheads with accuracy. At MCF, you only pay for what you use.
Step Five: Plan Your Transition
Once you’ve chosen a fulfilment partner, it’s time for the transition phase. Create a clear timeline and coordinate all inventory transfers to create a smooth transition process.
Set up system integrations and define performance metrics ahead of time to plan for the trial period. Take a phased approach and start a trial using a few products before you commit fully.
Many fulfilment centres offer onboarding support to help you through each step of the transition phase.
Step Six: Integrate Your Systems
A successful fulfilment centre is flexible, allowing integration with all eCommerce platforms. Once you connect, the rest should flow easily.
Automation, inventory tracking, real-time tracking, performance reports, returns management, and analytics all integrate under the system.
Once you integrate under one system, you’ll reduce errors, improve customer service, and gain 24/7 inventory visibility.
Step Seven: Transfer Your Inventory
It’s time to transfer your entire inventory. Coordinate with your fulfilment partner, and they’ll provide instructions for the process.
From here, a professional fulfilment centre will use in-depth processes, verify quantities, record lot numbers or expiry dates, and store your products according to their needs.
Step Eight: Monitor Performance
Once the process begins, continuously track your performance. Key metrics like order accuracy, shipment times, customer feedback, and inventory accuracy are key success indicators.
Communicate regularly with your fulfilment partner to help them identify areas for improvement, and make sure the process is always working towards your growth goals.
Long-term collaboration and analysis are the foundations of the best partnerships.
Why Partner with MCF for Your eCommerce Fulfilment?
MCF is an award-winning fulfilment centre working with leading retailers across the UK. For any eCommerce business trying to scale, here’s why businesses trust MCF:
- Transparent pricing: All our pricing is free from hidden fees, so you know your costs from the first day.
- Top-tier fulfilment: You’ll receive speedy, reliable delivery services and flawless shipping to help you win repeat customers.
- Advanced warehouse systems: Integrate with Shopify, eBay, Amazon, TikTok Shop, and more to reach customers across all platforms
- Smart shipping solutions: Choose the most effective and affordable shipping methods.
- Returns management: We handle all returns, and you save time on one of the hardest aspects of eCommerce.
When you partner with MCF, you push the boundaries of your fulfilment potential with a seamless system that directly contributes towards the growth of your eCommerce business.
Grow Your eCommerce Business with MCF!
Are you ready to increase your profits through a seamless order fulfilment process? Partnering with MCF means improved efficiency, reduced costs, and saved time to focus on growth.
Get in touch for a FREE quote today and scale your business with first-rate eCommerce order fulfilment.
