A lot of companies tend to get caught up in making a sale. However, what about all of the steps that come after this part of the buyer’s journey? Warehousing, shipping, and fulfillment services are not be the most thrilling aspects of landing someone’s business. But, they’re crucial for getting your product to your customer’s door.
There are many different approaches a company can take for fulfillment: outsourcing, dropshipping, and self-fulfillment. Packing and shipping orders on your own can be less expensive and offer more flexibility. However, most companies that fulfill in-house tend to be small-scale startups lacking sufficient cash flow.
Larger, more established companies that have the capital to outsource typically turn to a third party for their warehousing and fulfillment needs. Next, let’s explore the ins and outs of these services. These tips will make outsourcing key logistics functions less overwhelming.
Basics of order fulfillment services
If your company has outgrown its existing warehousing capabilities or you just don’t want to oversee your own shipping, outsourcing is the best solution for you. Third-party fulfillment providers operate out of fulfillment centers that handle order and shipping preparations and act as storage space for your inventory.
Companies searching for ways to better allocate their inventory and introduce more efficiency into their processes should consider providers with multiple fulfillment centers in their network. Thus, third parties with multiple fulfillment locations can help shippers expand customer bases, increase delivery speeds, and reduce shipping costs.
These logistics partners usually charge companies by the unit/pallet or by the hour. Additionally, they charge for additional value-added services like storage, pick and pack, kitting, returns, and custom packaging. Lastly, providers charge transactional and recurring expenses such as receiving and shipping fees.
Top benefits of outsourcing fulfillment services
Outsourcing fulfillment can save you time and effort. Additionally, it can help you grow your business without forcing you to hire and manage new staff or sign costly long-term leases. Lastly, outsourcing fulfillments allows you to concentrate on your organization’s goals while someone else manages the rising expectations of today’s consumers.
Many providers will also adjust their pricing to meet the highs and lows of your business. Therefore, you’re actually freeing yourself from all of the pressures associated with receiving, inventory management, and order processing. Additionally, third-party warehousing and fulfillment can help you overcome a lot of logistical challenges. They provide adaptability, a seamless experience, and infrastructure optimization opportunities.
There are many different third-party logistics providers out there. Therefore, you should do your research before making a decision. Visit O’Neill Logistics to learn more information.
About O’Neill Logistics
O’Neill Logistics is a leading 3PL with operations in Rancho Cucamonga, CA; Savannah, GA; and Newark/Monroe, NJ. We service many verticals including Garments, Fashion Accessories, Footwear, Furniture, Home Goods, & Electronics. Our services include omni-channel distribution and all value-added services. Additionally, we focus on retail “drop shipment” fulfillment and item-level fulfillment services with same-day service offerings.
We have over 2 million square feet which are all state-of-the-art facilities, offer dray services to support the warehouses, and handle distribution to retailers and wholesalers.
Our main drive is to simplify your supply chain by delivering exceptional service and optimizing your operational performance. We aim to build, protect and foster strong business partnerships.
O’Neill’s reliable 3PL platform, combining sophisticated technology with robust, flexible processing designs and speed-to-market gateway models, was built by our management team of seasoned executives with backgrounds in transportation, distribution and technology across domestic and international supply chains.
