If your online business is struggling to keep up with order fulfillment, it can be costly and stressful. Maybe it’s time to hire a company that specializes in eCommerce order fulfillment services. Not only can this save you time and money in the long run, but it can keep your customers coming back for more. Here are some reasons in-house fulfillment can be costing you big money.
7 Ways You're Loosing Money by Not Using eCommerce Order fulfillment
1. You can’t keep up with incoming orders
Congrats! If your business is booming, it may be time to think about outsourcing logistics. Growth spurts can make or break your business. Making the right decisions during periods of growth is critical for continued success. When you reach the point where you are struggling to keep up with in-house order fulfillment because you are making so many sales, a fulfillment company could help. That way, you can focus on more valuable activities like marketing and re-targeting customers rather than menial tasks like picking and packing orders.
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2. Your business isn’t growing
It’s tempting to stick with in-house order fulfillment because it seems to cost less on the surface. But is it costing your business future growth by keeping your hands tied? If you’re busy filling orders all the time, how can you grow? Many small business owners fall into the trap of thinking they can do it all themselves. While it may be true that you can handle picking, packing, and shipping orders, that time could be better spent on growing your business.
3. The holidays are right around the corner
If you have an uptick in seasonal sales, you may need extra help. Plan ahead this year by having a company handle order fulfillment for you. It can be hard to juggle increasing holiday sales with all your other operating and marketing tasks. Holidays are also a great time to reach new customers. Wow, those first-time customers with fast, precise order fulfillment to build customer loyalty and keep those sales coming in the future. Order fulfillment services free up your time so you can make more money during the holidays.
4. You notice mistakes happening more frequently
In-house order fulfillment mistakes happen. If lately, you have seen more incorrect orders, delayed shipments, damaged orders, and increasing returns than usual, it may be time to do something about it. Wondering how to improve order fulfillment processes can leave you stumped if it is not your area of expertise. A professional online order fulfillment company takes the guesswork out of it, so costly mistakes stop happening all the time.
5. In-house fulfillment is costing too much money
Increasing fulfillment process costs can chip away at your profit. Warehouses, storage shelves, printers, paper and ink, shipping, packaging materials, and labor costs add up quickly. If you are spending too much on in-house fulfillment, you might be surprised to learn that outsourcing eCommerce fulfillment may cost less.
A professional fulfillment center has industry connections that many small business owners don’t have. They can save you money by getting the best shipping rates and keep the cost of packaging materials down. Pair that with having one less time-consuming task on your plate AND a growing number of happy customers, and it is well worth the up-front cost.
6. You’re stressed about keeping up with orders
The key to success is big-picture thinking. Order fulfillment can be a distraction. You may start your day thinking of big plans to grow your business, but by lunchtime, the day has been completely sidetracked. Customer emails asking why their order has not arrived yet, wrong or missing tracking information, and damaged parcels can quickly derail the afternoon. For online retailers who want to grow, this is a risk you can’t take. Fulfillment services for startups keep every day running smoothly.
7. You want to reach new markets abroad
International sales can boost your bottom line. Deciding to ship products overseas presents new order fulfillment challenges. It is not always easy to change your current order fulfillment strategy to suit this new customer base. Instead, eCommerce fulfillment services can take care of it for you.
fulfillment centers also get better pricing on international shipping; they can handle complicated tasks like ensuring customs forms are filled out correctly and can choose the best international shipping method.
Are you looking for a fulfillment service company that can handle your eCommerce needs? We offer an international shipping solution with competitive rates and flexible terms. Our experts will make sure to pack, ship, and deliver your products in the most cost-effective way possible while ensuring customs forms are filled out correctly. Contact us today if you need help with any of these complicated tasks!
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