Order fulfillment is a crucial and complex part of running a successful eCommerce business. Consumers expect fast fulfillment at minimal expense. But how can you live up to these high expectations? You can streamline your order fulfillment process with the help of a Third-Party Logistic (3PL) company. With the help of Raven Force Couriers, you’ll maximize efficiency and create lifelong customer loyalty.
What is Order Fulfillment?
Before diving into how your business can optimize order fulfillment, let’s review the steps involved. This process will differ depending on the business, however, many 3PL companies follow this general blueprint:
1. Online order is received (via online marketplace, phone call, or in person)
2. Order is internally processed using back-office system
3. 3PL is alerted of the order
4. 3PL picks order from storage
5. Order is securely packaged
6. Order is shipped
7. Order is delivered to customer
Strategies to Improve the Order Fulfillment Process
The order fulfillment process varies from business to business, however, there are some strategies available to maximize efficiency when fulfilling customer orders. Here are some tips to maximize your fulfillment process:
1. Seamless Website Integration
When streamlining your business’s order fulfillment process, you’ll want to ensure seamless communication between the suppliers and the fulfillment center. As your goods are likely manufactured outside of house, it’s important that you have a seamless website integration system so that you’re clear on the stock you have.
A 3PL such as Raven Force Couriers offers advanced Warehouse Management systems, eCommerce platforms, individual company carts, and exclusive shipping methods to maximize integration. This provides clear communication between all parties involved, including the manufacturers, customers, courier, and yourself.
2. Enable Point-to-Point Visibility
This allows a real-time link between you and your suppliers to ensure clarity throughout the supply chain. When you integrate this into your fulfillment model, you and your suppliers should have access to the same catalog, inventory, and every point that makes up the order fulfillment process. This also allows clear communication with your customers, as your eCommerce platform will display up-to-date stock and quantity via the storefront.
3. Choosing your Shipping Courier
When choosing a shipping company, it’s important to consider the different factors that could affect shipping efficiency. For starters, think about the types of goods you’ll be shipping with this courier. Whether it’s large machinery or small beauty products, you want to ensure that the courier is capable of transporting and delivering that size of product.
Where do you offer shipping? Many rural areas face delivery issues depending on the courier. If your client base is condensed to more desolate areas, you’ll want to use a shipping a company that can accommodate such demands.
Do your research to investigate a company’s satisfaction rates before getting into business with them. If a shipping company has a history of negative experiences, you may want to reconsider partnering with them. It can be helpful to reach out to other business owners to see which courier they trust with their merchandise.
At Raven Force Couriers, we offer Final Mile Delivery to take care of every step of the order fulfillment processes. Our trusted drivers ensure safe and fast delivery and collect photo evidence throughout the process for peace of mind.
4. Communicate with your Customers
Throughout the order fulfillment process, you’ll want to prioritize clear customer communication. Keeping your customers informed on the whereabouts of their order is vital to building brand loyalty and trust. Update your customers in real-time about order status, processing, shipping, and delivery. You can be in touch with your customers about delays to minimize customer frustration and increase their understanding.
At Raven Force, we prioritize customer satisfaction throughout the fulfillment process. Our advanced systems provide insight into order status and creates clear lines of communication. With our Final Mile Delivery, our Raven Force Couriers provide real-time updates for shipping and delivery accessible through SMS or online.
5. Accepting Returns
As every consumer knows, ordering online is always a gamble. To build brand loyalty and increase your chances of having return customers, it’s important to have a clear and seamless return processes for your business. From the return shipping to the refund, limit customer effort as much as possible.
You can work with a trusted and established 3PL to streamline the return process for your customers. That way, you can offer in-box return labels, pickup, and fast processing rates for your customers to maximize their experience and further your business.
Raven Force Couriers
When improving the order fulfillment of your business, partnering with a 3PL can provide professional insight and maximized efficiency to your processes. Our fulfillment center will take care of everything; all you need to do is send us your products and focus on growing your business. All the fulfillment logistics, from picking and packing to shipping and returning will be handled by our team of professionals to offer tailored services and exceed your expectations. Contact us today to learn more.