The fulfillment industry has turned on its axis the past few decades, and there’s no sign of it stopping. More and more customers are turning toward online ordering and ecommerce; instead of driving to the mall or stopping by the pharmacy, many customers find efficiency and convenience in shopping online. Plus, most of them already know the brands they love and are loyal to. If they offer an online option, why wouldn’t they choose that?
When customers know what they want, it makes it all the easier to simply open the computer and order online for delivery. Within 1-3 days, they’ve got a package waiting for them at their doorstep.
And that just means you’ve got to have all the more substantial order fulfillment solutions for your operation. Maybe last year your services weren’t up to par with what customers needed, but now you can give them everything they ask for and more.
Here’s a run-down of how to get top-notch order fulfillment solutions in just 3 easy steps.
Your call center and customer service lines have got to own it. If you want to cater to the modern-day customer, your business has got to be ‘on’ all the time; not only do you need to be available around the clock, but you also need to have professional, knowledgeable, and friendly employees that can work with every customer that comes running your way.
There will be questions about order status and product advice, there will be comments about how great or how unsatisfying (let’s keep that to near-zero) your fulfillment logistics are, and there will be concerns about whether their package will arrive on time.
Complaint or praise, you’ve got to keep it together. Customers expect a lot from you, and you best deliver. So, if anything, remember this: be friendly and engaging no matter the situation, answer questions and respond to comments and concerns thoroughly and understandably, and simply go above and beyond. If you do, they’ll remember you, and they won’t hesitate to gush to all their friends and family; not only about your products, but your customer care, too.
To create and maintain perfect e-fulfillment services, you’ve got to have the most perfect warehouse there ever was. No ifs, ands, or buts. Sorry.
Why?
We could argue that the warehouse is the most important stop on your fulfillment logistics chain for your products. It’s where they’re housed and taken care of (hopefully). This is where things can either go oh so right or oh so very, very wrong.
So let’s get it right. First off, you need an FDA Food-Grade Certified warehouse. This ensures your inventory will get the highest quality care in the biz. Why? Because it’ll be outfitted and integrated with special-care qualities that finnicky products need and that regular warehouses can’t provide. You’ll need temperature-controlled rooms for the perishable items, and advanced inventory tracking to ensure products are safe and exactly where they need to be.
With organization come satisfaction. When your warehouse is outfitted for perfection, you’ll find that the process runs effortlessly. When you don’t lose time trying to fix a broken system that should have proactively been repaired, your pick and pack team will have a much easier time handling customer orders and shipping them out right on time.
It’s simple but it’s so very important. Customers are relying on you to get their orders to them on the date you promised. They’re excited and patiently waiting to receive the items they ordered, so you’ve got to get that package to their door. Even better? Aim for a delivery ahead of schedule.
Now that’s high-quality service.
Order fulfillment solutions will keep you from back-end headaches and logistical errors. It’s the proactive approach to the notoriously reactive fulfillment process and will keep your customers satisfied time and time again.
Ready to make a change but looking to outsource your fulfillment services? No worries, we’ve got you covered on all things 3PL.
Interested in learning more? Give us a call, we’d love to chat!
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