Delivering goods to customers is one of the most crucial parts of your e-commerce business. If your packages are late or damaged, it can ruin your reputation with customers and reduce sales. That’s why it’s crucial to choose an e-commerce fulfillment company that can handle all aspects of delivering goods on time and in pristine condition.
In this article, we’ll tell you about the things you should consider before choosing a delivery company for your e-commerce business.
Do They Offer Same-Day Delivery?
Same-day delivery is a great service to offer customers. It can be more expensive, time-consuming, and complicated than other options. However, it’s still something customers want from e-commerce platforms. Before you choose a delivery company, make sure they offer this option if you think it will help your business grow.
Same-day delivery requires many things, like vehicles, experienced drivers, and well-maintained routes. If a company doesn’t have all of these pieces together, it may not be ready for same-day deliveries.
What Kind of Pick and Pack Services Does the Company Provide?
This is a critical aspect of any e-commerce business. You want to know if you can expect your delivery company to take care of every step in the process, from retrieving your products from the warehouse to packaging them up for shipment. The best companies will offer local and international services and have years of experience handling logistics. They will also offer packaging supplies, including boxes, bubble wrap, tape, labels, and more.
How Much Warehouse Space Do They Have?
It’s important to remember that a warehouse is not just a storeroom for your products. It’s also where you keep inventory that isn’t currently in stock, items in transit, and even product preparation materials. The size of your warehouse will determine how much product you can carry at any given time and how many employees you need to manage it all.
If the delivery company has too little space, they may end up having issues when storing goods on their premises or in transit. If they don’t have enough space for all these tasks, there’s no way they’ll be able to provide you with timely deliveries without causing frustration for both parties involved. That would mean low customer satisfaction scores for everyone involved.
What Are Their Shipping Costs?
When considering your shipping costs, it’s important to note that they can be a big part of your budget. Shipping costs vary depending on weight, volume, and distance. Some companies base their shipping cost on weight, some on volume, and others may have a combination of both. If you’re selling a large number of small items (such as jewelry), you’ll want to consider whether the distance between buyers and sellers is going to affect your shipping cost.
Do They Have Fulfillment Centers in Remote Locations?
One of the most important things to consider when choosing a delivery company for your e-commerce business is whether or not they have fulfillment centers in remote locations. If you plan on storing inventory at one location but shipping from another location, it will be crucial to find a delivery company that can ship to both locations.
If your fulfillment center is in the same area as your primary warehouse (i.e., if it’s within 50 miles), you can expect that any delivery company with services in the area will be able to deliver there without issue. However, if you are planning on shipping across state lines or internationally, it’s best to make sure that any potential shipper has facilities nearby so they can easily reach those customers.
How Good Is Their Package Tracking System?
The next thing to consider is how good the package tracking system of your delivery company is. You want to ensure that it is easy for customers and employees to use. The tracking system should be free, available 24/7, and accessible to anyone who needs it.
It’s also vital for you to look at whether or not your package tracking system can be used across all channels. Customers expect their orders to follow them from their first click on the e-commerce website until they receive their product in hand at home or work.
The same goes with partners like 3PL companies or distributors who may have access and need an easy way of seeing where the packages are at any given time. That way, they can plan accordingly when it comes time for deliveries.
Choosing a delivery or fulfillment company for your e-commerce business is not easy. However, sticking to these tips can make the experience less difficult.
