What to look for in a Fulfilment Service Provider

Finding the right Fulfilment Service Partner is crucial in ensuring that your customers receive the best possible experience in every transaction that they enter with your e-commerce company.

Finding the right Fulfilment Service Partner is crucial in ensuring that your customers receive the best possible experience in every transaction that they enter with your e-commerce company. You may have the most innovative order taking tools and a high-quality product line that your patrons enjoy, but all these will be for naught if your packaging and item delivery process do not meet the needs and expectations of your valued customers.

It would be heartbreaking to see your regulars leave by the throng onto your competitor’s site, all because of a poorly handled order. The hard work that you have put into securing a positive experience for your customers, wasted because of a service provider that has not delivered in accordance with the agreed-upon specifications. But you need not risk your brand’s reputation and your customer’s business. All you have to do is your research well before you enter into a partnership with a fulfilment outsourcing company and look for the following:

Straightforward Customer Service

You want to eliminate as many barriers as you can to get the most out of a partnership, and your relationship with your provider as early as the enquiry stage will tell you a lot about how they conduct business. Are your account managers difficult to reach whenever you need assistance? Do they take too long to respond to your enquiries as a result of a flawed customer service management process? And when they finally reply to your email, are their answers irrelevant and do not offer any enlightenment to the situation? If you answer yes to any of these questions, then it would be wise to rethink your decision of entering into an agreement with this particular provider.

You need a partner that will offer you valuable support and not add to the many other things that you have to personally take care of. They are an extension of your operations and their treatment of you as their first line customer indicates how they are as a third party entity. Remember that how they handle their business will reflect on yours, and your customers will associate every service that they receive from the provider, whether good or bad, with your brand.

Cutting-edge Technology and Processes

A truly efficient fulfilment service provider operates using both the expertise of talented and experienced employees and the latest inventory and warehousing software. The systems and applications that they use must be regularly upgraded and maintained, with analytics and reporting functionality to measure accuracy and productivity. These tools do far more than just ensure that your order and inventory data are up to date, they also offer you information that can help you improve your practices.

Well-maintained Facilities

The provider’s facility will be your products’ second home and you want to make sure that the warehouse is equipped with the proper ventilation, storage and maintenance systems to keep your items in their best possible state prior to shipping. Schedule a visit to the prospective provider’s facility to see the condition of the structure yourself and talk to the warehouse manager to know more about their processes.

Proven Track Record of Excellent Service

If you do not have any first-hand experience in contracting the services of a fulfilment company, you can benefit from reading customer testimonials online to know the quality of work that they offer. Go for a company that is well-reviewed and with significantly more positive feedback than bad.

A&O Mail, backed with years of unparalleled expertise in the industry, is equipped with the service of dedicated staff and top-of-the-line systems and tools. Trust us to provide your business with the advantage that you need through seamless mailing and order fulfilment solutions. Call us now for a discussion about how we can be of service to you.