In-House Fulfillment vs. Outsourced Fulfillment Centers: Which One to Choose?
A fundamental element of your business involves the process of receiving products, packing, and shipping. Coordinating these tasks requires a considerable amount of effort, and mastering this system is the only way to provide a positive customer experience. The main question to ask yourself is whether you should manage the process with in-house fulfillment or outsourced fulfillment centers. Choosing In-House Fulfillment or Outsourced Fulfillment Centers Depending on the size, revenue, and manpower of your business, you may require extra help. Although there are benefits to keeping fulfillment under your roof, it can take time away from more important aspects of...
What Are the Disadvantages of Drop Shipping?
There are many things to consider when setting up an e-commerce business. Some of these include delivery arrangements, inventory and stock locations, and finding the most cost-effective and least time-consuming way to organize products. Although many companies use drop shipping for their e-commerce web sites, there are many disadvantages of drop shipping that you should be aware of. Here’s what you need to know about the risks of drop shipping. (more…)
How to Plan Inventory for Your e-Commerce Business
As the demands of e-commerce businesses grow, so do their needs for inventory management. To to learn more about the importance of inventory management and e-commerce inventory best practices, keep on reading. The Importance of Inventory Management for e-Commerce E-commerce is a rapidly growing industry, as online sales continue to increase at a steady pace. With the rising popularity of e-commerce sales, customers have come to expect a streamlined purchasing process similar to that of, or even more so, than it would be in-store. This means that businesses must be able to compete by efficiently serving customers online, offering cheap...
How to Develop a Winning Logistics Strategy
If you’re in the business of selling products, then you’re in the business of manufacturing, storing, and shipping products as well. That means as a business owner you need to have a logistics strategy in place that makes this process efficient and cost effective. Your logistics should be an asset, a tool your business uses to maximize profits and solidify your relationship with customers. Used incorrectly, however, it can be equally as detrimental to the operations of your organization. (more…)Why Is Omnichannel Fulfillment Important for e-Businesses?
Omnichannel refers to the various ways customers can interact with a brand, be it online, in store, through a mobile app, over the phone, or by mail. Many brands have been expanding their reach to include omnichannel methods to appeal to a wider audience, explaining their rapid increase in popularity. Omnichannel fulfillment is a similar concept, except that it focuses on technology integration, freight management, reverse logistics, and inventory control when it comes to fulfillment services. Why should you bother with omnichannel fulfillment services, and why is it important for your business? Just keep on reading. (more…)
What Is the Impact of e-Commerce in Reverse Logistics?
iStock.com/Pinkypills One of the biggest operational challenges today is reverse logistics in e-commerce. This is due to the volume and cost of processing product returns. The growth of returns is a result of the rise of e-commerce at the consumer level, as well as more and more brands offering free shipping. Because of this, retailers are realizing that they need to keep up with the growing number of product returns by improving their e-commerce reverse logistics. Here are some areas where e-commerce in reverse logistics is impacting businesses. (more…)
Shipping Tips that e-Commerce Beginners Must Know
Mastering your e-commerce shipping solutions will improve your business in ways beyond your imagination. The act of managing to ship, from packing orders to monitoring expenses, can lead you to success and is one of the most important operations for small- to medium-sized business owners. The following shipping tips for e-commerce will help you start improving your operations like never before. Implement these to set up your dream e-commerce shipping company. (more…)
What Is Reverse Logistics and Why Is It Important in e-Commerce?
There are many specific terms one might come across when considering e-commerce—one of those terms is reverse logistics. But what exactly is reverse logistics, and what does it have to do with e-commerce? Fortunately, we’ve broken down all the important details about reverse logistics in e-commerce and what the concept encompasses. What Is Reverse Logistics? Simply put, reverse logistics in e-commerce refers to the return process. The process of moving goods from their point of consumption back to their point of origin usually occurs for two reasons: disposal or recapturing value. This process can get complicated very quickly, which makes...Common Mistakes to Avoid with Free Shipping
Free shipping has become an expectation from online shoppers, rather than the bonus it once was. Offering free shipping options can be advantageous for your business, but there are certain things you’ll need to keep in mind when implementing it—things like the cost of free shipping, free shipping conversion rates, and how to advertise your free shipping all play a part in how valuable it ends up being for your business. The benefits of free shipping can be immense, but owners need to assess all of the associated risks and ensure they introduce it to their e-commerce business appropriately. Check...
Choosing a Third-Party Logistics Partner: Do’s and Don’ts
Choosing a third-party logistics (3PL) company can help you manage your operations and save you time as you focus on other important areas of your business. Managing inventory, shipping, receiving, picking, packing, and other areas of the warehousing process can be time-consuming and stressful for small- to medium-sized businesses. Outsourcing this process provides brands with many benefits but there are some key things to consider about how to choose a 3PL provider. Here are some of the most important do’s and don’ts when choosing a 3PL partner. Do’s Consider Location The location of your third-party logistics partner should suit your...
