Four components to a successful fulfillment company

Unfortunately, there is simply no magical formula to manage your company perfectly and with 100% efficiency. However, when you begin to outsource and better manage your resources, you can come pretty darn close. Hiring a fulfillment company could be just the boost you need to make your life a little easier and your load a little bit lighter.

And, surprisingly, there is a magical-type formula to look for when selecting a fulfillment company. This formula consists of four key components which are: people, expertise, space, and systems. Let’s take a little bit closer look at how all of these work together to create efficiency and success.

Fulfillment companies: People, Expertise, Space, and Systems

The first component consideration is people. As it should be. The people of a fulfillment company consists of all employees, their professionalism, and their investment in the success of your company. Upon meeting the employees of the company, ask yourself if they seem personally committed to upholding your company’s reputation. If so, that company could be a good fit for your needs. If any of the people you speak with seem unprofessional, careless, or uninterested in their work or your company, you may want to reconsider.

Next is expertise. Look for companies with an outstanding reputation and a history of excellence. Remember that since the ecommerce industry is fairly new, many fulfillment companies are fairly new as well. This doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t give them a chance, but rather, that you should make sure all your bases are covered before going out on a limb and signing a contract with them. Google customer reviews and ratings and see what people on the internet are saying about the company. Are they good at what they do? Do they care about your business, as well as theirs? They should be open and honest about their services and eager to answer any questions you might have.

Third is space. Do not select a fulfillment company that is operating out of a backyard shed and clearly cannot fulfill your orders. Make sure they have the space to take on another order and still be able to operate efficiently.

The last thing to consider is systems. Do they have a system that works? Or do things seem sloppy and, well, a little chaotic? If they seem that way on the surface, they surely are when you are not looking. The key to customer satisfaction is efficiency. Make sure the fulfillment company you choose has a system that works and that can expand to meet your company’s needs.