The current eCommerce market is estimated to be worth close to $1 trillion. As you may think, without using the proper eCommerce fulfillment partner, you won’t be able to succeed in the market. Choosing a trustworthy third-party logistics (3PL) supplier is a must whether you sell on Amazon, Shopify or WooCommerce. The good news is that it’s not as hard as it might seem to raise your order fulfillment to the next level. Let’s look on how to identify the best 3PL supplier.
Make sure to ask questions
Not all 3PL suppliers are the same, as you might think. Asking the right questions will help you make sure that the company you’re working with is reliable and will complete your orders accurately on time. It is also important to consider how easily your prospective 3PL partner can respond to questions. You should have no problem getting comprehensive answers and information from a trustworthy provider.
Ask other businesses in your niche
Asking for recommendations from other companies in your industry is one of the best ways to discover a trustworthy eCommerce fulfillment partner. If they have a 3PL supplier they are satisfied with, they will be willing to recommend them. Another option is to look for eCommerce fulfillment companies that provide services for your industry using online directories like Capterra. You can start contacting and asking when you’ve prepared a list of potential suppliers.
Ensure that the rate quotes are clear
Obtaining rate quotes from multiple eCommerce fulfillment suppliers is essential when evaluating them. But you should make sure the quotations are clear and understandable. The last thing you want is extra fees or additional expenses to appear later on. You should learn about the provider’s billing and invoicing operations in addition to obtaining rate quotes. You must make sure that tracking packages and orders will be simple for you to do, and that you are aware of how services will be charged.
Find out how scalable the provider is
It is important to choose an eCommerce fulfillment company that can grow with your business if you plan to scale it. You shouldn’t have to change providers every time the business grows. Make sure to ask about the scalability of the different services you are considering. Can they grow their shipment capacity in response to your company’s growth? What kind of adjustments can they make to their services in order to meet your needs?
Check the website and social media pages of the provider
In today’s digital age, visiting a company’s website and social media pages quickly gives you an impression of the business. A trustworthy eCommerce fulfillment company needs to have a well-designed, user-friendly website. Evaluate the provider’s social media pages as well. Are they active? Do they appear to get along well with their clients?
Ask for case studies
If you’re still unsure about an eCommerce fulfillment service, you can ask for case studies. A trustworthy supplier should have no problem giving you the contact details of a few of their previous customers. Furthermore, request to view case studies that show the provider’s role in the success of other companies. These studies will help you understand what to expect in case you choose to work with the fulfillment provider as a partner. By doing this, you’ll be able to stay out of unexpected situations.
Go to the provider’s location
One of the best things you can do is visit the eCommerce fulfillment provider’s location if you’re thinking about working with them. This will allow you to get an understanding of how they work and the kind of technologies they use a face-to-face visit with the provider’s team will also help you get a sense of the type of people you’ll be collaborating with. Are they friendly and supportive? Do they appear to be professional in their work? These questions should be able to be answered during your visit. You can use this experience along with other information to make a decision.
Choosing an eCommerce fulfillment provider should not be difficult. You can be confident that you’re choosing the right one by paying attention to these 7 tips. From now on, you won’t have any issue reaching new levels with your business performance.