Break Down: What You Should Know About The Entire Fulfillment Process
Break Down: What You Should Know About The Entire Fulfillment Process
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Fulfillment
The fulfillment process is a chain of events that require efficiency and accuracy. Without a solid logistics foundation, you run the risk of bumping into unnecessary problems.
Here’s a breakdown of salient points you should be aware of for each step of the logistical process.
Better-than-basic customer service
We’ve all been through it. The waiting, the frustration, the unfriendliness, the inconvenience. The typical customer service line seems like such an old school way to operate, but you’d be surprised at the amount of businesses that still run it.
Thus, the key here is to step out of the connotation that’s often associated with ‘customer service’ and create a pleasurable experience for your customers. As a customer-centric business providing products or services, you should be taking every step possible to make the customer experience as seamless as possible.
If you can’t provide better-than-basic customer service in-house, then look into outsourcing to a third party. You’ll need knowledgeable and friendly reps as well as a variety of platforms where customers can reach you – telephone, email, social media, online chat, etc.
A customer service reboot is the first step to improving your entire fulfillment process. The easier you make it on your customers, the easier you’ll have it in the long run. If you’re outsourcing, just make sure you sign up with a long-term partner that’s dedicated to your company’s wellbeing and your customers’ satisfaction.
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Impeccable storage facilities
This part of the logistics process is probably the most thought about and referred to. When we think about order fulfillment, a lot of us seem to think about warehouses lined with aisles and aisles of products. But the truth is, your storage facility is only one stop on the many links of your fulfillment chain. Thus, without top-notch execution from every part of your logistics sequence, you won’t get very far.
That being said, your warehouse really does matter. It matters that you have professional employees who pick and pack customer orders with efficiency and accuracy. It also matters that you have the most advanced security, so you can track every item and ensure they’re always in the exact place they need to be. Organization, preparedness, and professionalism go a long way when it comes to transforming your storage facility from just a warehouse to a highly skilled and successful fulfillment operation.
Moreover, if you’re in the health, beauty, or supplement industry, you’ll want to be even pickier about your warehouse. Keep an eye out for FDA Food-Grade Certification as well as facilities that can properly house your inventory in temperature-controlled spaces. Be sure you have employees that triple-check to ensure that orders are correct, intact, fresh, and beautifully packaged.
It really does make all the difference. Your customers will notice your efforts and you’ll save yourself a multitude of hassles in the future. Be proactive and prepared so that you can get orders right the first time.
Flawless shipping and delivery
Honestly, it’s easier said than done. You might guarantee shipping and delivery dates to your customers, but can you keep that promise 100% of the time? Are you promising more than you can deliver? (No pun intended). If you are, you might want to go back and look at the rest of your fulfillment chain to see where you’re tripping up. What’s holding you back from shipping and delivery on time?
On the flipside, are you leaving customers unsatisfied with long waits before their package finally arrives? If you leave customers hanging too long, they’re likely to get frustrated and much less likely to stay loyal to your brand.
So kick it into high gear this year. Start by breaking down the pieces of your fulfillment process and pinpointing what you can improve on.
If you’re interested in learning more, give us a call – we’d love to chat!
