Your eCommerce business has been doing well for a while now, with strong sales and steady growth. There’s just one problem – as your business expands, fulfilment is becoming more and more difficult. Keeping up with the increasing number of orders is a struggle, and handling everything in-house is taking a toll on both your finances and customer satisfaction. So, what should you do?
If you’re finding it hard to keep up, it might be time to consider outsourcing to a third-party logistics (3PL) fulfilment centre. These specialised centres handle the entire process from order placement to delivery, freeing you up to focus on other aspects of your business.
Thinking about switching to a 3PL but aren’t sure if it’s the right time? In the guide below, we’ve put together five key signs that it could be the right move for your business. Keep reading to find out more!
1. Growing order volumes
Whether it’s due to general business growth or seasonal spikes, a growing number of orders can quickly overwhelm your in-house fulfilment. If your orders have doubled compared to last year, or if a holiday rush has suddenly hit, you might not have the infrastructure, staff, or expertise to keep up. This can result in delays, unhappy customers, and damage to your brand’s reputation.
3PLs, on the other hand, are built for growth. They have access to much larger facilities and teams, meaning they can easily handle a surge in orders without compromising accuracy or speed. At I-Fulfilment, for example, we are well versed in scaling up and down for our varied client brands. For example, when there is a special offer on a product, in the run up to the festive season, during seasonal fluctuations, when clients’ have a large B2B retail order, or when there is a special day or occasion e.g. Mothers Day. I-Fulfilment also consistently achieves a 99.9% on-time despatch rate, showcasing our ability to fulfil orders of any scale.
2. Increased complexity
Expanding to new audiences can make fulfilment much more challenging. If you’ve started selling across multiple channels, added more product variations, or you have expanded from domestic to international markets, managing fulfilment can quickly become overwhelming.
3PLs specialise in managing complex fulfilment operations, making sure your orders are processed efficiently and accurately even as they become more complicated. For example, our global network of fulfilment centres, strategically placed near major shipping hubs, allows us to handle orders in over 100 countries. Our cutting-edge management software, BladePRO, also integrates seamlessly with various sales platforms, providing real-time tracking and control of your entire product line.
3. Rising operational costs
There are also financial factors to think about. Renting more storage, hiring more people, and packaging and shipping more items can all add up quickly. These costs can easily outpace the advantages of managing everything in-house.
By partnering with a 3PL, you can leverage their existing infrastructure and expertise to save money in several ways:
- 3PLs already have their own extensive warehouses and teams, so you don’t need to spend money investing in your own warehouse, equipment, and staff.
- Their advanced technology and time-tested processes mean they’re experts at storing, picking, packing, and shipping your products in the most cost-effective way possible.
- 3PLs often negotiate better deals with couriers, helping you save on shipping fees. They also have the know-how to optimise shipping routes for minimum expense – something our BladePRO software does automatically.
- You can benefit from lower costs per unit thanks to their economies of scale and experience.
4. Inadequate technology and resources
In today’s e-commerce landscape, having the right technology and resources is essential. A 3PL offers advanced software and tools to streamline your operations, helping your business stay competitive and ahead of the curve.
BladePRO is your all-in-one WMS solution for tracking, monitoring, and managing your orders and inventory. With real-time updates and complete visibility, you can effortlessly oversee your fulfilment processes and streamline your eCommerce operations.
5. Customer service challenges
If you’re hearing a lot of complaints about slow support or difficult returns, it might be time to rethink your in-house fulfilment. A 3PL can help you boost customer satisfaction by offering reliable and efficient support that keeps customers happy and reviews positive.
At I-Fulfilment, we’re dedicated to providing high-level customer service. Our multilingual team are always ready to assist with enquiries, and our hassle-free returns process keeps customers coming back. We’ll help your business build a strong reputation by putting customer satisfaction first.
Streamline operations and boost sales with I-Fulfilment
Tired of getting bogged down in order fulfilment? Let I-Fulfilment handle the heavy lifting. Partner with us and free up your time to focus on what truly matters: growing your business!
Ready to see how we can make a difference? Book a consultation online or give us a call on 01425 200 222 today.
