Introduction
Factors to consider when choosing the right fulfillment service provider
1. Location
First off, do you know where is your fulfillment service provider located? Do they have warehouses or facilities nearby your customers’ locations? Nowadays, e-commerce customers expect lightning-fast delivery speeds from the moment they click onto that magical check-out button. Remember to swear by the golden rule—the closer the fulfillment service provider is to your customers, the faster the delivery to them. So, picking a fulfillment service provider whose warehouses are in strategic locations would be perfect in satisfying your customers, which also helps with preventing unhappy reviews from slow shipping times. After all, it’ll affect your business’s reputation!
2. Pricing
Of course, the initial costs of partnering with a fulfillment service provider should be the main factor to consider during the selection process. However, don’t let that be the only reason that affects your decision. Do consider the long-term benefits and savings you’ll enjoy that will impact your bottom line. For example, partnering with fulfillment service providers such as iStore iSend offers pay-per-use storage services that helps you prep for seasonal order hikes. In short, this means that you will not have to pay for unused storage space, which will save you a bunch in the long run!
3. Scalability
You want to see your e-commerce business grow, and your chosen fulfillment service provider should also be able to accommodate your growth years down the line. After all, nothing hurts more than realizing your fulfillment partner is unable to meet your growing e-commerce potential due to limitations in technology or location. While such concerns may seem too far off to consider, it is much better to be safe than sorry. Know that the best fulfillment service provider for you should be flexible and adapt to the industry’s changing demands. When discussing with your potential fulfillment partners, ensure they have measures or systems in place that can scale along with your e-commerce business’s growth.
4. Contract Period
When browsing through potential fulfillment service providers, make sure you read through the terms and conditions in their contracts prior to signing them. While most reputable fulfillment service providers offer flexibility in their contracts, do take note of the contract period when certain services feel too good to be true. Surely you don’t want to sign a contract, only to discover an extensive lock-in period that requires you to pay a high termination fee if you no longer need their services. It pays well (literally) to double-check, so remember to do that!
5. Reputation and Expertise
Let’s face it, when there are too many fulfillment companies to choose from, e-commerce businesses often rely on the fulfillment service provider’s reputation and expertise to decide on who to pick. This is where researching your potential fulfillment service provider helps in a variety of ways. For example, provider A may be more well-known internationally and can empower your cross-region potential, while provider B has extensive knowledge and an established network in Malaysia. Do take note of the needs of your own e-commerce business and choose wisely depending on your own requirements.
6. Technology
Now, what are you waiting for?
After going through all the points you should consider, we’re sure that you’re now confident in choosing the right e-commerce fulfillment service provider for you. With strategic locations located in Malaysia and other southeast Asian countries, rest assured that iStore iSend’s fulfillment service solutions are best suited for your needs. We offer flexibility with our pay-per-use warehouse storage in recognizing the growth of e-commerce in this region. In addition, our pioneering work in the fulfillment market helps provide an omnichannel experience to maximize efficiency and customer satisfaction for your e-commerce business.
At iStore iSend, we are more than happy to embark on this fulfillment journey with you to help realize your business’s full online potential.