Online retail is booming. In recent years in particular, many companies have been forced to offer their goods and products digitally on the Internet. Just as the market has changed due to Covid-related restrictions, consumer shopping behaviour has also shifted significantly towards “online” in recent years. Shopping around the clock, goods delivered directly to your doorstep and flexible payment options are just some of the advantages of shopping online. However, the move into online retail is often a major challenge for companies – this applies in particular to the organisation of warehousing and logistics, which are usually not geared towards individual orders. Read this article to find out for whom outsourcing logistics is worthwhile and what companies should look out for.
What does fulfilment in e-commerce involve?
Fulfilment in e-commerce covers the entire process of an order. Starting with the receipt of the order, through dispatch and customer service, to returns management. The main tasks in fulfilment are:
- Maintenance of customer data
- Procurement and incoming goods inspection
- Storage of goods
- Processing the customer order
- Dispatch of the goods
- Customer service
- Creation of invoices/reminders/credit notes
- Returns processing
- Analysis and reporting (procurement times, stock ratios, profitability)
Companies that decide to outsource their logistics usually commission an external service provider such as Logistikkönner to take over some of these tasks or the entire process.
What are the advantages of a fulfilment service provider?
The faster the company grows, the more difficult it often is to take on all fulfilment tasks independently. On the one hand, there is a lack of qualified specialist personnel and the necessary resources, such as larger or specialised storage areas. Added to this is the enormous amount of time required for complete order processing in logistics infrastructures that are not supported by technology.
By purchasing logistics services from an external provider, you can streamline your company’s processes and save both costs and scarce resources. Fulfilment in online retail allows you to maximise the scalability of your logistics so that you can concentrate on your core business and/or new projects.
The advantages of an external logistics service provider include
- Reduction of costs
- Optimisation of resource management
- No capital commitment for logistics infrastructure
- Shortening delivery times
- Optimisation of shipping costs
- Savings on the purchase of shipping materials
- Improving customer service and accessibility
- Strengthening the brand
- Quality throughout the entire logistics process
Working with a logistics service provider such as Logistikkönner also creates a seamless connection to your webshop or ERP: thanks to digital interfaces, you have control over orders at all times and are always up to date with orders, deliveries, stock levels and customer satisfaction.
For whom is logistics outsourcing worthwhile?
The logistics experts offer your company maximum flexibility: whether you are a young start-up, SME or large company – you decide whether you want to outsource just some areas or the entire process.
Benefit as a customer of Logistikkönner from:
- Scalable storage capacities and customised warehousing (e.g. deep-frozen, chilled or controlled ambient as well as classic block or high-bay warehouses)
- Flexible deployment of staff (always adapted to your incoming orders)
- Transparent prices (clear offer and customised pricing adapted to your requirements)
What to look out for when choosing a logistics service provider?
Admittedly, the range of fulfilment service providers on the market is diverse and growing thanks to the boom in online retail. Accordingly, the choice of logistics provider is often rather difficult.
The following points will help you to find and select the right fulfilment service provider for your online sales:
- Open communication at eye level and a personal contact person are important for a trusting working relationship.
- Sufficient and long-standing experience in e-commerce logistics with reference customers of all sizes is a basic requirement.
- Adapting the logistics services purchased to current requirements at short notice maximises flexibility.
- A modern system with simultaneous internal IT resources must be available as a prerequisite for a functioning system connection and implementation.
- The use of environmentally friendly packaging and sustainable delivery processes strengthen your company’s image (keyword: environmental protection!).
- Thanks to the transparency provided by modern software solutions, the status of orders can be checked, deliveries tracked and stock levels checked in real time.
- Professional customer service and a functioning returns management system increase customer satisfaction and strengthen customer loyalty.
- Transparent and individual pricing saves costs and enables you to find a suitable fulfilment offer for your company.
- Last but not least: with flexible contract terms, you are not tied to an external logistics service provider if there are changes in the company.
Conclusion: Outsourcing logistics services allows maximum scalability
Incoming goods, storage, order processing, invoicing and dunning, dispatch and returns management, not forgetting customer service – running an online shop involves a wide range of tasks. It’s no wonder that many companies decide to outsource their logistics – and rightly so!
Working with an external service provider such as Logistikkönner offers your company maximum scalability. Regardless of whether you only want to outsource some of the tasks or all e-commerce processes – with the logistics experts as your partner, you have everything from a single source and can finally concentrate on the relevant core tasks!
Do you need fewer or more bearings? No problem!
Would you only like to use individual logistics services? You got it!
Are you looking for the best price-performance ratio for fulfilment and shipping in the
E-Commerce? You’ll find it with us!
Logistics as a success factor in your company too – contact us.
