Understanding Your Fulfillment Center s Policies Know What You re Getting

A

ll fulfillment houses are       understanding of what your
not equal. If you’re            provider requirements are. What
contemplating outsourcing       functions are you looking to
your fulfillment, you should          outsource – just the warehousing
familiarize yourself with a           and inventory control? Or do you
firm’s policies and procedures,       want your firm to be the
and carefully read the terms in       frontline for customer service,
the agreement they provide,           as well? Knowing exactly what you
before making any decisions.          need will make it easier to
“It’s important to understand a       recognize the right firm for the
provider’s capabilities and           job. The following are some of
limitations,” advises Joe             those key issues you need to
Walowski, Senior Project Manager      cover with each house:

of • Return policies. Ask
href="http://AmazonServices.com/f     how your potential firm handles
ulfillment"                           returns, what their policies are
title="http://AmazonServices.com/     for accepting them, and what your
fulfillment"                          role is in the process. If your
target="_blank">color="#001000"                       item, you want to know that
size="-2">http://AmazonServices.c     they’ll have a pleasant
om/fulfillment.            experience doing so.

“Compare those factors with your

• Degree of visibility.
own eBiz needs, so you can            Find out what tools the firm will
identify the best match for your      provide to effectively manage
business.”                            your inventory. From giving you
Quick Question                     access to real-time info on your
Checklist

stock levels to sending reorder

Before you begin your search, alerts when your SKUs reach a
make sure you have a clear certain level, you’re looking for

a firm that offers a high degree house that’s well-equipped to
of visibility.

handle your particular

• Sales channel inventory.

integration. You need to know

• Data transfer
that your fulfillment house is        methods. When it comes to
able to seamlessly integrate with     getting your orders to your
the sales platform or platforms       fulfillment provider, there is a
that you sell on.

huge spectrum of options. Look

• Restrictions. Not         for a fulfillment house that can
every firm accepts every type of      receive your information using
product. Most aren’t equipped to      the method that works best for
store hazardous materials or          you. For instance, if your order
perishable goods, and many don’t      system is capable of outputting
handle large, bulky items. If         in XML markup language, you may
your products have special            want to find a firm with a
requirements, you want to make        compatible system, so your
sure that won’t pose a                respective order systems can
problem.

directly share your order

• Areas of data.

specialization. Many houses

Many fulfillment houses have
specialize in fulfillment of          web sites where you can find a
specific types of goods,       copy of their standard client
like media products, or products      agreements. Study a company’s
requiring installation, special       agreement template before you
storage or lot tracking. Even         contact them, to avoid wasting
general fulfillment houses tend       their time – and yours. Once
to have a sweet spot or “niche”       you’ve read their terms
in which they excel, such as          carefully, make a list of any
items that call for preparation       questions you still have, so you
or kitting. You want to find a        don’t forget to ask anything

important once you reach them.        t-728x90.php";
States Walowski, “Asking the
right questions will help you          google_ad_width = 728;
find a house that’s well-suited
to your eBiz – and that’s              google_ad_height = 90;
important because having a good
service provider can really            google_ad_format =
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business.”

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Article Tags: find, firm, fulfillment