Fulfillment Service in UAE: what is it? What processes are included?

More and more eCommerce companies have started using order fulfillment services. What is this service all about?

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If you run an eCommerce business, fulfillment is one of the critical aspects of your daily work. In short, order fulfillment is a comprehensive service that’s based on gathering orders, picking and packing them, and shipping them to customers. But this service comprises even more elements, and we are going to take a closer look at them today. In this article, we want to show you what fulfillment is, what the benefits of using this service are, and how to find a perfect order fulfillment service provider.

What is E-commerce fulfillment?

In short, order fulfillment is a specific model of logistics services utilized primarily by eCommerce and online companies. When you’re using an order fulfillment service, you work with an external logistics partner (also frequently called logistics operator or a 3PL company) that deals with every logistics-related process in your eCommerce business.

Omnipack is such a logistics operator. We act as a 3PL (Third-Party Logistics) company. We offer comprehensive logistics outsourcing that covers all of the relevant aspects of selling online:

• ECommerce platform integration

• Warehousing and delivery

• Picking and packing orders

• Returns and complaints

The service provider can also offer you a whole range of additional fulfillment services, like storing and shipping products with special requirements (for example, regarding temperature or humidity). Thanks to the order fulfillment service, you, as an online eCommerce business owner, don’t have to worry about logistics and can focus instead on the store’s marketing and sales development.

 

The fulfillment process

The fulfillment process comprises several crucial facets. Some of its elements are repetitive, and some are done only once, mainly at the beginning of the cooperation with the external logistics service provider. Let’s examine the major aspects of the fulfillment process:

Booking your service

Typically, our work starts with booking your storage space and services. I Store then get some basic information from you, afterwards you send your goods.

DELIVERY OF GOODS

With our help, you don’t have to run a warehouse. You can use our storage facilities. We are responsible for receiving and storing your products that can be shipped directly from you or your distributor. Afterwards, your products are stored in our warehousing spaces in Ajman in UAE.

WAREHOUSING

Our warehouse facilities are specifically crafted to meet the diverse requirements of online retailers and B2B Traders. Within our storage spaces, we've implemented a racking system meticulously tailored for the eCommerce sector. This includes specialized features such as fashion racks, metal racks and elevated storage zone optimized for pallet storage.

PICKING & PACKING

The picking and packing stage is the next step in our job. We are responsible for collecting products for each order, completing them, and packing them according to your requirements. Thanks to extensive capabilities, we can pack your orders in many creative ways, including several branding options, like branded packaging materials, for instance. Moreover, we can completely personalize the packaging by adding inserts or hand-signed notes or proposing one of our many standard packaging options.

SHIPPING

An order fulfillment company is also responsible for shipping your products. For instance, here at I Store, we ship products globally but also smaller local courier companies. Thanks to the consolidation of large volumes of orders in one place, we are able to negotiate attractive shipping rates and assist our clients in dealing with additional formalities such as customs clearance.

RETURNS PROCESSING

Finally, our job is to take returns and complaints off your shoulders. When products are sent back to your store, we handle the re-preparation of goods for the next shipment and put them back in your inventory. Unfortunately, returns are very common in the eCommerce sector, especially in the fashion industry. We do realize that dealing with this problem can be time-consuming. That’s why we want to help you with this difficult field of running an eCommerce business!

Benefits of using fulfillment

There are four major benefits of the order fulfillment service that we’d like to mention:

Scalability

Primarily, our service is designed to foster your growth. Whether you're handling 1,000 or 10,000 orders per month, our warehouses are adept at managing high-volume sales and eCommerce inventory. This scalability proves especially valuable during peak periods like Q4, marked by the holiday season and Black Friday, when order volumes spike. With our fulfillment service, you can concentrate on expanding sales while our offering evolves in tandem with your eCommerce business, paving the way for unhindered development.

Variable Costs Instead of Fixed Costs

One of the most compelling advantages of logistics outsourcing lies in the transformation of fixed costs into variable ones. Operating your warehouse independently often entails fixed monthly expenses and fees, such as constant rent regardless of your storage or shipping volume. By partnering with us at I Store, many of these fixed costs become variable. You pay only for the space and services you utilize, and we assure transparency with no hidden fees or subscriptions.

Enhanced Customer Experience through Order Fulfillment

Beyond cost reduction, our order fulfillment solution significantly elevates your customer service and, consequently, the overall customer experience (CX). This enhancement is driven by our streamlined logistics processes. Order discrepancies are rare, ensuring your customers receive precisely what they've ordered. Moreover, our advanced solutions facilitate swift product shipments, with every order placed before 2 pm dispatched on the same day.

Fulfillment Strategy

In terms of fulfillment strategy, we advocate for the simplicity and efficiency of Third-Party Logistics (3PL). Our aim is to deliver Amazon-grade customer service, leveraging our capabilities to achieve flawless logistics. Presently, our error-free rate stands impressively at 99.95%. We believe in a fulfillment strategy grounded in customer satisfaction, ensuring that orders are prepared and shipped to the standards we would expect ourselves. With the assistance of a 3PL company, you can trust that your customers will receive their orders punctually, as we orchestrate seamless operations.

Fulfillment services provider

Numerous order fulfillment companies exist, and if you're considering this service, we recommend conducting thorough research to find a reliable partner that aligns with your current and future needs. Send requests for proposals to potential collaborators, inquiring about cooperation conditions. We invite you to explore I Store as well – simply visit our website and complete the contact form or send us an email to info@istoreae.com