Outsourcing eCommerce fulfilment is becoming increasingly popular among eCommerce brands, but many things still need to be clarified about what it involves and how it works. In this post, we’ll debunk the top misconceptions about outsourced eCommerce fulfilment, so you can decide whether it’s the right choice for your business.
Outsourcing eCommerce fulfilment is too expensive
Many eCommerce brands assume that outsourcing fulfilment is expensive, but this is not always true. Outsourcing is often more cost-effective than in-house fulfilment. It allows you to take advantage of economies of scale while avoiding the cost of building and maintaining your fulfilment centre. In fact, with rising costs, many eCommerce brands are discovering that outsourced fulfilment is a more predictable cost to manage.
Outsourced fulfilment centres are too far away
Sometimes brands assume they need to find an eCommerce fulfilment provider close to their headquarters, but that’s not necessarily the case. Many 3PLs are strategically located across the country to ensure they are close to major distribution networks such as courier hubs or road networks. In doing so, 3PLs can provide later cut-off times for next-day deliveries and offer faster and more efficient delivery to customers regardless of location.
Outsourced fulfilment is not flexible enough
Another common misconception is that outsourcing your fulfilment means changing to fit into someone else’s process. While this may be true for some providers, 3PL partners, like ourselves, offer a range of customisable services, allowing you to tailor your fulfilment solution to meet your specific needs. When evaluating your options, this is one of the key questions to ask a potential provider.
Outsourcing fulfilment means sacrificing quality
Some eCommerce brands worry that outsourcing fulfilment will decrease the quality of their customer’s experience. However, the opposite is often true. By partnering with a 3PL and fulfilment company specialising in eCommerce, you can use their expertise and experience to deliver a high-quality customer experience that exceeds expectations.
Outsourced fulfilment is only for large businesses
Finally, many brands assume outsourcing fulfilment is only for large, big-budget retailers. However, this is not the case. Across the UK and the globe, there are a range of 3PL providers who work with brands of all sizes. Some providers specialise in providing a standardised full-package service to smaller businesses, while others offer a more customisable service but often have higher minimum monthly order volumes. Here at Synergy, we’re specialists in high-quantity and scaling-volume brands, typically sending between 2,000-10,000+ orders per month.
Outsourced eCommerce fulfilment can be a smart choice for eCommerce brands looking to streamline their operations and provide a high-quality customer experience. With cost-effective pricing, flexible services, strategic fulfilment centre locations, and expert customer service, the benefits of outsourcing fulfilment are clear.
Contact us today if you want to learn more about how our 3PL and fulfilment services could benefit your eCommerce business.
