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Bradley Grossman posted an update 3 years ago
Multi-channel fulfillment consists of a variety of services offered to your customers at one time. Some of these services will be stand alone offerings, while others are an integrated service that offers inventory, order tracking, order processing, and live chat with your customers from the very start of the order. The type of service you have available depends on what you are selling. If you sell medical supplies, you may have a separate office location that is capable of processing medical orders via the internet while at the same time offering a telephone chat service so that your patients can talk directly to someone in the store.
The multi-channel fulfillment industry is expanding fast. Fulfillment companies offer a wide range of products including apparel, electronic goods, health and beauty, household and baby products, home and garden, sports and gym, and personal care items. In addition to offering a diverse selection of products, multi-channel fulfillment also provides the opportunity for customer loyalty programs. As your business grows and begins to experience higher volume sales, it may be necessary to introduce customer loyalty programs or reward programs in order to retain repeat customers.
There are many factors to consider when evaluating the multi-channel fulfillment companies that are right for your company. First and foremost you need to make sure they are a part of an industry that you are familiar with. Many fulfillment companies operate in different regions and they should be willing to discuss your industry in detail to help you understand your needs. Second, you should evaluate the cost of their services. This will include their fee structure, the type of equipment they use, the level of technology they possess, and any training courses that they provide. Customer service and response time in areas such as inventory and delivery should be a top priority.
Multi-channel fulfillment companies often provide technical and management services. If you have employees in your organization that need training in advanced computer applications then this is another area for your evaluation. In addition, you can evaluate multi-channel fulfillment companies on the level of training and support they offer to their customers. This can be especially important if you already have in-house employees that are trained or certified in computer software. It is also a good indicator of the level of satisfaction their customers have with their handling of the multi-channel transition.
Another important consideration is the availability of training and support for the multi-channel fulfillment provider you choose. You may have a situation where you will need to customize some of your software or hardware. For this you may need specific training or support. The ability to easily train and support your employees during their staff training or orientation session may be an important factor in selecting the right company.
Some multi-channel fulfillment providers offer hardware and software that come pre-configured. For the most part these companies have very reasonable prices and usually deliver very quickly. However, it’s important to make sure you fully understand the software and hardware configurations before you purchase from any of these companies. If you’re unsure, it is a good idea to discuss the matter with your technical supplier.
You may find that there are several multi-channel fulfillment providers in your area that are both well established and reputable. If this is the case, it can be worthwhile to evaluate these companies to see if their services to meet your unique needs. The best companies will provide excellent customer service and training as well as a fair price. They should also be capable of meeting all your customized multi-channel requirements.
When you find a multi-channel fulfillment company to consider you will also want to make sure they will work with your employees. If you find a company willing to train and guide your employees, but not willing to install and maintain equipment of their own, it may not be the right choice for your company. You should also ensure that the company has certified personnel on staff who are capable of installing and maintaining multi-channel fulfillment equipment.