5 questions to ask when considering outsourcing your ecommerce order fulfilment to a 3PL

If you feel that your business is at the stage where you need to outsource your order fulfilment in order to reach the next level, answering the five questions below will help you to arrive at a decision.

1.     Are you fulfilling more than 10 to 20 orders per day?

If the answer is yes - by outsourcing picking, packing, and shipping can save time on manual labor and resources, and also opens you up to growth opportunities that you’re not currently able to pursue.

2.     Do you want to focus on more value adding tasks for your business?

It’s worth considering that when picking and packing orders, that time you are spending could be better spent in other areas of the business such as marketing, sales meetings, attending trade shows etc. Those few hours you are spending per day dealing with orders is invaluable time that you really should make the most of.

3.     Can your current setup facilitate a surge in order volume?

If you use an influencer for a campaign for example, and there’s a surge in orders, would you be able to handle it with your current setup or partner? Outsourcing to a 3PL is a cost-effective way for your business to handle higher order volumes.

4.     Are you running out of storage space or perhaps it’s too expensive?

We get it, you might still be fulfilling orders from your kitchen or bedroom or even your garage. Perhaps your partner is fed up of tripping over boxes, or your pet dog has chewed yet another product. Whatever the situation, by partnering with the right 3PL (Orchard Distribution :D) you can save space, time and money.

5.     Do you want to offer faster shipping and fulfilment and at better rates?

In today’s world, consumers expect to pay little for quick delivery times – it’s just the way it is. By partnering with the right 3PL, you can provide this service to your customers, hassle-free. Orchard Distribution has an extensive network of courier partners, that means you’ll be able to both service and exceed your customer’s expectations.

After running through those questions, why not give us a call? We partner with some of the most exciting brands and companies in Ireland, and take pride in helping them scale at pace. We can help you too.