Getting on board with a 3PL should be so much more than just entrusting them with the day-to-day of your eCommerce fulfilment. If you’re right at the beginning of journey towards working alongside a third-party provider, you need to think about what they bring to the table outside of the traditional 3PL services! Though the key services, such as inventory management, returns, contract packing and more, are extremely important, they only account for the bare basics of eCommerce fulfilment as a whole.
When it comes to working with a fulfilment house, you need to be viewing your eCom fulfilment as so much more than just another service or commodity. Your chosen 3PL needs to provide the foundations to create a true partnership which nurtures growth and promotes healthy communication. Working alongside a 3PL partner will allow you to compose a bespoke solution which is tailored to you and your customers, following guidance but also playing with the realms of what is possible in this ever-evolving space. With so many 3PLs to choose from, offering the standard ‘best’ practice pick and pack solutions, and nothing more, just won’t cut it anymore!
Now, if you’re looking to just “get by” with a no-bells-and-whistles approach, the standard might just be enough. But for those looking to get ahead and stay ahead of the game, you might need something with a little more flair!
With the eCommerce industry becoming increasingly popular and quickly adapting to be the fastest-moving sector globally, some brands are truly being left behind.
We’ve all heard the horror stories, acquisition costs soaring, the death of third-party cookies, and the sudden importance being placed on customer lifetime value… unfortunately, it’s all true! But the reality is, these things are out of our control. However, there are some elements which we can control.
We work with a selection of eCommerce brands across a range of sectors, meaning we’ve come across some super successful brands.
So what is their trick?
No, it’s not sorcery, it’s a combination of:
- Great products,
- Strong USPs,
- Clean, clear, concise marketing strategy,
- Recognisable branding,
- Finding their niche,
- Excelling at the fulfilment game.
Working alongside a 3PL is the best way to ensure you can get that last point ticked off, giving you the time, energy and resources to focus on the first five. A third-party logistics provider offers brands everything they need to get their fulfilment up to speed, no matter how many products they sell, and how many countries they sell in. As an outside hand, reaching in, we understand every aspect of eCommerce fulfilment and make it our job to not only help in getting your fulfilment up to standard but to help it grow and excel to the next level.
At SCEND we partner with a range of amazing brands and entrepreneurs to provide a world-class fulfilment solution which continuously gives brands the leading edge. Focused on improving solutions and promoting growth, we believe that standing still is the enemy to progression, and that is why we’re always striving to take our processes to that next level. Since we started, we’ve achieved new heights and helped propel the brands we work with in that same direction, improving customer satisfaction, retention and in turn revenue.
So why settle for okay when you can achieve and grow with a 3PL that knows the ropes!
How does a fulfilment partner help you reach these new heights?
1. We sweat the small stuff!
At SCEND, we believe that there is no job too small. Your customers pick up on each and every element of their purchase journey, from your website speed to how your package arrives; every last little detail goes towards creating that first-class experience each and every time. That’s why when it comes to fulfilment, the devil really is in the details! Though you can get away with a simple brown box with a regular order slip, it doesn’t mean you should.
As our full-time job, SCEND excel when it comes to the smaller details. Having personalised delivery slips which include product recommendations selected just for them or having vibrant branded packaging which resonates with that customer, are small but mighty ways in which you can encourage your customers to repeat purchase even after they’ve left the traditional sales funnel.
Giving you one last push to increase those all-important retention rates.
2. Acquire new customers with access to later cut-off times.
Later cut-off times don’t mean allowing people to shop until 4 pm, with the traditional 9-5 seemingly gone for good, you need to accommodate different working, shopping and scrolling habits – that is why at SCEND we have a later cut-off time of 9pm! With 70% of the population doing there online shopping between 7 and 9pm we can ensure that the majority of your customers have access to same-day dispatch with better prospects of securing next-day delivery.
Offering faster delivery services is one of the best ways to help boost your acquisition rates. In turn, this reduces the number of checkout abandonments caused by lengthy delivery times!
Did you know that only 12% of online shoppers are willing to wait more than five days for their order? Making it even more important that we’re offering that faster delivery service.
3. Get customers for life with recognisable “funky” branding.
People who LOVE your brand will buy, buy, and buy again!
But if you’re getting lost in a sea of beige, how will your customers know it’s you?
With a significant increase in the amount that just one person is ordering online, people are receiving an influx of beige boxes every single day! Studies show that boxes with a fun design, or an added element which makes them instantly recognisable increases the chance that they will not only share these parcels on social media, but they will continue to buy! And in today’s climate, a loyal customer really is like gold dust.
With a sea of brands, and more and more trying to compete in a busy space, fulfilment really isn’t just “another aspect of your business.” Changing your mindset when it comes to fulfilment, looking at it as an asset rather than a commodity, can really be the difference between sinking and swimming when it comes to the eCommerce shark tank.
So ask yourself… is it time for a change?
Working alongside a 3PL such as SCEND should be so much more than just a traditional business relationship. A 3PL should provide an extra cog in your eCommerce machine, creating an extension which not only provides fulfilment, but actively generates ideas which allow you to push and grow in the right direction.
If you’re ready, reach out to our team for some help and advice on how you can level up your fulfilment with the help of a 3PL. Contact a member of the team.
