Today, I want to dive deep into a topic that’s fundamental for any company selling physical goods, especially online: fulfillment services. If you’ve ever wondered “What is a fulfillment service?” or how they can potentially streamline your operations, you’ve come to the right place. This complete guide will walk you through everything you need to know. Simply put, fulfillment, in the context of business, means the entire process of getting an order from your inventory into your customer’s hands. A fulfillment service (often provided by a third-party logistics company, or 3PL) is a partner that handles these operational steps on your behalf. What is a Fulfillment Service? A fulfillment service is a third-party service that handles the logistics and operations involved in delivering products to customers. It typically includes order processing, inventory management, packaging, and shipping. Here’s a detailed explanation: Components of a Fulfillment Service How Do Fulfillment Services Work? Understanding the workflow of a fulfillment service provider helps illustrate their function. While specifics can vary, the general order fulfillment process usually involves these aspects: Receiving Orders and Inventory Management It starts when your products arrive at the fulfillment center’s warehouse. The service provider receives your inventory, inspects it, counts […]
