For any UK-based business looking to outsource their warehousing, picking, packing, and shipping needs, choosing the right fulfilment house can make all the difference. With so many options available, it can be challenging to determine which one is best suited to meet your business's specific needs. Here are some key factors to consider when selecting a fulfilment house for your UK business.
The location of your fulfilment house is critical. One theory is that you want to choose a fulfilment centre that is centrally located to your customer base, allowing for faster and more cost-effective shipping. For example, if your business is primarily focused on selling within the UK, you may want to consider a fulfilment centre close to the hubs (like Birmingham). On the other hand, if you ship primarily to Europe or other international destinations, you may want to choose a fulfilment house located near a major airport or shipping port. But... many of our clients have benefitted massively by having us as a fulfilment house near to their location. This helps ensure they can visit us regularly (without taking days out of their schedule), they can meet our team and be part of it, they can have cost-effective shunting from us to their other sales locations, and they can inspect goods (inbound goods and returns). So... local to you is also something to consider.
It's important to consider the services offered by a potential fulfilment house. Many fulfilment centres offer a range of services beyond just picking, packing, and shipping. These may include inventory management, returns processing, kitting and assembly, and even customer service. Be sure to choose a fulfilment house that offers the services your business needs, as this will save you time and money in the long run. Equally many houses don't offer one or some of the above, and finding that out too late can be a real cost.
In today's digital age, technology is a crucial factor to consider when choosing a fulfilment house. Look for a provider that uses state-of-the-art software to manage your inventory, orders and shipping (like we do). Ideally, the fulfilment house should integrate with your existing ecommerce platform, allowing for seamless data transfer and streamlined operations. The provider should also offer real-time tracking and reporting, so you can stay informed of your inventory levels, order status and shipping progress.
Cost is always a key factor when outsourcing any aspect of your business. Fulfilment houses typically charge fees for storage, handling, and shipping. Make sure you understand the pricing structure of any potential fulfilment house before signing a contract. Some providers may charge additional fees for special services like kitting, assembly or returns processing. As well as wanting to ensure that the fulfilment house's fees are competitive with other providers in the market you really need to be comfortable and able to discuss costs with your provider. Sometimes ultra rigid costs are good, sometimes you need a bit of flex. Choose wisely.
The reputation of a fulfilment house is also important to consider. Look for a provider with a track record of success and positive customer reviews. We for example may not publish all our customers online (for obvious reasons) but we can almost always give you the names and details of similar companies to yourself whom you can contact to find out just how awesome we are. It helps if the fulfilment house has experience working with businesses like yours but it's not imperative (this isn't rocket science after all - processes are key and as long as they fit your products then you've little to worry about).
Finally, it's important to choose a fulfilment house that can accommodate your business's unique needs. Some providers have strict requirements around minimum order volume or storage space. Be sure to choose a provider that can scale with your business as it grows and offers flexible options for customisation, such as branded packaging or special handling instructions.
In summary, choosing the right fulfilment house for your UK business requires careful consideration of location, services offered, technology, pricing, reputation and flexibility. By taking the time to evaluate potential providers based on these factors, you can find a fulfilment house that meets your specific needs and helps your business succeed in today's competitive marketplace.
If you'd like to talk pick and pack fulfilment with our experts then get in touch with our team today or call 01903 791211
