Order fulfillment is essentially in the most basic sense the entire procedure from point of sale query to actual delivery of a purchased item to the consumer. The entire chain of communication must occur between the manufacturer or wholesaler, the retailer and the consumer. The key players in this entire process are: the manufacturer, wholesalers, distributors, middlemen and even smaller entities such as individual sellers and online stores. It is the entire process that can affect the bottom line. And that’s why order fulfillment companies are so essential.

In the simplest terms, order fulfillment involves the manufacturer, who actually designs and develops the products themselves. They typically oversee every step in the manufacturing process right down to when the raw materials are ready to be sold. They oversee the entire chain of communication from the design to the point of sale and make sure that the whole process is on the side of the customers. Often, they are called upon to provide technical support, data gathering and distribution as well. This makes it their job to ensure that customer satisfaction is achieved.

Of course, the manufacturer is not the only one that benefits from order fulfillment. The retailer needs to have their inventory numbers correctly estimated to make sure that their inventory levels remain at an acceptable level. The wholesaler or distributor requires that the order numbers are up-to-date so that they do not run out of stock before the customer gets their merchandise. The middle men need to have their inventory numbers correct and they need to have a fast response time to any inquiries from the customer as well.

But there are other concerns besides fulfilling orders and providing excellent customer service. You will also need to look at how quickly your manufacturer delivers your goods to your customer. The lead time, the average lead time or the minimum lead time needed for your fulfillment company to place your order with the wholesaler or distributor is very important.

Proper and adequate packaging is another factor in your fulfillment center operations. Proper packing will not only protect your goods from damage but also help it get to the customer on time. Most customers today expect their online purchases to be delivered promptly. There is no room for delayed packages or supplies in today’s ecommerce world.

Order fulfillment is made easy with third-party fulfillment services. Here, a third-party company handles all aspects of your delivery process. Depending on what you have in mind, there will be a fulfillment company to suit your needs. There are third-party companies that specialize in just certain products. For instance, if you sell books, then you would want a third-party fulfillment company that handles book fulfillment for that industry.

It is not uncommon to encounter inventory or order fulfillment problems. If you are running an in-house inventory, then you probably have to deal with human error. This could be caused by a typographical error or a computer error. The problem is compounded when it is your own mistake that causes the problem. These mistakes can easily be prevented by training your staff so that they know exactly what to do when something goes wrong.

Other ways third-party fulfillment services can take care of some of the problem is that they will have a returns policy. This return policy will ensure that your customers are satisfied with the products that you are selling. Many times people who do business with you will not purchase again if they are not satisfied. By having a returns policy, you will be able to increase your profits.