You raised enough funding to launch your E-commerce business…NOW WHAT?
As you probably know, this is just the beginning of your journey. Now it's time to focus on gathering and fulfilling your orders, which can be a complex and time-consuming process.
One of the first steps you should take is to determine inventory levels and production timelines. This will help you ensure that you have enough product on hand to fulfill orders without delaying shipments. At this point, you may also want to consider hiring a third-party logistics (3PL) provider to assist with receiving inventory, package planning, order fulfillment, and shipment tracking.
A good 3PL company can help you streamline the fulfillment process by taking care of the more tedious and time-consuming aspects, such as printing shipping labels, packing orders, managing inventory, and sourcing packaging. This can free up your time and resources, so you can focus on growing your business and building customer relationships.
When searching for a suitable 3PL provider, there are a few key factors to consider. First, you'll want to find a company that has experience working with Kickstarter campaigns or other crowdfunding projects. This will ensure that they have a good understanding of the unique challenges associated with these types of projects. The ability to assist in the transition to a full- fledged e-commerce business is critical, as the experience of a 3PL can guide through the process. Whether it is setting up SKUs, HS codes, shipping profiles and rates, exchange policies, or any other processes involved to create success,
You'll also want to consider the 3PL's location, pricing, and customer service. Ideally, you want a provider that is located in a suitable location; consider accessibility to your product and proximity to shipping hubs and end consumers, as this can help reduce shipping times and costs. Pricing is also an important consideration, as you want a provider that offers competitive rates without sacrificing quality or reliability. This applies to 3PL shipping partners, allowing access to better rates than most companies that are just starting out. Lastly, customer service is crucial when it comes to logistics, as you want a provider that is responsive and proactive in addressing any issues that may arise.
After funding, it's important to focus on fulfilling orders and building strong customer relationships. Hiring a dependable third-party logistics provider can help streamline this process and free up your time and resources. When searching for a provider, consider factors such as experience, location, pricing, and customer service to ensure a successful transition into fulfillment.