There are lots of fulfilment centres available, so what should you look for in a fulfilment partner for your Magento store?
Find out more about Asendia's Magento fulfilment services
Putting an important part of your business in someone else’s hands is always nerve wracking. You’ve no doubt got things exactly the way you want them, but your Magento store has grown to the point it’s time to think about outsourcing your fulfilment to a third party.
But where do you start? Well, there’s a number of questions you should be asking any of fulfilment service you approach:
- Can they easily integrate with the Magento platform?
- Will they also be able to give you the ability to sell on marketplaces in the UK and overseas?
- Can you visit their facilities and meet the people who’ll look after your stock and train them in how you like your products packed and shipped?
- What customer service support do they offer you and your customers?
- What shipping services do they offer? And how big are the discounts?
- How does their returns process work and will they support a free return service for your customers?
A good third-party fulfilment service will be able to answer these questions immediately and if they do, you’re already on to a good start but if a few come back with what you’re looking for, how do you make a choice?
Next, look at customer reviews. What do their current customers say about them? Do they just offer a satisfactory Magento fulfilment service or have they really supported them in improving their shopper's experience and growing their business.
Actual cost will be key. While going for the lowest cost will be attractive, it could cost you more in the long run.
Think about what you get for the price you’ve been quoted by each fulfilment service and take into account their network size, international knowledge, location of fulfilment centres and after-sales service.
Paying a little more might well not only give you peace of mind you and your customers will be looked after, it could support stronger business growth as your customers get your products, safely, securely and swiftly and not only come back for more but recommend you to others.
Top tip: Shipping is usually going to be the priciest part of order fulfilment, so ensure you are shortlisting suppliers that are competitive when fulfilment costs and shipping costs are added together. A supplier that is 20% more expensive on fulfilment but could save you 10% on shipping is likely to be considerably cheaper than a supplier that is 20% cheaper for fulfilment but 10% more for shipping.
Asendia's Magento fulfilment service
With two fulfilment centres in the UK (Bedford and Southampton) Asendia has helped many small Magento stores optimise their fulfilment and shipping, freeing up time to focus on business development.
We can provide you with our order fulfilment prices within a useful spreadsheet that allows you to adjust order volumes, inventory, etc. to see how your costs might change as your business grows.
Find out more about our order fulfilment services
Request our order fulfilment pricing calculator
