On the surface, shipping and fulfillment may seem like a pretty straightforward process. You package your product, stick a label on it and then send it off to your customers or employees. In reality, this critical component of the supply chain can become incredibly challenging and costly. Fortunately, there is a solution and it’s much easier and more affordable than you may think.
International Transactions Can Get Tricky
Shipping items to individuals or businesses located outside of your home country can make the entire fulfillment process much more complicated. If you’re not strategic about it, it can also become incredibly expensive. That’s because not only does each country have its own rules and paperwork requirements, but there are also international taxes and customs fees to worry about. Then there’s the challenge of varying delivery times.
The key to overcoming all of these issues is working with an experienced fulfillment vendor - particularly one that ships directly from other countries. In fact, if you have any volume at all, shipping and delivering from within the EU is an absolute must. In doing so, you will be more successful and spend less money on global programs. Customs challenges, VAT, shipping delays – all of these issues are eliminated when you are able to ship direct.
Domestic Deliveries Also Add Up
If you use the more popular shipping vendors, like UPS and FedEx, to send items domestically, you’ve probably noticed a recent uptick in prices. It’s not a small increase, either – especially for residential deliveries. These carriers are now adding a surcharge of anywhere from $4.00 to $7.00 on each package, just to deliver to residents. The USPS may be a more affordable alternative, but then you lose the benefit of tracking, which is absolutely critical in business.
One Simple Solution
Whether it is a client gift, an employee new hire package or a product that you sell, you need to look at the entire program. From order page, to the items themselves, to packaging options, to the ship-from locations – all of these things will contribute to costs, shipping experience and potential delays.
To cut costs and eliminate all of these fulfillment headaches, contact us early in the process. Over the past 20 years, we have shipped millions of packages to corporations and residences all over the world.
We can help you with gathering the correct information from your clients, choosing the right products, assisting with packaging, selecting a global network if appropriate, and driving the packages to delivery. We also have warehouse facilities in multiple locations around the globe, enabling you to ship "locally" and save time and money.
OnFulfillment has the expertise to make the fulfillment process as efficient and cost-effective as possible. Get in touch today to get started!
