Why a Fulfillment Partner is Crucial to Retail Success in an Omnichannel World

Omnichannel Fulfillment Partner

From demands for fast shipping times to the ease of online shopping, finding ways to streamline these different processes is essential for retailers. Omnichannel fulfillment offers an effective approach. This involves integrating different processes to ensure prompt order processing, picking, packing, and shipping. Find out why a fulfillment partner is an important part of achieving success in today’s retail environment.

What Is Omnichannel Fulfillment?

Omnichannel fulfillment is taking the retail world by storm. This involves optimizing the fulfillment process through seamless integration. Rather than having inventory management, order processing, and other processes handled separately, omnichannel fulfillment combines them into one smooth system. This approach is considered a key part of ensuring success as a retailer as more consumers turn to online shopping and expect quick delivery windows.

How Can a Fulfillment Partner Help?

Working with a fulfillment partner can make it easier for your retail business to ensure that different processes are handled as efficiently as possible. Fulfillment warehouses can take care of multiple processes, such as processing orders, picking and packing merchandise, managing inventory, and shipping products to consumers. This approach takes all of these tasks off your hands, so you can focus on other parts of your retail business.

A fulfillment partner can also help your business offer more options as part of omnichannel fulfillment. Consumers expect to have options when purchasing products. Some prefer having items shipped to them, while others prefer curbside pickup. Fulfillment partners can ensure that your customers have different options to choose from, such as having items shipped from your store or purchasing products online and picking them up.

If you’re exploring fulfillment warehouse options, contact the experts at Medallion Fulfillment and Logistics. We can provide more information on our services to help your business make the most of omnichannel fulfillment.

5 Tips on How to Handle the Inevitable Holiday Returns

How a Fulfillment Company Deals With Holiday Returns

Returns are a necessary cost of doing business, but the price gets even steeper during the post-holiday period. Streamline the process with these helpful tips from our fulfillment company team.

1. Use technology to automate the return process.

Enterprise resource planning (ERP) and other internal software systems can automate many steps that used to be done manually, such as manage authorizations, create shipping labels, and track returned items.

2. Refurbish and reuse returned products.

Sometimes a returned item is just in need of a little TLC. Some eCommerce companies employ technicians who can determine the product’s condition and make any necessary repairs. Once restored, the item can be returned to the original buyer or put back into inventory for resale.

3. Reduce, reuse, recycle.

If a returned product is beyond repair, don’t simply toss it away. Check to see if any usable parts may be reclaimed and partner with a recycling organization to ensure proper disposal of what’s left. This procedure goes a long way toward reducing your carbon footprint.

4. Gather data to improve forecasting, marketing, and inventory decisions.

If returns are considered “mistakes,” then they represent a learning opportunity. Do a deep dive into return trends, product quality issues, and other factors that can be used to reduce the number of future returns and optimize reverse logistics.

5. Make the return process user-friendly.

Do you consider returns to be a thorn in your company’s side? Change your perspective and look at the return process as another element in the sales funnel. A customer-focused return process strengthens your brand and makes a customer more likely to purchase from you in the future.

Partner with a Full-Service Fulfillment Company

Medallion Fulfillment & Logistics has extensive experience in customer service and all aspects of eCommerce business. Contact us to learn more.

Prepare Your Ecommerce Store for Growth in 2024 with These Winning Strategies

Business Growth Chart

The Ecommerce industry constantly evolves, and 2024 will be no exception. Are you ready to embrace the future? Let our fulfillment warehouse staff help you stay ahead of the competition by sharing the biggest trends that will be shaping Ecommerce over the next 12 months.

1. Leveraging social media as a selling platform

Instagram, Facebook and TikTok have all been powerful marketing and communication tools. Savvy Ecommerce retailers are taking it one step further by using them as sales channels that allow customers to complete purchases right in the app. If you’ve been lagging in building a strong social media presence, don’t wait any longer.

2. Offering same-day delivery

Same-day delivery is the new next-day delivery. Thanks to services such as DoorDash, Postmates and InstaCart, consumers have now become accustomed to receiving orders on demand. Streamline your logistics and do your research to make sure you partner with a trustworthy courier service.

3. Using artificial intelligence and machine learning to personalize the customer experience

Now that artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning are here, there are virtually no limits to how effectively you can tailor the online purchasing experience. Use this cutting-edge technology to customize everything from product recommendations and marketing campaigns to customer service and chatbots.

4. Optimizing voice-activated shopping

Alexa and Siri have gone from fun novelties to dependable “assistants.” Experts predict a sharp increase in voice-activated shopping during 2024. Here are some helpful tips to optimize this tool in your Ecommerce business:

  • Focus on natural and conversational voice patterns.
  • Incorporate long-tail keywords coinciding with voice-search queries.
  • Provide informative but concise answers.

Medallion: A Fulfillment Warehouse for the Present and Future

With decades of experience, Medallion Fulfillment & Logistics has the ability to successfully pivot with all of the industry changes and innovations. Contact us today to learn more.

January is the Time for Business Assessment and Planning – What to Do

2024 Fulfillment Company Business Assessment

As the new year starts, this is an ideal time to focus on planning and assessment. What steps can you take to help your business grow in the coming year? From partnering with a fulfillment company to writing down goals, the following tips can help you evaluate and plan for a successful year.

Write Down Business Goals

What goals do you want to accomplish as a business owner? Are there any areas of weakness that could use some improvement this year? Write down the goals you have for your company over the next few months. Then, write down more goals for the next few months. Keep doing this 90-day goal setting method to keep you motivated throughout the year.

Create an Updated Budget

Business growth and financial changes can lead to the need for a fresh budget. Come up with a financial plan for the new year. Take several factors into consideration, such as your profit margin, overhead spending, and projected business growth. This helps you determine a smart budget to follow during the year.

Make Long-Term Plans

Think long-term for your business. What do you hope to achieve a year from now or 5 years from now? You can even look a decade into the future. Write down long-term plans for your company, along with steps you can take to start working toward these goals.

Partner with a Fulfillment Company

As a practical step, consider hiring a fulfillment partner. This allows you to have a dedicated company handle order processing, packing, and shipping. These services can ensure prompt shipping and delivery and save you money on warehousing costs.

If partnering with a fulfillment company is on your to-do list for 2024, contact Medallion Fulfillment and Logistics. Our fulfillment services can boost customer satisfaction, reduce costs, and ensure timely deliveries.

Protect Your Supply Chain with a Focus on Cyber Security

Supply Chain Security Tactics for Fulfillment Company

Disruptions to the supply chain your company depends on can lead to costly problems for your business. Cyber security threats are among the biggest risks to the supply chain as more and more businesses and consumers use online services. From keeping your fulfillment warehouse up and running to protecting your supply chain, consider the following to enhance cyber security.

Cyber Security Education Is Key

Making sure every member of your IT team and other staff are aware of cyber security measures helps keep your supply chain data safe. This involves educating them on the potential risks to data security, such as malware, and ways to protect data. All members of your staff should collaborate in order to ensure that your supply chain has maximum protection from cyber security risks.

Encourage Shared Responsibility

Taking measures to boost cyber security protection for the supply chain should involve your supply chain partners and customers, along with your staff. Promote shared responsibility among these different parties to keep the supply chain safe. Otherwise, vulnerabilities could end up affecting the supply chain, putting data at risk. For example, ensure that staff, partners, and customers have secure ways to connect devices to your system.

Adopt Zero Trust Principles

These principles are an important part of finding weaknesses in the supply chain, such as devices used in the manufacturing industry or delivery services. Zero Trust means that cyber security isn’t taken for granted based on the location of physical devices or networks or based on who owns and operates them. This encourages businesses to take extra steps to protect the supply chain from potential cyber security threats.

If you’re searching for a fulfillment company and warehouse to help your business succeed, please contact Medallion Fulfillment and Logistics. We can help your company grow and thrive in the new year.