• Logistical Support
• Flexible Staffing
• Custom Kit Building
• Expedited Turn Times

Indianapolis Fulfillment - Helping Your Business

Function Smoothly

The fulfillment process is the series of steps that are needed to complete a purchase by a customer from the point of the initial sales inquiry to the delivery of the product.  Many businesses outsource these processes to other companies to help cut down on the cost of storage, staffing, and packaging of the products they will be delivering to their customers.  The process of storing and shipping items can be costly, especially for smaller companies and businesses, making the outsourced options much easier and more stress-free. 

There are several different aspects to the fulfillment process that require the company to undertake a number of steps.  Here is the general fulfillment process, from the first step to the last.

• Product Inquiry - The customer is first exposed to the product or service provided, along with all information regarding it. This should be their initials introduction to the options that they present and exactly what this specific company can do for them.
  
  
• Pricing Inquiry - This is less common with ready made products, since the product price will be introduced when the initial product inquiry is made.  Pricing of a special made products or a one shot product would need to be made specifically for that individual client.
  
  
• Ordering - During this stage of fulfillment, the customer will place and configure their order, including pricing negotiations, if needed, and the selections of specific terms and that particular customers order.  During this stage, the business also acknowledges and confirms the customer's order and specifications.  In most cases, an invoice is issued to the customer to complete the order confirmation process.
  
  
• Invoicing - Once the invoice is issued, the payment will typically be made for the product before it ships.  The payment time for the product will depend entirely on the product being sold.  If the product is on a larger scale, payment may be made following the delivery of the product.  This completely depends on the company policy.
  
  
• Sourcing and Processing - This is where the items needed for the order have been found, and need to be packed for shipment.  Once the location of the items have been found in the warehouse, they are packaged and prepared for shipping by the company completing the fulfillment process.  The items are securely packed, the package is labeled with the customers personal information, and prepared for shipping, including the addition of the shipping labels need for transport.
  
  
• Shipped and Delivered - Finally, the order is shipped to the customer and the customer receives their products.  This will complete the fulfillment process provided that the items arrive on time, undamaged, and to the satisfaction of the customer.

The fulfillment process is the most important process in business.  This is the part that makes off-site shopping, either via the Internet or through a catalog service, a success.  The majority of customers will only shop this way if the products they order are delivered in a timely, and concise manner.

Outsourcing Your Fulfillment Process

The fulfillment process can be an overwhelming and expensive process for companies big and small.  Giving these responsibilities to an outside organizations can help to raise your bottom line and provide your with more time working with your products and expanding your customer base.  Most businesses will need a number of expensive things to store, produce printed materials, and ship their products to customers, including;

• Storage Space - One of the biggest problems with the fulfillment process is storing your products for sale.  Many localized businesses, such as Indianapolis businesses, will be limited in sale range without an established storage facility elsewhere in the country.  Outsourcing your fulfillment process will open up your selling range by providing you with storage facilities around the country to send your products from.
  
  
• Shipping Materials - Shipping materials are expensive, unless you have the ability to buy them in very large orders.  Using an outside fulfillment agency will provide you with a lower cost on materials, especially since they will be buying bulk shipping supplies and passing the saving on to you.
  
  
• Printed Materials - The printed materials needed for a complex shipping pattern can be very expensive, along with the know-how needed to operate them properly.  This can include everything from packaging materials to labels for boxes.
  
  
• Staffing - One of the most expensive aspects of fulfillment, staffing.  In addition to having the space and supplies to operate your own fulfillment process, you will also need to the people to do all the work.  With large companies, this can be easily accommodated, but medium to small businesses may not have the income or available funding to hire their own staff specifically for fulfillment.

With all of these needs, outsourcing makes sense.  Most companies will wind up saving between 10 and 30 perecent outsourcing these needs to another company, and that's not including that additional business you'll get with the additional time you'll have to spend actually selling and promoting your product. 

If you are interested in outsourcing your Indianapolis fulfillment process, please for more information.