A Practical Guide to Fulfillment

Fulfillment means that a partner takes over the day-to-day logistics of your online store: inventory, orders, shipping, and returns. Here, you can read exactly what that entails, what signs indicate that outsourcing is worthwhile, and what to look for when comparing partners.

The cost of fulfillment involves more than just a per-package fee. Here, you’ll learn what factors influence the rate, how a tiered pricing structure works, what is and isn’t included, and how the minimum invoice amount is calculated. This will help you fairly compare a proposal with your own operations.

Switching to a fulfillment partner often feels like the biggest hurdle. Here, you’ll walk through the entire process: what you supply, how your inventory gets to the warehouse, how the integration is set up, and how a test order shows whether everything is working properly before going live.

A fulfillment operation relies on the integration between your online store and the warehouse system. Here, you’ll learn what data is exchanged, which platforms can be integrated, what information you can view, and how inventory and status are kept up to date on both sides.

Your inventory is no longer stored on your premises, but you still have control over it. Here, you can learn how to view your inventory in real time, how items are stored and located in the warehouse, what the rules are regarding dates and batch numbers, and what happens if an inventory count is incorrect.

Everything that happens between the time you place an order and when it arrives in your mailbox. Here you can find out the cutoff times for placing orders, how weekend orders are processed, which carriers are used for shipping, and how delivery times are determined. International shipping is also covered.

Shipping internationally requires different decisions than shipping within the Netherlands. Here, you can read about how an order crosses the border, which carriers deliver where, how delivery times and returns differ, and what to consider before entering a new market.

For many online stores, returns are the most complicated step in the process. Here, you’ll learn how a return is processed, who determines whether an item is resalable, what happens to the product afterward, and what agreements you can establish with your partners regarding this process.

What’s written in the contract determines how a partnership will proceed if things go wrong. Here, you can read about what’s specified in the agreement, how the notice period works, how your inventory is insured, and who is responsible for what.

Cosmetics and personal care products have their own set of rules, from shelf life to labeling. Here, you’ll learn what to look out for when it comes to storage and packaging, how batch numbers are tracked, what applies to fragile items, and how to properly handle these matters in advance.

Organic products require a warehouse that follows the rules. Cenfil is SKAL-certified, which means that the storage and handling of organic products are standardized and verifiable. Read on to find out what this certification means for your online store.

Pet food is heavy, takes up space, and is often ordered on a regular basis. Here, you’ll learn how weight and volume affect storage and shipping, what the shelf life guidelines are, and how regular customers are accommodated in the process.

Many items, many orders, and limited space per package. Here, you’ll learn how to keep an inventory of hundreds of SKUs organized, how package size affects costs, and how to quickly locate small items in the warehouse.

Medical supplies require precision and accurate record-keeping. Here, you can read about the requirements for storage and traceability, how batch numbers and dates are tracked, and what careful picking and packing means in practice.