If you have an eCommerce, one of the most important points you will have faced, or are in the process of choosing a logistics center. Do you know if you have made the right decision? How should one be chosen?
If you have doubts and you don't know if the best thing for your online store is one or the other, here we are going to tell you the keys to achieve it, and, above all, so that the choice is easy and only brings advantages.
What is a logistics center
The first thing you need is to understand 100% what this term refers to. A logistics center is the place where various tasks are carried out in order to supply the product. In other words, it is where products are received, shipments are prepared, shipped, and unsold items are kept in stock for when customers request them from us.
Because it is part of several much-needed actions in the supply chain, Choosing a suitable logistics center becomes very important.
What you should take into account in a logistics center
Among the characteristics that we should highlight of a logistics center, the most important and that can help you decide, are the following:
Organization
This is very important because you need a place where there is good communication and that the workers they have are competent for their work.
For example, imagine that you have two fulfillment centers as possible candidates. And you do a test with both.
In the first, You see that they receive the merchandise, store it and when they ask for it, they are in charge of preparing the shipment and leaving the facilities in record time.
In a second, You see that they receive the merchandise and store it. When it comes to having to send it, it takes several days because they don't know where they put it. In addition, when they go to prepare the shipment, they choose a bad packaging and the product box breaks a little. Still, they send it.
It wouldn't be hard to know which one you'd choose, right? Always stay with the one that has established a good supply chain and that there are no failures (there will always be, but they are minimal).
Use of technology
When technology entered our lives we saw it as a threat to jobs; but In the end, she is a great ally and counting on her can speed things up.
So a logistics center that has it will always be more efficient than another that continues to do things by hand (especially if it is one of the big ones).
Physical abilities
By this we mean that it is located in a place with good communications, in addition to being able to receive large merchandise, have a store in which a large number of products fit...
Anything extra will be welcome, but above all make sure it is a good logistics center in the sense that it has space for your products.
How to choose a logistics center
Now that you have a little more knowledge about logistics centers, do you know what to look for when choosing one? Here we put what we consider important:
Costumer
We have nothing against new or inexperienced logistics centers. In fact, testing them would not be a bad idea. But if there is no new one, the experience, as they say, is a degree. AND in this case you will have more opinions about the service and you will be able to know if they really work well or not.
Of course, having a lot of experience does not mean that it is good. You have to distinguish one thing from the other. And it is that sometimes the company can be active for a long time and, nevertheless, not do its job well (it is something rare, but it can happen).
Coverage
One of the keys when choosing a logistics center must be that it can get the products you sell to where the customers are. In other words, if the logistics center is in Valencia and the client who has ordered it is in Huelva, they have the necessary means to be able to send the product in a certain time (normally 24-48 hours).
The coverage can be national or international. But the delivery time also influences here, not only in terms of how long it will take to send it, but also to receive it from the client.
Imagine that the client is in a lost town in Galicia and they only deliver on Mondays. That wouldn't be adequate coverage, especially since your client wouldn't have to wait for it.
Services
It is increasingly common for buyers to be more demanding, or to seek to cover special needs. For example, that they want to help the environment with their order, or that they are looking for something completely natural.
In your logistics center It is possible that it has several extra services that, although they involve paying more, many can opt for it.
For example, imagine that they place an order and say that shipping costs cost 3 euros. But, if you're not in a hurry, it ships in 3-5 days to accumulate more orders and spend less on transportation, help the environment, etc. The customer chooses this option even though he has to wait longer for it.
Price Plans
Many times we think that cheap implies that it does not have quality. And that the expensive, although it is the best, is not always for any pocket. But every time that mentality is changing.
Do not trust only for cheap or expensive rates. It is better to review what they offer you, and how they offer it, regardless of price. And it is that sometimes the cheap rates give you good service and the expensive ones lousy; Or otherwise.
Reliability
Last but certainly not least is reliability. That is to say, that you can relax and not think about whether they are going to do it well or not. Keep in mind that, before the client, you are responsible for what may happen, and delegate that responsibility (at least internally) should be making sure they're going to get it right.
For this reason, that a logistics center can respond to unforeseen events, that it does its job well and, above all, that it does not fail you, is extremely important.
Do you have more tips for choosing a fulfillment center?