Fulfillment by Shopify and Shopify Fulfillment Partners
US alone has 2.7 million online stores out of which Shopify is one of the largest eCommerce platforms. With its popularity among eCommerce businesses, Shopify offers various tools and services to improve merchant experience and increase customer satisfaction. Shopify stays updated with all the trends in the market and in between all the offerings. They also provide fulfillment solutions to eCommerce businesses in the form of Fulfillment by Shopify and Shopify Fulfillment Partners or , Shopify Fulfillment Network SFN. Apart from this, Shopify Fulfillment Partners are enabling you to negotiate and get better rates.
- Shopify Fulfillment Network
- How fulfillment choices can make or break your Shopify shop
- 3 main fulfillment options Shopify offers
- Explore how Shopify’s fulfillment works
- How to set up the Shopify site
- Maximize your Shopify experience with Fulfillment Partner | Fulfillment Plus
Shopify’s fulfillment solutions have their strengths but it is not for everyone. It is crucial to make an informed decision when choosing a fulfillment partner. To keep your logistics operations running smoothly, you have to choose the right fulfillment partner.
What is Shopify Fulfillment Network?
Shopify Fulfillment Network (SFN) is Shopify’s fulfillment service provided for the brands to store inventory and fulfill customer orders.
Shopify launched SFN-Shopify Fulfillment Network in 2019 to offer fulfillment solutions for eCommerce brands already using the online shopping platform.
It has a vast network of fulfillment centers in the US to fulfill all domestic and international orders. Shopify works with USPS, DHL, UPS, Canada Post, and various regional mail carriers to deliver customer orders.
To utilize the SFN-Shopify Fulfillment Network for your eCommerce business, you must sell to US customers. Additionally, you should maintain an active Shopify Payments account and meet all of Shopify’s eligibility requirements.
How fulfillment choices can make or break your Shopify shop
Imagine if you have spent many hours designing and setting up your Shopify website and you are finally ready to start selling on Shopify.
But as soon as customers place orders, it depends on fulfilling the orders accurately and as quickly as possible.
If the online store does not fulfill orders to customers on time, it will lead to customer dissatisfaction; consequently, they might not come back to purchase your products again.
You need to keep yourself updated with everything very carefully when it comes to fulfillment. The process starts with Shopify inventory management. The goods are then stored, picked, and packed accurately, and shipped correctly.
If you are fulfilling the orders yourself, then you have the responsibility to figure out all the expenses involved in packaging, software, shipping, and all other logistics requirements.
Before launching your Shopify store, you need to be sure of how you are going to handle fulfillment so that you can save some time and money on packing and shipping and save yourself from the endless cycle of fulfillment.
3 main fulfillment options Shopify offers
- In-house fulfillment:
If you are just starting your business and cannot hire someone at the moment or rent a warehouse, you might have to fulfill the orders yourself.
While this gives you complete control over all the activities, it can become overwhelming for you and can take up too much time and drive up the logistics costs.
As your brand grows online, it is possible to make a switch from in-house fulfillment to outsourcing fulfillment sooner rather than later. Allowing you to take advantage of established fulfillment operations rather than investing in fulfillment infrastructure that includes warehousing, labor, equipment, fulfillment software, and more.
This option may be best for your business if you are selling your products locally only and primarily have in-store pickups.
However, there are various reasons why brands continue to fulfill the orders in-house. Brands that do considerable customization and need a large space to fulfill orders opt for self-fulfillment.
As your business grows so does the volume of orders for which you need warehouse management to help you streamline processes, show real-time data, and give your team the tools they need to quickly, and efficiently pick, pack, and ship orders.
- Dropshipping:
The dropshipping fulfillment option is the one where your direct involvement is the least, giving you very little control over the fulfillment process. However, if you opt for dropshipping, the entire fulfillment process is managed by the manufacturer.
This also has some pros and cons, as this fulfillment method has longer transit times and great quality control risks since your customer is the first person to see the finished product.
- Third-party logistics (3PL):
To save time and money, many Shopify stores partner with 3PLs, while still maintaining control.
3PL fulfillment centers are designed in such a way as to be as efficient as possible. This efficiency is evident in the kind of equipment they use, as well as their use of space and technology to increase accuracy.
3PLs partner with shipping carriers to negotiate discounted shipping rates. Consequently, this allows you to offer more shipping options. Best of all, you can tap into a 3PL’s technology, distribution network, and expertise, while not having to pack orders yourself.
Explore how Shopify’s fulfillment work
Once you have confirmed that your products are eligible for Shopify Fulfillment Network and ready to set up your Shopify or Shopify Plus website to receive your orders. The next step involves:
Choosing a Shopify plan
Shopify provides various plans to its customers to suit the needs of all businesses. It offers 3 plans:
- Basic Plan- For individuals and small businesses ($39/month)
- Standard Plan- For medium businesses ($105/month)
- Advanced Plan- For medium to large businesses ($399/month)
- Enterprise Level Plan- Businesses with enterprise level can check this plan ($2000/month)
After you have selected the best plan for your business, you can launch the store and begin setting it up with SFN- Shopify Fulfillment Network.
Bring your data to SFN- Shopify Fulfillment Network
Before you start, you need to migrate all your fulfillment data to the new system. You need to check your current inventory levels, and SKUs, to understand what you have on hand to ensure the transfer is done smoothly.
Route your orders to preferred fulfillment centers
Finally, you can pack and label your products to send them to SFN- Shopify Fulfillment Network fulfillment center. You will be provided with a location to send your inventory within the SFN- Shopify Fulfillment Network app.
According to the quality of your inventory, it will be split across the Shopify Fulfillment Network to keep it closer to your end customers.
Shopify Partners Program
The Shopify Partner Program is a community of fulfillment experts, web designers, developers, digital marketers, creative agencies, and freelancers that help merchants start, sell, market, and/or manage their e-commerce businesses.
Alternatively, you can also use the Fulfillment services of partners registered on the Shopify Partners Program
How to set up Fulfillment on the Shopify Partners App
Fulfillment partners like Fulfillment Plus are available on the Shopify Partners App. They have advanced technologies that make it easy for you to connect your Shopify or Shopify Plus store in minutes.
- Discover if Shopify Partners App is for you
You can explore the app and learn more about the services it offers and prices to ensure they’re a good fit for your business.
- Select your products
Once you’re ready to get started, you can go ahead and choose your products to fulfill.
- Send us your inventory
You can inbound your inventory to one of their designated fulfillment centers and they’ll handle the rest.
Once your store is connected with Fulfillment Plus, you will be eligible to ship your inventory.
As the customer places an order on the Shopify store, it will be automatically sent to Fulfillment Plus to be picked, packed, and shipped.
- The Shopify Fulfillment Plus App
- -Integrates with Shipstation, Amazon UPS, FedEx, USPS, Shippo, etc.
- -Provides Real-time order fulfillment and inventory tracking
- -B2B/EDI compliance support
Maximize your Shopify experience with Fulfillment Partner | Fulfillment Plus
Fulfillment Plus on Shopify Partner Program App offers its customers services from warehousing to shipping, saving your time and money.
Services Offered-
- Warehousing
Product storage is crucial and takes up a lot of your time, but it is also a big investment to put in a lot of effort.
A Fulfillment partner on Shopify like Fulfillment Plus not only offers its warehousing services but also provides skilled workers who are trained in optimizing storage and sorting eCommerce inventory strategically. It leads to a faster warehouse picking process without compromising on quality.
By allowing us to manage your warehousing tasks, you don’t have to worry about storing inventory, managing and training staff, and investing in technology and equipment.
- Inventory Management
Inventory management is the process of monitoring inventory levels, ordering and replenishing inventory, and collecting data.
An advanced fulfillment company provides built-in inventory management tools, which allow you to view real-time stock levels. Prevent stockouts, and get insights into inventory performance, such as what items are best-selling versus slow-moving.
- Custom Packaging
Fulfillment partner on Shopify like Fulfillment Plus provides custom hand assembly for its customers. As a result, each product will have a unique impression and create an unforgettable experience for the customers.
Depending on the packaging needs, we carefully pack each order and ensure that your products are going to bring smiles to your customers. Furthermore, a fulfillment partner is essential for your business and can create a big impact on your business.
Fulfillment Plus creates a memorable unboxing experience for its customers.
You can partner with us to give your customers a delightful experience today by using this link- https://apps.shopify.com/expert-fulfillment
For more information get in touch with us at 888-256-7790
