Starting a business involves many challenges. As a new entrepreneur, you can’t be an expert in all aspects of business. However, we often see small webshops or startups taking on too much, which affects efficiency. Packing and shipping orders is time-consuming. If order volume increases, you might not have time to focus on marketing anymore. Most online entrepreneurs are not experts in logistics or warehouse management systems (WMS). So why not choose a partner to handle these processes for you? This brings us to the key question: is fulfilment interesting for small webshops or startups?
What is fulfilment?
Many entrepreneurs have never heard of fulfilment. Yet, it can give your business a real boost. Here’s what it involves: fulfilment covers the entire order processing flow, from receiving goods in the warehouse to shipping them to the final customer. The key steps include:
- Inspection of incoming goods
- Inventory management
- Picking
- Packing
- Shipping
- Returns processing (if applicable)
What does a fulfilment center do?
A fulfilment center takes over the entire logistics process. It is responsible for inventory management, picking & packing, and shipping. A fulfilment partner like Webship uses advanced software to efficiently manage stock and shipments, providing several benefits! Additionally, fulfilment centers perform regular inventory checks and quality control. Another advantage: your orders can still be shipped while you are on vacation.
How much does fulfilment cost?
Fulfilment isn’t free, but the costs are outweighed by its benefits! The main expenses include:
- Warehousing: Your products are stored in the fulfilment partner’s warehouse. You pay a monthly fee based on the volume (m³) occupied. This saves costs since you only pay for the space you use instead of renting an entire warehouse. Fulfilment centers also buy packaging materials in bulk, reducing costs.
- Picking & Packing: A fixed pricing model applies, including setup costs, a charge per order line, and a fee per picked item.
- Shipping: Costs depend on the chosen carrier (bpost, DPD, etc.). If you don’t have a preference, the fulfilment partner will select the best option for each package. Volume contracts help reduce shipping costs!
When does fulfilment become cost-effective?
You can outsource logistics from the start or later. The choice depends on warehouse availability, stock management expertise, budget, and order volume. From 45 orders per month, fulfilment becomes financially advantageous.
Webship, your fulfilment partner!
Curious about pricing? Webship offers an online cost calculator to estimate fulfilment expenses. Contact hallo@webship.be for more details.
