We have been observing the development of e-commerce for years, supporting the development of Polish sellers in scaling their businesses. Thanks to this, we know that effective cooperation requires flexibility. At EUROCOMMERCE, we operate in a bipolar manner, thanks to this solution we can cope with the most complex deliveries and optimize customer costs.

What is this bipolarity? In our offer, customers will find a courier standard serviced on the basis of agreements with operators, as well as XXL logistics run by us. And it is XXL logistics that this text will be devoted to.

XXL logistics - why is it worth selling to Germany, also large dimensions?

It is worth analyzing the opportunities and threats resulting from the launch of a new sales direction. Times are not easy and many companies are looking for solutions that will be an additional source of income for them. Acting today, you build the foundations of future profits and development of your company. So it's worth considering non-obvious options.

By selling online, you can reach customers in different markets, but in the case of oversized goods, the most difficult piece of the puzzle is logistics.

Oversized shipments are rejected by courier companies that have a long-term policy, preferring small shipments that generate the highest margin and allow maximum use of space in transport. Large shipments are limited. If they fall within the limits, various surcharges are often added to them anyway. And the transport of large and heavy shipments in this model means that they often reach the customer in a condition that does not allow them to be used. There are complaints, returns, exchanges and in extreme cases also resignation from the purchase.

This is where EUROCOMMERCE comes into play. If you are considering starting sales abroad, but the problem with the logistics of XXL goods takes away your motivation, we will take care of it. We saw a niche in this field. After analyzing the situation, we found a way to bypass the barriers related to the delivery of oversized products.

Our and our clients' experience shows that a well-planned process allows for success even in difficult conditions. Thanks to EUROCOMMERCE XXL, furniture sent from our distribution center reaches individual customers in Germany without damage. From Poland to the end customer, without any reloading.

How do we do it?

We work with our own fleet, so the probability of any damage is practically zero. Our procedures assume that the goods go from the warehouse directly to the recipient - without reloading, which generates most of the damage. If it is not necessary, we do not transport furniture on pallets - thanks to this solution, the risk of moving and damaging the goods is minimized. The delivery time is always agreed over the phone by the staff communicating in the customer's language.

Transport leaving Zielona Góra reaches recipients in subsequent locations in Germany. The route is determined by the freight forwarder who contacts the recipients. The freight forwarder confirms the presence of the consignees during the planned delivery. Customers know what time the transport will arrive. If the date does not suit him, he may set a different delivery date. In most cases, the parcel reaches the recipient within 48 hours. from posting.

Are you looking for a logistics partner to deliver furniture directly to customers?
Contact us ->>.

Fulfillment is a logistics service that is becoming more and more popular every year. This is a proposal for companies that have online stores, but for various reasons do not want to develop logistics structures.

What is fulfillment about? How to choose a partner? What to look for when making decisions? You will find the answers in this text.

What is Fulfillment?

Fulfillment is a service thanks to which an online store transfers the handling of its own e-commerce orders to an external operator. The services of companies offering fulfillment are most often used by online stores:

• in which up to several thousand parcels are sent monthly,
• shops run by very small teams,
• Companies for which e-commerce is one of the areas of activity and do not want to focus on logistics.

What to look for when choosing a fulfillment partner?

To choose the right partner, you need to pay attention to several important details.

The first thing is to verify the conditions in which the goods will be stored.
Store owners cannot afford to sell poorly stored, damaged, damp, etc. goods. This can directly affect the quality of the items offered, and thus, frequent complaints and bad opinions about the online store.

The second area to pay attention to is customer service. This is one of the key aspects in business where the speed of response to any problems with orders is extremely important. You need to be sure that all the processes related to contacting you regarding orders not carried out in accordance with the arrangements, necessary assistance in contacts with courier companies and questions run smoothly.

Another aspect that needs to be taken into account is the integration of systems with an external warehouse. Here everything has to be buttoned up to the last button. After all, you cannot afford any oversights and errors in the flow of data between systems. Incompatible software can have a huge impact on both the quality of customer service and, above all, the correctness and speed of sending orders.

For many people running stores, an important factor is the handling of returns by a partner that offers fulfillment. As you know, returns are a constant element in online sales. It is therefore important that it is an offer of the company we are considering. Some sources[1] say that returns account for as much as 35% of purchased goods.

Other areas are services and solutions that can improve the operation of the store and even enable its scaling. If your fulfillment provider offers next-day delivery services and international shipments, then the presence of these forms of delivery in the store's offer can convince potential customers to buy in your store. It is said that time is money, and the next day delivery option often determines the customer's choice of which store to use. The faster the delivery, the happier the customer.

International shipments, on the other hand, are a chance for your store to exist not only in Poland, but also abroad. It gives the opportunity to build the presence and brand awareness in subsequent markets, and thus allows for risk diversification and profit scaling when working with one logistics partner.

If all these conditions are met, the client has no choice but to sign the contract.

Learn more about the benefits of working with us.

[1] https://www.logistyka.net.pl/bank-wiedzy/item/92337-rosnace-zwroty-w-e-commerce

Fulfillment in e-commerce is the process of order fulfillment, which includes all steps from accepting goods to the warehouse, through placing an order by the customer, to delivering the product to him and possible handling of returns. Its characteristic feature is that it can be separated as a separate area related to logistics and outsourced to a logistics company that specializes in such activities.

Key aspects of online store service in the fulfillment model

The key aspects of fulfillment in stores operating in the e-commerce model are primarily activities related to the order processing process. This process includes the following steps:

1. Storage of goods in the logistics center

This stage begins with the acceptance of the delivery, during which the goods must be checked and properly distributed in the warehouse. Proper storage of products is crucial for effective fulfillment.

Adequate stock levels must be maintained in the warehouse so that orders can be filled quickly. This, of course, remains on the side of sales managers. Fulfillment is the outsourcing of logistics services related to the shipment of orders to the end recipient. It is also necessary to ensure adequate security and organization in the warehouse, and this is already the responsibility of the warehouse service of the logistics company that performs the fulfillment of the online store. Any company can introduce its regulations here. At EUROCOMMERCE, we distinguish 2 types of goods receipt into the warehouse - the customer chooses which model is suitable for him:

a) Acceptance to the warehouse on the basis of a notification - we verify the number of collective packages delivered to the warehouse and on this basis we accept the delivery in full. In a situation where, over time, it turns out that the actual quantities and stock levels do not match, the customer assumes responsibility for these discrepancies. Acceptance of delivery takes less time than the second option.

b) admission to the warehouse after full quantitative verification - the delivery is counted in full and any quantity discrepancies that occur later are the responsibility of the logistics center. Acceptance of delivery takes longer than in the first variant.

2. Completing and packing orders

After receiving an order in the system, employees must quickly find products in the warehouse and pack them in such a way that, on the one hand, it is economical, and on the other hand, it allows to protect the products against damage during transport. Packing online orders takes place under time pressure, because the so-called. cut off, i.e. the time of collection of parcels by courier companies, is fixed, and it is in the interest of the stores to send them as soon as possible.

3. Shipment of the order to the customer

Fast and reliable shipping is key to buyer satisfaction. It can be said that this is such a logistic customer service. Formally, it is part of the purchase process, but the client often evaluates it as a way to take care of the subject after the transaction itself. E-shops should offer various delivery options, such as courier, parcel locker or personal collection, so that customers can choose what best suits their needs. Working with a logistics center that provides fulfillment services, you often have more choice and much more flexibility in choosing the method of delivery of goods to your customers. Customers expect up-to-date information on the status of their order. That is why tracking and current information on the status of the order are very important. In EUROCOMMERCE, which also works with foreign carriers, the store does not have to communicate with carriers on its own. If disturbing or incomprehensible information appears in the tracking, the EUROCOMMERCE customer service department clarifies it directly at the source.

4. Returns handling

Dissatisfied customers can return the products. In practice, some industries struggle with high order return rates. Their service in the logistics center does not absorb the team as much as in their own warehouse.

E-commerce operates on the basis of an ecosystem of cooperating tools that allow for a quick exchange of information between individual systems. When considering a solution such as external logistics service, you should first of all verify whether the company offering fulfillment allows you to integrate the online store with the warehouse and the warehouse with other systems, such as baselinker.

The number of systems is growing along with the development of the store, when more and more extensive sales processes are implemented in the online store and new markets are served. It is crucial that various systems, such as the WMS warehouse system, the store system through which orders are received, as well as solutions that integrate sales from various channels, e.g. marketplace platforms, work coherently to ensure a fast and effective fulfillment process and not to let errors occur and inventory discrepancies.

What is important here is not only the correct operation of the system and providing the right data, although this is of course the most important issue from the point of view of the shipment. Proper processing and protection of personal data is also important here. The customers of the logistics center providing fulfillment are companies, i.e. online stores, but the customers of online stores are natural persons. This generates very large amounts of personal data, and their protection is an important element of the operation of any company.

The role of fulfillment in the online sales process

All the discussed aspects are crucial for effective fulfillment. And what is his role? Very important!

Fulfillment has a big impact on the final level of customer satisfaction. The owner of the online store outsources logistics processes to an external company, thus losing a direct impact on the customer experience resulting from the way the order is packed and the delivery time. All processes are carried out by employees of the logistics company responsible for the fulfillment of store orders.

Logistic support for online stores plays a key role in the modern e-commerce model, because it is a process that connects sellers and customers. Sellers - on their own or with the use of an external company, when running an online store, must effectively perform the processes described above as crucial for fulfillment in order to meet customer expectations and build their loyalty. This can contribute to success in e-commerce. A partner who removes this obligation from the seller and approaches the logistics of orders in a professional manner is an undoubted advantage of any business.

Are you looking for a proven partner in e-commerce logistics?

EUROCOMMERCE has been operating on the market since 2016. Get to know our processes ->>

EUROCOMMERCE działa na rynku od 2016 roku. Poznaj nasze procesy ->>

Fulfillment in Poland has been functioning for a long time. Many years of experience in logistics service for customers allows us to notice and identify benefits that are not obvious to the customer, but can significantly improve the functioning of the organization, but also its owner.

Fulfillment - what it exactly means in logistics ?

Simply put: outsourcing of all resources necessary to complete shipments. How it's working? You run a shop from wherever you want. From the office, from a trip or a house in the mountains - the Internet would be important, because without this resurce it is a bit difficult to run any business today. The rest depends of your organization skills. You care about the selection of products, marketing and contact with the client but logistics doesn't bother you.

The following resources are required to fulfill orders:

•  warehouse - storage of products in stock,
• contracts with carriers
• fixed rates for shipments,
• packaging materials
• to secure the shipped orders,
• employees who will pack and secure orders before sending them,
•  a warehouse system that will ensure a smooth flow of information

We hear a lot about the possibility of running an online store from behind a desk, more optimistic sources mention running it from the couch. What is the impact of outsourcing e-commerce logistics on this?

In fact, in the current business reality, where almost every area of ​​activity can be outsourced, it is becoming easier to operate in a limited team and, despite the lack of human resources in your own organization, successfully run a business. For years, services such as accounting and HR services have been provided outside the organization. In recent years, there have also been offers such as handling legal and tax issues related to international sales, a remote marketing department, and in the world of e-commerce orders fulfillment, i.e. outsourcing of logistics operations. These are significant facilitations. But is it really clear to you what this concept means? Do you know what the measurable benefits of fulfillment are?

If the answer to the last two questions was negative, we invite you to read on.

Fulfillment what is this service and how does it affect e-commerce logistics outsourcing?

You can find different definitions on the logistics pages. All emphasis is placed on the warehousing process and order fulfillment. How exactly does it work? We do not know how it works in any other company of this type, therefore we base our answers on our knowledge, experience and implemented processes.

The goods are delivered to the logistics center that supports online stores and here they are put on stock. The customer has access to it via the customer's account (access after logging in) or after integration with his systems, he can see the current inventory levels in the software panel that he uses to manage the store. Hence, orders arrive, which the warehouse employees complete, pack in protective packaging and send to the end recipient.

Can I introduce additional processes, in addition to the standard packaging of the order, when operating in the fulfillment model?

Employees implementing fulfillment complete orders coming from the store, pack them and ship them. They also carry out non-standard operations ordered by clients. These can be, for example, special additions, leaflets, gifts, information about promotions added to orders... Whatever creative the marketing of your store comes up with, we can organize it.

Can I order returns handling?

Of course, we also handle the returned goods when shipping. The handling of returns usually includes quality control of such goods, a report showing the actual state, including photo documentation and further handling of the goods, in accordance with the arrangements with our client.

What are the benefits of outsourcing e-commerce logistics?

Outsourcing of e-commerce logistics allows you to reduce costs and stress related to ongoing logistics services. How?

1. You don't need to hire employees. Let's face it, labor costs are getting higher, inflation pressure causes expectations of increases, and in the period of lower sales, they are not always busy... Working with a logistics center you do not have to hire several people to carry out logistics operations. All processes are carried out by the warehouse service team - a team that already has experience in this area and does not need to be trained, and you only pay for actually completed orders.

2️. You do not need to secure the place for the above-described operations. The costs of rent, electricity, heating and other utilities are gone, you do not pay for the space that is filled only during periods of increased sales. In the settlement with the logistics center, you only pay for the actually occupied space.

3. You use shipping prices that are negotiated based on a much larger volume  of parcels than your own store generates, so you can offer your customers different types of delivery to the final recipient.

Do you want to know more?
Do you have questions about e-commerce outsourcing?

Make an appointment with our expert:
Jarosław Kula | j.kula@eurocommerce.pl | tel. +48 885-500-365