Quite possibly, one of the most useful inventions of modern times, and since the advent of sliced bread has to be online fundraising. Companies like Crowdfunding and Kickstarter enable you to get your product in front of millions immediately. What was once a daunting task that required countless man hours by a development team can be completed with a good idea and a proposal video. However, one of the most challenging aspects of a successful campaign is usually fulfillment. All of the freebies that you have for your donors need to be shipped out immediately. It’s doubtful that you have time to haul all those goodies to the local post office, so here are the steps for a logistics partner to successfully deliver on your promises.
Hiring a 3PL, or third party logistics partner is a sound business decision. One of the most important considerations when choosing a 3PL is delivery flexibility. Depending on where you’re fulfilling and shipping your products, you may find yourself overwhelmed with tariffs, regulations, and duties. A good logistics partner ultimately saves money by freeing you from the hassles of domestic or international shipping. Implementation of sound e-commerce fulfillment strategies is necessary for the age of online funding, social media customer awareness, and interactivity. As a functional part of your operations efficiency, a 3PL should be an integral part of your supply chain.
A 2016 study by 3PLstudy.com showed that 83% of 3PL respondents felt that using a logistics partner directly contributed to better relationships with their clients and 70% reported declining logistics costs. Study participants represented manufacturing, retail, food & beverage, pharmaceuticals, and other industries. 3PL users are outsourcing everything from shipping and distribution to fleet management and order fulfillment. In fact, respondents of the survey felt that customer retention and customer service were significant requirements for the success of a 3PL. More than ever, business moves at lightning speed, and tech-savvy customers expect connectivity and interaction with companies from which they buy or shop. Whether you offered t-shirts, widgets, or teddy bears, your online funders are likely to share, tweet, post, or like your product. An effective campaign should include logistics, shipping, and order fulfillment.
Here’s where Ottawa Logistics comes into play. Ottawa Logistics provides shipping, distribution, and warehousing services to Canada and the U.S. and has since 1918. Our primary focus is customer satisfaction powered by our quality standards, cutting edge technology, and dedicated staff. With over 50,000 orders shipped monthly with a 99.99% order accuracy, we know what it takes to get your products to your customers. No matter how large or small your fulfillment needs, Ottawa Logistics has the cutting-edge technology, warehousing capability, logistics expertise, and order fulfillment tools to complete your funding campaign.
With 80 years of experience, we are your one stop shop for warehousing, distribution, and order fulfillment. Before implementing your Crowdsourcing or Kickstarter campaign, partner with a 3PL who knows how to get things done right and on time. Contact Ottawa Logistics today to find out how we can help you create fulfillment or distribution strategies that work. .Before you kick off your next campaign, contact us to get pricing or assistance with retention strategies. Check out our blog for timely articles on eco-friendly packaging, logistics, and shipping, or how to integrate Shopify into your supply chain. We know how to pick, pack, and ship. You know how to do what you do. Call us today. Our English and French-speaking customer service agents stand ready to assist.