Frequently asked questions about outsourcing fulfilment operations

What is order fulfilment?

Fulfilment is the process of receiving, processing, picking, packing, and dispatching customer orders on a companies behalf. Order fulfilment encompasses the processing of customers' returns, when necessary. Fulfilment companies remove the hassle and time-consuming aspects of your business, leaving you to focus on growing your business.

Is it cost-effective?

Absolutely. Here’s a few reasons why:
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    •     Cloud9 Fulfilment offer 2 weeks of storage free storage for new customers.
    •     We are competitive in pricing, giving you the very best deal for your money.
    •     Our prices start from a mere £2.25 per pallet, depending on product type. View pricing here.
    •     You will have no contracts, fixed overheads or staff to pay.
    •     You can grow and run your business knowing that the order fulfilment is well-handled.

Can order fulfilment help drive growth?

For sure. By outsourcing your order fulfilment, you will have more time to focus on the overall growth of your business.

We take care of the whole dispatch process in our secure fulfilment warehouse. We know how expensive mistakes can be, so our industry-leading software automates the entire picking process to limit human error, meaning mistakes are very unlikely to occur.

One of the huge benefits of using order fulfilment services is the low-priced shipping rates you can transfer to your customers. This ultimately will result in increased sales as your product can be sold and shipped for less, giving you an edge over your competitors. Not only is our shipping cheap, but fast too. We achieve a 99.9% same-day dispatch rate, meaning your customers receive their orders quickly, in perfect condition. Boosting your customer retention, and repeat orders.

What type of businesses use order fulfilment?

Order fulfilment is suitable for a wide range of businesses, including:
•       All businesses who have outgrown their current stock situation.
•       Businesses that sell fragile and delicate items.
•       Businesses that ship dangerous goods.
•       Businesses that ship high value products.
•       Businesses with fast-moving goods.

How quickly can I get set up?

You’re able to get completely set up within 24 hours of your products arrival to our warehouse.

Our industry leading, efficient and easy to use software will give you full transparency over the whole shipping process. It's super simple and quick to integrate with any eCommerce platforms you already use.

Does outsourcing fulfilment save you money?

Yes, you certainly do save money. Fulfilment specialists profit from the scale of their business and they can offer you the best storage and shipping rates. Fulfilment businesses work on a scale which is greater than most businesses, so by using them, you benefit from their purchasing power which results in cheaper rates for our fulfilment need and shipping carriers

Fulfilment services are adaptable, and they do so by corresponding to your needs. As your business grows, the fulfilment service can handle the increase of sales.

With fulfilment businesses, there is no need for you to bring on new staff when the sales increase, as we can handle it all for you. Therefore, you save additional money from not needing to hire any new staff.

Does fulfilment work?

If your business falls under any of the following categories, then fulfilment will be the perfect service for you:
    •     Small to medium business who wants to grow.
    •     Sells fragile and delicate items.
    •     Ships dangerous goods.
    •     Ships high value goods.

Does using fulfilment grow your business?

Fulfilment services can help you grow your business in many ways.

A fulfilment service provides you with access to cheaper shipping; therefore, you are able to add a free shipping option on your site, which looks great for your business!

Fast and accurate dispatch of orders so that you can provide your customers with highly rated satisfaction.
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Great customer service. With our fulfilment experts picking, packing and dispatching your products for you, you have more time to expand your business and complete more of the ‘brain work’ that you may currently not have time for.

Easy returns. A hassle-free return process is key for you, and with fulfilment, you gain this necessity.

What is a fulfilment service provider?

Fulfilment service providers are third-party companies responsible for the picking, packing, and dispatching of your customers orders on your behalf. We take the time-consuming dispatch process off your hands so you can have more time to do what you do best - growing your business and exceeding your sales targets.

With online shopping and eCommerce stores squeezing out the high streets, it has become even more important that this process is done quickly, accurately and in a cost-effective manner. A fulfilment service provider like ourselves, act as a base for holding your stock, dispatching of your customers orders and handling customer returns.

Is it worth outsourcing fulfilment?

Firstly, you get 2 weeks free storage with us, after that you only pay for what you use and the picked, packed, and shipped orders. The storage costs will only change if the units you store changes.

If you have a small business, order fulfilment may not seem like a huge task at present, however once you grow your business, it can easily become overwhelming. When you receive a spike in sales your business could be left struggling for space and resources. If you outsource your fulfilment, this problem will never happen.

Once your fulfilment is outsourced, you are able to leave all of the heavy lifting, picking, packing and dispatching to us and you can spend the time you now have free making your business flourish.

Fulfilment providers have access to cheaper shipping rates due to the high number of shipments. This means you will be able to offer cheaper shipment offers to your customers, giving you a competitive edge over your competitors.

What is a SKU?

A stock keeping unit (SKU) is a number which is unique to every product and is used to track a company’s stock. SKU’s provide information on the important features of a product such as, the colour, size, and product type. Effectively, a SKU allows us to track products, and keep everything under management and control. SKU’s allow fulfilment businesses to find the specific product within their warehouses and keep everything compact and neat.

What is a SKU number?

An example of a SKU number is PO-TS-38-BK. For example, PO means the product is a POLO, TS means the products is a Tee shirt, 38 is the shoulder size and BK is the colour.

Will I remain in control of my stock?

Absolutely. You will remain completely in control. Our software allows you to see all of your ongoing orders, the levels of your stock, and any returns in process.