Shipping fulfillment services are the backbone of any online retail brand. As eCommerce grows, new shipping fulfillment service trends are emerging. These include services designed to help with some of the most common shipping-related challenges. The top shipping fulfillment services trends in 2022 will help you know the trends you should not miss.
Shipping Automation
With the ever-improving digital ecosystem, manual fulfillment processes are becoming obsolete. They’re costly and time-consuming for retailers who need efficiency and productivity. With shipping automation, you can enhance the shipping fulfillment process. The automated shipping components include warehouse management systems and robots that roam the ground to give guidance.
Automation is expected to continue increasing to an estimation of more than 30 billion by 2026. This trend gives brands the advantage of minimizing costs and time of processing orders while offering a competitive delivery timeframe. It also helps resolve issues on labor shortages and no follow-ups during the fulfillment process.
Real-time Tracking
Real-time tracking allows customers to receive updates on their packages and the status of their orders. Installing warehouse management systems provides your company with real-time tracking information that is accurate and up-to-date. This allows customers to get automated information regarding the location and status of their packages at any time.
Your company can also use real-time tracking to monitor stock levels and handle returns effectively. You’ll know what percentage of orders was successfully delivered. You’ll also know which orders were not fulfilled due to potential problems such as damage or transit delays. This allows you to quickly diagnose and remedy kinks in the fulfillment process.
Sustainability
Embracing sustainable methods has been gaining traction in recent years. Businesses are under increasing pressure to reduce their carbon footprints and protect the environment. As a result, sustainability is a growing movement to make a core part of any shipping company’s business strategy.
Some companies have already embraced this goal by implementing sustainable practices into their business models and operations. Others are starting to recognize the value of sustainability by creating a tailored strategy that fits their unique needs.
Sustainable methods include eco-friendly packaging such as reusable boxes and bins that can be returned when filled up.
Broadening the Supply Base
The shift to e-commerce has made it easier for consumers to find the products they want, and this trend is poised to continue.
As a result of this change in consumer behavior, companies will need to broaden their supplier base to remain competitive. Companies that can serve niche markets and provide specialized products grow their business as more consumers connect with them online.
To broaden the supply chain, you can hire independent contractors. This will increase the efficiency of the supply chain and reduce delivery time and the cost of doing business. You can also expand your network of warehouses and distribution centers. This will allow it to deliver products faster to local customers.
Improved Last-mile Delivery
Last-mile logistics is one of the most important and challenging aspects of e-commerce fulfillment. It refers to a shipment’s final leg from the origin to when it reaches the customer’s doorstep.
Problems may arise during this last segment of the shipping process for various reasons. They include government restrictions, labor challenges, remote locations, traffic, or customers’ special delivery requests. The rise in e-commerce sales has also contributed to finding and maintaining quality last-mile services.
To curb this last-mile problem, pool resources so you can contract third-party logistic providers. This will help in timely deliveries and effectiveness in the last mile.
Data-driven Forecasting
The idea behind data-driven demand forecasting is to prepare for the peak shopping season. You can achieve this by predicting consumers’ shopping patterns and inventory needs through order fulfillment software. This allows you to scale up or down your fulfillment operations and shipment routes based on real-time market conditions.
By using data analysis tools, you can determine which items sell best and when they are in the highest demand. You can also identify which customers are most likely to buy certain items. From there, you can better predict seasonal trends based on past performance reports.
Hybrid Order Fulfillment
Before the pandemic, services like curbside pickup weren’t common. Consumers are increasingly embracing these services while ordering online. When you outsource deliveries to order fulfillment services, your business can provide a consistent, customer-centric delivery process. For an effective, hybrid order fulfillment procedure, you’ll need a unified inventory system so warehouses can retrieve orders for deliveries.
Getting Shipping Fulfillment Services
With the increasing popularity of online shopping, the shipping industry will be more dynamic in the future. Your company can thrive in the digital marketing world by keeping up with these trends in shipping fulfillment services. These trends are beneficial for efficiency and productivity.