Choosing The Right Warehouse and Fulfillment Services

Choosing The Right Warehouse And Fulfillment Services For Consumer Product Goods

In the fast-paced world of consumer packaged goods (CPG), efficient warehousing and fulfillment are critical to maintaining a competitive edge. In total, The American CPG market represents $2T or 10% of the national GDP. The success of the CPG supply chain relies on the nearly 1.2 million jobs in the transportation and warehousing sector that support the industry.

With so much moving freight, there are a lot of complex logistics involved in ensuring CPGs reach the market in a timely and cost-effective manner. Selecting the right warehouse and fulfillment services partner can significantly impact your brand’s operational efficiency and customer satisfaction.

Understanding Your Warehouse & Fulfillment Needs

Finding the right warehousing and fulfillment partner starts with identifying your logistics needs. To start, this means understanding the nuances that apply to how each CPG needs to be shipped.

What types of product(s) are you shipping? Larger or heavy items will require different handling and storage compared to smaller items. What materials are your products made of? Fragile or hazardous materials will require special handling and storage to ensure the product is not damaged in transit or storage and safely reaches the consumer. What industry regulations apply to your product that affect how it might need to be handled or stored? For instance, perishable goods will need refrigeration.

Forecasting also plays a crucial role when planning for your warehouse and fulfillment needs. What are the peak seasons for your product(s)? It’s important to choose a warehouse that is not too big for your needs but can also accommodate your product supply at its highest. Your partner should also be able to scale with you over time, so as your business grows and you need more space, they can accommodate those changes.

Without taking these factors into account before selecting a shipping partner you may find you’ve partnered with a provider without the capabilities needed to help you successfully manage your supply chain.

Identifying The Right Partner

No two warehousing and fulfillment service providers are created exactly alike. With that in mind, it’s important that you make a 360° assessment of any potential partners to ensure you fully understand their capabilities. Before selecting a warehousing and fulfillment partner, consider the following:

• Location: Do they have warehouses and talent in the areas you need to make the most of your supply chain? Warehouses in key consumer markets or near your retail customers’ key distribution centers can trim down shipping times and increase customer satisfaction.
• Technology: What warehouse management system do they use for real-time tracking of inventory? Ideally it should be able to seamlessly integrate with your existing inventory and order management systems to give you a 360 view.
• Fulfillment capabilities: What fulfillment services, such as pick-and-pack, kitting/assembly, custom packaging or expedited shipping, do they support? The modern consumer has high expectations and services such as these help ensure quick, accurate order fulfillment and delivery.
• Cost: There are a lot of different factors that contribute to the cost of warehousing and fulfillment, make sure you understand the breakdown. For warehousing, do they charge by pallet, bin or square footage. For fulfillment, evaluate their cost per order, including packaging, packing and shipping.
• Reputation: What certifications, such as ISO 9001, do they have that highlight their commitment to quality and accuracy? Also, look for feedback from like-minded brands about their experience with the company. Is their customer service team responsive? Do they address issues in a timely manner?
• Scalability: Your needs will fluctuate over time, ideally growing in scale. Look for a partner who has the capabilities to grow with you without compromising on quality service.

Why Choose Premier for Your Warehousing and Fulfillment?

At Premier, we understand how crucial warehousing and fulfillment are to your supply chain. From our state-of-the-art facilities to our experienced team, we provide a comprehensive range of warehouse and fulfillment services tailored to meet each company’s specific needs. The Premier experience includes:

1. Facility lease: We have warehouse space in key U.S. marketplaces that are equipped to handle your warehousing and storage needs.
2. Pick-and-pack: We enhance your order assembly and delivery by selecting and packing items from your warehouse inventory, no matter the size of your shipment.
3. Freight mixing and consolidation: We streamline your freight shipments through consolidation, reducing costs and eliminating waste.
4. Project Management and Office Labor: From onsite management to maintenance, forklift operators and drivers, our team can help manage your warehouse operations from top to bottom.

Interested in learning more about Premier’s warehousing and fulfillment solutions? Click here.