Q. If I out-sourced my fulfilment needs how would I/my colleagues be able to review stock and order information quickly and accurately?
A. A good fulfilment company will have an internet based system that will allow its clients to have full visibility of their data. Such a system should be flexible enough to provide a tailored view for departments with differing needs. Only data relevant to a user should be visible to that user. Essential data such as orders and stock levels should be in real-time. There should be the facility for users to generate essential reports on-demand and have all other reports posted on a periodic basis.
A. A good fulfilment company will have an internet based system that will allow its clients to have full visibility of their data. Such a system should be flexible enough to provide a tailored view for departments with differing needs. Only data relevant to a user should be visible to that user. Essential data such as orders and stock levels should be in real-time. There should be the facility for users to generate essential reports on-demand and have all other reports posted on a periodic basis.
Q. What do you think is an acceptable turnaround time for orders?
A. We live in a very "NOW" society and your customers probably demand quicker turnaround than ever before - ours are just the same! We commit to fulfil ad hoc orders received by 3pm on the same day and if it is a parcel delivery within the UK, to deliver it the next working day.
A. We live in a very "NOW" society and your customers probably demand quicker turnaround than ever before - ours are just the same! We commit to fulfil ad hoc orders received by 3pm on the same day and if it is a parcel delivery within the UK, to deliver it the next working day.
Q. I send out POS on a periodic basis to stores with differing characteristic. How can I target my POS so as to reduce excessive waste?
A. First of all, survey the sites, and create a database of the store characteristics which affect the allocation of POS. Queries can then be written which will extract this data based on the requirements of the current promotion. Finally a program could be written to combine store and promotion characteristics to produce orders satisfying the individual needs of each store.
A. First of all, survey the sites, and create a database of the store characteristics which affect the allocation of POS. Queries can then be written which will extract this data based on the requirements of the current promotion. Finally a program could be written to combine store and promotion characteristics to produce orders satisfying the individual needs of each store.
Q. How could I reduce my storage costs?
A. As each item arrives at your Fulfilment Company assign a ‘Use By Date’ to the item. As each Use by Date is reached a report is generated by your fulfilment partner as a reminder to make a decision to scrap the goods or assign a revised use by date. This prevents items from a redundant campaign being lost in the ‘panic’ of the current workload.
In addition exception reporting can be generated for which there has been either
No movement in the last xx days (is it still required – if not scrap it)
Use the last 6 months usage for goods to extrapolate results on stock coverage in weeks. If you have, for example, 7 years worth of stock either scrap excess stock or re-assess why the uptake is lower than anticipated.
What do I need to tell my Fulfilment Company in advance of running a campaign?
When the campaign will start
Duration of campaign
What is the nature of the campaign (eg is a dedicated telephone line / PO Box required, are kits to be collated)
When will stock be received
What stock will be involved including quantities, size, supplier of stock
Advise suppliers of the booking in requirements
A. As each item arrives at your Fulfilment Company assign a ‘Use By Date’ to the item. As each Use by Date is reached a report is generated by your fulfilment partner as a reminder to make a decision to scrap the goods or assign a revised use by date. This prevents items from a redundant campaign being lost in the ‘panic’ of the current workload.
In addition exception reporting can be generated for which there has been either
No movement in the last xx days (is it still required – if not scrap it)
Use the last 6 months usage for goods to extrapolate results on stock coverage in weeks. If you have, for example, 7 years worth of stock either scrap excess stock or re-assess why the uptake is lower than anticipated.
What do I need to tell my Fulfilment Company in advance of running a campaign?
When the campaign will start
Duration of campaign
What is the nature of the campaign (eg is a dedicated telephone line / PO Box required, are kits to be collated)
When will stock be received
What stock will be involved including quantities, size, supplier of stock
Advise suppliers of the booking in requirements
