Are you an ecommerce store owner? If so, you must be aware of the hassle of order fulfillment. You have to use a warehouse for storing the products and a courier service for shipping. However, you can eliminate the multiple channels by using the Shopify order fulfillment service.
If you want to know more about how to fulfill orders on Shopify, you’ve come to the correct place. Below we have detailed everything about it.
What Is The Shopify Order Fulfillment Service?
The Shopify Fulfillment Network (SFN) is designed to help you save time and money. It works with multiple stores such as Amazon, Etsy, eBay, Shopify, and much more. The program also assists with Shopify order tracking to fulfill the proper orders.
You must remember that you will have to apply for the Shopify order fulfillment program. After approval, you must send your products to the fulfillment command center or warehouse. The location will store your item until a customer place an order.
After order placement, the partner will package the order and ship it to the customer’s address. The primary benefit of the fulfillment service is that you don’t have to worry about inventory, warehouse rent, management staff, and much more.
The Shopify order fulfillment service will help you serve all customers in the US without issues. You can also control whether you want to use the network for specific items or your whole inventory. The program also allows you to customize the package through marketing inserts, packing slips, and other things.
How To Fulfill Orders On Shopify?
There are multiple ways to engage in Shopify order tracking and fulfill the placements. Here is what you need to know about the different methods:
1. Self-Fulfillment
If you're a small store owner that sells low-cost items to customers, it is best to go with self-fulfillment for Shopify orders. The minor things are easy to store at home or any other property you own. If you're a local brand owner, the shipping charges will also be low.
So you can send products promptly to the customer using the self-fulfillment option. The best part is that you will have complete control over the item and customer satisfaction. For instance, you can keep the product in a suitable environment to avoid quality issues.
Besides that, you can also wrap the item in custom packaging without additional charges. So you can minimize errors and ensure that the customer receives the product in its best quality. However, remember that this option is unsuitable if you have high demand or run a global store.
2. Third-Party Fulfillment Service
A third-party provider is your best option if you want to enjoy Shopify order fulfillment service without any hassle. The partner will have warehouses across different regions to support your customers in all places. This will also help you pay a low ground shipping rate.
However, third-party services require you to give up some control over the product and delivery. For instance, the item may become damaged to complete an order promptly. Most third-party services are also unsuitable for fulfilling Shopify orders.
Of course, there is one provider that you can use with more confidence. The Shopify Fulfillment Network falls in this category. Here are the steps you must remember when using SFN for Shopify orders:
- Get Approval
Firstly, you need to apply for the program by meeting specific requirements and submitting a request. The first condition you must follow is that your business should be selling in the US. Besides that, you cannot have more than 2,000 SKUs.
Another thing you should know is that the minimum shipping limit is ten orders per day. Meanwhile, you can deliver up to 10,000 orders using the Shopify order fulfillment service. However, you can ship any perishable or prohibited item to the warehouse.
You should speak to customer support to learn about the latest policy in most cases. Some items that you cannot deliver through this network include meat, firearms, drugs, and gambling products. If you meet all the requirements, you will be approved to use SFN for your Shopify orders.
- Transfer Your Items
After the approval, you have to deliver your products to the fulfillment warehouse. Typically, you can send specific items to the center or your entire inventory for storage. The warehouse will keep the things safe and deliver them directly to your customers.
When a customer places an order, the warehouse will deliver them to your client. This means you don't have to worry about shipping charges or take the package to the courier. All you have to do is send the products to the fulfillment location.
- Packaging The Items
Most third-party providers don’t allow you to customize the packaging after an order is placed. However, SFN does not have this restriction and lets you improve your branding. If you want the item to have a specific packaging, you can send the materials to the warehouse.
Besides that, you can also pre-package the items before transferring them to the warehouse. Remember that this aspect is more important than using a fulfillment service for Shopify orders. This is because it makes your items look more authentic and reliable.
- Shipping The Order
This is the final step that the third-party provider will carry out for you. Typically, the company partners with a shipping service to deliver your order with postage. The best part about this is that you will receive discounted prices for the delivery.
You should also remember that the Shopify order fulfillment service operates from different locations. The network also has multiple partnerships for a smooth service. For instance, Wisconsin orders will be handled by the warehouse in Wisconsin.
3. Dropshipping
This is the final way you can fulfill your Shopify orders promptly. It is also one of the most reliable ways to operate an ecommerce store. You can find a reliable supplier that will offer you products at a wholesale rate. The company will manage the inventory and shipping.
The best part about dropshipping is that it will help you save a significant amount of time. However, you will have no control over the product. This is because dropshipping means you will sell items of a different brand. Typically, you can put a list on your Shopify or another store.
Upon placement, the dropshipping service will prepare the package and deliver it to your customer. The primary benefit of this program is that you will only pay for items that people are buying. You also don’t have to handle the shipping costs.
Besides that, dropshipping does not involve a middleman during the delivery. Instead, the item is sent from the manufacturer to the customer directly. This minimizes errors and reduces the risk of sending a low-quality product to the client.
What Is The Best Dropshipping Supplier For Fulfilling Shopify Orders?
You will encounter many dropshipping suppliers for your Shopify orders. However, the most reliable option is SaleYee. The platform has been operating for many years. This is why it has a suitable experience to help you fulfill your Shopify orders.
The primary benefit of SaleYee is that it is a global platform that ships worldwide. So you can easily accommodate your customers in multiple countries and not just the US. This feature gives this fulfillment option an edge over the Shopify Fulfillment Network.
Besides that, SaleYee also provides free delivery to all of your customers and delivers the item within two days. This means your client can be highly satisfied due to the fast shipping. The platform is compatible with Amazon, eBay, Shopify, Wish, Walmart, and other stores.
Lastly, you can pay SaleYee after the product has been delivered and the client has paid you. This factor contributes to the platform's reliability as you can withhold payment if the network makes an error and the client refuses the order.
Choosing The Best Shopify Order Fulfillment Service
Many factors play a role in helping you decide about the best Shopify order fulfillment service. Firstly, you should consider the shipping speed of the service provider. For instance, it can take up to a week to deliver if you use a third-party or self-fulfillment option.
Meanwhile, you can deliver the item within two days by using a dropshipping fulfillment option such as SaleYee. You should also consider the overall costs when selecting the right service. Self-fulfillment is the most expensive option if you’re using a warehouse and staff.
Besides that, third-party service is also costly due to the multiple add-on charges and location distance. However, dropshipping is relatively inexpensive because you don’t have any inventory. Typically, you will be buying the item from a website such as SaleYee. So you will only have to pay for the product.
Final Words
This is everything you need to know about the Shopify order fulfillment service. The SFN is a reliable program that can help you manage your online store. However, remember that it is only available for US orders and does not support international clients. Meanwhile, SaleYee will help you with worldwide free shipping and fast delivery.
