Checklist for Choosing a Fulfillment Service Company

Order fulfillment, or delivery of goods, is a part ofthose that have been providing services for a long
commerce operation once an order is received.time, guaranteeing they will not take your money and
Fulfillment refers to those providing the storing ofbe gone tomorrow. Although, new companies should
customers' materials until they request delivery tonot be mistaken for being incompetent, just
themselves or to a third party. Vendors also providebeginning.
fulfillment services of requests received form aIn fact, many of them are just starters but have
customer by mail, phone, fax or any other electronichighly qualified professionals just waiting for the
means, better known as "pick and pack."opportunity to demonstrate their commitment to
Order fulfillment is usually made by contacting the USestablishing a reliable partnership. Continuing with your
Postal Service or delivery/logistics firm referrals,checklist, ask the fulfillment companies to describe
although word of mouth from colleagues andthe areas of their business, such as order fulfillment,
partners is generally the best way to find a companyfulfillment services, literature fulfillment, etc.
in your area, which will work for you. The Mailing andThrough their description, you can have a better idea
Fulfillment Service Association (MFSA) is another goodof their services whether communicated verbally or
source to find fulfillment companies and theirprovided by means of printed literature. If your
references.business engages an important amount of money in
Some companies specialize only in literature fulfillmentyour chosen fulfillment companies and you are
services. Others may offer a range of corporateconcerned about them, check with outside sources
business solutions, such as catalog and literaturelike your local Chamber of Commerce, the Better
fulfillment, magazine premiums, kit assembly, handBusiness Bureau, Dun & Bradstreet, as well as
fulfillment, inventory and warehouse space, along withwith the different delivery services they work with.
a broad line of shipping services, in addition to orderReliable fulfillment companies should comprise financial
fulfillment, processing your orders, payments and pickstability, a positive background history, reputation in
and pack your products.the marketplace, equipment list and fulfillment
These fulfillment companies are particularlyservices offered (order fulfillment, literature fulfillment,
appreciated by companies with establishedetc.). Companies with quality control processes, postal
commerce, e-commerce and telemarketing activities.knowledge and solid service rules in written or
Doing research for fulfillment services, the mostelectronic form are your best option when choosing a
important observation on your checklist is to look atfulfillment service company.
the companies' profile to find their capabilities. ThisCopyright @2006, 4th Media Corporation
makes it easier to partner with fulfillment companiesYou have permission to publish this article
that meet your order fulfillment or literature fulfillmentelectronically free of charge, as long as the bylines
needs.and links in the body of the article and the bylines are
Double check how many years the fulfillment servicesincluded.
has been in business, since the better companies are