Big Differences of eCommerce Fulfillment Center and Warehousing

eCommerce warehousing and eCommerce fulfillment center are sometimes mistaken and used interchangeably. However, they are entirely different in reality. While both eCommerce fulfillment centers and warehouses are enormous structures that keep goods for businesses that sell products, the similarities end there. The services they provide and the situations they are employed differ greatly depending on the demands of organizations that use them. Here, we will look at the functions of each to help you decide which is best for you and your business.

WHAT IS WAREHOUSE?

A warehouse is a structure where they stores goods and products for an extended period. It is a location meant to store or keep a company’s products in bulk until it is required. When you step inside a warehouse, you’ll find high shelves stacked with a variety of products, as well as forklifts driving about and lifting containers.

It’s Uses

eCommerce fulfillment warehouse is sometimes more focused on businesses that operate with wholesale or business-to-business orders that include vast items. Larger stores have warehouses where they may keep excess inventory or can rent warehouse space to other companies. If you’re seeking to save different products for your business until they’re required, and smaller storage solutions aren’t working out, a warehouse is just what you’re looking for.

Warehouse Operations

Given that warehouses are just storage facilities, operations solely require inventory management in the following ways:
1. addition of new items, products, or goods
2. Transferring items to different warehousing locations.
3. item release for shipping or delivery

WHAT IS ECOMMERCE FULFILLMENT CENTER?

An eCommerce fulfillment center is a giant structure that keeps products for a business. However, it also performs a variety of additional functions. A fulfillment center generally holds items for short periods before shipping them out. They collaborate with retailers, eCommerce businesses, enterprises, and other organizations to fulfill B2B and B2C orders.

It’s Uses

It is the responsibility of an eCommerce fulfillment center to send items to customers who have recently placed an order as soon as possible. Unlike a warehouse, inventory at a fulfillment center will not stay for long. The main objective is to deliver the goods to the consumers who need them as quickly as possible. As a result, fulfillment centers use cutting-edge technology for eCommerce order fulfillment, managing inventory, fulfillment shipping, and other related activities. Fulfillment centers are excellent choices for businesses that lack the time or resources to store, pack, and transport orders.

Fulfillment Center Operations

A top eCommerce fulfillment company provide a variety of services, but in the order fulfillment process, they often use the following steps:
1. Receiving
2. Picking
3. Storing
4. Packing
5. Labeling
6. Shipping

ECOMMERCE FULFILLMENT CENTER VS. WAREHOUSING

If you own a small or medium-sized business or a retailer, you should consider your storage and transportation requirements before making this decision. If you find yourself spending a lot of time packaging and sending orders, it may be time to think about outsourcing your fulfillment process. Furthermore, depending on your facilities, you may be running out of storage space. Storage units may be a low-cost and effective alternative if you need additional room to keep your products. As your business expands and you want extra space, a warehouse may be a good investment. However, in today’s digital shopping environment, a fulfillment center has considerably more functionality and can perform numerous jobs in one place.

eCommerce fulfillment center can also function as warehouses; however, warehouses cannot function as fulfillment centers.

TO SUM IT UP

As an eCommerce business owner, it’s critical to manage your inventory correctly to make the most use of your budget while also pleasing your most precious resource: your customers. Even though the terms are interchangeable, eCommerce fulfillment center and warehouses serve entirely different functions. eCommerce warehousing companies merely store items for later use, whereas fulfillment centers hold products momentarily, pick and pack orders, and ensure they reach your customers promptly.

If you are a business owner considering outsourcing your fulfillment process, don’t hesitate to contact us to learn more about our services. Every organization must provide a product swiftly and efficiently. With Fulfillplex, you can be confident that your customers will have the best experience possible.