Year after year, businesses across industries strive to be more customer-focused by aligning their product lines and services with customer requirements. The growing customer-centricity has increased the popularity of print on demand businesses. The global proliferation of print on demand services has enabled businesses to jump on board and automate their services. Because more customers expect same-day shipping and delivery, online retailers are willing to invest in logistics operations to meet these expectations.
WHAT IS PRINT ON DEMAND LOGISTICS?
Print on demand logistics is more than just a buzzword in the industry. It refers to a modern logistics strategy that allows online retailers to expand their customer reach geographically and fulfill orders as soon as they are placed. Furthermore, print on demand logistics can often support multichannel retailing by streamlining and automating the fulfillment process for orders received through multiple sales channels. As a result, print on demand logistics necessitates a strong distribution network, adaptable fulfillment solutions, and cutting-edge technology and automation tools to ensure speed and accuracy.
THE IMPACT OF PRINT ON DEMAND LOGISTICS FOR FLEXIBLE FULFILLMENT
1. Faster Shipping Times
Although Amazon Prime was the first to popularize it, nearly every online shopper now expects a 2-day delivery option on all ecommerce sites. 36% of online customers will abandon their cart if the expected shipping date is unmet. Offering fast shipping options, such as 2-day shipping, can be difficult because you must ensure that your shipping methods do not reduce your profit margins. However, by distributing inventory based on demand, you can offer more or all of your customers affordable 2-day ground shipping. You can ship from the closest location to each customer, reducing the average shipping zone.
2.Reduced Fulfillment Costs
Print on demand logistics may appear nearly impossible to achieve in an extremely competitive retail environment when most of your time and logistics budget are spent on other aspects of your business. The financial investment and the time spent on logistics must be considered to reduce fulfillment costs. Collaboration with a print on demand fulfillment company is an excellent solution. A 3PL partner can help your company save money and time, allowing you to focus on product development, marketing, and business growth. With a print on demand partner, you can meet customer expectations while keeping fulfillment costs low.
3. Meet Customer Demands
Print on demand logistics employs technology that enables merchants to expand their operations and gain real-time access to aggregated logistics data. It gives merchants insights that allow them to make better decisions about product allocation and when to replenish stock to meet demand. You can make better decisions about meeting consumer demand and expectations if you have access to advanced data and analytics.
You can also provide order tracking to customers automatically. Another critical aspect of print on demand logistics is inventory forecasting. By forecasting demand using historical data, you can ensure you always have enough inventory available and stored, set automatic reorder points, and even calculate how much safety stock to keep on hand.
4. Print on Demand Warehousing
With more online brands expanding globally, there is an urgent need for more warehousing and storage space. Print on demand warehouses is becoming increasingly popular due to the ability to gain access to space while only paying for the space required to store your ecommerce inventory. However, the goal is to meet customer expectations, which means your fulfillment strategy must be dependable and accurate, and you cannot rely solely on geographic location.
However, print on demand warehousing is primarily a short-term solution that cannot guarantee a consistent experience, resulting in increased ecommerce fulfillment errors. When your own on-the-ground staff does not manage the warehouse, it is difficult to resolve issues quickly, resulting in poor customer service.
5. Manage Demand Fluctuations
Because the ecommerce landscape is constantly changing, it is critical to collaborate with a print on demand service provider offering print on demand logistics solutions and room for expansion. The right print on demand fulfillment company should always be implementing improvements with the latest technology and supply chain best practices and expanding their distribution network continuously.
A tech-enabled 3PL can give you visibility into your supply chain, allowing you to track changes in customer demand and plan your logistics accordingly. For example, they not only fulfill orders but also simplify integrating your store with ecommerce order fulfillment software. You can use historical data to predict the future, allocate inventory to the right locations, and reorder just enough inventory to optimize storage and meet demand if you have insights into demand.
REACHING GREATER HEIGHTS WITH ASSISTANCE
An obvious benefit is the ability of a top ecommerce fulfillment company with a strong reputation, such as Fulfillplex, to develop an engagement plan based on your unique business model and goals. Another advantage of working with an experienced fulfillment company is learning about emerging inventory management platforms. Expert print on demand logistics providers streamlines their systems by investing in tools like cloud-based proprietary systems. Real-time fulfillment and information transfer eliminate common hiccups while increasing supply chain efficiencies.
Do you want to expand your business beyond its limits and reach the next base camp? Companies needing logistics assistance can rely on print on demand companies in the same way climbers rely on local guides to improve their chances of reaching the summit. Working together, you can chart a path that meets both parties’ expectations while paving the way for fruitful outcomes.
Are you interested in how your company can stay ahead of technological advances in the shipping industry? Contact us today.