Omnichannel order fulfillment Or (Omni Channel) is the order fulfillment across multiple channels. To put it simply, it is about order completion.  It does not matter where the order is being shipped from as long as it is completed at the lowest cost to the retailer.

Omnichannel Fulfillment is about having inventory available across all channels from one location. In one case it is the retailer’s website.

Omnichannel Order fulfillment Simplified

You are a retailer who received an online order from a customer for one of your products. If the product is available in your Distribution Center or 3PL Warehouse, it ships from there, if not, it could ship from one of your retails outlets or a partner.

It is about completing the order and creating a great customer experience. Which  Order Fulfillment strategy should be used when an order is received? The answer is: The most cost effective fulfillment process.

Types of Fulfillment Channels

1- Straight order in warehouse fulfillment

This means that the order will be shipped from the warehouse, DC or 3PL Company as it is received. If the product is not available at that location, order is not shipped even though it might be available at a retail outlet or a drop ship from the vendor.

2- Multi Channel Fulfillment

Inventory is available at different locations from warehouses to retail outlets and vendors however it lacks integration. Multichannel is identified by a non-integrated way to approach customers and inventory.

3-Omnichannel Fulfillment.

Similar to multichannel with a major difference, It requires coherent and absolute inventory integration.

Challenges to Ominchannel fulfillment

A resistant culture. The retailer has to learn new methods of fulfillment which is not always easy and some top managers might resist.

Where to start?

Adopting Omni Channel fulfillment is not easy. You first have to choose an Ominchannel fulfillment strategy that is easiest for people to embrace.

Omni Channel fulfillment is about cutting costs and faster completion of orders. Adopting Omnichannel fulfillment means that that should one fulfillment route fail, the operations can pivot to an alternative.

When your order is placed with a retailer, the order is filled immediately from either the DC, 3PL company, the vendor or a partner without you even having to worry where the order is coming from. That is what Omnichannel fulfillment is all about.

International 3Pl has been a major partner with many retailers adopting Omnichannel fulfillment. We are an integral part of the strategies adopted by many retailers.

Resources:

Contract Logistics Companies

Order Fulfillment Companies

3Pl Warehouses

What do logistics companies offer

Some might wonder what are logistics companies. Until this day the definition is not very well understood. In the beginning the term was used to describe the process of moving  goods from point A to Point B which in most cases involved shipping of goods from point of origin to destination by means of Ocean, air or inland or a combination.

The process involved picking up the cargo transporting to the port, shipping to destination, clearing customs and delivering to final destination.
Those were the old days. The process has evolved to include other activities such as compliance, distribution of the product and even handling some of the services such as customer services.
Many retailers and distributors started using these available sources to augment their own shipping department services in order to focus on their core activities, this gave rise to 3PL Companies.

Logistics is not what it was before, it is not only shipping, it is an integral part of the supply chain. Logistics providers add more and more services to their arsenal of services in order to be able to compete in a tough business. You can call it value added services.
Some Logistics companies have embraced technology where they are able to offer their customers the means to be able to track their shipments, monitor their inventory levels at the warehouse, and give total visibility as the movement of items minute by minute. In essence logistics companies have become  to many importers, distributors and retailers.

Over the years we have seen many large freight forwarding companies evolve into Third party logistics companies which compete for business aggressively. They are able to handle the needs of very large retailers and distributors however; they are still struggling in gaining the trust on smaller businesses. The cost of outsourcing logistics to such large companies is too high for smaller distributors and that gave rise to smaller 3pl’s who can offer better rates and a more personalized service.

The decision to go with one logistics company or another depends on need, services and rate.

Sources

http://www.pomnagement.net

http://www.budgetsource.com

http://www.ezshipping.net

Miami is the undisputed “Trade and Logistics Hub of the Americas” located at the epicenter of global trade in the strategic center of the Western Hemisphere. Miami Ocean Freight forwarders are here to help. Miami provides superior trade, Ocean Freight Services, Air Freight Services and logistics Solutions, to companies using Miami as a base of operations or as a transshipment point.

Miami ocean freight forwarders are numerous. The competition is so strong which drives the service fees down

Miami International Airport continues to be the #1 international freight airport in the United States and the 9th in the world. Port Miami is the 11th leading container port in the US. Major partners at Port-Miami include 16 shipping lines, FEC railway, on-dock facilities at the seaport. Nearly 90 airlines at MIA contribute to year-round, two-way cargo traffic linking the Americas with Asia, Europe, the Middle East and beyond. Both ports provide easy access to foreign trade zones and superior warehouses designed to meet your requirements.

Florida is projected to become the third most populous state in the U.S. with more than 19 million residents and 94 million visitors, providing new opportunities for global companies. More than 1,400 multinational corporations have offices in Miami to take advantage of the multi-lingual workforce who speak over 130 languages with extensive experience in the 47 countries of the Americas as well as Asia and Europe.

Miami’s international business community stands ready to assist you to increase your trade opportunities, meet new trade partners and connections, lower your costs and facilitate your entry into one of the world’s leading growth markets.

Port Miami has the most direct service to Latin America and the Caribbean making it the premier hub to the Americas. 16 top shipping lines sail to more than 85 ports – with regular service to Asia, Europe, Latin America and beyond.

Port Miami is the first port of call on the East Coast for cargo transiting the Panama Canal, making it the closest gateway to the US market, reducing time-to-market as well as transportation and shipping costs. At -50 feet, Port Miami’s depth will make it the only US port on the Eastern Seaboard south of Virginia that can accommodate super Post Panama vessels.

For a list of the best Miami ocean freight forwarders, you should search the yellow pages.

Miami has become a hub for Procurement Service Providers .

What Sets us apart from the competition? What makes us one of the Best Third Party Logistics Companies ?

We can support supply chain requirements throughout the product life cycle. From Manufacturing and product packaging through end-of-life services such as liquidation and recycling, We supply chain solutions that deliver the greatest return on investment for your products.

• Ocean Freight Services
• Import Freight Services
• Export Freight Services
• Packaging
  Product packaging and assembly combined with distribution operations.
• Warehousing and Distribution
• Transportation Logistics
• Reverse Logistics
  Management of the reverse flow of product, information and cash, including value-added services such as test, repair and refurbishment; product recall management; and recycling services
• Inventory Liquidation
• Damage Research
• Sustainability
  Sustainable practices, including recycling services and continuous improvement methodology, designed to provide visibility, be regulatory compliant, meet data security requirements and ensure the highest recovery value