If you work in the fast-paced world of e-commerce and direct-to-consumer (DTC) business, you rarely have a moment to breathe, let alone think. It can feel like you are constantly ping-ponging from one problem to the next. So the idea of taking the time to travel and visit your 3PL fulfillment partner is rarely, if ever, an option.
But I am here to tell you, you need to make the time.
In the above video, I share some of the myriad reasons to visit a Stord fulfillment center. But regardless of if you are a Stord customer or not, taking the time to step onto your current/prospective warehouse floor can provide invaluable insights and build stronger partnerships that drive real growth and efficiency for your business.
Building Relationship-ments
A successful partnership goes beyond contractual agreements and KPIs; it’s built on mutual understanding and trust. By visiting your fulfillment partner, you get a chance to see firsthand how their operations align with your brand’s values and culture. Face-to-face interactions foster a sense of camaraderie and collaboration that virtual meetings often cannot replicate.
Meeting the fulfillment teams who handle your products daily can give you a profound appreciation for their expertise. These teams offer insights into the quirks and nuances of your products—how best to package them to optimize space, density, and prevent shipping damages. This information can be invaluable when communicating with your manufacturers and improving your overall product handling process.
Fulfilling Sense of Ownership
Connecting with the teams at your fulfillment center helps build a sense of ownership and community. By sharing the stories behind the products they handle can make the work more meaningful to the fulfillment team. This connection not only boosts morale but also ensures that everyone is aligned with your brand's mission and vision.
A site visit provides an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the achievements of you and your fulfillment partner. These moments of celebration strengthen the partnership and motivate everyone involved to strive for even greater success.
Collaboration and Problem Solving
One of the significant advantages of an on-site visit is the ability to collaborate in real-time and address any issues that arise. If you are facing a challenge, chances are the fulfillment team has seen similar issues before. They can offer solutions based on past experiences or even connect you with other clients who have successfully navigated similar challenges.
Visiting your current/potential fulfillment partner is more than just a tour; it’s a moment to align on what will drive your growth. This visit is an opportunity to discuss the past, present and future goals - does your fulfillment partner recommend new automations like a print-and-apply (PandA) or autobaggers for optimization? Do you plan on any new marketplaces or launches that require new integrations to your WMS or OMS? But perhaps the biggest benefit is the intangible - do you trust this team to deliver for you today and into the future? The only way to truly know is to take the time and visit your fulfillment partner in person.
Transcript: Why You Should Visit Stord
What to expect from a Stord site visit.
Me! Smiling faces just like me. Your customer experience team. Your fulfillment operations team. Your product, in real time, moving through our print-applies or through our autobaggers getting the gentlest high-five, a custom rate shopped parcel shipping label could ever dream of.
And that's just the fulfillment tour.
Let's talk past, present, and future.
What went great?
What could use some TLC?
And what do we need to prepare for in the future?
Let's use those Stord One Commerce metrics to tell a story.
Guide us to new ideas or prepare for your next product launch or geography jump.
Where do you see your supply chain going in 6 and 18 months?
What does Stord need to know to be one step ahead of you and your growth?
What will we have learned shipping and storing your product that you might not be aware of?
Let's talk about it, plan for it, execute it and achieve it all together at an on site.
So what are you waiting for?
Atlanta, North Haven, Reno, Las Vegas, Dallas, Nashville, Salt Lake City, Washington, Vancouver and Toronto are gorgeous this time of year. Come on down to a Stord site.
