The Shopify Fulfillment Network is what it sounds like. Learn about the pros and cons of this service, as well as the requirements for merchants to qualify.
Shopify’s Chief Product Officer, Craig Miller, announced that the platform will expand into order fulfillment during the 2019 Shopify Unite event. According to Miller, fulfillment by Shopify addressed specific pain points that merchants experience when using large marketplaces, such as missed branding opportunities. Shopify’s move emphasizes the need for a streamlined order fulfillment process for businesses to remain competitive in the eCommerce retail sector.
Shoppers value speed of delivery when shopping online, yet 25% cancel their orders when it is too slow to meet their needs, according to Avarto. A further 54% of shoppers avoid online purchases due to the cost of shipping, while 83% cited free delivery as the most important aspect of online shopping. The platform’s merchants may find fulfillment by Shopify to be an appealing option for this reason. But not all merchants might be interested.
What is the Shopify Fulfillment Network?
Fulfillment by Shopify provides a network of fulfillment centers in different regions supported by powerful machine learning technology to enable intelligent demand forecasting, inventory allocation, and order routing, all of which facilitate faster order delivery. Shopify’s fulfillment service aims to achieve this through the following provisions:
- Packing products: With Shopify fulfillment, you get free custom packaging with your own branded material so that you can further enhance your brand identity.
- Order tracking and shipping: Your products will be picked, packed, and shipped to your customers by Shopify’s fulfillment network, with tracking information sent automatically after fulfillment.
- Inventory management: Shopify Fulfillment allows you to receive inventory notifications so that you are never out of stock and to keep an eye on your inventory levels across all Shopify channels in real-time.
- Inventory distribution: Shopify uses machine learning to recommend where to keep your inventory to save you time and reduce shipping costs.
- Returns and reorder processing: Returns and exchanges will be handled by Fulfillment by Shopify. Returnable, saleable items will be repackaged and added back to your active inventory.
What is the Process?
It’s good to know that the Shopify Fulfillment Network is pretty easy to use and doesn’t require you to be tech-savvy if you’re trying to figure out how to fulfill orders on Shopify. Following these four steps will help you get started with Shopify order fulfillment right away.
- Download and install Shopify Fulfillment Network
- You can choose the products to be fulfilled through Shopify Fulfillment
- Create a custom quote with a cost per shipment and a monthly storage cost that’s easy to understand
- Shopify’s fulfillment network will handle fulfilling the orders for your customers once you send the products
At this point, fulfillment by Shopify is currently only available to merchants based in the United States. The service may not be available in your country, in which case Easyship may be better able to manage your order fulfillment.
Shopify Fulfillment Costs How Much?
The Shopify Fulfillment Network offers fully customizable pricing. Merchants apply for membership on the Shopify website. The Shopify team contacts them to discuss their needs. Fulfillment costs at Shopify are determined by several factors, including:
- Storage
- Picking and packing
- Packaging
- Transport (costs associated with shipping orders to customers)
- Special projects (including receiving stock, bundling, and validating it)
You will receive one simple bill each month without any hidden extra charges, once your plan is added to your existing Shopify subscription.