online fulfilment Archives

Fulfil orders with Shopify Fulfilment Network: Selazar integration

Posted on May 10, 2022September 23, 2022 by selazar

Selling with Shopify is one of the best ways to sell your products and fulfil orders online today. However, all the work doesn’t stop as soon as the customers buy your products online – but where it begins! This is where the order fulfilment process starts and a whole lot of people work diligently to get your products to your customers quickly.

Learn below how the Shopify fulfilment network integrates with Selazar – and why you need to pay close attention to the 3PL provider you choose as your online fulfilment centre.

1) What is eCommerce fulfilment

2) Advantages of selling with Shopify

3) Types of eCommerce order fulfilment

4) How to integrate Shopify fulfilment with Selazar

5) How 3PL logistics streamline your order fulfilment

6) Shopify and Selazar fulfilment manage and scale your operations

What is eCommerce fulfilment?

Ecommerce fulfilment is the process of storing, picking, packing, and dispatching customer orders for your eCommerce store. We house your products, organise them, and deliver them quickly through our courier networks.

As a third-party logistics provider, we are a partner in your business. We automate the entire delivery side of your operations, so you do not have to. Because we have the warehouse space, the staff, and the experts in our field, we do fulfilment better while bringing down your costs.

Ecommerce fulfilment allows scalability and flexibility

Outsourcing your operations puts your business in the ultimate position for quicker scalability. One of the biggest reasons companies don’t grow is because they simply do not know how to leverage their money and resources. When you sit down and do the math – the cost of you hiring more people “in-house” and increasing warehouse space while paying utilities and mailing costs, insurance, etc. Adds up!

If you get clear on your business goals (and hopefully that means growing), it’s only logical to outsource fulfilment. Fulfilment services give you more freedom and allow you to focus more closely on other business priorities. You can focus on marketing, customer service, partnerships, or any other element really helps you scale.

To put it simply, you can sell more and work less!

Advantages of selling with Shopify

Because your website is the face of your eCommerce business it is critical to choose a company that offers the right platform for your sales channel. One of the most reputable companies in the space is Shopify – serving over 2 million daily active users.

With Shopify, you don’t need any technical skills. There are ready-made website templates that are easily editable, and their integration library contains numerous other platform tools for selling. It’s really your one-stop-shop for selling online.

Other advantages include:

Marketing tools
SEO tools
Flexible selling tools like coupons & various payment options
Outstanding landing pages for Google Ads or PPC social ads.
SSL certification and PCI to encrypt data for heightened security

Types of Ecommerce Order fulfilment

1. Self-fulfilment

Self-fulfilment is when eCommerce brands manage the entire fulfilment process from end to end. This is the obvious scenario for many growing and medium-sized businesses. Whether you have your own warehouse or work from a single location, this can cause unnecessary headaches. This means packaging orders and packing slips and filler and sending them off. This takes precious time away from your operations. Many Ebay and Etsy sellers do it this way and have to personally mail packages which takes lots of time. It’s not as efficient when you have multiple orders and must package items and run them to the mailbox. Delivery and dispatch speed is critical for eCommerce selling.

Remember that eCommerce order fulfilment includes:

1) Inventory storage

2) Order processing

3) Picking & Packing

4) Shipping

5) Reverse Logistics

Self-fulfilment is full of hidden costs that you may not be aware of. As orders increase, more storage is needed, and therefore eventually a bigger labour force. When seasonal peaks happen across sales channels and you’re not prepared, you set yourself up for order delays and significant refunds. 3PLs also negotiate the best prices on courier deals as well so you may not be getting the same discounts as third-party logistics providers.

2. Dropshipping

Ecommerce sellers for Shopify drop shipping UK businesses is an option where the manufacturer sends the products straight to the warehouse. This seems like the most appealing and convenient way – however, there is a risk of overlooking quality checks on products. Sending packages that are wrong and/or damaged is a quick way to lose customers – and revenue. Bad reviews will build up and before you know it, you’re underwater.

Also, if your manufacturer mislabelled anything in your stock your provider will not know what to do with it. It can sit in storage for prolonged periods, and you can lose more money and time. Caution needs to be observed with drop shipping operations. Inventory management is critical for eCommerce warehousing.

3. Third-Party Logistics

Whether you’re a medium level business or a large enterprise recognised eCommerce brand, Shopify shipping is also managed with third party logistics. 3PLs are responsible for your entire fulfilment process from end to end. A Shopify 3PL provides storage in a fulfilment centre along with necessary labour, materials, and technology. All your specifications in relation to orders will be customised to your business needs and requirements such as custom packaging. Parcels can be shipped quickly and the fulfilment process is handled with expertise. The Shopify fulfilment network offers this – with 3PL integration for Selazar.

How to integrate Shopify fulfilment with Selazar

There is a myriad of services and operations we offer around logistics and warehousing – making sure your packages are picked, packed, and delivered quickly. However, it doesn’t only stop with the physical operations. We offer digital services as well. We are what is known as a software with a service (SWAS). This is where our partnership with Shopify fulfilment comes into play.

For Shopify customers, we offer digital integration through the Shopify store, easily connecting your website in real-time. Selazar can be found within the Shopify shipping apps. With Shopify shipping apps, you have the option to integrate many services. Once you integrate with Selazar fulfilment, you are digitally set up to fulfil orders. However, the next step is to get physically set up. This means sending your stock to one of our warehouses for the inbound stock process (ISP).

When this is set up and you are a registered partner of Selazar, your custom-built inventory management portal gives you complete control. This is not offered by every 3PL provider. An in-house tech team delivers on key elements by providing our proprietary software so you can easily manage from anywhere, on any device. This is a complimentary service that is offered at no extra cost to you as well. The integration with Shopify fulfilment allows you to sell and manage inventory with ease.

Thanks to features like two-way stock sync, the warehouse is notified as soon as your customer purchases an order. So, as sales come into your Shopify store the Selazar portal automatically updates in the warehouse to fulfil right away. You can easily log in and see the progress of all your orders so that you are updated and aware of what is happening with your stock. You can see when the orders were picked, packed, and dispatched.

The benefit of “in-house” IP is that we allow the technology to deliver the best solutions for our clients in a practical user-friendly way. No more outdated spreadsheets and inadequate warehouse management systems.

No-fuss – Just simple, hassle-free inventory management.

Any deeper questions on the mechanics of integrating your Shopify store with Selazar simply go to our support article.

How 3PL logistics streamline your order fulfilment

Below are some ways that third-party logistics streamlines all the necessary requirements for your eCommerce fulfilment needs. From storage to your customers’ front door 3PL services make life for your business care-free.

Next–day delivery

Did you know that only 70% of consumers choose to purchase goods based on delivery options? With the rapid implementation of online retail (especially during Covid), consumers want faster delivery. Same day dispatch and next day delivery are becoming the industry standard. What is the best way to crush your competition? Offer quicker delivery. It’s a major customer touchpoint that will win you sales and retention. Our industry-leading dispatch times are longer than the industry standard. All orders made before 7 pm are guaranteed same day dispatch.

Pick & Pack precision

Tech-led solutions to picking and packing orders mean that the right product goes to the right box with the right delivery details. Automating this process decreases errors that are caused by antiquated warehouse mismanagement methods. Technology provides superior solutions that offer 99.9% accuracy.

Custom Packaging

For brand focused sellers, do you need custom packaging? This will also be provided for you, down to the final detail of your needs. You can work with a 3PL like Selazar to customise every detail of your boxing needs from custom boxes to fillers, and more. This isn’t offered by every logistics provider, like FBA.

Shopify and Selazar fulfilment manage and scale your operations

Technology allows anybody anywhere to get a business up and running fast. By leveraging the best software and physical services through the power of eCommerce automation – you can thrive. Shopify is optimized to be your online selling machine. By using Shopify with Selazar, you can easily manage your entire eCommerce business. With tech-first solutions from both Selazar & Shopify – this guarantees efficiency, order accuracy, and delivery speeds that will rival your competition. If you’d like to start outsourcing your eCommerce fulfilment with your Shopify store, set up a free, no-obligation discovery call today.

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Wellness Industry 2022: Pandemic boosts self-care product sales

Posted on January 11, 2022September 23, 2022 by selazar

After 2 years of the pandemic, physical and mental health have gained more traction as we face isolation and sickness. Overall, health has broadened and matters to more people globally as self-care has become a major priority. With more people experiencing mental health issues it’s no longer viewed as a somewhat fringe experience. Social distancing has facilitated the self-care psychosis even further.

More people in 2022 are reflecting and planning for a healthier, more vibrant year. From improving mental health to gut health and monitoring our stress levels, the wellness industry is primed for increased profitability in the new year. Whether nutrition or mindfulness or fitness, more eCommerce companies are preparing to grow their sales within this popular space.

1) Wellness industry outlook 2022

2) Wellness trends

3) Wellness product trends

4) Wellness industry customer targeting

5) Wellness industry conclusion 2022

The wellness economy

Wellness industry outlook 2022

Also known as “the wellness economy” the wellness industry definition refers to any products around physical and mental health. This includes products for fitness, nutrition, sleep & general well-being. If it improves our bodies or our minds in some way, it’s the wellness industry.

The steady growth of the wellness economy has now increased its global market value to approximately 4.4 trillion – with an annual growth rate of 5 to 10 percent in recent years. The U.S. has the biggest health and wellness market, valued at 52.5 billion, while China comes in second at 19.9 billion, and Australia 3^rd (9.5 billion). The UK is still at a whopping 9 billion and Germany at 6.4 billion.

A new study has shown the pandemic has enticed more Europeans to adopt new everyday healthy habits, with 65% of people more likely to consider their health in day-to-day decision making. This includes making decisions within various different wellness sectors. Over the last year, some sectors grew while others diminished.

Mental health products such as “sense spaces” and sleep grew 12.4% while meditation and mindfulness grew an astounding 25%. Healthy eating and nutrition for weight loss maintained positive growth at 3.6% while workplace wellness investments shrank 7%.

Wellness trends

In 2021 the Global Wellness Institute (GWI) released the much-anticipated wellness report. It’s known as “The Global Wellness Economy: Looking Beyond Covid.” This report reveals a snapshot of consumer behaviour and important trends that lead to greater public health.

To know the top wellness trends, we need to know the most popular wellness divisions. The six most popular include:

1) Health – Not only supplements and medicine but also includes medical devices and health trackers.

2) Fitness – At home exercise equipment and VR inspired technology.

3) Nutrition – Apps, diet programs, and subscription food services.

4) Appearance – Apparel and beauty products like skincare and collagen supplements.

5) Sleep – Medications, app-supported sleep trackers, and other sleep-enhancing products.

6) Mindfulness – Apps, meditation & yoga products.

Below is a spending report of the top countries for the wellness industry within the 6 primary categories shown above. As you can see health remains the most crucial aspect while appearance and fitness follow next.

It’s important to note values are always attached to spending habits. Various countries prioritize certain aspects of the wellness industry over others. For example, Germany emphasizes fitness more than the UK. The UK emphasizes nutrition more whereas the United States emphasizes mindfulness. It’s important to monitor your own market for the best customer targeting sales methods.

Wellness product trends

These trends will help shape the 2022 health and wellness market. They include wellness wearables, fitness VR, gut health, immunity and active lifestyle products.

Wellness wearables

Tracking our fitness and health levels are popular with wearable devices and will continue to grow its market share. Popular items like Fitbit and Apple Smartwatch allow you to monitor your heart rate, keep track of physical activity, and monitor your sleep patterns. New watches are even able to track your stress levels.

Smartwatches can now monitor your mental health by reading cortisol levels. Sensors like this are relatively new and will surely entice customers who appreciate self-care and measuring health levels. This trend is likely to rise in popularity and be adapted with numerous smartwatch carriers.

Fitness games/VR

With more and more consumers embracing physical fitness from home, they are seeking more fun ways to get healthy. Gaming techniques for people naturally increase someone’s desire to push themselves into fitness. Virtual reality fitness or VR fitness is using cutting edge immersive technology to create exercise environments from Boxing to Yoga and jogging. Popular VR carriers have been seeing large upticks in sales.

Gut health

What we eat matters and that means improving our gut health is now an everyday activity for many. In fact, there has been a recent 83% surge in Google searches for “gut health.” The research has shown that more people are eating less meat (34% of people in fact), inspiring a new term known as “reducetarian.“ This finding proposes that products manufactured with plant-based nutrition will see significant increases in 2022.

Immunity improvement

A survey of 16,000 adults found that they are focused on their immune system. They broadened their definition of wellness to include intellectual wellness, sexual wellness, facial exercises, animals and music. 65% confirmed they are doing more to actively improve their immune system such as through vitamins, botanicals, and making better food choices.

Having a better level of mental health will also boost your immune system, as confirmed by numerous health experts, including Dr Hannah Reidy of Mind HK. Vitamins and health supplements will continue to sell well along with any other product channels that associate with improving the brain-body immunity connection.

Active lifestyle

With a more health-conscious global market, the wellness economy will continue to grow and improve upon currently active lifestyle trends. From fashion to wireless headphones to apparel, it seems more and more consumers are joining the active lifestyle revolution than ever before in 2022.

“Our research shows the extent to which the pandemic has impacted attitudes towards personal wellbeing and self-care, and it’s encouraging to see the increased importance that many people are now placing on looking after their own and others’ health.”

-Filippo Lanzi, Regional Head, EMEA GSK Consumer Healthcare

Wellness industry customer targeting

Executives predict that consumers will seek more control and personalisation in wellness products and services in 2022. They value products that make their daily lives better with real-time data. From fitness trackers to healthier workplace-inspired products more customers want more overall wellness lifestyle options. They also like social channels that help influence their lives and largely trust brands that are active on social media. Social selling has become very popular within the last few years with influencers staggeringly garnering customer loyalty and retention.

Customers will associate their health and wellness lifestyle with brands they like and trust. Buying trusted brands is more important to people in all countries with 82% of respondents saying products must be scientifically proven.

Socially conscious

More customers embracing healthy and organic lifestyles facilitates more clean-living standards in other areas as well. This means the target audience for the wellness economy is interested in not only socially conscious products but socially conscious companies. While people are assessing the benefits of plant-based eating for human health their natural pull is also environmental, ignoring further dangerous chemicals and toxins. Dr Alsona Pulde says “in 2022 we’ll become more mindful of what we consume and its impact on the planet.”

“87% of consumers want brands to act now to encourage future sustainability.“

Food creates 20 – 30% of all global carbon emissions, with a large portion of that being animal food consumption. The transition to more plant-based foods can decrease greenhouse gas emissions by up to 70% by 2050. A diet known as the “climatarian” diet which focuses on plant-based foods can reduce the risk of diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, autoimmune diseases, and obesity. Though good pricing will always matter to consumers, more people are keen to natural sustainability in 2022 and are making significant changes to their lives, and shopping behaviours. They will seek brands that are more natural and globally conscious.

A study from North America, Asia, Europe, and the United Kingdom also confirmed that customers want Eco-friendly packaging. More than 80% of participants felt that “it was important or extremely important for companies to design environmentally conscious products.” Knowing this matters when you work with a 3pl like Selazar that uses eco-friendly packaging.

Wellness industry conclusion 2022

The health and wellness industry is looking promising in 2022 as more customers embrace self-care retail. Due to the pandemic, more eCommerce retailers can expect strong sales as more shoppers have increased trust in shopping online. UK’s top 100 retailers said, on average, their online traffic increased 52% during the pandemic. It’s the golden age of shopping from home today. It’s important that companies are digitally focused. The use of smartphones alone for online shopping has more than doubled since 2018.

So, embrace new channels to reach your target audiences, relay a lifestyle-focused brand as well as a socially conscious one, and be aware of the latest trends for what your customers are seeking in 2022. Lastly, also remember that next day delivery matters. Working with a reputable logistics company that allows you to control your own branding and offers swift final mile delivery matters for customer happiness and repeat sales. Happy selling.