Fulfilment

Too many businesses incur significant and unnecessary costs in their fulfilment process. Part of the cause of these increased costs is the fulfilment of products from the wrong locations, often too far away from the end customer. End customers, be it businesses or consumers, are increasingly time sensitive, and will often be willing to pay more for a product or for a premium delivery service, in order to get the goods faster. Not only does more distant fulfilment mean longer delivery times, but also increased transport costs, and increased costs when goods are returned. However, this does need to be balanced with increased costs of more warehouse facilities, and returned stock in multiple locations that need a highlighy controlled system to control. Fulfilment, as much as all of the other elements of international trade, has become highly sophisticated, and forms yet another key part of the supply-chain puzzle.