How to find the best cross-border fulfillment alternative to Amazon FBA

1. Available ecommerce integrations

One of the main advantages of Amazon FBA is that the order fulfillment process is completely automated, which means that you, as a retailer. Do not have to take care of fulfillment at all. It renders it hassle-free and gives you the resources to focus on your core competencies.

Luckily, nowadays, modern 3PL providers offer a wide range of APIs to various ecommerce platforms. That enables you to integrate and automate your order fulfillment process as well fully. It will also empower you to get real-time insights into the order fulfillment process and the inventory levels, retaining full control of your logistics while outsourcing it.

However, depending on which channels you are selling your products, you should choose the fulfillment provider wisely. Also, it is worth mentioning that Channelengine can help you to implement a multi-channel sales approach successfully.

2. Cross-border warehousing option

One of the main advantages of Amazon FBA is that it provides a network of warehouses across multiple countries. It gives you the possibility to distribute your inventory across several fulfillment locations to store your products in proximity to your customers. Suppose you have a strong international ecommerce presence and sell to your customers in various markets. In that case, you should look for a fulfillment provider that offers multiple fulfillment locations - at least in your strongest markets with high demand and considerable growth potential.

You definitely want to avoid working with multiple fulfillment providers at once in various countries because this will create more work as complexity increases and will prevent you from getting centralized reports to optimize your fulfillment.

3. Customizable packaging solutions

One of the main reasons why retailers decide not to choose Amazon FBA as their fulfillment solution is the lack of flexibility in the fulfillment process. When you decide to outsource your pick, pack, and shipping processes to Amazon, you have to be aware of the fact that you lose full control over it. It is especially relevant when you’re running a D2C brand where your brand is one of your most important assets. Creating a memorable, unboxing experience helps ecommerce brands to increase their reach through social media shares.

Additionally, it improves customer lifetime-value (LTV) through increased retention. To achieve that, you need to find a fulfillment provider who provides customizable and sustainable packaging options for your orders. It will enable you to differentiate your ecommerce brand from your competitors. One possible solution is to provide the warehouse with your own branded packaging material. So when doing your fulfillment partner research, make sure to clarify to which extent you can customize the pick and pack process and communicate your expectations.

4. Flexible shipping options

Depending on the country you are shipping from with Amazon FBA, Amazon will use its own delivery network or one of its partner-carriers. Since Amazon is responsible for a considerable share of the total shipping volume for carriers, they have strong leverage when talking to shipping service providers.

Most 3PL providers don’t have the same leverage and, in many cases, only have contracts with one single carrier. This dependency can be problematic for online retailers and the fulfillment partner, as the coronavirus outbreak has shown. In times of crisis or peak seasons, logistics companies face bottlenecks, leading to technical timeouts or operational difficulties. It, in turn, prevents you from delivering the products to your customers. Therefore, you should look for a fulfillment partner who works with several shipping service providers to reduce the risk of operational timeouts. Besides, this will give you the possibility to offer multiple delivery options, which will positively impact your conversion rate.

5. Returns management process

Returns are, without any doubt, an essential part of ecommerce and play an important role in the decision-making process of consumers. In fact, according to a study conducted by Klarna, 82% of consumers consider returns as a regular part of contemporary shopping. Also, 54% of consumers state that free returns would increase their likelihood of purchasing again from the same store.

It clearly shows that offering free returns to online shoppers contributes to increased trust levels and encourages purchases in your online store. Therefore, a hassle-free return-management process is critical for your ecommerce business. As a result, when looking for an alternative to Amazon FBA, you should make sure to choose a fulfillment provider that facilitates a smooth and automated returns process. It can be achieved via the usage of a returns portal, which will help you increase customer satisfaction, improve retention, and get better insights on why people return products to reduce your return rate.