Our Fulfilment Centres
We operate a number of fulfilment centres across Suffolk and Essex and with easy access to major transport networks we serve Europe and the US.
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Our network of fulfilment centres spans across the East of England with fulfilment centres in:
Our fulfilment centres are strategically placed by major transport networks across the UK, including major road networks such as the A12 towards London and the A14 towards the midlands. We’re also close to the major container ports of Felixstowe, London Gateway and Harwich as well as Stansted Airport and other London airports.
Our fulfilment centres have a combined capacity of 120,000 sq ft and we grow with our clients, so as your storage or pick and pack volumes increase we grow our warehousing space as well as our pick and pack teams.
In the ever-evolving landscape of modern commerce, a fulfilment centre stands as a pivotal cog in the intricate machinery of efficient order fulfilment. But what exactly is a fulfilment centre, and why is it a cornerstone of successful eCommerce businesses today?
At its core, a fulfilment centre is a specialised facility meticulously designed to streamline and optimise the logistics and supply chain operations. A fulfilment centre receives your stock, stores it in the fulfilment centre and then as orders come in from your webshop we pick, pack and ship the order to your customer.
This process involves several crucial functions, such as inventory management, order processing, packaging, and shipping.
The true beauty of a fulfilment centre lies in its capacity to facilitate a seamless and cost-effective order fulfilment process. By entrusting this critical aspect of your business to a dedicated fulfilment centre, you can unburden your team from the complexities of warehousing and logistics, allowing you to focus on core competencies like product development, marketing, and customer engagement.
In essence, a fulfilment centre acts as your logistical backbone, ensuring that customer orders are accurately picked, efficiently packed, and promptly dispatched, all while maintaining optimal inventory levels. This efficiency translates into reduced operational costs, faster delivery times, and, most importantly, enhanced customer satisfaction. Whether you’re a burgeoning eCommerce startup or an established enterprise, partnering with a reputable fulfilment centre can be a game-changer, helping you scale your business while delivering a superior shopping experience to your valued customers.
Warehousing and fulfilment centres are both integral parts of supply chain management, yet they serve distinct functions and operate based on different premises. Here’s a detailed look at how they differ:
The primary function of a warehouse is to store large quantities of goods for an extended period. These can range from raw materials waiting to be used in production to finished products awaiting purchase orders. Warehouses might not handle the products often, except for when inventory is added or removed. The frequency of these transactions is relatively low.
Fulfilment centres are designed to ensure a speedy process of receiving, packaging, and shipping orders to end consumers. They manage the complete ‘order fulfilment’ process. These centres deal with higher volumes of product handling and shipping on a daily basis, especially in businesses with an extensive online presence. Their operations are aligned with eCommerce functionality, handling individual picking, packing, and shipping of orders.
Warehouses generally involve standard procedures of receiving, storing, and occasionally dispatching goods in bulk, usually involving B2B (business-to-business) transactions. Their operations are not typically equipped for handling individual or small orders or for shipping directly to consumers.
Fulfilment centres are adapted to accommodate B2C (business-to-consumer) operations, dealing with individual orders. They involve processes like picking (selecting items needed for each order), packaging, and shipping to individual customers. Fulfilment centres often handle returns processing, which is integral to eCommerce operations.
While modern warehouses do use technology for inventory management, the level of technological integration is generally limited compared to fulfilment centres. They use systems primarily designed for tracking inventory levels, locations, and batch control, focusing on long-term storage efficiency and safety.
Fulfilment centres are often characterised by a high degree of technological sophistication, utilising advanced software for inventory management, automated picking processes, tracking packages, handling returns, and providing customer service. They are integrated with eCommerce platforms, ensuring real-time visibility of orders and inventory for online retailers and customers.
Products are generally stored for longer periods in warehouses, ranging from several weeks to months or even years, depending on the nature of the inventory and market demands.
Whereas in fulfilment centres goods are stored for shorter periods as the purpose is to move items quickly to the end consumers. The inventory turnover rate is higher, ensuring that products do not remain in the facility for an extended time.
While both warehousing and fulfilment centres are essential for inventory management, they cater to different business needs. Warehousing is more about storage, and fulfilment centres are about quick processing and delivery, playing a significant role in the customer experience. As eCommerce continues to grow, the role of fulfilment centres becomes increasingly crucial, driving innovations in logistics, technology integration, and supply chain management.
By leveraging the services of fulfilment centres, DTC eCommerce businesses can operate more efficiently, save money, and improve customer satisfaction. However, it’s essential for businesses to choose the right fulfilment partner, one that aligns with their operational needs, integrates smoothly with their eCommerce platforms, and maintains a consistent brand experience for their customers.
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