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As an online bookseller, you have a lot of moving parts. You need to find new ways to stand out from the crowd and keep your customers happy, while also remaining competitive with physical stores and other online sellers. Many companies rely heavily on their fulfillment services to get the job done operationally. As e-commerce takes over the world of retail, the fulfillment of books is an important part of your customer's purchase experience - and it's one that requires a lot of attention if you want high-quality results.
Selling Books Online: The E-commerce Market for Print Books is on the Rise
While many might think the printed book market is declining due to other forms of books like ebooks or other means of entertainment like Netflix, in reality, selling books online seems to get even more attractive. While book sales took a tip between 2010 - 2015 they’ve been coming back stronger and stronger. Only in the U.S 825 million print books were sold in 2021. And yes, in 2022, print books still dominate the book landscape. By the way, book sales are peaking towards the end of the year providing additional operational challenges during the holiday season for many merchants.
E-commerce is Driving the Need for Better and Faster Book Fulfillment Solutions
With book orders coming in from all over the world, it can be difficult to manage inventory and keep up with demand. Book fulfillment is a complex process with multiple steps:
- Creating demand and receiving orders from customers
- Checking order details and shipping information
- Fulfilling orders by picking and packing items into boxes according to specifications set out by the retailer or distributor
- Labeling each box with delivery information including recipient name/address and shipment tracking number
- Tracking products via serial numbers or barcodes tagged onto each item before packaging them into boxes
The Key to Successful Book Fulfillment is Finding a 3PL that Can Customize Your Process around Your Needs
3PLs should be able to provide you with the equipment and services you need, and they should also offer space and labor.
The best 3PLs for book fulfillment will also have an excellent reputation in the industry. The last thing you want is to work with a company that has a history of late deliveries or damaged shipments.
To find the best 3PLs for book fulfillment, start by doing some research, spending some time on that will pay off later. You can search the web for companies that offer these services, or you can ask your publisher if they have any recommendations. Once you’ve narrowed down your list of potential service providers, it's important to talk to one of their salespeople. Get a feeling of how much they care for your individual case and how much they are willing to get a customized solution for you.
It’s also important to get a sense of the company's culture and its employees. You want to work with a 3PL that has an excellent reputation within the industry, but you also want people who can provide you with great service and attention.
A Professional Fulfillment Company
In the book fulfillment industry, knowing where your inventory is and how much stock you have is of great importance. Tracking inventory is a key part of book fulfillment, and 3PLs have the experience to manage inventory effectively.
A professional fulfillment company will also help you get the most out of your inventory with distribution centers strategically located near major markets. They’ll help you make smart decisions based on today's market demands and tomorrow's trends.
By working with a 3PL, you can streamline your inventory management process. They’ll help you manage stock levels and order fulfillment so that you can focus on other aspects of running your business.
A good 3PL will also help you to keep a bird-eye overview of the most important operational metrics. By choosing a company that has experience managing book inventory and distribution, you can rest assured that your books will be on time, every time.
Conclusion
The e-commerce industry is growing fast and so are the demands for buying books online. As more people buy books online, the need for a professional fulfillment company is going to increase as well. The key to successful book fulfillment of high volumes is finding a 3PL provider who understands your specific needs and has experience working with similar industries that face similar challenges in terms of inventory management or order processing timeframes.
At byrd, this is exactly what we do. We operate a strong European fulfillment network with fulfillment centers in the UK, and the EU. Request a non-binding quote and talk to one of our experts on the matter to explore how we can help you outsource and optimize your logistics.