The college tour is a rite of passage for every parent. About five years ago, my daughter, Morgan, and I took some long treks from Chicago to visit her dream universities in New York, California, and Florida—all coincidentally located far from home.
As we walked around some amazing campuses, met current students and peeked into dorm rooms—Morgan’s soon-to-be home away from home—our discovery process reminded me of a really important corporate rite of passage for many: finding the right fulfillment home.
Just like finding the right college, finding the right fit in fulfillment means asking the right questions:
#1. Does this place have the “majors” I need?
If you’re interested in engineering, it wouldn’t make much sense to attend a liberal arts college. Likewise, you want to ensure the fulfillment vendor you choose offers relevant capabilities. These may includeyour marketing collateral inventory management, secure storage, lead or pick-and-pack fulfillment, custom kitting or digital print-on-demand.
#2. Is it the right size?
Other than customer service issues, size and scalability are key factors in a company’s move to a new fulfillment prtner. Once upon a time, you may have only needed elementary services. But today, you’re operating on a collegiate level. Your fulfillment has become complex and personalized, your industry has many new regulations that you must follow, and your labor or storage needs are exceeding your existing provider’s capacity.
As you survey potential partners, make sure they can fulfill your needs today and scale to fulfill the needs of your growing company tomorrow.
#3: Is it safe?
As a parent, you want to know that if your child is thousands of miles away, he or she is living somewhere safe and secure. Ditto with your precious marketing collateral. Your chosen partner should not only be reputable but also fluent in federal, state and industry regulations, and able to offer ongoing proactive guidance. You should also be secure in knowing that your data and proprietary materials are accurately and safely stored.
Ultimately, finding the right fulfillment partner comes down to where you feel you can be most at home. Morgan, for example, ended up deciding to attend a university only an hour and a half away—and loved it.
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