E-Commerce Fulfillment
Your One-stop Shipping & Fulfillment Solution
At SFI, we support your brand in all aspects of U.S., Canadian, or cross-border Section 321 E-Commerce fulfillment. Our comprehensive and best-in-class standards ensure your customers receive their packages in a timely manner every time.
Focus on what drives your company forward while we manage all aspects of your company’s North American E-Commerce fulfillment. Reduce the weight of warehousing, order details, returns issues, and shipment tracking… with SFI, we’ve got you covered.
How It Works
SFI manages inbound shipping from overseas and North American vendors.
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We take care of all customs clearance procedures, ensuring a smooth entry of your products into the U.S. and Canada.
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Our systems can integrate with your sales channel seamlessly and for free (including Shopify, Amazon, eBay, Quickbooks, Sage). Once complete, orders automatically flow into our warehouse systems.
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Orders are fulfilled and shipped from our pick and pack warehouse. We use your branded packing lists, labels, and customer email notifications. Shipments move via discounted small parcel courier or based on LTL shipping rates.
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Post-shipment, SFI automatically updates your sales channel (Shopify, Amazon, eBay, Quickbooks, Sage) with the tracking number and associated costs, rounding out your E-commerce fulfillment.
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Our capabilities also include rebalancing your inventory between U.S. and Canadian locations. These services are on an as-needed basis, done with our own fleet of trucks and via our customs brokerage services.
Medical Device Establishment License ( MDEL )
SFI maintains an MDEL (Medical Device Establishment License), which allows us to store and ship nutraceutical, cosmetic, pharmaceutical, and certain classes of medical devices.
Benefits of Using SFI
At SFI, we offer a comprehensive, integrated approach to shipping and fulfillment needs. Our approach simplifies and streamlines various logistics, warehousing, and transportation processes, offering tangible benefits:
- Optimized efficiency
- Minimized errors
- Enhanced customer satisfaction
Advanced Technology and Automation
E-commerce fulfillment has become a significant cornerstone for brands across the globe. To help you achieve your goals and get your products into the hands of your customers, we leverage cutting-edge technology and automation tools within our shipping and fulfillment processes. Our systems employ:
- AI-driven algorithms
- RFID tracking
- Automated order processing
- Inventory management software
These technologies significantly boost efficiency by expediting order fulfillment, reducing picking errors, and enabling real-time tracking. This automation ensures accuracy, speeds up operations, and ultimately improves the customer experience.
Customized Solutions
One of our key strengths lies in our ability to provide tailored solutions that meet the diverse needs of our clients. Whether it's specific delivery schedules, unique handling requirements, or navigating Section 321 imports, we craft personalized strategies for each business. We've successfully assisted numerous clients in optimizing their supply chains by tailoring inventory management and fulfillment strategies to align with their specific industry demands.
Global Shipping and International Expansion
SFI facilitates businesses in their global expansion by offering seamless international shipping solutions that are considerate of international duties and tariffs. Our extensive network and expertise in cross-border logistics ensure:
- Smooth customs clearance
- Compliance with international regulations
- Efficient transportation
We assist companies in navigating the complexities of global shipping, enabling them to reach new markets and customers worldwide.
Duties and Tariffs
De minimis fulfillment and Section 321 regulations play pivotal roles in international trade.
- De minimis signifies the threshold value of goods below which imported items are exempt from customs duties and taxes.
- Section 321 refers to shipments valued at $800 or less, permitting duty-free entry.
These regulations streamline cross-border E-commerce by expediting clearance for low-value imports, benefiting consumers and businesses alike. At SFI, we demonstrate high-level knowledge of such legislation and can help our clients with the exemption of certain shipments from taxes and formal procedures. We foster cost-effective shipping and facilitate smoother processes for smaller-value international shipments.
Transparent Pricing and Cost Savings
Transparency is fundamental to our pricing model. We offer clear pricing structures that help clients accurately budget their shipping and fulfillment expenses.
- Competitive Pricing: Owning our own trucks and having partnerships allows SFI to negotiate better rates for clients due to more control over costs.
- Reduced Overheads: By strategically utilizing our fleet and partnering with external companies as needed, SFI can optimize costs. We pass these savings on to clients.
- Adaptability and Efficiency: This dual approach ensures adaptability and operational efficiency. We can adjust our transportation strategy based on fluctuating market conditions, ensuring competitive pricing while maintaining service quality.
Through our optimized processes and strategic partnerships, we deliver cost-saving solutions.
Security and Compliance
SFI places utmost importance on security measures to safeguard our clients' data and products. We adhere to industry-leading security protocols, including:
- Robust encryption
- Secure facilities
- Strict access controls
Additionally, our specialists ensure our operations meet the highest regulatory requirements, providing clients with peace of mind when it comes to their E-commerce fulfillment.
Trust SFI with Your Online Brand’s Fulfillment
Unlock seamless cross-border and international shipping for your business with our E-commerce fulfillment services. To learn more about how we can support your business with cost-effective logistics solutions, reach out to us!
Frequently Asked Questions
In order to select the right E-commerce fulfillment provider, it’s important to research potential options based on their capabilities, including order accuracy, shipping speed, and customer service.
At SFI, we have experience with various product types and markets, and our team works with yours to determine a customized and scalable solution. We can also help manage order fulfillment from Canada to the U.S. via Section 321 Customs Clearances, which allow for individual shipments under $800 USD to move from Canada to the U.S. duty and tax-free. This presents a strategic opportunity for E-commerce brands seeking cost-effective and efficient cross-border operations.
Thanks to our proven reliability and high levels of customer satisfaction, we are a leading choice for both new and established E-commerce brands.
There are three different types of E-commerce fulfillment services. The option you choose will depend on your brand’s capacity and capabilities:
- In-house Fulfillment:The brand manages all logistics aspects internally. Upon receiving a customer's order, the business initiates the process of selecting, packaging, and transporting the shipment, ensuring its final-mile delivery. While this method offers maximum control over the fulfillment process, it can be labour-intensive and expensive due to high operational costs.
- Dropshipping: In this model, when a brand receives an order, it is forwarded to its manufacturer for fulfillment. This method minimizes the brand's control over fulfillment, which can impact branding and sometimes result in quality issues with deliveries.
- Third-party Fulfillment: Collaborating with a third-party provider like SFI offers expert logistics support, encompassing all facets of fulfillment requirements. Our comprehensive E-commerce fulfillment services are customized to fit your brand, covering everything from customs clearance and quality control checks to the final delivery. This option simplifies the fulfillment process, allowing brands to focus on growth and product development.
With SFI as your E-commerce fulfillment provider, you can track various inventory and order fulfillment aspects. Our client portal provides real-time inventory and order management updates, giving you a comprehensive view of your products and shipments. Our warehouses use UPC Barcode Scanning to verify stock, ensuring precise picking and reducing potential errors.
In E-commerce fulfillment, a warehouse serves as the critical storage and processing center for products. When you work with SFI, we help with your shipments before, during, and after their stay in our warehouses.
- As U.S. and Canadian customs brokers, we can leverage our expertise to help your products clear customs via international air or ocean shipments and arrange delivery to our warehouses. We also store products from domestic suppliers or overseas companies in our warehouses, which are located in both Canada and the U.S.
- Once the products arrive, they are properly sorted and barcoded, if necessary, with information input into our Warehouse Management System (WMS). Items are then stored according to their relevant specifications.
- When a customer orders from your brand, we use automated processing to ensure products are picked and packed, providing real-time updates and preparing them for transportation and delivery.
- Finally, we determine the most cost-effective and efficient shipping method for your goods. Depending on the requirements, we dispatch them via small parcel courier, truck, or less-than-truckload (LTL) shipments.
The best way to optimize your E-commerce fulfillment process is to work with a third-party provider.
Brands may run into a few issues regarding E-commerce fulfillment. Specific challenges may differ based on the type of fulfillment chosen or provider, but the main points include:
- Inventory Management: Maintaining accurate inventory levels across multiple sales channels can be challenging, leading to issues such as overselling, stockouts, and backorders.
- Order Processing Efficiency: Efficiently processing a high volume of orders while ensuring accuracy and timeliness requires streamlined workflows and effective order management systems.
- Shipping and Logistics: Managing shipping costs, optimizing delivery times, and handling returns efficiently are crucial aspects of E-commerce fulfillment that can pose significant challenges.
At SFI, we prioritize customer service and work with you to mitigate any potential challenges before they arise. Our processes are up-to-date with the latest technology and backed by our years of experience in the logistics and fulfillment industry.
Shipping costs will vary depending on your products, order volume, and duties and tariffs.
At SFI, our team takes the time to get to know your brand, including product details and average order volumes, to provide you with a quote related to potential shipping costs. We can also lend a hand with duties and tariffs due to our deep knowledge of legislation related to de minimis fulfillment and Section 321 imports. For specific information related to shipping costs, please reach out to us.
At SFI, we leverage technology to integrate within your sales channel, like Shopify or Netsuite, to ensure seamless order processing. We also use state-of-the-art WMS technology and UPC barcode scanners, reducing potential pick and pack errors.
It is important to select an E-commerce fulfillment partner that can help handle returns for your brand. On your website, state your return policy clearly. If a customer needs to return an item, we make the process easy on your end. Once the product is received with a return label at our warehouse, we inspect it promptly and process an exchange or send confirmation details to your brand for a refund.
If your brand is expanding into international markets, SFI can help. We consider all aspects of global shipping, including:
- International Regulations: Our knowledgeable team is well-versed in the diverse regulations and customs requirements across different countries. This expertise is critical in preventing shipment delays, avoiding fines, and ensuring that your products are not seized by customs.
- Tariffs and Duties: We calculate applicable tariffs, taxes, and duties to brands upfront, preventing unexpected costs and ensuring smooth customs clearance.
- Transportation: Count on us to evaluate various shipping carriers, services, and fulfillment centers to find the most cost-effective and efficient options for international shipment.
We rely on our Warehouse Management System (WMS) and barcode tracking to help the brands we work with ensure accurate inventory management. Our WMS software provides real-time updates in terms of stock and inventory. We recommend synchronizing your inventory across sales channels alongside our technology to prevent stockouts and overselling.