Growing online sales bring new logistical challenges for businesses. Mail Boxes Etc. is seeing how warehousing, order preparation and operational flexibility are becoming increasingly important for sustainable ecommerce growth.
Receiving more orders is good news for any ecommerce business. However, as sales grow, so do the demands placed on logistics operations. What initially could be managed with a small warehouse and in-house resources can eventually become a barrier to further growth.
This is a situation that Mail Boxes Etc. increasingly encounters among its ecommerce customers. Fulfillment has become one of the most requested solutions among businesses looking to adapt their logistics capacity to growing sales, without necessarily having to expand their own infrastructure.
“Many customers come to MBE because they have successfully increased their sales, but their logistics infrastructure can no longer keep pace. They need to free up resources and rely on an operation that can adapt to their order volumes.”
Carlos Rodríguez, Product Manager at MBE Spain and Portugal.
Limited warehouse space, the time spent on picking and packing, inventory management and preparing orders during promotional campaigns are some of the challenges ecommerce businesses face as they grow.
However, not every business has the same requirements. Some companies are looking to outsource specific logistics activities, while others need to delegate almost their entire operation.
Through MBE Fulfillment, Mail Boxes Etc. provides solutions covering everything from goods reception and warehousing to order preparation, packaging, shipping and returns management.
“Not every ecommerce business needs to outsource its entire logistics operation. Some primarily need storage space and order preparation services, while others want us to manage the whole process. We analyse each operation to develop a solution tailored to their products, sales channels and specific needs.”
Carlos Rodríguez, Product Manager at MBE Spain and Portugal.
This flexibility means fulfillment is not a solution reserved exclusively for large online retailers. It can also meet the needs of SMEs, businesses with seasonal demand or companies combining B2C and B2B operations across different sales channels.
Another key aspect highlighted by MBE is the importance of taking an integrated approach to ecommerce logistics. Warehousing and order preparation are essential, but they must work seamlessly with the rest of the logistics process to prevent growth from creating new operational bottlenecks.
In this context, MBE eCommercePlus brings together different solutions that businesses can combine according to their needs: order integration and automation through MBE eShip, ecommerce integrations using the MBE ecommerce plugin, fulfillment, domestic and international shipping through a multi-carrier model, and returns management.
The aim is to enable businesses to introduce new logistics solutions as they grow, without having to redesign their entire operation at every stage.
This is also where one of Mail Boxes Etc.'s key differentiators comes into play: personalised advice and support. A dedicated MBE specialist takes the time to understand each business, helps identify the most suitable solutions and provides ongoing support as its needs evolve.
“An ecommerce business might start by automating its shipments and need fulfillment services later on, or it might choose to outsource its entire logistics operation from the outset. MBE eCommercePlus allows businesses to introduce and combine solutions as their needs evolve, while maintaining a single point of contact throughout.”
Carlos Rodríguez, Product Manager at MBE Spain and Portugal.
MBE's experience shows that ecommerce growth depends on more than the ability to generate sales. It also requires a logistics operation capable of supporting that growth, with the flexibility to adapt to changing order volumes, sales channels and business needs.
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