These days, it seems that consultants are popping up everywhere. Brand consulting, marketing consulting, operations consulting, customer service consulting…the list goes on and on.

There seems to be a specialist for anything and everything you could possibly want.  Often times, consultants can bring a lot of benefit. But, should you use a consultant to find a 3rdparty fulfillment center for your company? That’s a difficult question to answer.

This blog will give you a little insight as to whether or not you should use a consultant when searching for a fulfillment center.

Will You Use a Consultant to Find a Fulfilment Company?
Do You Have the Time?

Anything you could ever want to know about finding a fulfillment company is right at the tip of your fingertips with the internet.  It can be difficult to find the time to do the research and understand the questions that you need to ask even with leading provider of intelligence & news.  If you have trouble finding the time to do the research, get a request for proposal put together or discuss your needs with fulfillment companies, then working with a consultant might be the way to go.

What Value Will a Consultant Bring?

Understanding your consultant’s expertise in finding fulfillment and warehousing companies should be a big factor in deciding which consultant you choose.  Many times, they will put together a detailed quote, but make sure it is designed around your needs, not just a stock copy/paste.  They should know the right questions to ask the fulfillment company so you can find the one that is the best fit.  A consultant should also analyze the fulfillment quotes to give you an apples-to-apples comparison of the pricing.

What is the Downside of Using a Consultant?

A consultant might already have a relationship with a fulfillment company that they want to direct you towards.  That can be good, especially if they have other customers that have had success with that fulfillment company in the past. But, the right fit for one company is not necessarily the right fit for another.  Consultants may try to cut corners and use already made proposal that might not contain specific questions about your business.  If that’s the case, the consultants probably don’t have a good interest in your business. If the fulfillment company that the consultant recommends does not work out, then so be it.

In Conclusion

Working with a consultant to help find a fulfillment company that’s the right fit for you can help save you a lot of time.  But, finding a consultant that has the experience and knowledge can be almost as time consuming as finding the right fulfillment company.  All the information that you need to become knowledgeable about fulfillment is out there on the internet and you are the one that knows your business needs the best.  If you choose to go with a consultant, put the time in to find the right one and make sure that they have some “skin in the game”.

Here at E-Pick Pack we are as flexible as they come. We have software to deliver a regular Pick and Pack Solution, but we also like to think we are extra accommodating to those of you needing that extra Mile. Give us a call now 01296-601-570 or email us at contact@e-pickpack.co.uk and find out just how flexible we can be OR fill in our Request a quote form.