The Ultimate Guide to Point of Sale (POS) Fulfilment & Distribution
In the modern consumer society, we all enjoy the benefits of being able to purchase new products effortlessly, whether that be online or at brick-and-mortar shopping locations. But what goes on behind the scenes? Businesses across a range of industries utilise point of sale (POS) fulfilment and distribution services to bridge the gap between themselves and their customers.
So, what exactly goes on between an order being placed and it reaching the hands of the customer? In this blog from Allegro Logistics, we offer the ultimate guide to POS fulfilment and distribution. Detailing what it is, how it works and the services it includes! For more articles about topics related to e-commerce fulfilment, take a look at our blog. Posts include, The Importance of Stock Control for E-Commerce Businesses and How to Create an Effective Returns Solution.
What is Point of Sale?
Point of sale (also known as point of purchase), is used to refer to the time and place where a retail transaction is completed. POS transactions occur when a buyer pays a seller a fee for a particular item or set of goods – these transactions can take place online or in person.
What is Point of Sale Fulfilment and Distribution?
Order fulfilment and distribution are terms used to cover the process that transports a product from the supplier into the hands of the customer – this includes picking, packing, wrapping and shipping items to customers or retailers. Fulfilment and distribution services also cover any arrangements for storage of inventory or product stock. Typically, businesses utilise storage solutions such as warehousing to store and monitor their inventory. In point-of-sale fulfilment services for brick-and-mortar locations, specialist providers may also offer clients access to materials such as display units and printed promotional material.
While it is possible for small businesses to coordinate their POS fulfilment and distribution internally, as the demand for their product(s) increases, the help of specialist logistics providers may be required. The services available within POS fulfilment services will vary from one logistics specialist to the next. At Allegro Logistics, our point-of-sale fulfilment and distribution services factor in POS materials, distribution, and management.
What is Included in Point of Sale Fulfilment and Distribution?
Order fulfilment and distribution are terms used to cover the process that transports a product from the supplier into the hands of the customer – this includes picking, packing, wrapping and shipping items to customers or retailers. Fulfilment and distribution services also cover any arrangements for storage of inventory or product stock. Typically, businesses utilise storage solutions such as warehousing to store and monitor their inventory. In point-of-sale fulfilment services for brick-and-mortar locations, specialist providers may also offer clients access to materials such as display units and printed promotional material.
While it is possible for small businesses to coordinate their POS fulfilment and distribution internally, as the demand for their product(s) increases, the help of specialist logistics providers may be required. The services available within POS fulfilment services will vary from one logistics specialist to the next. At Allegro Logistics, our point-of-sale fulfilment and distribution services factor in POS materials, distribution, and management.
What is included in Point of sale Fulfilment and Distribution
In order for a POS fulfilment and distribution service to be effective, numerous elements must come together. Below, we explore the range of elements often available within POS fulfilment and distribution services.
Receiving and Monitoring Inventory
In order for any of the subsequent steps to be successful, it is vital that a business’ inventory is effectively managed and regularly updated. The majority of third-party logistics use warehousing to store and manage stock. Taking regularly inventory and employing systematic organisational systems help businesses stay on top of their product and ensure that customer demand is fulfilled.
Pick & Pack
Pick and pack systems are commonly used by e-commerce businesses that ship small orders to customers. Pick and pack is one of the earliest stages of POS fulfilment, whereby the contents of an order are picked from master cartons on warehouse shelves and placed into boxes or envelopes that are addressed to customers. Pick and pack systems come in numerous varieties, using various technologies and methods to ensure maximal efficiency and accuracy.
Shipping
Once an order has been packed in accordance to both the order specification and the packaging needs of an item, orders are then shipped to customers and suppliers. Outsourcing POS fulfilment and distribution takes shipping orders out of the hands of a business’ internal team, offering them the guarantee that customer experience is not being compromised by non-specialist packing and shipping errors.
As previously mentioned, the specifics of a provider’s POS fulfilment and distribution services will very. Here at Allegro Logistics, we offer our clients access to both domestic and international shipping as to ensure all prospective customers have access to your product.
Consultancy
As your business scales and the demands from your customer base change, your POS fulfilment and distribution needs may change too. Luckily, many POS logistics providers offer consultancy within their services. Consultancy services such as those available with Allegro Logistics offer businesses peace of mind that the service they pay for is specialised tailored to their needs. Consultancy also offers clients the opportunity to use experts as a sounding board ahead of making any changes to wider elements of the packaging and distribution, or even marketing, process.
Point of Sale Materials
Another element of POS fulfilment and distribution is point of sale materials. When an order is shipped to retailer for sale at a brick-and-mortar location, additional materials are required to help situate the product and maximise purchases at that point of sale. Point of sale materials can be routinely delivered to sale agents, store chains and retailers to maximise the sales of brand’s products. Within the point of sale materials available with Allegro logistics, we offer clients the opportunity to either provide relevant materials themselves or enlist the assistance of our professional printing service. Examples of point-of-sale materials include shelf stands, aisle display units or even items such as PR boxes.
Point of Sale Fulfilment & Distribution with Allegro Logistics
Here at Allegro Logistics, we offer a range of logistical services including point of sale (POS) fulfilment and distribution. Our POS Management services cover pick and pack, warehousing, distribution, consultancy and materials printing in addition to other services. For more information about how our services could help your business, request a quote today. To read more articles about wider logistics topics, take a look at our blog.
