Can you address my company’s specific needs in your logistics ‘system’?

In short, YES.  Key Fulfillment prides itself on being flexible and creative.  Rarely do client requirements fit neatly into a pre-set structure, and Key is happy to customize its approach to data flows, product/shipment specs, and client communication among other areas.  That said Key strives to maintain and improve its efficiency by repeating tested protocols and methods.

Do you build and maintain e-commerce websites?

Yes, Key Fulfillment can build an efficient ecommerce fulfillment platform for your business.  Key offers development services using Volusion software (www.volusion.com) to customize a store to clients’ needs.  The Volusion ecommerce template is top-rated, and links marketing, merchandising, shopping cart and payment processing functions seamlessly.  Key offers set-up services using this platform and a client’s design template (e.g. logo, colors, look-and-feel, products, text, etc.).  Key is very comfortable with Volusion’s back-end (API) infrastructure and is set-up to extract and fulfill orders efficiently from Volusion.

What kind of product assembly can you manage?

Key Fulfillment offers a broad range of value-added services, including assembly and kitting, to its clients.  Key often aggregates products and/or product sub-components from various client vendors (domestic and international) at its Denver fulfillment center.  Prior to order fulfillment, Key will unite these components at a product or at an order level.  Combining products with finished goods packaging from other vendors (or combining two or more products into a gift pack) is an example of product kitting to great unique finished goods SKUs.  Custom bicycle (e.g. various component colors and sizes) assembly is an example Key’s assemble-to-order capabilities...see case studies.

How do you receive my orders to be fulfilled?

The most efficient way for Key to receive your orders is in tab-delimited flat file batches.  Typically, these are standard ‘exports’ from client accounting, shopping cart or enterprise software.  If these options are not feasible we can set up a spreadsheet-based order entry/distribution template.  Key has developed many customized interfaces (e.g. FTP) over its years in business and prides itself on adapting to its clients’ needs and systems.

 Are there Fulfillment surcharges if my product is not moving?

At Key Fulfillment, no penalties or surcharges are assessed.  However, we do reward clients for ‘turning’ their inventory rapidly by offering order volume discounts.  Generally, these options are worth discussing when order volume approaches 100 orders per week on average.

How quickly will my orders be shipped?

Key Fulfillment is open seven (7) days a week. Our standard is to ship all orders within 24 business hours of receipt.  Certain clients with higher volume activity may discuss same-day shipment cut-off times for weekday orders.

What shipping options do you offer?

At Key Fulfillment, we offer you a variety of shipping options including:

United States Postal Service (USPS); United Parcel Service (UPS);   Federal Express (FedEx); DHL (International); Local and Regional couriers; Less Than Truckload (LTL); Truckload (TL);                        International shipping containers (via broker networks)

Which ship method do you recommend for my product(s) and why?

There are a number of factors that influence ship method decisions, but the most common are: shipment size, transit time and cost. 

Outbound orders from a fulfillment center must first be screened by their size.  Key’s order outflow is predominantly parcel based, and therefore the bottom three alternatives above may be eliminated.  Oversized or large volume pallet-based shipments require a review of LTL, TL and/or container options. 

Parcel shipments can then be narrowed based on speed of delivery (e.g. Next Day, 3-Day, etc.).  Unspecified or slower delivery times will default to ‘standard ground’ shipments.  Once the class of service is determined, Key helps its clients evaluate their best carrier option based on price (e.g. Key may have negotiated deeper discounts with certain carriers) and ancillary services (e.g. shipment tracking, packaging materials, etc.). 

Will I be charged for actual shipping costs or actual costs plus markup?

With most carriers, Key offers its clients a 25-30% discount from over-the-counter rates.  By aggregating a lot of order volume across its entire client base, Key is able to negotiate and pass-through strong discounts to individual clients.  Key retains a portion of this benefit itself to ensure equitable partnerships.

How do you protect my product for shipping?

At Key, we do not take a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach.  Each product is assessed alongside client preferences and Key’s experience at a relationship’s outset.  At the very least, we take product protection, end-customer presentation and cost into consideration when reviewing packaging options. 

How you do handle order/product returns?

At Key Fulfillment, each order is double-checked before it ships for quality assurance. However, when a product does come back to us, we will follow a reverse logistics protocol that we have set up with each of clients.  Some want the order and product referred back to them so that they may address their customer directly.  Others are held for inspection at our fulfillment center.  Still others are processed by Key according to its client’s specifications.