Products and Services

A manufacturer/distributor or retailer used to shipping in pallet or truckload quantities, quickly learn that Internet orders require a more customized method of distribution. Internet orders are usually smaller and more time sensitive, requiring companies to develop its order picking, processing and shipping systems specifically to handle these orders.

Take for example the company equipped to process and ship a pallet of sweaters to a retailer. To handle Internet sales of usually one sweater per order, the company must adapt its methods of order fulfillment.

Another problem facing web retailers is the Christmas rush season. For most, over 50% of all sales are placed in the four weeks prior to Christmas. These orders must arrive before Christmas, or it's fairly certain the customer won't be back next year.

In both situations, the company is faced with having to adapt its order fulfillment system from one that processes pallet or truckload orders to one that can process and deliver smaller orders usually overnight.

According to a recent report by Forrester Research (June 1999), "Not many companies are prepared for the exponential growth in parcel deliveries that online sales will generate. Firms that fail to attack order fulfillment with the same vigor as online selling will experience customer defection, funding attrition, and distribution nightmares."

Transpeed Integrated Logistics Inc., 587 Front St., Lisle, IL 60532. Tel: 630-969-9130; Fax: 630-969-9102.

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