How Does Supplement Fulfillment Center Work?

The health and wellness industry is booming at a surprising speed. Customers are resorting to opting for the best supplements to ensure that they maintain a healthy body, and it is getting quite hard for the industry to keep up with the growing demand.

In between the growing demand and the rise in competiton, supplement companies need to play a tactic which can give them an edge to other competitors in the industry.

However, the question is, what should they do? Well, if you are a supplement store looking to give your consumers the best experience, then we suggest partnering up with a supplement fulfillment business. Intrigued and want to know more about it? We have it covered for you below.

Upstanding Supplement Fulfillment

The term ‘supplement fulfillment’ gives off its meaning on its own. This term refers to the process of receiving, managing, and delivering supplements to the customers. There are many steps involved in supplement fulfillment, such as warehousing, ordering, processing, picking, packing, and then shipping them off.

However, while these steps are involved in a majority of fulfillment aspects, supplement fulfillment is a bit tricky to handle. Why is that? Well, this is because supplements, like all other medications, have sensitive storage requirements and come with expirations. Hence, when it comes to handling them, special fulfillment services are often used.

Key Services Offered by Supplement Fulfillment Centers

Given that we just talked about the special fulfillment services that the supplement fulfillment centers have, we are sure you’d want to know about these key services. Well, if that is the case, then we have them listed below for you:

Warehousing

While warehousing is a common service provided by all fulfillment centers, it is crucial to consider supplement fulfillment. Why is that? Well, this is because supplement fulfillment requires companies to store the supplements in a controlled environment with the necessary temperature and humidity in order to ensure their quality.

Order Processing

Order processing is another key service offered by supplement fulfillment centers. This key service revolved around a customer placing an order through the supplement provider and the 3PL service using proper technology to process and track that order to move on the next time. Without proper use of technology order processing can be a hassle and it can create difficulty for both the customer and manufacturers.

Picking and Packing

Once the orders are properly processed, the next key service is to pick the right products and pack them securely. The 3PL service then selects and picks the ordered products from the warehouse and carefully packs them in secured packaging to ensure that they reach the customer properly.

Shipping

Once proper packaging is complete, the supplement fulfillment center then begins the process of shipping the products off to the customer. The packages are labeled with the customer’s name and address and then sent off through delivery to the specific location.

Special Considerations

One of the major factors that supplement fulfillment companies have to consider and keep an eye on is the expiration date and several other manufacturing numbers on the medications. Moreover, they always have to work vigilantly and follow the FDA regulations.

Regulatory Compliance and Quality Assurance

The production and distribution of supplements is a serious business, given that it involves human health. Hence, supplement fulfillment centers need to follow proper regulatory compliance and quality assurance protocols associated with their country. Some of the basic compliance and quality assurance protocols are:

Good Manufacturing Practices

Any supplement fulfillment center needs to have business and supply contracts with a supplement business that follows good manufacturing practices based on the standardized GMP protocols.

This not only helps maintain the business for the supplement fulfillment center but also ensures their value of supplying the best products remains intact in the market.

Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points

Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points, also known as HACCP, is a company that works towards identifying any potential hazards in the production process and implements strategies to control risks. Hence, the regulatory compliance and involvement of HACCP in maintaining quality assurance are also important.

FDA Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act

In the United States, the FDA Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act plays a crucial role in providing a proper structure for supplements by ensuring that all such dietary supplements marketed by companies are safe and properly labeled.

This health assurance, while it doesn’t require companies to undergo a strict pre-approval check before they are launched into the market, still holds companies responsible for maintaining the integrity and safety of the products.

International Standards Organizations (ISO) Certifications

The international standards organization certification is yet another essential regulatory compliance and quality assurance aspect that is highly regarded in the supplemental industry. The ISO 22000 ensures that all organizations and companies meet the international standard mark when it comes to risk management and contamination control. Moreover, the ISO 9001 focuses on the overall quality management.

Labeling Requirements

Another quality assurance factor that is quite crucial is the labeling of the products. Companies must ensure that all of their labeled products meet the FDA standards, including the ingredient listing, disclaimers, serving size, etc.

Employee Training

Regulatory compliance also involves proper employee training. This includes regular training on hygiene when storing, picking, or packing products and other documentation and regulatory update protocols.

Benefits of Outsourcing Supplement Fulfillment

Now that you know all about supplement fulfillment and most of its key features, we are sure you’d want to know about the benefits.

More Expertise

One of the major benefits of opting for a supplement fulfillment company to handle your business operations is the expertise they come with. There are times when businesses can foresee unexpected circumstances like running out of stock during peak season or customers receiving orders later than expected in different places around the globe. All such challenges are handled well by the outsourced fulfillment companies, ensuring that your business’ reliability remains intact.

Faster Shipping

Suppose your warehouse is only in one location, and you ship to customers around the globe. In that case, it is natural to assume that product delivery can take a significant amount of time. However, the best part of outsourcing supplement fulfillment is that they have fulfillment centers in multiple locations worldwide. Hence, your customers are bound to receive their goods quicker than expected, giving you an edge in delivery to companies that are not outsourcing.

Inventory Management

One of the best benefits of outsourcing fulfillment is their proper and thorough inventory management style. The 3PL company to which you outsource your supplements will properly take care of the inventory management by storing, organizing, and keeping track of the products. They moreover will provide regular updates on the stock levels and also put in reminders for you to restock the inventory in order to ensure that you do not run out of goods during peak seasons.

Reduced Shipping Cost

An outsourcing fulfillment center can help you save a significant cost on savings, too. How so? Well, this is because these companies have contacts with different shipping service and can help negotiate better rates for shipping because of the bulk of orders they send out everyday. So, if you are looking for a cost-effective option to save money, then this might be just it.

International Expansion

There is no denying that all businesses want to expand internationally. However, fulfilling your orders yourself might be a challenge when it comes to international shipping, given the several requirements, customs problems, and import/export restrictions that can come with it. With the assistance of an outsourcing order fulfillment company, businesses can easily navigate these hurdles and start shipping worldwide.

FAQ

Choosing the Right Supplement Fulfillment Partner

Now, that you know all about supplement fulfillment and how partnering with a supplement fulfillment center might work in your best bet, then we are sure you’d be looking for a company which can sit well with your demands. Well, if that is the case, then let us help you out here as well.

One of the most popular names in the shipping industry is NextSmartShip. The company has been in the business for a long time now, knowing the ins and outs like the back of its hand. With over 400 shipping lines, 10 fulfillment centers, and a guarantee of around 40% reduction in your business cost, NextSmartShip might be the exact fulfillment center you are looking for. So, make sure to check out their website.

Conclusion

Supplement fulfillment is a crucial aspect to carry out because of minor details like quality of products and their expiration dates which has to be considered. If you are a business owner who wants to learn about supplement fulfillment and how it can benefit your business, then we hope this article was helpful for you. If you are looking for the best supplement fulfillment center then we highly recommed you to check out NextSmartShip for sure.