Welcome to the Dove Direct Print and Marketing Blog. Today's post, "Lettershop and Fulfillment Solutions Still Matter," reaffirms the value of lettershop and fulfillment solutions towering relevance in the age of the pandemic. We are all aware that in-person retail shopping at brick and mortar establishments lead sales until the pandemic struck. We also know that the rise of online shopping became a lifeline for so many due to the pandemic. Now, it appears that this genie will go back in the bottle; instead, consumers are responding with a click of the mouse and are firmly shifting their buying power to online outlets. This shift represents a behavior change that may become permanent. Most will argue that these behavioral changes are solely due to the impact of the virus. Rakuten Intelligence® recently provided a report highlighting sales between March 12 - 15. During that timeframe, BOPIS (buy-online-pickup-in-store) sales increased by a whopping 82.8%! As for fulfillment, this behavior will likely continue, although there are alternatives, and to be sure, there are downsides. However, BOPIS as a fulfillment solution will continue to pick up steam across the board. Along with it, a wide array of challenges ripe for those who can provide fulfillment solutions that address any issues.
Our Quote of the Day: "The more intensely we feel about an idea or a goal, the more assuredly the idea, buried deep in our subconscious, will direct us along the path to its fulfillment." - Earl Nightingale
COVID-19 Impact on Operations
As we continue to learn and manage collective best practices to slow the spread and ultimately get the virus under control, new concerns have arisen regarding the rate of infections, vaccine side-effects, and the fact that France, Germany, and Italy are in the process of shutting down. Further, the CDC suggests that Michigan, among others, may need to shut down as more than 25 states are experiencing a surge in infection rates.
Given the spread of Covid, we contend that businesses must understand the implications and prepare to shift operational procedures to accommodate another possible lockdown. Business leaders will once again be called upon to support the CDC efforts. Should that happen, mailing, packaging, digital scanning services (for remote mail access), and marketing communications will be in the forefront as essential services. That is the rationale behind reviewing lettershop and fulfillment solutions that deliver communications and packaging deliverables, particularly during pivotal moments.
Various Fulfillment Solutions
Fulfillment solutions range across many requirements, from high-volume to bulk label printing to advanced picking and packing. In a nutshell, fulfillment can cover any order for any item or group of items for B2B, B2C, or D2C.
Fulfillment providers deliver the brand to a specific destination. Your customers' retail purchases, mailings, legal documents, transactional documents, health reports, and much more are fulfillment opportunities. Most industries, including automotive, education, financial services, government, healthcare, insurance, manufacturing, nonprofit, political, real estate, retail, telecommunications, and utilities, all use fulfillment solutions to deliver goods and services to their customers. Depending on your requirements and the collateral to be fulfilled, some organizations can fulfill your needs, from mid-size, local shops to enterprise-level fulfillment centers.
In the age of the COVID-19, more and more businesses are continuing to search for fulfillment solutions. Delivering customer orders in a seamless, trackable environment, from simple direct mail campaigns to catalogs, books, gifts, and other types of products, are now the solutions that customers crave.
Commercial printing organizations that combine integrated business solutions under one roof are now more in demand than in previous years. Some of these organizations also have the capability for customers to engage via their online portals, by which all functions can indulge data, print, mail, and email services and solutions.
Customer Portal Solutions
Customer fulfillment solutions often use a custom portal and can include:
- Fully automated, requiring little or no manual intervention
- The creation of and implementation of fully integrated, cross-channel marketing strategies for measurable results
- Each instance can be customized, and print jobs can be configured
- Complete with admin module for job and user placement
- Appropriate and timely engagement of direct channels such as email, web2print, direct mail, printed materials, etcetera
- An automated, systemic process for response marketing based upon predetermined value systems
As a new world order for business appears to be approaching solid ground, there is an opportunity for brands that require a fulfillment partner. Solutions can include direct mail, digital marketing, and cross-channel marketing considerations. By selecting a one-stop-print shop, factors can consist of scalability, data management, personalization, lettershop, and fulfillment for B2B and B2C.
Lettershop and Fulfillment
In the print world, lettershop is often the sister to fulfillment, with commercial print organizations heading the list of providers that can deliver a host of solutions that require personalized customer contact. In addition to mail and package delivery, the available services include:
- Address Labeling
- Collating
- Customized Addressing
- Cutting
- Folding
- Gluing
- Intelligent Inserting
- Kit Assembly
- Label Affixing
- Logistics
- Match Mail
- Metering
- Offline and Inline Tabbing
- Sealing
- Shrink Wrap
- Stamping
In the search for a fulfillment partner, commercial print organizations that check these boxes and more are bonafide partners who can help you deliver your brand to your customers.
The question now becomes, which commercial printer has an in-house USPS certified postal clerk that can deliver on time, economically, and exactly how you intended.
The Net-Net
As we move through the constant and unknown variables due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we will continue to experience flux across the board. The future means that new opportunities and challenges will arise. Those who can adapt, adjust, and possibly, reinvent will be able to ride out this storm. In the meantime, we live in the age of remote fulfillment, and for now, that is the new normal. Stay safe, and thanks for reading "Lettershop and Fulfillment Solutions Still Matter!"
Let's have a conversation about integrated business solutions and how they can help grow your business, change behavior, and improve the customer experience. Let us show you how to improve your document processes to optimize your workflow, reduce your costs, and maximize your organization's printing, letter shop, and mailing capabilities. Dove Direct does have an official USPS certified bureau located within our offices that will save you time and money. We can even create a demo file for you.
For more information, call Carla Eubanks at 404-629-0122 or email Carla at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Dove Direct, your Atlanta based print and mail solutions provider, offers organizations end-to-end data, printing, and mailing solutions:
- Data Management
- Variable Digital Printing
- Digital Scanning Services
- In-House USPS Mailing Services
- Lettershop and Fulfillment
- Fully Automated MLOCR Presort Bureau
- Marketing and Production Management Support
- Secure Data Life Cycle Management
If you don't want to wait, you can reach Dove Direct today by calling 404-629-0122 or use the Contact Form for Dove Direct.