Anyone who has run a crowdfunding campaign will tell you that the hardest part is fulfillment because it is now the project owner’s turn to deliver on their promise. It gets even more challenging if it is a global campaign, where products must be sent worldwide.
You will struggle with logistics if you haven’t planned early. Efficient crowdfunding campaign fulfillment is more than just boxing products and shipping them. You have to think about quality checks, inventory management, and international shipping regulations, among other factors.
In this guide, we walk you through all the crucial steps you need to take to ensure fulfillment after your crowdfunding campaign.
Start with a Realistic Plan
A realistic fulfillment plan is a huge part of the picture when working on a crowdfunding campaign. You should have a spreadsheet with timelines and every milestone broken down into manageable parts.
Start by reaching out to manufacturers, getting quotes, and confirming minimum order quantities before launching the campaign. You should have a detailed idea of how the products will be manufactured, packaged, and delivered even before you shoot your first promotional video.
The plan should also include a budget of the costs required to deliver the products to your supporters after the crowdfunding project.
Understand Shipping Requirements for Crowdfunding Campaign Fulfillment
You also need to understand shipping requirements, especially if you will be sending rewards to backers outside your country. Start by finding global couriers and 3PL companies that can help you dispatch products overseas.
Global shipping can be a hard nut to crack, especially if you have no experience delivering products outside your country. Small mistakes, such as incorrect custom codes or wrong addresses, can lead to massive delays and customer complaints.
A 3PL company such as Packageman can make crowdfunding campaign fulfillment easier and faster. They have the right infrastructure to handle both local and international shipping. In addition, 3PL partners provide storage and inventory management services, which will help reduce costs.
Collect Crucial Information
With your production plan in hand, the next order of business is to collect critical information about your supporters and backers. A backer’s survey is more than a form filled with names and addresses; it is the backbone of successful crowdfunding campaign fulfillment.
Collecting backer information shouldn’t happen after the campaign is over. It should be done no longer than two weeks after launching the campaign. Ensure you use the right tool to collect and save the data. Also, ask for essential data: the shipping address, reward, and version or color of the reward.
Customer Support After Shipping
Customer support after shipping is vital to crowdfunding campaign fulfillment because it affects how your backers and sponsors view the entire project. Even if delivery goes smoothly, reaching out and thanking your backers for their unwavering support is imperative.
Also, have a dedicated support team that will address customer complaints, no matter how small they may seem. The support team should handle complaints related to delays or clients who want to return their order.
Your customer support team will build the future for your crowdfunding campaigns. If it is done well, you will have no trouble launching a new campaign and garnering massive support from repeat backers.
