In the ecommerce industry, being customer service competitive is one of the top priorities of business owners while keeping the costs low. To do that, they offer quality products at affordable prices, which is one of the key differentiators among competitors.
The problem, however, is that have you ever thought about how you can make sure that would happen with the goods of your ecommerce? If you did, chances are investing in a product inspection service has already crossed your mind.
You should know that a product inspection service is a solution to your problem since it keeps the quality and condition of your products safe during the entire process of your goods supply chain.
On the other hand, you may also think a product inspection service is an unnecessary expense that gets in your way of keeping the costs low. Sure, it will add a new line item to your budget, but it is often a method to reduce the overall costs. Since a product inspection service protects the quality of your brand, you can guarantee to deliver better customer service.
That is why if you want to invest in a product inspection service, now is your chance. Alibaba offers Trade Assurance that helps mitigate the risks involved, such as damaged goods and improper packaging. For more information about what awaits you with their inspection service, Watch this video to learn what Robert Ilas, CEO of Martini Incentives, has to say.
To further convince you how Alibaba’s inspection service, Trade Assurance, gives your ecommerce business a competitive advantage, read through this article. The following information can help you understand what Trade Assurance is, along with the steps of its inspection service.
What Is Alibaba’s Trade Assurance?
To simply put, Alibaba’s Trade Assurance is a product inspection service that guarantees product quality and on-time ship date.
Any ecommerce owner who acquires this would have greater peace of mind since products purchased from Alibaba’s platform undergo stringent quality checks, helping ecommerce businesses achieve the grade of excellence and trust with their customers. It gives a competitive advantage that deters them from losing orders because of the margins.
Nevertheless, listed below are the steps of an inspection service that you need to know.
5 Steps Of An Inspection Service
Step #1: First Article Inspections (FAI)
This product inspection service usually happens at the production floor right after your chosen supplier has finished mass-producing the sample goods.
Once the FAI ends, you should expect to receive complete documentation about the physical and functional inspection of the sample goods of your ecommerce. It is a sample of how aesthetically pleasing and sturdy the items are.
Step #2: Pre-Production Inspection (PPI)
Right after the FAI, the next one would happen before the official production of the product. At this point, you can expect the experts in product inspection service to assess the quality of raw materials and components needed. They will also check the available quantities if they are enough to last and meet the production schedule.
Even though it might seem too much, the second step of product inspection service is necessary. It guarantees that no substandard materials were used in the production, which prevents disastrous experiences for ecommerce owners’ buyers by receiving low-quality products.
Step #3: During Production Inspection (DPI)
As the name suggests, this product inspection service happens early in the production cycle. It is a necessary step since it allows the ecommerce owners to know about the average quality of the products they have ordered.
Most of the time, DPI takes place once the supplier has already produced 20% to 50% of the finished products. By then, the experts in product inspection service would come to check the quality from aesthetics to functionality.
If they found some issues, experts would often point that out to the suppliers. Doing so should help take necessary measures for the rest of the job, and consider reworking the already produced products.
Step #4: Pre-Shipment Inspections (PSI)
Once the production of the products ends or is near completion, a pre-shipment product inspection service will take place. At this point, the inspectors will verify if the goods have met the ecommerce owner’s requirements and specifications. They will also check if they have proper packaging and are ready to go for shipment.
Some sourcing companies do PSI when the product production is at 80%. That is why some ecommerce owners call this step a random inspection since it can take place anytime. As such, the suppliers cannot play mind games with the inspectors.
The main objective of this product inspection service is to confirm the final products’ quality, rather than catching the issues later on. Such as when the clients of the ecommerce owner already receive the item.
Step #5: Container Loading Check (CLC)
The last step of a product inspection service is the Container Loading Check. It is about making sure that the products are correct and loaded safely onto the right container.
One of the things an inspector would do is come up with a plan where to place the cartons inside the container. You should know that some cartons are too fragile to be at the bottom, which is why they try to be more careful as much as possible.
In other words, they will double-check if your orders have been completed and securely loaded before shipment. Doing so guarantees that the quality would be the same and do not degrade throughout the shipping process. By then, the client’s of ecommerce owners would receive the item in good condition.
Your Takeaway
Providing quality products at affordable prices is one of the ways to become customer service competitive. Doing so helps your ecommerce to stand out from the competition. Thus, rely on Alibaba’s Trade Assurance and enjoy the benefits of its inspection service.
For in-depth information about Alibaba’s Trade Assurance, go to their website. They have prepared FAQs in their Help Centre and terms of service that could help you better understand how their inspection service can help you gain a competitive advantage.
