Third Party Logistics: 3 Fulfillment Service Reports Your 3PL Should Consistently Provide

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Third Party Logistics

The only way to know if your company is getting what you expect from third party logistics is to measure the results. Effective measurement starts with choosing the right benchmarks. Thereafter, effective ongoing evaluation depends on timely, useful reports.

Your company is not exactly like any other, so the 3PL metrics that are most important for you may differ from other companies, as well. Nonetheless, there are three fulfillment service reports every company should expect from their third party logistics provider.

1. Order accuracy

Does every customer receive everything they ordered, as expected? Having to return merchandise disappoints and frustrates customers, and returns cost you money. Too many returns, and you can lose customers altogether. Here at USA Fulfillment, our order accuracy rate is 99.92%. No one is perfect, but we always try to be. We also report reasons for the rare returns that occur, to help clients improve their products and customer experience.

2. Speed of delivery

An order that arrives as expected but later than expected is still a disappointment to customers. That’s why this is such an important customer experience metric.

3. Inventory accuracy

Shrinkage can cost you dearly, so you need to know on an ongoing basis how well your fulfillment partner is protecting your inventory. And if your products require a special warehouse environment or handling, reports should reflect those metrics as well.

When should you expect to see reports?

Consistent reporting is vital. However, if you receive information only once a month, that may not be fast enough to support business decision-making. In today’s environment, companies must be able to turn on a dime – grabbing opportunities as soon as they arise, spotting and fixing problems before they become costly. You can’t be competitive if you’re waiting around for the information you need to plan and follow through. Especially where it concerns your customers.

You need full access to fulfillment service reports – at the frequency that works best for you. The regular formal reports your third party logistics partner provides should automatically go to every person that you designate in your organization. That way, those who need the data will have it at their fingertips as soon as possible.

Here at USA Fulfillment, we use Crystal Reports. It’s a fully automated system that provides customized reporting based on each client’s specified performance metrics. But our clients also have their own secure portal, so they can access and manage their fulfillment performance data at their convenience, 24/7. That eliminates costly delays when decisions have to be made quickly.

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